Rust or cosmoline? Pics

G

Gain

Member
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Location
Saskatoon
I shoot corrosive ammo out of my sks and do a very diligent cleaning afterward. Everything gets sprayed down with windex, then drenched in hoppes #9 followed by a heavy oiling before being put back in the safe. Before the next trip I pull it out and wipe the extra oil off from places that don't need it. I can easily say I spend up to two hours cleaning my rifle after every range trip.

My problem is I keep seeing rust on it. I'll put it in the safe then check in five days and there will be redish orange rings around the pins, screws and other places where you cant get behind cleaning. I recently thought that this might be cosmoline leaking out after being heated up at the range. What do you guys think? It all seems to clean off with little trouble once I notice it. Is this common?

Am I doing anything wrong with my cleaning routine? Is spraying the whole rifle as well as every part down with windex wrong? I'm all out of ideas on this one.





 
You still have cosmoline on your SKS? I took mine off putting all my parts in mineral spirit for a minute, wipped it off then lube everything. If you use mineral spirit don't forget to lube toroughly after because you have no more protection. Having no cosmoline should help to keep it cleaner. It cycles better without it too.
 
I used break cleaner to get it all out but was wondering if there still could be some under the sight base and in places you just cant get.
 
Cosmo.
Use brake cleaner, but have a spray oil like G96 ready and on hand to coat the area immediately afterwards.
Or, use Remington Action Cleaner as it won't remove the bluing like brake cleaner can. Always re oil though.
 
Mine does this too but its getting less over time. I'm pretty sure that is remnants of rust in nooks and crannies that you can't get to. The oil protects from rust but it will just make the rust that's still in there run as some breaks free it will seep out. Especially in the rear sight leaf/gas tube latch area. Try depressing the leaf spring that secures your rear sight and get in there with some Q-tips and hoppes cleaner.
 
It hasn't been cleaned well. Probably oozes like crazy when heated up from shooting.


It takes two minutes to get the metal off from the stock, degrease with solvent of your choice. Take the wood parts, wrap them in clean paper towel and newspaper and leave it on the dash of your old car for a few days in the heat. The oils will ooze out and soak into the paper.

Put it back together and go shooting.
 
Why would one want to remove all the Cosmoline. It has done a terrific job of protecting these rifles for decades. I would say just use it, clean it, lube it. Don't worry about getting the last vestiges of the very fluid that ensured we could enjoy these guns in such great shape.
..or did I miss something?
 
Sixmaniac said:
Why would one want to remove all the Cosmoline. It has done a terrific job of protecting these rifles for decades. I would say just use it, clean it, lube it. Don't worry about getting the last vestiges of the very fluid that ensured we could enjoy these guns in such great shape.
..or did I miss something?
Click to expand...
X2
Might as well leave it in the nook and cranies that way you don't have to worry about it rusting on you.
 
I recently picked up an old 1926 91/30 and in areas under and in front of the rear sight the metal is a dark orangey brown. I hit it with solvent and other cleaners and it reduced a bit, but still there.
I've seen metal on other Mosins and SKS' with this permanent discolouring on them. So that may be what you are seeing. Except portions of yours appear to be seeping and partially liquid in consistency. So it may be a combination of the two.
 
Caleb314 said:
X2
Might as well leave it in the nook and cranies that way you don't have to worry about it rusting on you.
Click to expand...

Well who wants gun puss dripping from their rifle? They want it to look new like it did when it was fresh off the line. Besides, the gun will be just fine in the care of a good owner. The cosmo was a blessing during their time of neglected storage. I'd prefer mine cosmo free but I do see your point.
 
I have had it for less than a year, probably have only shot it four times. I think I'll just clean it as it comes out. Just means I'll have to do more shooting to get it all.
 
Sixmaniac said:
Why would one want to remove all the Cosmoline. It has done a terrific job of protecting these rifles for decades. I would say just use it, clean it, lube it. Don't worry about getting the last vestiges of the very fluid that ensured we could enjoy these guns in such great shape.
..or did I miss something?
Click to expand...


If you are not going to shoot it, or perhaps just keep it in the safe for good storage for whatever reason you see fit, the cosmo poses no problem. However, if you like to take it to the range on a hot sunny afternoon, the grease will ooze all over your case, clothes, gloves, table, ect. It will ooze out for years in this manner, or until its properly cleaned.
 
Gain said:
I shoot corrosive ammo out of my sks and do a very diligent cleaning afterward. Everything gets sprayed down with windex, then drenched in hoppes #9 followed by a heavy oiling before being put back in the safe. Before the next trip I pull it out and wipe the extra oil off from places that don't need it. I can easily say I spend up to two hours cleaning my rifle after every range trip.

My problem is I keep seeing rust on it. I'll put it in the safe then check in five days and there will be redish orange rings around the pins, screws and other places where you cant get behind cleaning. I recently thought that this might be cosmoline leaking out after being heated up at the range. What do you guys think? It all seems to clean off with little trouble once I notice it. Is this common?

Am I doing anything wrong with my cleaning routine? Is spraying the whole rifle as well as every part down with windex wrong? I'm all out of ideas on this one.
Click to expand...

I think this is likely your issue. You're really only spraying to get rid of the corrosive salts in the primer, so you should only be spraying windex, or using hot water on the internals that would be exposed to gas like the bolt/carrier, barrel, gas system. To me it doesn't sound like it would be a good idea to be spraying the entire rifle down with windex, you have no reason to if the primer salts never touched them.
 
Also, there is no mention of drying after the Windex. Just because you spray oil on it after, doesn't mean you got all the water out. Oil an water don't mix...
 
I use brake parts cleaner after water. Then I oil. Seems to be working well for me. In your case, this one time, I'd take the stock off, spray everything with brake parts cleaner ( don't forget to move things that can move, just to get any residual water that's hiding out of there ), wipe it down. Then I'd spray the whole thing with a penetrating oil. Let it soak for a bit and then wipe it down. Then I'd put your favorite gun oil wherever you feel you need it. The next time you clean it, take it easy on the windex. You only need to do the bolt carrier, bolt assembly, chamber, barrel and gas system ( don't forget the op rod! ). Don't bother with the outside.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom