Stainless Steel Rusting

[encorejim]

This is my first post on the forum but I have learned much about TC products from the information posted here.

I have owned an encore with a ss frame and barrel for about 3 months. After taking it deer hunting in some rainy conditions and storing it in my pistol case for a couple days It began developing some surface rust on both the frame and the barrel.

I talked to TC customer service and they said not to store it in a case unless it has been cleaned. This is one of the reasons that I bought stainless was because of the reduced maintenance.

Has any one else had any problems with stainless steel TC products and rusting?

[dave375hh]

I think you will find that everyone who neglects their stainless guns will eventually find them rusted. Even stainless is not rust proof when not cleaned and or put away wet. The problem would be worse in a case because it couldn't dry from air circulation. Sorry you had to find this out the hard way. I've seen rusted SS guns of several makes including TC, Rem, Savage & browning. SS is rust resistant but not rust proof. Some oooo steel wool and light oil should clean it off if it's not pitted.

[KN]

TC told you right. SS used in guns is not a true stainless steel. It will rust. Just not nearly as easily as carbon steel. You should never store any gun in a case that has not been cleaned and oiled. Thats just asking for trouble. The good news is it should be fairly easy to remove.Use a scrub pad such as a scotch brite or similar to rub it down. Do not use steel wool unless its a stainless steel wool. Regular steel wool will imbed the stainless with the regular steel in the pad and you'll end up chasing your tail so to speak. It will probably continue to have rust showing up on it.  KN

[b square]

Notice that it is called stain "less", not stain proof. All steel rusts, just at different rates. Introduce moisture... be it rain, humidity, going from cold temp. to hot quickly, etc... and rust will occur without some sort of intervention such as oil, silica, dehumidifier, etc. Reduced-maintenance yes; maintenance-free, no.  I agree with KN that you'll come out better if you don't use regular steel wool; scotchbrite with light oil oughtta do it.

[luredaddy]

Even STAINLESS steel contains iron, that causes rust.  From what I have been told, the only stainless that does not rust, is   that, that is used,  in surgical instruments.

[KN]

luredaddy is partly right. Surgical SS won't rust as it contains no iron. Mainly its 300 series stainless that wont rust. There are many other uses for SS that won't rust such as caustic pumps or any other environment where corrosion can't be tolerated. But its not suited for guns. It does not contain the properties needed for good wear resistance etc. that the gun manufacturers need. If your wondering if some thing made of SS will rust or not, put a magnet to it. If it shows any magnetism at all it will rust. It is the iron that is drawn to the magnet.    KN

[Flash]

Having spent about 10 years in welding products manufacturing, I've seen three grades of stainless steel. The highest grade of that time will not rust. The two lower grades would certainly rust. I still have some of the 1/16" 308 stainless core wire from stick electrode production and they   have been rust free since 1983. There are many more applications for high grade stainless steel beside surgical tools. Marine hardware, scissors, razor blades, cookware, worm-drive hose clamps, etc. but unfortunately, not guns from T/C.

[Keith L]

"not guns from T/C"

Or any other manufacturers that I have found.  All stainless gun parts I have seen from many different manufacturers have been magnetic (not magnetized but able to attract a magnet), indicating iron content.  Not being a metalurgist I don't know why, but for apparently sound reasons firearms need iron in the composition of their stainless.