Rust in barrel

[Mailman]

I thought I did a good job cleaning my barrel. I took a small light and looked down and saw a little rust in the grooves of the twist. What do I do to remove the rust, I already tried the brass brush?

 

[Old40Rod]

It could be flash rust from the cleaning process. When using water to clean, particularly hot water, the barrel may start to form rust before you even get a chance to wipe everything dry.

I now use just cold water to clean my barrel, which seems to work just fine, and I don't seem to get flash rusting (at least to the point it is visible). After the last flushing, I run a dry patch down the barrel to swab out any moisture, then spray in some WD-40... run another patch down and then run a patch soaked good with Break-Free. I haven't had any problems with flash rust since then. I always run a couple alcohol soaked patches through the barrel before shooting, which takes out all the Break-Free. I have also tried a Hoppes #9 soaked patch in place of the WD-40 a few times, and that seems to work OK also.

If its just light rust, and not pitting, try your cleaning process over again... making sure to use cold water. Experiment.

 

[Mailman]

What if there is a little pitting?

 

[jtmattison]

Some pitting won't hurt it.
You can try wrapping a little 0000 steel wool around a brass brush to remove rust. Wrap enough so it's tight fitting in the barrel so it is forced into the grooves. Oil the steel wool and scrub away.

HD

 

[CZMark]

I'll second Old40Rod's suggestion of Break-Free. It will loosen and remove existing rust, and prevent the formation of new rust. Don't buy the stuff in the aerosol can though, it is NOT the same as the Break-Free in the plastic squeeze bottle.

 

[ssettle]

You could try a product called PB Blaster, you'll find it in the automotive section in Walmart. I keep it on my gun bench it will destroy rust. I use it to store all my guns when I'm done shooting for the season...Steve