New SP 101 LG - - Possible Rust?

[BlackHawk187]

I just picked up a SP 101 DAO with Crimson Trace laser grips.. what a sweet gun! Upon cleaning the gun however i noticed that the entire bore and forcing cone area is an orangish-brown like rust color. there is also speckles of the same color on three of the cylinders on the side closest to the forcing cone? This is a brand new gun just purchased off davidson's gallery of guns. I am assuming that this is not normal copper fouling or nothing of that sort due to the fact that this is a new gun however i was wondering what yall make of this. here is an image of the forcing cone area. Sorry for the quality however you can clearly see the discoloration it appears gold in the photo but it is indeed an orange brown rust like color. the rust like color runs the entire length of the bore. I am relatively new to firearms and am certainly no gunsmith, but to me it just doesn't seem right for a new revolver to look this way.

 

[tek4260]

Give it a good cleaning and oiling and see what you have. It is most likely copper fouling from proofing. Notice how it is only on the lands. That definitely looks like copper fouling to me. With that said, priming compound is slightly corrosive and left uncleaned will cause rust, especially if stored in a humid/damp environment.

 

[BlackHawk187]

TEK, Thanks for the response... That photo was taken after i probably spent a solid 45 minutes or so with the bore brush, hoppes bench rest copper solvent, clp, numerous patches... you get the picture. the copper/rust what ever it is will not budge. here is a pic of a ruger bisley i found on the net.

this is how my old super blackhawk looked when i bought it used as well, there is no noticeable discoloration or anything that looks remotely like what is going on with my new sp-101.. that whole centimeter of metal in the forcing cone before the rifling starts on my sp-101 is rust colored as well.. it is not just limited to the rifling. once again sorry for the poor photo.. I've e-mailed davidson's and ruger and am awaiting a response. like i said i am fairly new to guns and don''t want to embarrass my self at the local retailer claiming my gun is rusty when that is not the case. however i also don't want to wait to long where if it is rust they would have a legitimate claim that the rust was a result of my lack of gun maintenance.. once again thanks for the reply

 

[Skalkaho Slim]

I know that stainless is not stain"proof", but I just can't imagine that it is rust. That's a very odd place for it to appear.

I clean my chambers by using a brass brush in a variable speed drill. Soak it in solvent and let 'er rip (not too fast). I'd try cleaning your chambers this way and see if it disappears.

It's hard to tell just how bad it is from your photo, but I really think that is just jacket residue. Seeing as how it is only on the throats within the chambers as well as the leede (or however you spell it).

Every Ruger revolver I have owned has had proof rounds shot through every chamber.

 

[Montelores]

BH187 -

I had a similar question. Take a look here:

http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtop ... highlight=

Let us know if this is what you see.

Monty

 

[tek4260]

It could be that the bore is particularly rough in that SP, and it will take more cleaning than normal to clean all the copper out. Might want to try some of the lapping bullets.

 

[BlackHawk187]

I've done some research and did read that other thread, the copper fouling/tool mark scenario does seem to make sense, I would sincerely hope it is not rust seeing the gun was made less than a month ago. I am going to try some KG12 copper cleaner and a stainless steel bore brush to see if that will help cause as of right now my brass and nylon brushes and clp and hoppes bench rest copper remover are not doing much if anything to remove these copper streaks from the bore. I however don't wanna scratch the heck out of the rifling with the stainless steel bore brush at the expense of what primarily would amount to just a mere cosmetic issue... thanks for the replies.. i appreciate the help a lot

 

[rugerguy]

that discoloration most likely is just that "discoloration" maybe from too hot a tool bit ( cut off or whatever)...if it was rust or fouling, it would have cleaned off.............we often see this when trying to drill or ream any stainless steel parts, and do not put enough cutting oil on to "quench" the work piece........I would NOT be concerned.............

 

[tek4260]

Don't use that stainless brush! Unless you are trying to clean a severely rusted firearm that you know is already ruined.

 

[Montelores]

BH187 -

My BH in S/S had the striations in the bore prior to any firing by me. I believe that they must be tooling marks, since I have seen them on brand new S/S GP100s.

The only thing that I have noticed on cleaning new (never fired by me, new from the gun store) S/S Ruger barrels is that the solvent-coated patches come out of the bore with a green-colour (which indicates copper?) for quite a few swabs before coming out clean. The guns shoot well, although I have not fired a high number of rounds yet.

None of my S/S guns had any other "rust", discoloration, or unusual marks anywhere else on them.

I hope this helps.

Monty

 

[nn]

After it sits around, does some come off on a dry patch or q-tip; if not, it is not rust.

 

[sfhogman]

Possibly it's red paint from the proof loads. My recently acquired Blackhawk had it, and it completely threw me. (I'm easily thrown.) Montelores's post above shows the proof load.

I used Ed's Red to scrub it off.

Jeff

 

[G2]

Stainless... use some lead away cloth, the yellow one. Make a patch and give it a good rubbin, that will clean it up.

But keep the Yellow Cloth away from your Blue Guns! or
they will soon look kinda like your stainless guns. :shock:

 

[Triggernosis]

It's not rust. Looks like normal new-gun fouling to me. Probably 50% of the new stainless guns I've ever looked at looked like yours.

 

[Grampie not Grumpie]

I would also refrain from using a SS bore brush. What I would suggest is wrap a piece of green scotch brite pad around a .22 cal bore brush and attach it to a slow speed drill motor and polish it with that. After opening my cylinder throats to .4525 on my .45 Colt with a reamer I polished them with a "green scrubbie."

Grampie not Grumpie,

 

[Triggernosis]

I wouldn't polish it with anything, honestly. If you'll shoot it quite a bit it'll be gone.

 

[Leucoandro]

This will get out the copper fowling. Pretty powerful stuff. A lot stronger than the standard copper removers. Also if you use a bronze bore brush with this or any other copper remover you are putting metal from the brush back into the barrel as you remove the copper.

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=1404 ... RE_CLEANER


If you want to polish the barrel a bit, I suggest this over using bullets to polish the barrel. (The Kroil is good for removing the polishing compound, and stong cleaners, just make sure you use the kroil with a loop or brush, it can get stuck if you use a jag.) I usually use this on a barrel that is a bit rough.

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=1159 ... ND___KROIL


After a get the barrel smoothed out the way I like it, or if the barrel is already smooth, I finish off with this product. It helps season the barrel and smooth things even more.

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=1161 ... ORE_BRIGHT


Charlie

 

[desertrat]

I wouldn't polish it with anything, honestly. If you'll shoot it quite a bit it'll be gone.

Yep!

 

[BlackHawk187]

thanks for all the replies and responses, sorry I was away this weekend (birthday weekend valentines day etc.) I really like the gun and I am glad to hear that this is not going to be an issue and that I can just finally enjoy the revolver and go shoot it. I appreciate the recommendations as far as solvents and bore brushes go and I'm definitely thankful that I' didn't go at it with the stainless brush and expose the revolver to unnecessary wear and tear!

thank you guys, this forum is full of great information and once again i appreciate the replies

Kevin