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So I apologize if this is the wrong forum for this but seeing as rust is the bane of all tools I figured this was the best place for it.

So today we went out shooting and it was drizzling (wow Imagine that, rain in Oregon) and It got me to wondering this: So coming from a desert/high desert area rust has never been really a big concern in the past for me. But out here where its raining a good amount of the time and there is still a decent amount of humidity when its not I got to wondering how I should be changing my gun maintenance procedures.
Should I be taking off my hand guards on my AR's to get a light coating of oil on the barrel after they are out at the range in the rain? When I get a pistol are there any places that might sneak up on me with rust ? Would desiccant packs in my gun cases be helpful ? Or am I just being paranoid ?

Any tips would be appreciated, I'm not sure if this is even a good question. But to be honest I'd rather ask a dumb question than wake up to rust spots all over my prized possessions.
 
...what, you don't know the iron/rust helps prevent MOSS from taking root immediately???

OK.....given you're willing to forgo that preventative local ecosystem measure, there's a ton of oils & conditioners that all have their own fans.

I tend to like liquids I can rub on & off & smell it having been done. Old basic Kroil or Ballistol do wonders on my stuff. I don't care for 'desiccants' in general but some find them helpful. Do NOT leave your recently fired deeply polished blue wonder gun in your car trunk for 'just a few days' without wiping it down with something decent on the outer surface even if you don't clean it right away.

Some like wax/polishes over the longer haul; get a Golden Rod for your gun safe & keep it plugged in; they work well in this country.

I've got a drawer full of magic potions most of which are decades old as I have fallen into my old standbys. I've had good results with Eezox as well.

There's tons of cleaning/lube/protective/etc products in abundance and various blends.

Good luck.
 
It is not a dumb question. I remember forgetting a fairy new set of pliers on the porch for two nights on the coast and having to throw it away due to rust.

In our house, @CountryGent does the gun maintenance duties and I know he does it periodically, as well as the normal cleaning after usage. I'm not sure what he uses, but he does a good job of keeping our equipment in good working order.
 
Rust...or very slow iron oxidation is one of my favorite colors. It's also dependable, consistent and the sole reason for an entire anti-rust industry. Millions of hard working Americans owe their livlihoods to rust. Millions of kids are able to have presents under their Christmas trees because their parents are employed in the anti-rust industry. Ergo, without rust, there would be no Christmas joy for millions of kids.
Rust, we salute you.
 
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You need:
  • Goldenrod
  • Big can of desiccant...the kind that changes color when it needs to be refreshed
  • Humidity meter
  • Silicone cloth
  • Renaissance Wax (Bonus)
All can be had off Amazon for $75 give or take.

Guns get cleaned and then everything goes into the safe. Monitor and check daily until you're sure you have a stable environment. Then a weekly check and wipe down with the silicone cloth should be all that is needed.

If you really want to step up your game, apply a generous coat of wax before you put the guns in the safe. Re-wax every month or two. Refresh the desiccant as needed.

Remember to check magwells too. This is a high wear area where the finish may have been worn down and it isn't immediately visible so people often forget to check it.

You may also wish to apply a generous coat of wax if you know you're going to be taking your gun out into the muck. Renaissance wax has a ton of other uses too. And a small can really goes along way. It's awesome stuff if you haven't discovered it yet.

BTW...when it comes to rust prevention there is no such thing as overkill. I'm a fan of redundancies. Desiccant in your transport cases also can't hurt (you asked). But make sure you've got fresh desiccant and make sure you're not storing your guns in foam for any length of time. Foam can hold moisture. And particularly if you're outside in the rain and then shove the gun into the case to get it home. If you've gone anywhere near water, get the guns out of the cases and wiped down as soon as you can.
 
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Don't leave your firearms in cases. They are horrible about retaining moisture against your gun. Wiping down your guns periodically with oil goes a long way. Also consider rust resistant finishes if your gun doesn't already have one. Duracoat/Cerakote work wonders to prevent corrosion.
 
Rust...or very slow iron oxidation is one of my favorite colors. It's also dependable, consistent and the sole reason for an entire anti-rust industry. Millions of hard working Americans owe their livlihoods to rust. Millions of kids are able to have presents under their Christmas trees because their parents are employed in the anti-rust industry. Ergo, without rust, there would be no Christmas joy for millions of kids.
Rust, we salute you.
It is no coincidence that the Festivus pole is made out of aluminum.
 
regarding the finish on blued guns.....IF you like your factory blue finish and want to keep it that way....
you might ask some day about just 'why should I avoid putting my revolver in a lunch sack in the front seat with 2 whole plums'....
 
Has anyone gone down the NP3 path? I'm considering it for a 1911

I bought a Glock with something like that on the slide and barrel.

And it don't rust.

DSCN3070 (2).JPG
 
I've had excellent results with storing my guns in plastic bags impregnated with anti-rust chemicals.

http://www.zerustproducts.com/

The bags are inexpensive and come in a remarkable variety of sizes - like up to a complete motorcycle!

Also the bags help keep the guns from getting dinged and scratched from being moved about. I use them for knives and tools too.

The company also makes anti-rust vapor tablets you can stick up in a safe or tool box which releases anti-rust vapor and protects the entire enclosed contents. I keep one in my safe and rotate regularly. I also have one in the tool box I keep in my car trunk. They work great for me (touch wood).

They're cheap insurance and peace of mind.

For longer-term storage I also use Boeshield T-9

<broken link removed>

Boeshield T-9 was developed by Boeing Aircraft in Seattle for long-term storage of aircraft parts and tooling in a way that was easy to apply and didn't require extensive work to remove (like cosmoline, for instance). It goes on wet and dries to a thin waxy-feeling finish that is darn near bulletproof. The Boeshield T-9 doesn't need to be removed when you go shooting again.

Years ago Gun Tests magazine tested a big bunch of anti-rust coatings and Boeshield T-9 was second overall by a wide margin above the rest. (IIRC the #1 in the testing was some exotic and pricey stuff that was unobtainable locally and is no longer in production.) Many hardware stores in your area probably carry Boeshield T-9 on their shelves.

Also rated highly as a long-term rust preventative is "WD-40 300038 Specialist Long Term Corrosion Inhibitor"

https://www.amazon.com/WD-40-300038-Specialist-Corrosion-Inhibitor/dp/B0083V8KIW


Most large stores that carry WD-40 also carry this stuff. I stumbled across a Walmart that was closing out their stock and got about a dozen spray cans of it at a couple bucks a can. I keep a can of it next to everywhere I tinker with or store my guns.

Btw, regular WD-40 is a very poor rust preventative for anything other than short-term. It's great for spraying on a wet gun to displace the water. But after that, apply a good coat of REAL rust preventative. Regular WD-40 turns into a varnish in storage a loses most all its anti-rust qualities in a few months.

Also regular motor oil, while an excellent firearms lube (you really don't need the pricey exotic stuff the overwhelming majority of the time) it is a poor rust preventative over time.

Never put a gun away without a coat of rust preventative. That applies to knives, magazine, tools, etc. too.
 

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