"Car gun" RUST! I never thought it would happen to me!

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Logistar

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I was cleaning a rifle last night when I decided I should probably clean and inspect my CCW pistols. Both pistols have spent a lot of time in my car. Since I cannot carry at work (and I park in a safe area) I keep one or both CCW guns in the car - mostly 24/7.

Anyway, I have not shot either of them in 3 months and therefore didn't clean them. Despite the fact that I tend to overlube them, BOTH had small areas of "orange" which mostly came off with Hoppes #9. This has never happened before although I have kept the guns in the car for years.

Is this normal? Should I look somewhere else for the problem? (The Taurus I have worn a lot .... possibly perspiration... but the Kel-tec hasn't been out of the car for the last 3 months.)

Are most guns prone to rust if left in cars? (The stainless steel slides were mostly OK. The "takedown pins" both showed rust.)

BTW - they are stored under a front seat.

Any ideas or suggestions?

Logistar
 
Some people will probably flame you for leaving your guns int the car, so be prepared. I personally think it's up to you. Now that is out of the way.


The rust may have been caused by condensation forming on them with the season change. I see that you are in northern KY and the cool off there has been pretty steady. The condensation combined with laying on the carpet of your vehicle could be to blame.

Mino
 
What are the guns made of? Blued carbon steel doesn't resist rust to any significant degree, and some brands of stainless steel aren't much better. What you saw was normal. Last time I was there, KY wasn't that dry. ;)
 
My guess would be the temp. changes. Three months to me is a long time to leave a gun exposed to outside climate changes and not clean it. I'm sure you have temp. changes in KY like I do in OH. I just think you should inspect and clean it more often. Wipe it down with an oil cloth periodically.
 
Maybe keep an oiled rag in a ziplock and wipe down your guns once a week with it? Ziplock will keep the smell down and the oil fresh.
 
OK. I will start inspecting them (and cleaning them) on a much more regular basis. It seems odd that they never did this before. But then again, this is the longest that they have been in the car without cleaning (because they were regularly shot before our "indoor range" closed down"!)

I may also relocate them to the glove compartment. I am thinking it might not get the amount of "moisture" that the floorboard might get. In the summertime I started keeping them under the seat because it is cooler under there than inside my hot glovebox with the sun beaming down on it. Hmmm... that might actually be a GOOD thing this time of year.

Hopefully, others can learn from my mistakes. :rolleyes:

Oh... anything I should do to treat the affected areas other than clean and relube them?

(BTW - There was NO rust on the outside of the guns. It was all internal - and mostly concerned the "take-down pins" that you pull before you remove the slide but there were a couple of other spots also. )
 
i would assume that you have these pistols in some sort of bag.... pick up some silicone cloths, or a can of silicone lube, and wrap em up inside the bags....

as swamp like as the weather has been round' here this year i wouldn't even consider storing anything under the seat....

another thing to consider, if you have a heated glove box, don't keep it there either, talk about extreme temp change.....

i always keep my gun in the center console, which is cool if you have a ccw here...
 
I used car wax on an 870, with the cheep Parkerizing. The thing would rust if you looked at it cross-eyed.
After waxing (two years ago) it has not rusted. I liked the results so well that I striped down my Makarov and waxed everything, except the champer, man it really slicked up the mag, (just like waxing a car, wipe it on let dry and buff off) that was at the same time I did the 870 and I am pleased with the results. The wax makes clean up easy. I once spilled crushed corn on the Mack, it got inside and everything, I just broke it down and blew it out clean as you please. As you may have guessed, the Mak is the red headed stepchild of my gun family and it is continually bouncing around in the truck or in the toolbox of the tractor with no problem.
 
and some brands of stainless steel aren't much better.
Click to expand...

Please explain further.
During the "Oregon Moonsoon Season" I tend to switch to my M686 just beause it is stainless steel. In the 5 years that I have has this gun there has never been anything remotely resembling rust or corrosion on this pistol.

I plan to try the wax on the slide of my LW Commander. I had a rust scare a couple of months ago.

ZM
 
Logistar...

You know that we live in the same town. Last week (or the week before) we had three straight days of 70 degree weather. Then, we woke up to weather in the low 40's plus, a cold rain was falling! Some of the metal objects in my truck, which was in my garage, had condensed a little water on them. My windshield was wet on the INSIDE! With weather like Louisville has, I don't leave guns in the car. I wish it was a little less humid around here because the humidity just KILLS my back. Lucky you caught the rust in time. :)
Remember the January a few years ago when it turned into 70 degree weather right after New Years Day---and then stayed like that 'till summer? :)

KR
 
Yeah, KR and Bluesbear, you are right. We have had major temperature changes and rain lately. I guess I have been lucky up to now. Maybe this fall has been worse than normal or maybe I have done this too long and it's catching up with me. (Condensation inside your truck while it's INSIDE THE GARAGE! :what: No wonder I have rust, KR!!!)

The car always stays in an attached garage at night and about the only other place the guns are left in the car is at work (which is fairly safe). I have kept them in nylon holsters which cover most of the gun and placed them under the front seat. Unfortunately, often the car sits there from 8am until 10:30pm.

It is a long drive to work and if I don't take my gun(s) with me then I may as well give up carrying since most of the time I go places AFTER work (and it doesn't make sense to go home first and pick up the guns).

I have considered bringing them into work concealed but if I am caught it would be my job. :rolleyes:

The REALLY odd thing is that my boss used to CCW and now he is an anti!

Anyway, thanks for listening and taking the time to post. I need to make several changes. - considering waxing, storing them differently.... POSSIBLY bringing them into work! I was just a little upset at first but I think I'll be ok now. ;)

Logistar
 
I live in monticello Ky and have never had any rust problem with my car gun I do clean it with breakfree clp about once a month though.
 
Logistar-

If you're really that concerned about rust on your car guns, send them to me. I promise that our dry heat will keep them safe and rust-free in my truck. Been doing it for years here without a problem, even a precious Colt Diamondback years ago. I just check them over every so often. :D :D :rolleyes:
 
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