Do you have a rusty old gun that you wish you took better care of? Maybe it was left outside in the weather, stored improperly, or just not well maintained, but you might notice a layer of surface rust forming all over the steel. Well before you send it to the gun graveyard, let me show you just how easy it is to remove the surface rust and restore your gun back to its former glory.
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My Rusty Old 410 Shotgun
Ah, my little Marlin 410 crack back. This is the first shotgun I ever owned as a kid and it definitely brings back some fond memories, like partridge hunting with my dad; flushing birds and taking our best and only shot for hours on end. Fast forward a couple decades and my dad and I still hunt those same fields together today.
But once I graduated to a 12-gauge, my poor little 410 was placed on a gun rack in my parents’ barn, and that’s where it sat for well over a decade, alone and afraid, slowly succumbing to the elements and developing a thin layer of red rust in the process. Well today, I’m finally going to restore her to her former glory.
Understanding a Gun Barrel’s Finish
Ever since the 1934 John Wayne classic, the term “Blue Steel” has become synonymous with cowboys and gun fights. And even though the term sounds pretty cool, did you know there’s actually a scientifically legitimate usage for blue steel in the production of a firearm?
Many gun barrels undergo a process called “bluing” which gives them a black or dark-blue appearance and acts as a protective finish. It’s very important to understand this process so you can properly take care of your weapon without ruining the finish.
Bluing is actually an electrochemical process where the steel is selectively coated with magnetite, the black oxide of iron, in order to give it a protective finish. Red oxide on the other hand, or what we typically think of as “rust”, is formed with a hydration reaction when the gun is exposed to consistent moisture. For simplicity’s sake though, just know that both corrosive red rust, and the desirable black finish are both forms of rust.
Why is it important to understand the process of bluing? Because you want to preserve the black finish, while removing the red rust. Since they’re both forms of rust, you NEVER want to use any sort of rust remover on a gun. Not only will it remove the red rust, it will also strip the protective black finish off the gun, then you’re in real trouble.
Rust Removal Supplies
The first thing you’ll need is some lubricating oil. Many oils will work, from dedicated gun oil, like Lucas, Hoppes, or CLP, to simple synthetic motor oil. I stick with gun oil. It’s cheap enough and it was specifically designed for use on firearms. Today, I’m using a Hoppes gun oil.
The second thing you’ll need is some 0000 steel wool. This is a very soft steel wool meant for polishing. Any coarser and you risk scratching off the protective black finish because it’s just too abrasive.
How to Remove Surface Rust From a Gun Barrel
So let’s jump straight into it. How do you remove the red surface rust while preserving the black finish?
First, apply the oil liberally to the entire metal surface of the gun, and let it sit for a few minutes.
Then, take your 0000 steel wool and rub off any areas of rust you see. With a little light elbow grease, the red rust should come right off.
Once all of the red rust is gone, apply a little more gun oil, and rub the whole surface with a soft cotton rag or cleaning swab to give it a beautiful, shiny finish.
Conclusion
And that’s pretty much all there is to removing surface rust from a neglected gun. The aim is to preserve the black rust, and remove the red rust. And this technique ought to do the trick. You’ll definitely need to give the interior components of a neglected gun a thorough cleaning as well before you can safely use it, but we’ll save that for a different article.
Let me know what gun oil and cleaning techniques you like to use to remove surface rust in the comments below!
Happy Hunting,
Cody
The Wild Bites Back
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