Surface Rust

T

TheKlawMan

Moderator
I didn't even notice it until I took my 870 Remington Express out at the range thatone side of the receiver hd been coated with surface rust since it was shot a week and a half ago. (The side that was laying on a carpet near an open window that I thought would not be a problem given this heat wave.)

Much of it just wiped away with a rag an Rem oil, but there are still little pits in the "finish". What should I do to get an remnants off the reciever while trying not to remove the famous Express finish. TIA.
 
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Thanks oneounce. I thought I had heard of steel wool and I have some but will buy some of the finer 0000 if what I have is coarser. I could kick myself for not cathing it sooner as the 870 is known to rust at the drop of a leaf.
 
You really do not want to use anything coarser as it will scratch - this is an easy thing to do, but the secret is to go slow and EASY
 
As long as it is a fine and pure copper material, it should work great also - some are very coarse and some are copper-washed rough steel, so be careful
 
I did the 0000 steel wool rub with Rem oil and under my shop light it looks pretty good but will revisit the rust tomorrow in sun light. The toughest thing for me is to be gentle.
 
"...side that was laying on a carpet near an open window..." That'd do it. Carpets attract moisture. High humidity is enough.
"...is to be gentle..." Definitely important. A light touch with a fine, brass wire, wheel in a bench grinder is faster. You need to have the bench grinder, of course. Eye protection is required too.
 
I couldn't get to it until late today, but rubbing the receiver with steel wool and rem oil did a good job last night and I worked more on it today and will do more tomorrow in some good light. I only got to it today when the light was pretty soft. Thanks for the tips.
 
I think I know what you mean. My 870 rusted in about 9 or 12 hours during the night after deer hunting. #0000 steel wool and oil took care of it. I never expected it to rust like it did. I know now to expect and prevent it next time out.
 
"...during the night after deer hunting..." You take it inside after being out in the cold? Condensation. Wipe it with an oiled cloth, spray it with WD-40 or leave it outside.
 
After cleaning i use a gun grease, but if none is available i use goo ol vaseline, which is a petroleum based product.

These guns with the rough finish are notorious for rust, so store it with a grease coating in a silicone gun rag to help minimize your problem.
 
My 870 express is more prone to rust than the chunks of carbon steel I have sitting in my garage. It is like the coating causes it, certainly doesn't do much to stop it. :D

Luckily I have stayed on top of the 870, but my H&R which I forgot to oil after cleaning one time was a mess after only one day. But I did learn a lesson from it, use the metal wools carefully and check often. I started removing the bluing in a few places trying to get the pits out.
 
Condensation is a big enemy !! don't store guns in a case as the case may collect and hold moisture .Wipe down the gun with something like RIG preservative grease.
 
Mine would rust every time I took it hunting. It is humid where I live. This went on for years, until the bluing started to get pretty thin from taking all the rust off.

I recently stripped it clean and painted the whole thing with High-Temp Rustoleum. It looks better than it ever did and will not rust. I am very proud of how well it turned out and if I buy another 870, it is the first thing I will do to it. As with any painting, it's all in the prep work!
-Dan
 
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