What? Rust? Help!

[ray1970]

OK. I will try to keep this short. I have a blued GP100 that I absolutely love. But because I love it so much I like to use it for everything. This weekend I took it along on a little camping expedition. It spent most of it's time in a leather holster on the floor of the tent under my cot. We got a little rain the first night so the following morning I removed the gun/holster from underneath the cot to make sure it hadn't gotten wet. The holster was dry, the revolver was dry, the floor was not damp... everything was fine. Got back from the trip and pulled the revolver out of its holster and there is light rust on the right side of the gun at the sharp edge at the top strap. Now I have two questions:

I need to remove and stop the rust. Is steel wool and some kind of gun oil my best option?

I really love this particular revolver and the way it shoots. Aside from trading it for a stainless model, what can I do to help keep it from rusting? Should I look into having one of the new hi-tech finishes that are available nowadays put on it?

Thanks!

 

[TiteGroups]

If the rust has only been on there a short time I'd just use a rag and some gun oil. The blue has probably worn through from use you will need to keep something on the bare steel to keep moisture off it. If its going to be exposed to the elements on a regular basis, stainless will serve you better.

 

[GhosT]

"Is steel wool and some kind of gun oil my best option? "
Steel wool on a blued gun????

Well, that sounds bad...lol

Apologize ray1970, cause I got no good answer.

I started with a Blackhawk, and a SuperBLACKHAWK...BOTH BLUED like 30 years ago...and both guns rocked.

But I switched to STAINLESS RUGERS along time ago....
Just WAY easier to keep clean

NO WAY SAYING SWITCH to stainless....the blued versions are PURTY
Only posted to say...NO ON THE STEEL WOOL!!!!!!

 

[sourdough44]

I would go over it with a lightly oiled rag before & after the outing. If you will be out a while pack a lightly oiled cloth along for a wipe-down if/when needed. I try to watch the big swings in temp that leads to condensation, cool gun to hot humid outside air. I know, can't be helped at times.

 

[Sacramento Johnson]

Howdy!

There's another thread dealing with rust removal on stainless steel and someone does suggest a way to clean blued guns on it as well. You might want to look for it.

As for preventing rust on blued guns when out in inclement weather, I used a hard wax coating. Renaissance Wax is the brand I use. I put a good coat on the entire exterior, let it dry 24 hours then polish lightly. Repeat for every bad weather use.

 

[maxpress]

put baby powder (talc) on the inside of the holster next time also.

 

[tek4260]

0000 Steel Wool is fine on a blued revlover to remove surface rust. I have used it many times and have never hurt the blue. Now something coarse like 00 or 0 Steel wool will eat the blue away. We also used 0000 in the body shop to remove overspray, fingerprints, ect from auto glass.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

I agree. There is nothing wrong with OOOO steel wool and light oil on a blued gun. Just go lightly, don't overdo it.

 

[ray1970]

Thank you all. I will probably try to get it cleaned up tonight. If the digital camera is charged I will try to take some pictures.

 

[cpti]

I have a love/hate relationship with blued firearms as well. They are far superior aesthetically, but it always brings me down when I see them rusty.

I've used 0000 steel wool as well to remove stubborn rust, but usually an oily rag and some pressure will do the trick. Worst I've had required some serious finish removal and a reblue.

 

[ray1970]

I'm not really in love with it because I like the looks of a blued finish. I just love this particular piece because it is a heck of a shooter and I shoot it very well. If I thought a similar one in stainless would be just as accurate I would probably trade this one off and get a stainless one. But one lesson I have learned is that if you have a firearm that shoots this well you don't chance getting rid of it and hope it's replacement shoots as well.

 

[TexasFats]

To remove rust, use 0000 (4-0) steel wool, and a good gun oil. It won't remove any additional bluing; although, if the blue is already damaged, it won't restore it either. Then, use a good rust preventative. I have used Birchwood Casey Barricade and 0000 steel wool to clean up a Remington Model 11 that I bought last year. It worked fine, and the blue was not damaged beyond what the rust had already done. For prevention, RIG is now available again. I have always had good luck with it as a preventative, but it is really easy to use too much, and it won't come off easily.

 

[78CJ5]

Try the gun oil and the rag first.

 

[ray1970]

OK. Sorry but the camera wasn't charged. Anyways, I took a little CLP and some 0000 steel wool and killed my little rust problem. Gave everything a good wipedown with the CLP when I was done. I am a much happier camper now that it is all cleaned up. I think I will keep an eye out for a better camping/hiking/woods gun. Until I find a nice stainless revolver I will leave the GP100 at home and pack one of my polymer 45 ACPs. Thank you all for your advice!

 

[roaddog28]

OK. Sorry but the camera wasn't charged. Anyways, I took a little CLP and some 0000 steel wool and killed my little rust problem. Gave everything a good wipedown with the CLP when I was done. I am a much happier camper now that it is all cleaned up. I think I will keep an eye out for a better camping/hiking/woods gun. Until I find a nice stainless revolver I will leave the GP100 at home and pack one of my polymer 45 ACPs. Thank you all for your advice!

Ray, go and get one of these and save your blued GP100 for indoor use.

Regards,
roaddog28

 

[Shoot44]

Before you try the steel wool!!! Please try to get hold of a product called "Frontier metal cleaner".
http://www.big45metalcleaner.com/

It absolutely WILL take the rust off WITHOUT harming the bluing. Long story, but I bought a Marlin 1894 once, and while looking it over it had some slight surface rust. LGS guy said 'no prob.; I'll take that right off'. Before I could object, he pulled out this little thing that looks for all the world like a 'Chore Boy', (if you're old enough to know what that is). I tried to stop him, SURE that it would take off the bluing. It did NOT. Not a mark on it, and all the rust GONE.

He said it was 'aluminum wool or something'. Well, I later found out that it is made of monel metal. Found some at a gun show, and now always use it INSTEAD of steel wool. I wish I had known about this stuff BEFORE I used 0000 steel wool on a nice old S&W 15 that had a very slight 'patina' of rust all over it. The 0000 took it off, but it has never been as beautifully shiny blue as it was from the factory since.

Just use this stuff with a little kerosene or gun oil, and you will be surprised. My Marlin looks as good as new!

P.S. Yes, I use 0000 Steel wool on my car windows, too; and it works great. BUT.... glass is harder than iron! A LOT harder. People cringe when they see me use SW on glass, chrome, etc. But it is SOFTER than these things. But..... Your blued gun is NOT significantly harder than the SW!

 

[ray1970]

OK. Sorry but the camera wasn't charged. Anyways, I took a little CLP and some 0000 steel wool and killed my little rust problem. Gave everything a good wipedown with the CLP when I was done. I am a much happier camper now that it is all cleaned up. I think I will keep an eye out for a better camping/hiking/woods gun. Until I find a nice stainless revolver I will leave the GP100 at home and pack one of my polymer 45 ACPs. Thank you all for your advice!

Ray, go and get one of these and save your blued GP100 for indoor use.

Regards,
roaddog28

Maybe I should have kept this one...

Sold it because "I didn't need two of them"

 

[GhosT]

Ray 1970 said...

"I'm not really in love with it because I like the looks of a blued finish. I just love this particular piece because it is a heck of a shooter and I shoot it very well."


That is EXACTLY why to keep that gun!

Ohhh,
Feel free to try a stainless versions(love mine)....but......

NO WAY TRADE OR SELL A RUGER HANDGUN THAT
"is a heck of a shooter and I shoot it very well."...until and unless ya own a stainless, that shoots as well for you!.

If you got a blued Ruger handgun that kicks ass in yer hand.......
NEVER EVER Sell or trade it away...

30 years of experience...the first 10 years sold or traded away a few JEMS!


JMHO

 

[TreeDoc]

Lemon Oil, liuqid gold furniture polish, wipe down with the mrs dust rag, does wonders.

 

[G2]

I give my blued guns a wipe down w/ my RIG Rag and when out hunting make sure they get wiped down again thru out the hunt.
RIG, a light grease that sticks around a while.

0000 steel wool and CLP together works well on light rust. I let the CLP sit on there for a while then add some more and lightly rub w/ the 0000 steel wool.

 

[WMB30]

Use Eezox on your gun and your good to go rain or shine.
Bill

 

[rhatimi]

Now all this talk about RIGs and Eezox has got me thinking. I was under the impression that grease was only used for extreme long-term storage. Could this cause the action to "gum" up or pose any other mechanical hazard. I just put a coating of Break Free CLP on my GP and wrap it in the plastic packaging then store it in the hard plastic ruger box.

 

[ray1970]

Thank you all for the advice. I think I may save the blued GP for indoor use or range use on nice days and invest in something stainless for outdoor carry. I might have to part ways with one of my 45s to fund the purchase but I have too many of them anyways. Of course I do have a little trip to Las Vegas planned in a couple of months. Maybe I could just win a little extra spending money while I am there.

 

[wolfsong]

Why on earth would you even think of leaving this gun at home from now on? Take it with you, take care of it daily, and use & enjoy it! You now know how to avoid rust issues and how to deal with them should they occur. Rest easy and take that puppy with you. People have been using blued guns in much more harsh conditions for hundreds of years without worry. And besides, stainless steel rusts, too, and needs the same care you'd give any gun you own. Don't be lulled into a false sense of security by stainless & synthetics. Peace and God bless, Wolfsong.

 

[ray1970]

People have been using blued guns in much more harsh conditions for hundreds of years without worry.

This might be the most common sense thing anyone has said on this topic yet. I will use and enjoy it and make keeping it cleaned and lubricated more of a priority.

On a side note, I took it to the range and put about 100 rounds through it today. Still shoots great. My wife even enjoyed shooting it with 38s. She didn't care for the 357 rounds though. :lol:

 

[Tommy Kelly]

The 0000steel wool and a good gun oil put in the steel wool will remove the rust easily with no damage to the finish and then wipe it down with a clean cloth to remove the rust that;s broken loose then reoil the gun.