What is the best way to get rust off of a gun barrel and restore it ?

Answer 1

The answer depends on what sort of firearm it is. Is it a collectible firearm, then a restoration might actually harm it's value. For that matter, a home restoration, if done improperly will hurt the gun's resale value should you one day decide you'd like to trade it in for something else. If it's a gun you bought just as a shooter, then the answer depends on how badly the barrel is rusted. Minor or modest rusting can be removed with some WD-40 or a rust removing product like Outer's Rust Remover, and some fine steel wool. Then you can use a touch-up blue to re-blue those spots, and blend the finish with some more fine steel wool.

Deciding whether or not to restore also depends on the shape of the bore. If you've got some minor rusting and pitting of the bore, then running rust remover through the bore and a good metal polish like Fitz of Mother's (applied carefully! Get carried away, and you'll end up altering the bore diameter) will restore the bore to serviceable condition and make it easier to clean. If the bore's badly rusted and pitted, then the gun isn't worth restoring, unless you're looking for a decorative wall-hanger.

A firearm with more extensive rust, as well as a lot of bare metal where the original bluing has completely worn off wil require something like Birchwood-Casey's Blue and Rust Remover and Perma Blue. This will require more steel wool, and possibly some fine sandpaper (depending on how much pitting there is) and carefully following the instructions on the packaging. That stuff is caustic and not good for you in the slightest, and once you start, you can't go back, since the Blue and Rust remover will very quickly eat away any original finish. Re-bluing will require the use of water, and careful reading of the packaging. However, the quality of a home re-bluing can be somewhat hit-and-miss, and if you're not comfortable with all that work, then the best way to restore the firearm would be to take it to a reputable gunsmith who does restoration work.

Answer 2

To remove light rust that has not gotten bad enough to cause pitting, get some machine oil such as 3 in One and some 0000 steel wool. Place the oil on the steel wool and rub the rusty spot until it is gone. 0000 steel wool won't hurt the present bluing. After you get the rust off, degrease the surface of the barrel with a solvent such as mineral spirits followed by lacquer thinner. be sure that the barrel is out of the stock for this procedure because the lacquer thinner can damage the finish on the stock. Once you have it thoroughly degreased, use a good quality cold blue to touch up where the rust was. Then, re-oil the barrel and reassemble it into the stock.

Answer 3

There is a product called Flitz. It is a paste and you use in conjunction with fine steel wool. It will work far better than oil or WD-40. However if the barrel is pitted it won't help. If it is pitted but no too deeply you may get lucky. Sometimes a gunsmith can sand blast the steel enough to hide the pitting and then refinish it. It would most likely look best if it has been nickled.

You didn't specify what type of gun so for a rifle or a shotgun it may not be doable. But for a handgun you can still make it look really nice.

Good luck

Answer 4

This is actually something I do on a daily basis (restore old rifles without refinishing) and in my experience you basicly need three to four things. 0000 steelwool or finer (anything else can scratch the finish, "Blue Wonder" makes great rust remover that is a gel. You can apply it with the steel wool and let it sit for a few minutes. Then you need to clean it off, I use Mineral Spirits to clean the gun. You may need to redo the steel wool and gel a couple of times. After that you need a good machine oil. I prefer Kroil. It is a very good oil used by the mines and it will knock the rest of the rust off. This should leave the gun rest free or as close as is possible without sandblasting and buffing and refinishing. After all of this you may want to use some T-4 touch up, cold blue. make sure you use follow the instructions on the bottle because if you use it wrong you can leave an uneven finish in the bare areas,

Answer 5

The best way to get rust off a gun barrel? Have it professionally re-blued.

Otherwise, spray it with WD-40, wrap it in an old, clean T-shirt overnight, then completely clean off the oil and wipe with a silicon cloth leave as is or re-blue yourself from a home bluing kit.

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Answer 6

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I'm thinking you've not got the best conditions nor products readily on hand? Soak the inside of barrel with any really light lube oil you can find. Find a rod of softer metal than steel. Like a brass or copper one. Or, failing that, wood? Make sue it and a small round, square of T shirt cloth will fit smoothly down barrel. Liberally apply automotive valve lapping compound to cloth. Keep shoving the cloth in and out of barrel. When you have the majority of rust knocked out? Clean out bore with mineral spirits, petrol, or any good grease cutter. Recheck. If, satisfied the barrel now has some shine? Stop and check chamber. As, rust will cause a bullet case to hang. Ok, now you have the barrel smoothed out and cleaned. Give it a pass with some oil. If, you have ammo for it? You might try applying the valve lapping compound to bullet? This will further help knock out the rust. When you fire the rifle. Alternate.....Clean barrel of any oil/grease. Cap off muzzle, stand rifle on muzzle. Pore any good phosphoric acid product down ore and fill to chamber. Allow to sit for 1 hour. Uncap muzzle and run out the acid. Wash out barrel with hot water. Keep passing cloths down bore till satisfied and then oil it. Even some concrete cleaners contain phosphoric acid. This WILL eat away the rust. And if flushed out well? Rust will not restart.

Answer 7

I used steel wool on an old gun that I inherited. It had a mud dobber nest in the end of the barrel for god knows how long. The steel wool worked very well. I recommend a professional gunsmiths advice if the gun is valuable.

Answer 8

u can use blue and rust remover. just put it on the barrell let it set for about 15 minutes then wipe it off then run over it with fine steel wool then buy a blueing kit and reblue it it will look brand new if u do it right.

Answer 9

Shotgun Restoration

Answer 10

Plug one end of the barrel and stand the gun upright, fill it with penetrating oil (Kroil, Liquid Wrench, whatever you can find over there). Let it sit for 24 hours. Scrub, scrub. scrub with steel wool. Repeat.