Hey Gun Collectors

[skwerl]

[

Most of us know our ''stuff'' just a heads up on Displayed Guns.

Recently I acquired a couple rifles from another collector
who had his rifles up on display.

When in my home shop I completed my usual clean up, once over
service and bore check , running a patch down the pipe.

Quite surprizing was the Rusty Red Residue which came with patching the barrel.

Now I'm not certain how long it was that these were on display just
that it was long enough for some corrosion to start.

Therefore for us who may be in more humid climates or have
guns un used/unservised for a while a good maintenance plan
would be to inspect our treasures periodically.

...skwerl

BTW , I did let him know of my findings .[/I]

 

[bearhunter]

Skwerl, many folks that shoot the rifles you collect "Stevens" single shot, just like to hear them go bang and instead of shooting cartridges with bullets, they will shoot off the commercial blanks used for Hilti or other powder powered tools.

Most of those cartridges are rimfire and the priming is corrosive.

I've seen this a lot in the bores of 22cal and 32 cal rimfire rifles.

Most people just put the rifle away after firing a half dozen or so of those and don't bother to clean or don't clean them in the proper manner for corrosive ammunition.

 

[CamparyTon]

Skwerl, many folks that shoot the rifles you collect "Stevens" single shot, just like to hear them go bang and instead of shooting cartridges with bullets, they will shoot off the commercial blanks used for Hilti or other powder powered tools.

Most of those cartridges are rimfire and the priming is corrosive.

I've seen this a lot in the bores of 22cal and 32 cal rimfire rifles.

Most people just put the rifle away after firing a half dozen or so of those and don't bother to clean or don't clean them in the proper manner for corrosive ammunition.

That's kinda of depressing to hear. It's funny people go to such efforts to baby their guns by shooting blanks but don't even bother to clean them afterwards. As long as they're safe to shoot, guns are meant to be shot.

 

[bearhunter]

That's kinda of depressing to hear. It's funny people go to such efforts to baby their guns by shooting blanks but don't even bother to clean them afterwards. As long as they're safe to shoot, guns are meant to be shot.

Yes and no. Some firearms are just to valuable to shoot.

The biggest thing with the rifles Skwerl likes to collect and shoot sparingly, often after going to great trouble and lengths to make up safe shootable ammo, is that the cartridges are unobtainable, because they're obsolete.

22 and 32 cal rimfire are common for powder actuated tools used to drive anchor bolts into steel and cocrete. They've been using the same priming compound in the rim for over a century and it's corrosive and likely so is the powder.

I used to notice this on the job, where the exhaust gasses were released, often rust would form.

 

[skwerl]

True enough , some guns ARE too valuable to shoot.

I am recommending running an oil patch down the bore to
avoid corrosion , this may have been an isolated case.

I shoot all of my rifles , displayed & stored
the challenge for me is to keep them cycled with original ammunition.
...skwerl

 

[bearhunter]

True enough , some guns ARE too valuable to shoot.

I am recommending running an oil patch down the bore to
avoid corrosion , this may have been an isolated case.

I shoot all of my rifles , displayed & stored
the challenge for me is to keep them cycled with original ammunition.
...skwerl

Skwerl, if I were shooting those rifles or similar rifles, especially with ''original'' ammunition, which can be extremely difficult to find as well as expensive, I would most certainly be taking the extra precautionary measures needed to clean for corrosive components.

I know you find ways to do things as you have added difficulties with mobility, which you seem to be able to work your way around, but a lot of that old ammunition, both center fire and rimfire was originally loaded using corrosive propellants.

Why take the chance of damaging bores??

Oil isn't enough.

You need something as simple as water to dillute and dissolve the corrosive fouling left behind.

 

[conor_90]

Every gun oil on the market will neutralize corrosive salts in primers

 

[tiriaq]

I don't have a collection of vintage Stevens rifles like skwerl does, but I do have a fine Model 44 in .22LR. If I shoot it, it is with greased standard velocity ammunition, and it does get wiped out. Have a number of assorted vintage firearms. If they get shot, they get cleaned, all are maintained to preserve their condition.

 

[Canuck65]

No gun’s too valuable to shoot. If I had a Ferrari, I’d take it for a drive once in a while.

That guy just hadn’t oiled it before he put it away (or didn’t clean it well before he sent it to you).m

BTW very old grease and oil can get an orangy colour too. You sure it was rust and not dried out old storage grease?

 

[9.3mauser]

No gun’s too valuable to shoot.

An original Colt Walker would be worth somewhere north of a quarter million dollars, USD. They also have a reputation for blowing up. If I had an original there's no way I, or anyone else would be shooting it.

 

[bearhunter]

Every gun oil on the market will neutralize corrosive salts in primers

I have seen rifles that will prove you wrong on that and have witnessed corrosion forming very quickly after just a wipe down with "gun oil"

 

[bearhunter]

An original Colt Walker would be worth somewhere north of a quarter million dollars, USD. They also have a reputation for blowing up. If I had an original there's no way I, or anyone else would be shooting it.

Same goes for original in the long term factory storage wrap, milsurps.

 

[kjohn]

Yes and no. Some firearms are just to valuable to shoot.

The biggest thing with the rifles Skwerl likes to collect and shoot sparingly, often after going to great trouble and lengths to make up safe shootable ammo, is that the cartridges are unobtainable, because they're obsolete.

22 and 32 cal rimfire are common for powder actuated tools used to drive anchor bolts into steel and cocrete. They've been using the same priming compound in the rim for over a century and it's corrosive and likely so is the powder.

I used to notice this on the job, where the exhaust gasses were released, often rust would form.

I have one that I won't shoot, a SAT barrel M91 Mosin Nagant. I have lots of others that I don't shoot, or haven't shot in a long time, and may not shoot ever again. I am a collector/gatherer. I've paid for all my guns with my own money. I go through the pile every once in a while and run a patch down the barrels, making sure that no rust has formed.

 

[Canuck65]

An original Colt Walker would be worth somewhere north of a quarter million dollars, USD. They also have a reputation for blowing up. If I had an original there's no way I, or anyone else would be shooting it.

Quote Originally Posted by Canuck65 View Post
No gun’s too valuable to shoot.
An original Colt Walker would be worth somewhere north of a quarter million dollars, USD. They also have a reputation for blowing up. If I had an original there's no way I, or anyone else would be shooting it.

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I'd still shoot it - that's just me though. I'm the kid who opened up his Star Wars toys and played with them. The other kids kept them sealed. They have more money. I have more fun.

 

[Lee Enfield]

Every gun oil on the market will neutralize corrosive salts in primers

Not true, oil will not neutralize mercuric salts, nor black powder fouling.
Use water and or ammonia.

Lots of blackpowder guys use windex, as do guys who shoot lots of corrosively primed ammo (today mostly 7.62x54 and 7.62x39).

Back in the Black Powder days, corrosive primers were much less of an issue because people had to clean the BP fouling out of the gun.

 

[skwerl]

I don't have a collection of vintage Stevens rifles like skwerl does, but I do have a fine Model 44 in .22LR. If I shoot it, it is with greased standard velocity ammunition, and it does get wiped out. Have a number of assorted vintage firearms. If they get shot, they get cleaned, all are maintained to preserve their condition.

I am no reloader & you fellows know a lot more than I
therefore rimfire is what I shoot.
(I do have & reload 1 cf Blk Pwdr}

I do shoot every thing , Not knowing what is in this 50 to 100 yr old ammunition (.25rf ,.32rf)
just that after firing 5 rounds it takes me 1/2 hour & plenty of
patches to clean things up.

Like to see the Model 44 , tiriaq
...skwerl

 

[tiriaq]

Here is the Model 44. It is a late one, early 30s. Full round barrel. Bore is shiny white.
Tang sight is a modern one, front sight is a Lyman 17 adapted to fit the Stevens dovetail.
Action is very tight and snappy. Accurate.

 

[skwerl]

Your 44 sure is in great nik , with that tang & globe sight
she would shoot fine , fairly quiet with the long barrel.
thnkz ... s

 

[Grizzly Adams]

I have a gun room vault, which I thought was thoroughly dry. Just for kicks I put a couple of dollar store dehumidifiers in there. Two months later they had about 2 pints of water between the two of them.

Grizz

 

[Buck1950]

I bought a used rifle from a small gun shop a few years ago. The barrel was red inside. I thought it was from PEI - I brushed it out with Hoppes and brass brush and it was OK. Must not have been rusting very long.
BTW, the Windex thing was for 'Ammonia content' and modern Windex doesn't contain Ammonia. The liquid may still dilute corrosive primer and BP residue but hot water is the best, 'Soapy Hot Water' is even better. I flush my SKS in the laundry sink which is 6-feet away from the heater. Really Hot water!
And I run dehumidifier in my basement 24/7/365. In Summer I get 50-pts in about 3-days; in Winter only once or twice All Winter. It's been quite rainy in the Maritimes this year.