My mosin and rust?

[Anchors]

I'm somewhat new to firearms maintenance.
I just pulled out my R Guns Mosin Sniper that has been in it's case for about a month and the handle on the bolt is all rusty?!

I cleaned it after I got it and put a lot of Rem-Oil on the bolt before storing it in it's case in the closet.
Did I do something wrong?
I also haven't gotten to fire it yet, now I'm worried I messed it up (I put about $900 into it after shipping and transfer!)

It's soaking right now to remove the rust.

Any comments are welcome.

[Anchors]

It is also the only part of the firearm that is bare steel for those not familiar, the rest is blued.

[Mssr. Eleganté]

It's generally considered a bad idea to store firearms in their cases for periods longer that transporting them to and from your home. The foam inside the cases can retain moisture and cause your guns to rust. A better system would be to store them in a safe or locking cabinet with a dehumidifier or "Goldenrod" heat element, or desiccant.

If you haven't already, try some super fine 0000 bronze (best) or 0000 steel (second best) wool with oil to remove the rust.

[Fate]

Kroil and bronze wool will take that rust off.

Now don't leave it in the gun case again.

[gunboat]

Correct on the case storage, lack of ventilation is a killer.
Also storing in a clothes closet is poor as well. Moisture from the clothing, sweat, can be considerable --

[rojocorsa]

Does this moisture trapping apply to soft cases as well? Because I've never had any problem with my shotguns (that have been stored 30+ years in soft cases in a very humid part of Mexico).

[Fate]

It definitely can.

Though I have one really old gun case that I got from my old man 20 yrs ago (it was probably made in the 1950s) that I can leave anything in and not have it rust. Not sure what the difference is. Might be that it breathes better than the modern ones.

[rojocorsa]

Well then again, the case that my Wingmaster is in has no foam--I think it's all nylon. Hopefully, I'll be able to bring it home soon anyway.

[Anchors]

Ah I see. That's kind of a bummer. I don't really have anywhere else to store it. I don't have a safe and probably won't for some time. But thanks for clearing that up.
I was kind of stressing about it possibly happening again.

If I don't have a safe, where can I store my guns without them rusting?!

The AR is no problem since I can break it down and put it pretty much anywhere, but the Mosin is pretty big and bulky.

Thanks for the advice on removal of rust. I already took some chemicals and steel wool to it, it mostly came off, I'm just trying to get the last difficult bit off so I can get that "shine" back to the steel.

Thanks again everyone.

[Mssr. Eleganté]

If I don't have a safe, where can I store my guns without them rusting?

Arizona.

I used to keep my "junker" guns in a closet. Changed the door knob to a keyed lock knob for $15 and left the 25 watt light bulb in the closet burning 24/7.

[Fate]

Just put the Mosin in the closet with bolt open. Even better, decock the bolt with bolt open (1/4 turn the cocking knob). Only those who know the trick will be able to "fix" it and be able to close the bolt again. Plus it is a bit easier on the springs.

[Anchors]

Haha Arizona. Well I'm visiting home in about a month, so it'll probably be coming with me.

So it's okay to store it in the closet, just keep it out of the case?
I actually had it in the case with the bolt out and next to it when it rusted.
I'll probably just put the cable lock on it (that I had to buy), it's not like I'm going to use it for HD.

I just don't want any rust problems again, $900 for a Mosin is a lot of money to me haha I was stressing out.

Maybe take the foam out of the case (cheap Plano case it shipped in.) and put some sort of dehumidifying component in it. Or would the plastic trap moisture too?

[johnthomas]

I was told a long time ago, for extended storage, wax your gun. The oil will eventually go away, where the wax stays to protect the metal.
I have many guns I don't shoot much, I wax them and they remain rust free. I use paste wax, johnson and johnson.

[Milsurp Collector]

Coat the metal with Eezox http://www.eezox.com/ and keep the rifle in a gun sock

http://www.cabelas.com/link-12/product/0036240227797a.shtml

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/cases-gun-socks-wipes-by-guide-gear.aspx?a=408038

Eezox was top-rated in two corrosion-prevention tests

http://www.6mmbr.com/corrosiontest.html

http://www.thegunzone.com/rust.html

I use to use RIG (Rust Inhibiting Grease) but I switched to Eezox. Eezox dries, so it isn't greasy like RIG or oily like Break-Free CLP, and it provides better rust protection than either one of them.

[Scratch705]

eezox is all i use to oil my guns. works even as a light duty cleaner.