RUST!

[Jrsmith]

I looked a bit but didn't find what I was looking for so....

Just before I left for a business trip I noticed a few spots of rust on the outside of my 1858 Remington (blued) on the cylinder and near the hammer. Panicing I checked the bore and the insides of the cylinder and, thankfully, they were mirrior shiny and clean. I guess what must have happened was the oil on my holster negated my bore-butter treatment or something (eventhough I am sure I cleaned and rebuttered it after I used it last, oh well). So, what is the best method of cleaning these little bits of rust off. I am heading home tuesday and I'll want to get that cleaned up when I get back. Then I'll probably want to shoot it (but, alas it will be too cold in WI for my Remmie, it'll have to wait until spring... old cow skulls beware!). Any advise is appreciated.

Jake

 

[.38 Special]

0000 steel wool liberally coated with WD-40. Go easy.

 

[Sixgunjeff]

Use bronze wool instead of steel wool. Bronze wool will not damage the blueing, only remove the surface rust.

 

[Plink]

Jake, you mentioned a holster? If the gun spends much time in it, the acids in the leather might be reacting with the steel. Ballistol supposedly neutralizes acids in leather, and I know it makes a heckuva leather treatment. Might be worth a try.

As for removing the rust, I've used 0000 steel wool and gun oil to gently rub away rust spots for decades and haven't had it harm the blue yet.

 

[rustymaggot]

steel wool and soap. or wd40. the finest wool you can find. copper wool is better, its softer. clean gun off really well after or little bits of wool can rust and make things worse.

do not use green scratch pads!! those are like sandpaper.

dont store metal with leather. or if you do have to store a gun in its holster, wrap it in plastic and then put it into the leather. inside the plastic use oil or some other coating and a dessicant.

i like motorcycle chain wax. sprays on liquid but sets up like cosmoline but a little thinner. good stuff for storage. wd40 will get it off when you return the gun to use. or just swab the barrel with solvent and leave the rest of the gun coated with the wax. it all depends on the gun. i dont shoot black powder tho so complications may arise.

 

[.38 Special]

I've had bad luck with copper wool. Hasn't been perfectly effective removing rust and has left some discoloration on the bluing. Truth is I debated whether to even add the "go easy" bit to my post, as I have at times scrubbed the daylights out of a gun with it and have never seen so much a swirl mark, even on an old S&W revolver with the beautiful finish.

But taking advice from the internet is always a bit of a gamble, isn't it?