As much as you want your gun to look like new, it can get rusty pretty quickly. Anything that’s made out of metal is bound to rust.
There can arise several problems when your gun gets rusty. Other than affecting the appearance, it can damage your gun. Rust can make your gun unreliable and inconsistent, making it unsafe to use.
But no need to worry! In this article, I have covered everything you need to know about how to remove rust from a gun and stop corrosion. So, stay tuned till the end!
Now, let’s jump right in!
Why Is Rust Forming in Your Gun and How?
No matter how modern your gun is, rust may happen even if there’s a protective coating on your gun.
Rust happens when iron, water vapor, and oxygen react with each other and form iron oxide. This results in scarring of your gun, making it look rusty and old.
There are a number of reasons why rust may form on your gun. Firstly, guns are usually held close to the body. As a result, moisture from sweating can initiate the process of rust formation on the surface of your gun.
If there’s an accidental scratch on your gun, then the protective coating can no longer save it from rusting. In that case, rust may spread quickly to the other parts of the gun as well.
How To Remove Rust From A Gun and Stop Corrosion
If you have rust on your gun and want to remove it, then don’t stress!
In this segment, I have listed the simplest way to remove rust from firearms!
Make sure your gun is not loaded, and take all the safety measures before starting the process.
Open Up the Parts Of Your Gun
To access all the rusty spots, you need to take your gun apart. Firstly, you can start the process by removing any ammo from the gun. Then set it aside, and try to open up the parts as much as you can.
By doing this, you’ll be able to see if there are small rusty spots inside your gun. You’ll also be able to access these spots very easily.
Clean The Gun With Some Gun Oil
Other than gun oil, you’ll also need a brush or a bit of steel wool. To remove the rust first, apply a layer of gun oil on the surface. Then slowly work it in. Make sure to cover all the parts so that nothing is left untreated.
And if the rust is old, you might need to use a strong acid first to dissolve that.
Scrub The Gun to Remove Stubborn Marks
Use the brush or steel wool to remove the rust by putting pressure on it. Make sure to work in the oil properly. If you’re doing this right, then you’ll see the oil changing its color from clear to rusty.
Then, just wipe the rust away with a dry cloth or steel wool.
Lastly, refrain from using anything that is too harsh on the gun, because that might damage the overall outlook of your gun.
What Can You Do to Stop Corrosion?
As we all know, prevention is better than cure. To prevent your guns from getting all dirty and rusty, you can take some measures.
So, after you’ve cleaned the rust from your gun, you should take steps to prevent it from getting rusty in the future.
So, let’s look at what you can do to stop corrosion:
- Don’t take your gun out in the rain or bad weather. Rust occurs when water or moisture gets to your gun. And if there’s no way other than using it in the rain, try to use it as less as possible. Also, make sure to clean the gun as soon as you reach home.
- Store your gun properly. Make sure the case you’re using is clean and dry. The case will protect your gun from dirt, air, and moisture, which are usually responsible for corrosion.
- The case you’re using should be waterproof, dirtproof, and have foam padded with it. Also, your case should have a watertight design. This will ensure that there’s no leakage of water inside the case.
- You should always store your gun in a case that is the right size.
- After every usage, make sure to clean your gun properly. Otherwise, dirt and dust may initiate the rusting process. If your gun is very dirty, a simple rinse won’t do much. In that case, you’re cleaning the gun according to the instructions.
- Keep the gun in an appropriate place. Store it in a case, where the temperature is around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. And also, the humidity should be around 50%-55%.
- To keep the environment optimal for storage, you can use a dehumidifier, vacuum seal bags, or cosmoline.
- Ideally, you should avoid using corrosive ammo. But if you are, then you need to open up the gun and rinse your gun with warm water. This will make sure that there’s no salt residue left in there. If there’s any salt remaining in there, it will cost the gun to rust.
- To prevent oxidation, you’ll need to oil your gun regularly. As we all know, oil and water don’t mix with each other. So, the oil will prevent water accumulation on the surface of the gun.
- Overall, proper maintenance is all it takes to make your gun last for a long time. So, note down if you see any problems with your gun, and treat it as soon as possible.
Final Thoughts
So, as you can see, proper maintenance is important to make sure that your firearm can work smoothly.
Just by doing some work, you can prevent and remove rust from your gun. Not only will it protect your potentially expensive firearm from damage, but also save the money to repair it.
Take care of your firearm, use and store it in the correct manner, and your gun should be performing its best!
Good luck and see you again!
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