Is this rust? Why won't it go away?

[send it_hit]

When I first got my Tikka T3 Varmint .223 i gave it a good cleaning, this is what came off the reciever. There is none of this on the barrel. No matter how much I cleaned it, there was always more. Now a few shooting trips later it's still there everytime I clean it... What gives? Suggestions on getting it off of there, being that no matter what I do more comes off every time I wipe it down? Will it harm my rifle in time? Is it even rust?


I know these are noob questions but bear with me, I feel like a worried parent.

[PANTyRAiD]

Do you have a picture of the stains on the rifle? A brass brush with lots of oil will remove all rust if you keep at it.

[send it_hit]

Do you have a picture of the stains on the rifle? A brass brush with lots of oil will remove all rust if you keep at it.

there is absolutely nothing visible on the rifle, which is why i was concerned. it doesnt look like blueing but... the fact you cant see it till you scrub it worried me. here is a pic up close:




Now that I see it in pics, it does almost have a reddish color. But to the naked eye it looks black. Just flat black, not glossy or anything. No hint of red.

[NoHeavyHitter]

Gun blue IS rust... The receiver had a crappy job or is of an alloy that won't hold the blueing as well as the barrel.

[Mr310]

I have the same thing on my factory Sig magazines.

BTW, the first picture of the rag resembles something awful.

[bjl333]

I think you're scrubing the reciever too hard. The finish is coming off!! What cleaning agent are you using?!?

[send it_hit]

Gun blue IS rust...

Wait... really? how do i miss something that basic?

I think you're scrubing the reciever too hard. The finish is coming off!! What cleaning agent are you using?!?

Oh crap. The first time I noticed it I really wasnt scrubbing hard at all. I was using Safariland "Break Free" CLP (Cleaner lubricant preservative) Directions said to spray on, let sit, and then movement or brushing would make foreign matter break loose and be wiped away. the first time I did that I saw that finish/blueing/rust stuff. no intense scrubbing at all.

safe to say i'll stop doing that now...

[bjl333]

I haven't use CLP in other firearms other then my ARs, and I only use it for the insides. I don't know if Break Free will take the Bluing off the gun but it kinda look like it from the pics! For exteriors I use Rem-oil.

[SJgunguy24]

If that was truly attacking your action there would be pitting by now.

[send it_hit]

I haven't use CLP in other firearms other then my ARs, and I only use it for the insides. I don't know if Break Free will take the Bluing off the gun but it kinda look like it from the pics! For exteriors I use Rem-oil.

do you use the clp on your barrel? i havent figured out if this is a good idea or not yet...

i do have cleaner for the barrel, but if i can consolidate that would be even better.

[bjl333]

do you use the clp on your barrel? i havent figured out if this is a good idea or not yet...

i do have cleaner for the barrel, but if i can consolidate that would be even better.

My routine is point the barrel down and spray CLP into the reciever. Scrub with a small toothbrush and let the CLP drip down thru the barrel. I scrub the everything clean in the reciever and lock lugs. I rinse with CLP and let it drip more. I then run a bore snake thru a couple of time and I wipe the outside with RemOil. I leave the insides wet. There may be other methods but thats what I do.

[bjl333]

do you use the clp on your barrel? i havent figured out if this is a good idea or not yet...

i do have cleaner for the barrel, but if i can consolidate that would be even better.

My routine is point the barrel down and spray CLP into the reciever. Scrub with a small toothbrush and let the CLP drip down thru the barrel. I scrub the everything clean in the reciever and lock lugs. I rinse with CLP and let it drip more. I then run a bore snake thru a couple of time and I wipe the outside with RemOil. I leave the insides wet. There may be other methods but thats what I do.

[mooster]

Are you remembering to shake the bottle of CLP before use? CLP is basically a mixture of 3 items: a solvent, a lubricant and teflon particles. It is not a solution and the 3 items will separate over time. If you are not mixing the solution you are only spraying your gun with one of the three items and thus not giving the gun adequate protection or cleaning.

[send it_hit]

My routine is point the barrel down and spray CLP into the reciever. Scrub with a small toothbrush and let the CLP drip down thru the barrel. I scrub the everything clean in the reciever and lock lugs. I rinse with CLP and let it drip more. I then run a bore snake thru a couple of time and I wipe the outside with RemOil. I leave the insides wet. There may be other methods but thats what I do.

cool... more or less what i was doing, except i don't leave it wet. I try and get the excess out with a rag.

Are you remembering to shake the bottle of CLP before use? CLP is basically a mixture of 3 items: a solvent, a lubricant and teflon particles. It is not a solution and the 3 items will separate over time. If you are not mixing the solution you are only spraying your gun with one of the three items and thus not giving the gun adequate protection or cleaning.

hmm good point. i think i do shake it just by default but i will be sure to now.

[M1A Rifleman]

God, my first thought was this post is a joke, showing pictures of dirty brown stained toilet paper. But from the look of the crinkled paper, my observations are you are, well, wiping to hard.



Also, I suggest not using that type of paper on your guns to avoid either scratches or wearing the finish. True, as was stated, bluing is a controlled rust. Use a gun cloth with a Hoppes #9 for cleaning and a Break Free CLP for Oil (these are my choices) and don't scrub or you will wear off the finish.