Brock needs advice.

[Brock Samson]

Hey folks, sorry it's been a while since I posted.

I need some advice from someone who's "been there".

January 1st, I became the Emergency Management Director for my county.  We got two feet of snow that day.  A week later, it rained like Noah's flood, and we had a "500 year flood" in the county. 

Next week, I'm predicting locusts....

The point is this.  I live below the dam, and my own home was destroyed, along with guns, cars, and every other possession I had.

Now, I had insurance that'll help, but here's what I need to know.

Anybody had firearms submerged under frigid, dirty water for 3 days?  I know some of my arsenal can be revived.  Perhaps most of it.  I just need to know what to look out for, in terms of trying to restore flood-damaged guns.  I didn't realize I had so many guns, and  so much hunting equipment.  Rifles, handguns, and shotguns, stainless, blue, and military finish. 

Any advice for re-finishing, or comments on long-term consequences for submerged firearms is appreciated.

Brock

[Flash]

What I would do is to strip the wood and optics off of all of them and submerge them in kerosene until I can clean them thoroughly.

[kyelkhunter3006]

The wood is going to suffer the most.  I'd probably trash the stocks if there's any reasonable doubt about them.  The other option with wood is trying to dry it out, which may or may not work.  Stripping them down and giving them the kerosene bath probably isn't a bad idea.  3 days in the water/ice won't hurt the metal at all.  Might show some rust and the finish may suffer, but the metal itself should be fine.  The internals workings of the guns will need the most attention, but the bath should help out there.  At sometime, probably before the bath, I'd get the metal of the guns nice and warm to help any moisture in the pores of the metal itself evaporate.  Then after they cool, drop them in the bath. 

[Foggy]

Brock
 what flash said  open the actions  make sure all the guns are covered completely the good optics  leupold weavers and a few more can an ar worth sending in  Quick had a name for a guy hang the wood  some place they won't get wet , inside prefered let them dry slow  then it clean and inspect  you are probly not as bad off as you think. get that metal in the kerosene .

Foggy
PS by the time is all done you'll be a fair to good gun mechanic.

[gunnut69]

The best idea is something like WD40.. It's not usually a product I recommend for guns but the 'WD' stands for 'water displacing' and the 40 is just the 40th formula they tried! Warm the metal with the wood removed and soak in WD40. It will require stripping to get the junk out(WD40 will dry to varnish) but the water will be removed. Warming the metal is essential as it opens the pores and makes the oils job easier.. Kerosene is a descent alternative as is diesel fuel..WD40 is just better. The wood will dry, sooner or later. A lot depends on the type of wood and finish. Don't rush it! Just hand in a cool dry place, indoors and let nature take it's course. In '93 and again in '95 we had a lot of flooding and if it was just normal flood water there was a chance. If the Missouri or Mississippi got over them there would be massive etching from the alkali. Around here most farma nd homes supply stores sell WD40 bulk(gallon cans) and it's not too pricey.. Diesel is cheaper but warming the metal is more important then..