Minor rusting between gas block and gas tube of my SKS

[tritium4ever]

Since a picture is worth a thousand words:

As you can see, I'm getting some rusting in my SKS where the gas tube meets the gas block. The rusting is actually rather exaggerated in the pic (especially with the flash on), it's actually light surface rust and will wipe right off. As is clear from the pic, the rust only occurs where the two surfaces mate and isn't actually inside the gas block nor is it inside the gas tube except where it meets the block. The problem is that it seems to keep coming back, despite having cleaned that section with Hoppes #9 multiple times and even given it a super-thin coating of oil. The rest of the gun has no rusting problems, it's just this one spot.

Any idea of the cause, or potential remedies?

 

[shredder]

How soon do you clean that SKS after shooting surplus ammo?? That looks to me like it's the residue that's left behind from the corrosive primers that are used in milsurp ammo.

If it IS the residue, the simplest thing to do is clean the rifle when you get it home after shooting, not leave it in the cabinet/safe.

 

[tritium4ever]

I always clean the SKS as soon as I get home after a day at the range. I had last used it about four weeks ago. I hadn't gotten any rusting there prior to that, which would normally suggest half-assed cleaning after the most recent shoot, but that was the one time where I stripped and cleaned the gun more thoroughly than I've ever done before. So I'm baffled, especially because further cleanings since that last shoot have failed to prevent the rust from coming back.

 

[Dsiwy]

Trying scrubing with WD40 and wiping off, after the next range visit

 

[fiddler]

They all rust there if you don't clean them.

 

[Dench]

oil it more 0o

 

[supernova]

a little more oil may be necessary. It wont be able to make it into the gas system from there with positive pressure inside. I actually give the inside of my gas tube and piston a light coat of ballistol klever. Its a nice light oil that doesnt build up enough to collect residue and bake on, but stops the gas system from rusting. And if youre worried about that you can always clean it out with some solvent before you head out shooting.

 

[Satain]

With the high humidity level's that you guy's are experiencing out on the east coast this will occur more often. That's until this heat/humidity level goes back to normal.
The way I do it out here on the "Wet Coast" were the humidity level's are all way's high is to grab a bucket and place the crown on the bottom of the bucket. Get a kettle of hot water and pour down the bore and all over the metal part's that were strip off the rifle while dis-assembling it. Then swoosh the water around so it get's all the metal parts wet. then I wipe down each and every part, alowing it to fully dry before re-lubricating & oiling for storage. I only do this in the extreme hot humid part's of the year to ensure that this won't happen. Other wise simplely wiping it down with oil works great.
As for fixing this right now a brass brush and koil oil that has been allowed to sit on the effected area's for a while will make this problem disappear for ya

 

[fat tony]

I get that happening all the time with my sks. Don't worry about it there is plenty good advice here, another good idea is to clean your sks, then check it a day or so later, if there is any rust clean it again and check it a few days later, repeat. By the way the dollar store now sells what they call a 'damp trap' for $1.25, supposed to last 3 months, I have started buying them instead of the ones you see at walmart and Canadian Tire. $4.25 for a refill at Walmart VS. $1.25 at the dollar store you do the math.

Edit: my SKS is one of the black painted refurbished ones and I consider that a bonus here in Nova Scotia.