Light rust removal

[olywa]

I've been sprucing up my Dad's old 12ga Rem 870 (circa late '50s). So far I've replaced the plain Poly-Choke barrel with a nice vent rib 25 1/2" Skeet barrel and I found another vent rib 28" Modified choke barrel. I hope to eventually find a Full-choke Wingmaster barrel for it as well. I'm not partial to choke tubes and there seems to be lots of older 2 3/4" Wingmaster barrels around. I've also replaced the old battle-scarred stock with a new wood stock that has the R3 pad on it.

I've been through the action pretty well and treated all the metal surfaces with Breakfree. The action is as smooth as greased lightning and the old gun points and shoots like a dream. However there is a little bit of light freckling on the receiver that I'd like to remove. The blueing is in good shape but I'm wondering how to clean up the little bit rust freckling that is on it. Is there anything I can do short of having it re-blued? I appreciate any suggestions that might work without hurting the existing blueing.

[gunnut69]

I regularly use WD40 and 0000 steel wool. Use the oil first and gently rub the super fine steel wool over the rust. Won't harm the blue but will remove the rust.. Just go lightly..

[olywa]

Thanks gunnut, I'll give that a try. Is standard steel wool ok, or would stainless be better?

[benchracer]

A very gentle method that has worked well for me is to generously apply CLP Breakfree to the rusted areas.  Then, wrap the rusted areas in cloth or paper towels that are lightly saturated with CLP and store the parts or firearm in a dry place for a few days.  After a few days, I take the parts or the firearm out and carefully wipe them clean of CLP with a cotton cloth or some paper towels.  If rust is still present, I reapply CLP and  place the item in storage as before.  Repeat as needed.  It is a gradual, gentle  process that works very well against just about any corrosion short of deep pitting.

[olywa]

Thanks for the tip benchracer. I'm finding that there isn't much that Breakfree won't do. I think I'll remove the stock so the wood doesn't swell, then let the Breakfree do it's thing.

[wink_man]

Gotta love those old 870's, they take a licking and keep on ticking. Break free or wd-40 and 0000 steel wool work very well to remove the rust freckling, the only problem is, you have pits now(even though minor), which will only get worse in time.
What I do is as stated, use break free or wd-40 and steel wool to remove the freckling and get it as clean as possible. Once thats done, I clean the part down with 91% Isopropl alchohol to degrease it, then apply a coat or 2 of Brownells Oxhpo cold blue. The Brownells Oxpho blue eats through the minor pits and coats them so further problem in eliminated, and it's lighter than factory bluing, so you can coat the whole receiver and not change the color while effctively eating away the minor pits. Just put it on with a cotton ball(use plastic gloves), let it sit a minute, dry it with a towel, and buff with 0000 steel wool. Do this one to 3 times till you're happy with the finnish, then coat it heavily with oil and let it sit a day or 2 to cure with the oil on it. I've taken many guns that looked like beaters due to rust and have made them look like brand new again doing this.

[gunnut69]

That's a very good idea Wink_Man. The OxphoBlue is actually a kind of parkerizing and it will convert that little kernel of rust at the bottom of the pit and stop any further damage..

[olywa]

Thanks wink_man, it looks like it's time for a Brownell's order. It'll be nice to get the old girl spruced up.

I appreciate the tips guys, now comes the elbow grease part. September 1st and grouse season are just around the corner...

[Rangr44]

You'll have much better results, if brass steel wool or a copper coin is substituted for the steel wool.