Suggestions for removing rust from inside barrel?
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The least destructive standby is #0000 steel wool and gun oil. Put a tuft of steel wool in a slotted tip cleaning rod.
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First I'd soak it in Hoppes 9. After that, the 0000 steel wool is an option. After that, I'd run a few patches with Flitz on them down the barrel to do two things. One is to remove any residual steel wool to avoid future rusting and the other to polish the barrel. After you are satisfied that the rust is gone and the barrel is in good shape, I'd not be shy about running a bunch of well soaked oil patches through to leave a light coating on it.
After sitting for about a week, I'd run a phosphor bronze brush down the barrel a few times and then clean with patches and your favorite solvent or CLP. Oil afterwards if using a solvent. That should be it. This will insure anything coming out of the metal after the initial treatment is gone.
After sitting for about a week, I'd run a phosphor bronze brush down the barrel a few times and then clean with patches and your favorite solvent or CLP. Oil afterwards if using a solvent. That should be it. This will insure anything coming out of the metal after the initial treatment is gone.
kwill1911
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Shoot it, then clean it.
OP
AJR337
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Shoot it before trying to clean the rust out?
kwill1911
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Yes
Only my opinion. But I would solvent/bore brush until all the loose stuff was off and SHOOT Jacketed bullets through it. If that doesn't do it, I'd put a little metal polish right on the bullet above the neck of the case. Or spread a very tiny amount in the bore near the chamber Once I got it clean, I'd let a coat of preservative sit on it a while. Maybe some oil and/or CLP.
dfariswheel
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Firing a bullet through a rusty bore can destroy the gun, depending on how much rust is there.
This is essentially firing a bullet through an obstructed bore.
Too much rust and you get anything from a bulge, ring, or blown barrel. Even with lighter rust pressure soars.
Here's a professional way...
Flood the bore with Kroil and let soak a day or so to soften the rust.
Use a new bore brush to make 5 to 10 passes through the bore, applying Kroil every few passes.
If the rust is heavy, use a stainless steel bore brush. This is the only time to ever use a stainless brush, they can damage the bore.
Use Kroil and JB Bore Paste to do the final clean.
Once done the bore will be in as good of condition as it's going to be.
Using abrasive coated bullets will mostly affect the throat, not the rest of the bore.
Don't make the mistake some people do, which is to spin a brush with a drill in the bore.
This is a valid technique for SMOOTH BORE guns, but it will ruin a rifled bore quickly.
Once the rust is out what you have is what you get, which will be a frosty looking bore with fine pitting.
"Removing" the pitting is not possible since that would require significant metal removal and a badly oversized bore.
This is essentially firing a bullet through an obstructed bore.
Too much rust and you get anything from a bulge, ring, or blown barrel. Even with lighter rust pressure soars.
Here's a professional way...
Flood the bore with Kroil and let soak a day or so to soften the rust.
Use a new bore brush to make 5 to 10 passes through the bore, applying Kroil every few passes.
If the rust is heavy, use a stainless steel bore brush. This is the only time to ever use a stainless brush, they can damage the bore.
Use Kroil and JB Bore Paste to do the final clean.
Once done the bore will be in as good of condition as it's going to be.
Using abrasive coated bullets will mostly affect the throat, not the rest of the bore.
Don't make the mistake some people do, which is to spin a brush with a drill in the bore.
This is a valid technique for SMOOTH BORE guns, but it will ruin a rifled bore quickly.
Once the rust is out what you have is what you get, which will be a frosty looking bore with fine pitting.
"Removing" the pitting is not possible since that would require significant metal removal and a badly oversized bore.
I have several old solid steel sectional cleaning rods in different diameters I got while in the Army. I mount the appropriate one on one of my drills and attach a slightly oversize metal bore brush. I dip the brush in rifle bore cleaner and then pass it in both directions through the barrel 8 or 10 passes and then re-dip and repeat many times. Every 20 or 30 passes I use patches on a hand-held rod to swab it out. You must remember to stop the drill when you come to both ends of each cycle. This is an industrial-level technique I developed to restore sewer-pipe level military surplus rifle barrels to shootable condition. This works on the worst rust imaginable. Not for the feint of heart or for minor clean-up of a collectible firearm. This is a real 'bet you can never shoot that one' sure bet-winner.
I'm definitely in the camp of soaking the bore with a penetrating oil or solvent to loosen the crusty stuff, then thoroughly cleaning the bore with brushes and even steel wool before shooting it. Keep the bore lubricated with penetrating oil or solvent as you clean.
Could also be done by electrolytic action. I used this years ago in an attempt to restore a .303 Martini-Henry bore after running innumerable patches through it. Suspended a thin steel rod in the bore using rubber tubing or electrical shrink tubing, plugged the bore and filled it with a washing soda (not baking soda!) solution and used a 12v power supply. Think I had to replace the solution two or three times. Pulled out a LOT of rust and crud. Unfortunately the bore was too far gone to restore and I had a very clean sewer pipe.
I've used this technique on a number of other projects and it's worked well, most spectacularly on a rusty 2-cyl. gas tank a neighbour's young son had acquired. Took several changes of solution and about 48 hours but it was clean.
Lots of YT vids online.
I've used this technique on a number of other projects and it's worked well, most spectacularly on a rusty 2-cyl. gas tank a neighbour's young son had acquired. Took several changes of solution and about 48 hours but it was clean.
Lots of YT vids online.
Went to OP's first post and didn't say how rusty barrel is. Some following post appear to go indepth even mentioning 'crusty stuff'. Is barrel that bad? Some extreme tips here. If barrel is rusty, how bout rest of gun metal? Not meant as criticism just seems overboard methods.
In my limited experience, whenever it involves removing rust, I reach for the Kroil to use as a pre-soak, regardless of what follows.
The method dfariswheel posted sounds like a plan as well as the electrolytic method oldbrownhat posted.
As to firing jacketed bullets, that can help to an extent but depending on a few unmentioned variables and as stated, may lead to more than a rusty bore.
The method dfariswheel posted sounds like a plan as well as the electrolytic method oldbrownhat posted.
As to firing jacketed bullets, that can help to an extent but depending on a few unmentioned variables and as stated, may lead to more than a rusty bore.
The very best bore cleaner is liquid mercury. Unfortunately it is both difficult and expensive to get and in most places presents legal problems due to environmental hazards. Plug the bore, pour it in, let it set a while then pour it out. Unless you have a source for it already that is probably not an option.
For removing lead, yes. But rust???
I admit I have not tried it with rust myself. I was told back in the day that it would do the job on rust or anything else likely to be found in a firearms bore, but I have no first hand knowledge of that. I probably should have let that one go rather than passing on maybe bunk info. Since I no longer have any liquid mercury, nor for that matter a rusty barrel on which to try it, I shall pass.
Fill the bore with Metal Rescue or Evapo-rust and let it sit. It will take a few applications and a few days likely as there is such a low volume. When you dump out the old you can run a bore brush to help it with a little mechanical effort. FYI it will remove bluing so you can't just give it a bath. Given enough time it will remove every bit of rust, even down in the pits. I've cleaned some old tools that were so badly rusted they look like they were stippled.
What I know about rusty barrel bores wouldn’t make a pimple on Hickok45’s butt.
If the barrel is something of greater value….
I would not shoot the gun.
I would buy a bore scope and send the video/photos to some expert company like Bore Tech and ask their advice.
If the barrel is something of greater value….
I would not shoot the gun.
I would buy a bore scope and send the video/photos to some expert company like Bore Tech and ask their advice.
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