Found Rust On My Rifle Barrel!

[45shooter]

Here is the short version of a long story.

3 weeks ago my brother borrows my Rem 700 rifle to test some .223 ammo (South African surplus ammo from 80's). While shooting at the range he has an emergency call from work so he just pack everything up in the trunk of his car and then forgets about it until yesterday. When I go pickup the rifle I noticed a small brown spot on the muzzle so I look down the barrel with bore light and see the entire bore covered in fine layer of rust! I bring it home and cleaned the bore with solvent and patch until the patch comes out clean.

Now what? This was an extremely accurate rifle capable of shooting 1/2 MOA with good ammo out to 300 yards. Is this barrel ruined or is there hope?

 

[Car Knocker]

Only way to find out for sure is to shoot it.

 

[gamachinist]

Clean it tomorrow and the next day too,just in case it was mildly corrosive.
If it doesn't show any rerusting after that process,it should have killed the rust.
I've had good luck coating a bore with RIG grease.You might consider doing that and letting it sit for a while if it keeps trying to rust.

It being left in the trunk for 3 weeks could have had more to do with it since it wasn't really rusty.
Hopefully,it didn't pit it deeply enough to harm it.If it doesn't show pitting,you may never notice any loss of accuracy.

Sorry to hear of your misfortune,Robert.

PS,that sounds like my brother too!You reck'n they are cousins?

 

[Al Thompson]

Even pitted bores can shoot fine. Best to test it. I'd also recrown the barrel if you detect a decrease in accuracy.

 

[1911Tuner]

Corrosive

"Mildly Corrosive" is like "Kinda Pregnant." It is or it ain't. If the primers in
the ammo had been corrosive, after 3 weeks in the trunk, there wouldn't
be any doubt that the barrel was ruined. It would have looked like a sewer
pipe. The rust is likely a surface powdering, and any difference in accuracy
would probably require a machine rest to see it.

As noted, the only way to know for sure is to shoot it. Then go butt-stroke your brother with a Garand.

Cheers!
Tuner

 

[JeffC]

There's a product out now from the makers of FP-10, it's called CAC-10(corrosive ammo cleaner) and I've used it a number of times with no rust 'popping up' days later. I strongly recommend it for use after using corrosive ammo.

I'll post the link and the website in a minute.

 

[JeffC]

Here was a test thread:
http://1911forum.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=65984

Here is the maintenance forum:
http://pub13.ezboard.com/bfirepowerfp10forum

And FP-10's website:
www.fp10.com

 

[kimbernut]

3 week rust

45Shooter, The solvent and patch coming out clean is the first step and many people stop right there but you really should drench that bore with break-free or sheath and let it work its way under the rust for at least an hour or two to be sure and then follow up every couple of days for a week.On the outer surface wet a flannel or t-shirt knit cloth with the break-free and buff the barrel and receiver like a shoe shine . If you use white cloth and there is any unseen rust on the barrel the cloth will be rust red when you are finished.Don't quit until this cloth is clean also. A good oil or CLP such as these two will, with this treatment,embed in the pores of the steel and help prevent this in the future.Good luck.

 

[45shooter]

Thank you all for your suggestions.

I have been cleaning the barrel each night with solvent and patches and then use carb cleaner to flush everything out. Finally, I would coat the bore with couple shots of CLP. After the first night I have not found any more signs of rust as every patch comes out clean (just a little trace of green but thats from copper). I have check the bolt and rest of the rifle and there are no signs of any rust. I don't believe the ammo was corrosive as the bore looks smooth without any pitting. I believe it was just surface rust from sitting in the trunk for 3 weeks.

I won't have time to take the rifle out to check the accuracy for 2 weeks but I have my ammo ready for it.

Excuse me while I go kick my brother's a$$

 

[gamachinist]

"Excuse me while I go kick my brother's a$$ "

Amen on that!

Looks like you dodged the bullet on that one.

Congrats,Robert.

 

[riverdog]

JB Bore Paste. Just follow the directions.

 

[4v50 Gary]

If the primers are corrosive, you need to clean it with something that cleanse the batter of any priming compounds. Even hot soap & water will do. Suggest nylon brush to scrub bore and after it is dry, then use regular solvent to clean the other stuff. Apply oil afterwards.

 

[Sunray]

"...my brother borrows my Rem 700 rifle to test some .223 ammo..." Why would he buy ammo and need to test it for a rifle he doesn't have? It's more likely to have rusted because it was left in the case in his trunk for 3 weeks in winter. I don't think the SA .223 is corrosive, but a surf over to www.jouster.com or battlerifles.com may be in order.