Storage Question (Preventing Barrel Rust)

[anonymous308]

Question for you all. I know it is usually advised to put a light coat of oil inside the barrel to prevent rust when storing for long periods of time but what constitutes a long period of time. I know this depends on atmospheric conditions and other factors but is this something that takes a long time to form?

Sometimes I go a couple of months between shoots. I am also not one to clean my rifle frequently, maybe once every three or four outings. When I get home they usually go straight into storage until the next use. If I do clean them it is before i shoot and not after (I know I know).

Should I run a patch with some oil on it down the barrel before storing even if I am not cleaning it?

[LynnJr]

It is more important on chromoly actions and barrels than stainless.
And it depends on if you are sweating on the metal.
If you haven't got rust now you are good for that amount of time.
On a stainless barrel only they never need oiling unless they show rust early on.

[Ej6fade]

...

[hermosabeach]

Where do you live? Beach or Desert?
Do you have a golden rod in your safe?

[anonymous308]

Inland Empire. Safe is indoors. No golden rod.

[midnightreloader]

I always run a oiled patch down the bore after cleaning. Whenever I shoot the rifle again I run a dry patch down the night before I go shooting. I also leave one of those silica gel packs in the case too. Never had rust.

[URSA Facilitator]

AccurateShooter has run multiple tests and so far a product called EEZOX is the best at inhibiting rust. Their website is http://www.warrencustomoutdoor.com/eezox-gc.html

On AS see http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/...&submit=Search

[WyattandDoc]

You're going to hate me for this. I WAS a huge Frog Lube fan for everything, until I realized it gummed up all my moving parts after time IE; Bolts, triggers, safety's etc etc.

What I did find, is that FL is excellent for barrels. A very light coat after shooting prevents rust really well. It also reduces build up during shooting. Just my 2cents.

[benjamac]

Question for you all. I know it is usually advised to put a light coat of oil inside the barrel to prevent rust when storing for long periods of time but what constitutes a long period of time. I know this depends on atmospheric conditions and other factors but is this something that takes a long time to form?

Sometimes I go a couple of months between shoots. I am also not one to clean my rifle frequently, maybe once every three or four outings. When I get home they usually go straight into storage until the next use. If I do clean them it is before i shoot and not after (I know I know).

Should I run a patch with some oil on it down the barrel before storing even if I am not cleaning it?

Why not just take better care of your things? Taking care of your firearms will turn them from consumables to inheritables.

[Rosebud22]

clean my guns after every use. Run a patch soaked in WD40 for storage.
If it is good enough for NASA, good enough for me.
WD40 (Water displacement, formula number 40)

[John Joseph]

I'd run a bore snake through your bore a few times followed by a spritz of aerosol down the barrel and out the bore for a quick'n'dirty.
To properly apply a coat of oil to your bore would (in my opinion) require an oiled patch placed on top of a clean wool mop then down the clean barrel.
If you're shooting a .22 rim fire I'd leave the barrel alone, maybe brush out the chamber if needed, until you notice accuracy flagging and then clean and apply protective oil.

[John Joseph]

Why not just take better care of your things? Taking care of your firearms will turn them from consumables to inheritables.

^^^this^^^

[Garv]

Goldenrod on the bottom of the safe, a bag of desiccant on top.
Check the desiccant every few months to recharge it.

I live a mile or so from the beach, no rust.

[Garandimal]

Don't overthink it.

Marine Grease



Wipe the metal down w/ a film of it, including a greased patch/jag down the bore.

Lasts for a year or more, tons or anti-corrosives, then just wipe it down w/ a CLP rag, and a CLP patch/jag down the bore, before you shoot.

The Red 'N' Tacky Grease works great, too... and either makes an outstanding GP shooting Grease.

I like the Marine Grease because it's also Blue, and invisible on parked steel.

...So the rifle doesn't look like a park statue.




GR

[Tarasdad]

I have some guns that were stored in a gun cabinet at my dad's house in SE Texas for 10 years without being maintained. Before they were put in the cabinet they were lightly coated with Birchwood Casey RIG (Rust Inhibiting Grease) inside and out. The day I pulled them out in 2009 they looked just as good as the day they went in. No rust anywhere. If you know anything about the weather in SE Texas you'll know that rust is a constant issue. Rain, humidity, killer heat - seeing what these guns looked like after that long unmaintained made me a firm believer in RIG.