Cleaning - surface rust?

[Modena]

Hi,

I clean my rifle after every use, this includes a wipe over of all the steel bits with an oiled rag (Ballistol). I'm fairly light with the oil as it gets done every few days, but I wouldn't say to light. I go a few days between shoots. After I shoot I bring it home and clean it again, the wipe over of the barrel with the oiled rag shows brownish deposits on the rag, I can only guess this is some sort of surface rust/corrosion that has formed in the past few days, although I dont know how as the metal would have a tiny thin film of oil on it. It cannot be seen anywhere on the rifle, but the rag wipe is showing up something.

Similarly I get inside the back of the receiver with an oil rag and it sometimes shows some brown deposits on the cloth also. Is this normal? Am I being to light with the oily stuff? Or is this powder residue?

The safe where the rifle is stored has a 1kg bag of the moisture absorbing magic granules. The climate where I live is not particularly humid.

[kevinweiho]

I can imagine you using the rifle, probably in a cold or wet environment. Then afterwards you put your rifle back in the case. Condensation starts to form on the metal surfaces of the gun or on the foam of the case, causing rust.

Sometimes you can’t see superficial rust with your eyes. By shining the metal surface with a mini torch flashlight, you can distinguish if it’s rust or bluing.

I recommend using CorrosionX Aviation to keep the rust at bay.

[Tim S]

Does the same thing happen with a different oil?

Remember that bluing is rust.

[Modena]

Hi, thanks for the replies. The environment is neither cold nor damp, I am in South East Australia and it's summer. Will try another oil and also ask around locally at the club.

[patriot]

I wipe my rifles down with CLP (Break-Free) after every session. The Anschutzs in both wood and metal stocks, even the new ones, show a little bit brown on the cloth from the underside of the barrel. I'm not certain if it is rust or the oil turning color; maybe from the heat. There has never been any pitting or visible rust. They are stored in safes with GoldenRod dehumidifiers.

Mark

Searching the web, it appears to be residue from the blueing; doesn't explain why the underside of the barrel shows more brown.

[m1963]

An extremely interesting test of available protectants:

http://www.dayattherange.com/?page_id=3667

[dc.fireman]

Does the same thing happen with a different oil?

Remember that bluing is rust.

I have the same thing happen occasionally; I have long suspected that it is some of the bluing coming off after having the oil sit on the surface.

[tenring]

Bolt grease turns brown after a while. Might be that.

Chad