Cleaning rusty shotgun?

[mr_goodbomb]

I have a shotgun, single barrel, break open New England Pardner.

It has been under my couch for a year or so, I'm not near salt water or anything, but it seems to have gotten a lot of gunk and almost rusty rather quick. I'd like to clean it before it gets worse.

I have a cleaning kit, which will clean the barrel, but the mechanism for breakopen sticks or doesn't close properly. I just wanna clean it up and make sure it doesn't get like this again. I can't figure out why it got like that so quick. It's not particularly damp, and it's generally fairly warm and comfortable here.

Any ideas?

 

[W.E.G.]

Single-barrel shotgun laid on the floor under the couch for a year, and now it looks like crap.

I would have expected nothing less under those conditions.

Spray the moving parts with CLP.
Blot the excess, and use compressed air to blow out the crannies.

Devise a better storage system.

 

[mr_goodbomb]

I just find it strange. I've seen people have guns stored in random places for years, literally years, in a closet or behind some junk, and they didn't tarnish like this. Most of it appears to be on the surface.

 

[pezo]

Have you ever wiped the shotgun itself in a lite coating of oil or occasionally use a "silicone" cloth to wipe it down? What finish does it have?

 

[mr_goodbomb]

It's blued steel, I believe.

 

[Sunray]

"...find it strange..." Shotgun laying on a carpet? Carpets tend to absorb and hold moisture. Under couches are magnets for dust and assorted crappola too.
0000 steel wool and a bit of oil will take off surface rust without bothering the finish. A light touch with a fine, brass, wire wheel in a bench grinder is faster. Eye protection is mandatory if you use a bench grinder.

 

[mr_goodbomb]

No carpet, hardwood.

 

[shiftyer1]

I own a shotgun that has been stored and not oiled in years till now, and looks fine. I have a few newer shotguns that get oiled a couple times a year and not used that get a fine coat of rust. My 870 is the worst and next is a 45/410 surviver, I don't think the steel holds the oil as well these days? I don't know the reason.

Use oil or penetrating oil and 0000 steel wool and take your time on that rust. In my experience a bench grinder with a brass wheel strips to much bluing for my taste.

Remember that oil also draws dust and under the couch is probably pretty dusty, i'd probably check on it every now and then and clean and oil it. Or at least check if it's still there!

I have a truck gun and people suggested grease to me, I haven't tried it yet. If it's going to be under a couch maybe fold an old towel or blanket to keep the dust off and use grease to keep the rust away.

 

[Sassi]

Silicon sock

How about a silicone sock? That has helped me to keep surface rust, dust and other stuff off my shotguns, especially those I keep stored away in closets.

 

[Milkmaster]

I suggest you use bronze wool instead of steel wool. Same results with less finish scratches.