How To Stop Surface Rust On Guns | 7 Tips For Keeping Your ...

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Table of Contents

• What is rust? Why Is It Bad?
• Best Ways To Prevent Guns From Rusting
• 7 Tips To Prevent and Get Rid Of Rust
• Key Takeaways for Rust Protection and Rust Removal

When you own a gun, it is important to take care of it. That means not only cleaning and maintaining your firearm on a regular basis but also storing it in the best way possible so that rust doesn't become an issue. At some point, gun owners are likely to see some rust spots on exposed metal surfaces of firearms no matter how much one tries to prevent rust, knowing how to remove rust when it occurs is also important.

In this post, we'll discuss 5 tips for preventing rust from forming on your guns and how to store them so they stay in their best condition!

What is rust? Why Is It Bad?

Rust is the by-product of the process of oxidation. When exposed to oxygen and water, it appears as a brownish discoloration on iron and steel metal objects. In fact, rust can form within 24 hours!

Oxidation destroys iron, so rust makes metals weaker, more prone to unexpected breakages, corrode faster, or collapse under their own weight. 

Several rust removal products on the market today manage this job well. Use rust removers to get rid of rust as soon as it appears.

As for why rust is bad, rust weakens the metal object, making it brittle and vulnerable to breakage.  Not to mention, it looks unsightly!

Best Ways To Prevent Guns From Rusting

• Store at the right humidity:  50-55% relative humidity at 70 degrees F.

• Use the right kind of storage case, especially when you are transporting firearms.

• Cleanliness is a must for good protection. 

• Use a good gun safe that controls temperature and humidity.

• Don't store ammunition with your guns. Some ammo can be corrosive.

• Apply a coating

• Use a good gun-safe dehumidifier.

7 Tips To Prevent and Get Rid Of Rust

Tip 1:  Storage at the right humidity

Keep your firearm in a dry place and out of sunlight. Sunlight can make the metal contained inside your gun react with other chemicals, which will cause it to corrode.

It is best to keep your guns stored in a cool area free from sunlight, at the right temperature of 70 degrees F and the recommended relative humidity of 50-55%, year-round. 

We recommend selecting a good gun safe which are designed to be air-tight and which can be equipped with dehumidifiers.  We recommend gun safes from well-known brands such as Browning, Hollon, Mesa, Rhino Metals, and Cannon Safes. 

Here's our favorite, the Browning Black Label Mark V Blackout Gun Safe MP33

 

 

 

Invest in an inexpensive humidity meter like this one we like: it has close to 85,000 reviews.