Exterior rust

[sandiego67]

If a gun has significant exterior rust, does it affect the operation on the shotgun?

If you could get a good used gun ($1500) at a significant discount but it has rust on the exterior of the receiver and the barrel, would you consider buying it?

If you are not planning to sell it in the future, does it matter?

[thegamettt]

if its minor surface rust, that's easy.

[Ducky's Dad]

Depends on the gun and its intended use. My old 870 duck gun will be getting a fresh coat of flat black paint before next season. I wouldn't do that to a $1500 gun. Exterior rust does not mean the innards are rusty, but break it down and take a look before you buy it if you have any suspicions. A little oil and some bronze or stainless steel scrubbing will remove a lot of surface rust.

[bigbossman]

If a gun has significant exterior rust, does it affect the operation on the shotgun?

If it is external only, no.

If you could get a good used gun ($1500) at a significant discount but it has rust on the exterior of the receiver and the barrel, would you consider buying it?[/QUOTE]

A qualified yes. Significant rust with pitting would give me pause, and it would also depend on the make/model in question as well as how significant the discount was. If it is cosmetic surface rust only, that is pretty easy to remove, and a polish and re-blue isn't that expensive....... relative, of course to the value of the particular gun. Browning Citori, for sure. Mossberg 500, not so much.

[sandiego67]

Thanks, I am looking at it in person later today.

FYI - it is more like a Citori and less like a Mossberg.

[JagerDog]

Significant rust spells DEEP discount. For the most part they are a drug on the market.

[bigbossman]

Thanks, I am looking at it in person later today.

FYI - it is more like a Citori and less like a Mossberg.

Several years ago, I picked up a classic Remington 1100 for next to nothing because of worn bluing and surface rust. IIRC, my gunsmith charged about $110 to polish and re-blue the action and barrel. It was a beautiful looking gun for not much dough, and a lovely shooter. I ended up selling it for a good buck down the line..... that damn thing was just too heavy to carry around all day.

Just make sure the gun you're looking at is mechanically sound and without deep rust/pitting on the outside, or corrosion on the internals. And kill him on the discount.