how do I protect bluing?

[threeperreaper]

[echo1]

After a thorough cleaning, I use auto synth oil everywhere on guns that will sit. PAX

[Barbarosa]

I also have some very old rifles that the previous owner used nothing but 3-in-1 oil and they look like new. I think it's less about what products you use and more about the fact that you use something regularly.

I have good luck with Ballistol.

[sakosf]

Boeshield T-9. leaves a dry film on the metal surface. I have used it for quite a few years.

https://www.brownells.com/gun-cleaning-chemicals/oils-lubricants/rust-prevention/t-9-waterproof-lube-prod9719.aspx

[cabikefreak]

Check out A.G. Russell. They have a silicone treatment which is an alternative to oil. If you shoot and clean often, quality oil is simpler and works great but depending on your environment this may be better for longer term storage.

[johnthomas]

Don't store it in a foam case. Those cases hold moisture and are for transporting, not storage.

[NapalmCheese]

NapalmCheese's rules and observations on keeping guns from rusting:

1. Have something oily or oil like on the finish
2. Wash the gun with water after use
3. Oil the gun after washing
4. Don't be afaid of WD-40
5. Silicone impregnated socks are awesome
6. Foam cases are useful but dangerous
7. Check your guns every so often
8. If you really want to keep it from rusting paint/cerakote/guncoat + oil

I hunt ducks over saltwater for a few months out of the year. I hunt deer and antelope in whatever weather Wyoming has to offer with a blued/synthetic gun. As a protectant I've tried BreakFree CLP and found it doesn't work that well. It's alright if you're just storing your guns in the safe and reapply every once in a while. Same with Gunzilla and Ballistol. The biggest problem with Ballistol as protectant is how easy it emulsifies in water, it'll wear off in the rain (but so will just about anything thin).

I tried Casey Birchwood Barricade for a while, and while it worked on my hunting guns, it didn't work well for longterm storage in a humid environment unless it was reapplied every couple of months.

I then moved on to Hornady One Shot gun cleaner, it leaves a dry film and has worked very well so far.

Always looking for something better to protect my blued/wood shotguns while out hunting ducks in the bay I'm now trying WD-40 Specialist Long Term Corrosion Inhibitor. The jury is out on whether or not this is better than the Hornady One Shot. It leaves a viscous 'self healing' film on the metal bits. I had a blued shotgun out in the salt marsh a couple of days ago in some fairly nasty elements, definitely getting salt water on it, definitely getting rained on, and I saw a small bit of surface rust developed. I wiped it off, continued hunting, and never saw another spec.

For your normal day to day uses I don't think it matters what you use as long as you regularly wipe down your blued parts. For long term storage I think the Hornady and WD-40 specialist are the way to go.

If you're in a salty area, or if you are out in the rain, don't be afraid to host off your gun, disassemble your gun, shoot it with WD-40 (normal WD-40), let it drip dry, wipe it off, clean it, and then lube it.

I've found that storing in silicone impregnated gun socks (even in foam cases) delays the onset of rust coming back from the blind.

Don't store your gun in, or on, your foam cases.

Wash your foam cases, they get salt water in them from being out in the blind or having a wet gun put in them.

Ultimately I just spray painted my most often used duck gun, and it still exhibits rust every once in a while. The next time I buy something with a rough and terrible finish like an 870 Express I'll just throw some furniture wax on it, heat it up, and see how that goes.

[Usmc0844spare]

NapalmCheese's rules and observations on keeping guns from rusting:

1. Have something oily or oil like on the finish
2. Wash the gun with water after use
3. Oil the gun after washing
4. Don't be afaid of WD-40
5. Silicone impregnated socks are awesome
6. Foam cases are useful but dangerous
7. Check your guns every so often
8. If you really want to keep it from rusting paint/cerakote/guncoat + oil

I hunt ducks over saltwater for a few months out of the year. I hunt deer and antelope in whatever weather Wyoming has to offer with a blued/synthetic gun. As a protectant I've tried BreakFree CLP and found it doesn't work that well. It's alright if you're just storing your guns in the safe and reapply every once in a while. Same with Gunzilla and Ballistol. The biggest problem with Ballistol as protectant is how easy it emulsifies in water, it'll wear off in the rain (but so will just about anything thin).

I tried Casey Birchwood Barricade for a while, and while it worked on my hunting guns, it didn't work well for longterm storage in a humid environment unless it was reapplied every couple of months.

I then moved on to Hornady One Shot gun cleaner, it leaves a dry film and has worked very well so far.

Always looking for something better to protect my blued/wood shotguns while out hunting ducks in the bay I'm now trying WD-40 Specialist Long Term Corrosion Inhibitor. The jury is out on whether or not this is better than the Hornady One Shot. It leaves a viscous 'self healing' film on the metal bits. I had a blued shotgun out in the salt marsh a couple of days ago in some fairly nasty elements, definitely getting salt water on it, definitely getting rained on, and I saw a small bit of surface rust developed. I wiped it off, continued hunting, and never saw another spec.

For your normal day to day uses I don't think it matters what you use as long as you regularly wipe down your blued parts. For long term storage I think the Hornady and WD-40 specialist are the way to go.

If you're in a salty area, or if you are out in the rain, don't be afraid to host off your gun, disassemble your gun, shoot it with WD-40 (normal WD-40), let it drip dry, wipe it off, clean it, and then lube it.

I've found that storing in silicone impregnated gun socks (even in foam cases) delays the onset of rust coming back from the blind.

Don't store your gun in, or on, your foam cases.

Wash your foam cases, they get salt water in them from being out in the blind or having a wet gun put in them.

Ultimately I just spray painted my most often used duck gun, and it still exhibits rust every once in a while. The next time I buy something with a rough and terrible finish like an 870 Express I'll just throw some furniture wax on it, heat it up, and see how that goes.

+1 for the WD40.

On my AR I use it strategically. If there are areas that I am concerned may be retaining some water based gun cleaner, I give those areas a squirt of WD40. Under the gas block for example.

Might be a little silly but I am essentially using 3 different types of protectant at any one time.

WD40 as noted above.
CLP for sliding/moving parts
"Normal" gun oil for leaving a light coat in the barrel.

Nothing blued on my rifle but if there were I would indeed use CLP on those parts. Externally my rifle is dry but internally its pretty wet during storage.

[beerman]

I use G-96...I have used this for years with great results...and it smells like bubblegum. As for WD-40..I used to use it until I pulled an 870 out of the safe and it left rust stains on my wipe down rag...never again.

[Calif Hunter]

I use Birchwood Casey Barricade (it leaves a thin film) and Hornady One Shot Cleaner Dry Lube. Some tests have shown the Hornady stuff among the best at rust prevention. I also like it for cleaning out semi-auto actions and triggers, as well as bolts/firing pins for bolt action rifles.

[pennstater]

Boeshield T-9. leaves a dry film on the metal surface. I have used it for quite a few years.

https://www.brownells.com/gun-cleani...-prod9719.aspx

Well, I may give this a whirl. Looks promising. Thanks.

[NapalmCheese]

As for WD-40..I used to use it until I pulled an 870 out of the safe and it left rust stains on my wipe down rag...never again.

Don't use normal WD-40 for rust protection. Normal WD-40 is for displacing water after you wash your gun (something you have to do if you hunt in salt water).

WD-40 Specialist Longterm Corrosion Inhibitor is a different product that has so far tested well (and seems to work at least as well as Hornady One Shot and better than Barricade so far as I can tell).

[Ahansom]

I keep this link on my favorites. Good reading and may change some mind's on what to use for cleaning, lubing and protecting firearms!!

http://www.dayattherange.com/?page_id=3667

[mtenenhaus]

Huge fan of Rig
It works great.

I have an old piece of sheepskin that i embed with Rig and quickly wipe it on.....

If i'm storing the firearm i'll even coat a wool or cotton mop with it and run it through the bore.

Highly recommended.

[dk94044]

If you are OCD with bluing dings and scratches buy the Beechwood Casey Presto Gun Blue Pen works wonders for minor scuffs and blemishes.