Do I have permanent damage now?

[Steak]

So I know this is absolutely 100% my fault. I've been very very busy working late and also lazy I guess now that I look at it. I carry my shield inside the waistband when I'm outside cutting grass several days a week. When it's 95 to 100° out you could only imagine the environment that the gun is sitting in for hours.

I have not removed the gun from the holster in probably six weeks. Well I did so last night and there is a small area of rust on the slide. My stomach just dropped I know it's my fault, again I'm just an idiot I guess. I immediately got out some CLP and a nylon brush. It appears the orange rust was removed but now I have a little spot on the side of the slide that feels rough when you run your finger over it. Almost like I bumped the slide into something hard and got a little nick on it.

Kind of hard to get a good picture but I'll attach one so that you can see. I'm usually very good at maintaining my guns but I've been working so much so late I just got lazy. Would this be considered damage, something that could possibly get worse, or is just this a "character mark" now. I'm assuming because the rust was on there a couple weeks it actually pitted the slide a little bit, would that be correct?

I feel like such a freaking retard for letting this happen. I'm so mad at myself but I had to post here because it's been bothering me.

You can see the spot I'm talking about. It's right above the letter P to the top right.

 

[Pisgah]

Character mark -- and the more the gun is used the more marks it will gather, so don't fret it too much. But really, man -- six weeks in a holster with no check? :-(

 

[Steak]

Character mark -- and the more the gun is used the more marks it will gather, so don't fret it too much. But really, man -- six weeks in a holster with no check? :-(

I know man believe me, don't have to tell me again, I feel really bad and dumb.

I mean I never plan on ever selling the gun it's an everyday carry gun and at least it's not a mark inside the barrel or one of the vital parts of the gun. I know by not checking it that long it could have been worse so I will not let that happen ever again.

 

[mudman bob]

maintenance

Grab a rag or piece of micro fiber cloth, put some oil on it and wipe down your Shield after carrying. This is not meant to sound smart aleck, just build a good habit.

 

[Steak]

Grab a rag or piece of micro fiber cloth, put some oil on it and wipe down your Shield after carrying. This is not meant to sound smart ***, just build a good habit.

No I don't take it as smart ***. You're absolutely right I have one of the silicone cloths that I will just wipe it down with every day after carrying. The only pain in the *** thing is having to drop the magazine eject the round out of the chamber to wipe it down every day. I guess in doing that every day switching the round the gets put into the chamber would be smart.

 

[MP22]

Use some #0000 steel wool....just brush it...dab some cold blue on it....never know it's there.....or just ignore it...it's you carry gun.

 

[RandomMan]

No I don't take it as smart ***. You're absolutely right I have one of the silicone cloths that I will just wipe it down with every day after carrying. The only pain in the *** thing is having to drop the magazine eject the round out of the chamber to wipe it down every day. I guess in doing that every day switching the round the gets put into the chamber would be smart.

You don't need to do that. We're talking about taking a rag and wiping it down, not cleaning the entire gun. Remove it from the holster, set the safety (if not already set), keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, keep your finger off the trigger, and wipe the gun down with one or two passes. No need to unload the weapon to do this. Then store it for the day OUT of the holster.

Frankly, you should be checking to make sure the weapon is still loaded any time it comes out or goes in the holster. A simple press check and dropping the mag and inspecting the rounds in it is sufficient. I do this every time and you know what? I've found the gun unloaded more than once.

I would advise you AGAINST repeated rechambering of carry ammo, even if you "rotate" through it, after 8 days, you'll be rechambering the same round. Repeated rechambering tends to set bullets back inside the case and can cause a dramatic increase in pressure, and thus a KB.

The rust thing is minor, as said, use some #0000 steel wool and it will polish off without harming the finish around it. Then oil it or wipe it down daily.

-Rob

 

[Steak]

You don't need to do that. We're talking about taking a rag and wiping it down, not cleaning the entire gun. Remove it from the holster, set the safety (if not already set), keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, keep your finger off the trigger, and wipe the gun down with one or two passes. No need to unload the weapon to do this. Then store it for the day OUT of the holster.

Frankly, you should be checking to make sure the weapon is still loaded any time it comes out or goes in the holster. A simple press check and dropping the mag and inspecting the rounds in it is sufficient. I do this every time and you know what? I've found the gun unloaded more than once.

I would advise you AGAINST repeated rechambering of carry ammo, even if you "rotate" through it, after 8 days, you'll be rechambering the same round. Repeated rechambering tends to set bullets back inside the case and can cause a dramatic increase in pressure, and thus a KB.

The rust thing is minor, as said, use some #0000 steel wool and it will polish off without harming the finish around it. Then oil it or wipe it down daily.

-Rob

Okay sounds good I appreciate you posting again. I just get so conscious with a loaded gun that I just assumed I would unload it even if just wiping it down.

 

[mesinge2]

This will make you feel better. Check out the muzzle end of my 226. Its my duty gun and gets carried daily in an unforgiving kydex holster.

 

[kennyb]

or...use renaissance wax on the external surfaces and forget about all the daily wipedowns

 

[mag318]

I got into the habit thru my police career of never leaving any pistol in a holster at the end of shift. Now retired when I come home and remove my pistol from it's holster I always wipe it down. Once this becomes habit it will be second nature and part of your routine. I carry my Shield in an IWB holster tight against my body which offers great concealment, especially during the summer months. For added protection I sent my Shield to Robar for their NP3 finish which is a much more durable finish than the factory Melonite. But for those who don't want the extra expence, wiping your pistol down after wearing should suffice.

 

[gregm784]

My daily routine with my EDC is to remove from holster, wipe off lint, dust, etc, set on night stand (no kids in house). Morning, i drop mag to verify 17rd and press check for chamber round, then it goes in my holster IWB Crossbreed btw.

On the weekends i'll field strip and clean the lint & dust out of the rest of the gun (wear in deep concealment, so it's surrounded by cotton all day).

6 weeks without a range trip or practice? ouch.

Rust & politicians are your weapons enemies. Rust is easier to control.

 

[GKC]

I know this isn't the subject of the post, and I can't really add to the suggestions you've already gotten, so I want to ask for curiosity's sake: why do you carry your gun when you are mowing the lawn? (Not a slam, I'm really wondering why.)

When I come in from mowing the lawn, I am drenched in sweat, and I have dirt and grass clippings even in my underwear (I usually wear shorts and a T-shirt when I mow, and the dirt and grass seems to get inside everything.) It's so bad that most of the time, I stand at the back door (we have a privacy fence, and we live out in the country) and strip down and hose myself off before I come in the house. It's hard to imagine putting a gun through that! (Again, not slamming you, I'm really wondering why.)

 

[N4KVE]

Try Hoppe's gun grease. Pt # 1102. Comes in a toothpaste type tube, & is made for protecting guns that will sit for a long time. I live in Florida where it's hot, & this product prevents my sweat from rusting the gun. Consider the mark a badge of honor. GARY N4KVE

 

[M_E_]

There is a product called KROIL . It is available in hardware stores or from Brownells. Apply it to the gun or soak a patch in it & leave it on top of the gun. It is a penetrating oil that will get UNDER the rust & lift it from the gun without scrubbing. I had the slide of my Sig P220 rust up during a rain soaked deer hunt. Sprayed it down with Kroil & wrapped it up with a rag. Two days later, I wiped the slide rust free.

 

[gnystrom]

Now you know how to care for it I would say "don't sweat it" (pun intended). If you find yourself up all night worrying about your marked up slide you can have it totally refinished in a large variety of coatings that will make it better than new at a relatively low cost. The first mark bothers most people. Hopefully your slide will have lots of beautiful holster wear marks in the future. Enjoy your gun and I hope you still carry mowing the lawn. It helps keep the snakes down.

 

[les_garten]

I thought the Slide on a Shield was Stainless?

 

[shipwreck]

I thought the Slide on a Shield was Stainless?

You think stainless can't rust?

 

[mesinge2]

I thought the Slide on a Shield was Stainless?

I don't think is it. My M&P-40c clearly says stainless on the slide and the shield does not.

Even if it is stainless, stainless can rust as well.

 

[GKC]

...I hope you still carry mowing the lawn. It helps keep the snakes down.

The snakes see the gun and run away? Or make that, slither away?

If that is the case, then the sight of me naked on my back porch when I am hosing down must make them flee the state!