Rust Inhibiting Grease (RIG) Who uses it?

Crazy Chaingun

Crazy Chaingun

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Hey all,

Looking to grease up an SKS to keep at a hunting cabin, trying to decide what to use.
I normally use G96 as my all-purpose lube/oil/cleaner, but it does evaporate over time.
This rifle might sit around a while, and the cabin isn't climate controlled at all, so I thought I'd better use a thicker oil/grease of some kind

I've heard good things about RIG for long-term storage, so I thought I'd ask around here.
Any opinions or stories would be helpful, thanks.
 
COSMOLINE!

It kept the Mosins, SVT's and SKS's fresh for well over 50 years so it clearly works the best.
 
Grove said:
COSMOLINE!

It kept the Mosins, SVT's and SKS's fresh for well over 50 years so it clearly works the best.
Click to expand...

The rifle is already greased with cosmoline.

While cosmoline is great, I want to be 100% sure that this rifle is properly greased, with nothing missed.
That means doing it myself.

Also, I have read that cosmoline can break down and expire over a (long) period of time, I want to be sure that is not happening in my gun.
So, I'm looking to remove the cosmoline and replace it with a more modern rust-inhibitor.
If it turned out that cosmoline was still the best tool for the job, I guess I could use that.
Either way, I'm gonna remove the old cosmoline and replace it with something new.
 
You could clean it well, lightly oil it, and then vacuum pack it using one of those systems meant for food. Throw some silica gel desiccant in the bag for good measure.

I very much doubt it would rust, the oil wouldn't evaporate, and it wouldn't be all slathered in grease when you want to use it. Clean and re-bag when done.
 
RIG works well. I had all of my rifles treated with RIG before I crated them up and put them in storage for a 3 yr overseas tour. This was in Ottawa where the humidity can run quite high. No problems when I unpacked them.
 
mdmaroon - I don't have a vacuum sealer, but that does sound like a cool way to do things.
Maybe someday I'll give that a try, would be nice to make some sealed 7.62x39 battle packs.

purple - That's exactly what I wanted to hear, and my storage conditions will be pretty similar to yours.

Anyone else use RIG?, I'd love to get a few more opinions before I buy a can.
Also, what Canadian retailers carry RIG? I know I can get it shipped from Brownells if I have to.
 
If you want to use something to ensure the rifle doesn't rust while left at the hunting camp, automatic transmission fluid. My hands sweat like crazy causing my $350 870 to show signs of rusting every time I would come back from a hike or hunting with it. A good friend of mine told me about using ATF and after I started using it, the problem is solved.
 
Cosmoline is just thick petroleum jelly. When you put the word 'gun' or 'firearm' in the marketing of anything it just increases the price. Any grease will do for long term storage.
RIG is made by Birchwood Casey. Any retailer who sells their stuff should have it. Epp's is one retailer.
Wouldn't want to pay the current exchage rate for grease myself.
 
I agree, over thinking it. These rifles have continued to fire after much more neglect and abuse in battles and conflicts of the past 75 years.
Oil will prevent rust. Otherwise, why oil any gun for storage then.
 
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There are a few well intended, but misguided responses in this thread. In general, "oil" of any type doesn't work well as a rust preventative. Oil is a lubricant, not specifically a rust preventative, although they do provide a little protection. Oils that work best as rust preventatives are formulated specially for that purpose.

RIG works very well. We did an experiment years ago, degreased nails, coated them with various oils and greases and soaked them in water for a few years. (yes, years). RIG was one of the best we tested at that time.

Petroleum Jelly isn't quite Cosmoline. Cosmoline has more long chain waxes in it, and then it's blended with lighter oils so it remains semi soft.

I recently posted a number of links in another thread with numerous tests of various oils and greases, and the thread describes vacuum sealing and other storage methods.


My post with links http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1017684-vac-sealed-rifle/page5

The original thread http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1017684-vac-sealed-rifle
 
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Its ALREADY covered in Cosmoline?

And it didn't rust over the past 50 years in storage?

I think you are good to go just the way it is then.
 
Sandroad - Very informative stuff you've linked to, worth stickying, thanks for posting that.
I suppose I'll have to look into Eezox as well.

Suther - I handpicked this SKS out of a lot that had a number of poorly preserved guns, with very rusty bores.
Seeing those (4 totally ruined out of a lot of 15) has somewhat shaken my faith in cosmoline (or the people who applied it).

Generally, I've found that it is best to do everything myself, when feasible.
My biggest problems in life arise when I depend on other people's work/promises/schedules.

So I'm going to preserve this rifle myself, do it right, and rest comfortably knowing that it is not going to rust.

Thanks to everyone who has provided their input so far, it's been very helpful. :)
 
You can vacuum seal using heavy duty garbage bags, rubber bands, and a shop-vac.

Remove the bolt/carrier. Grease rifle. Drop bolt/carrier into the bottom of the bag, then the rifle. Slide the shopvac hose over the end of the barrel (prevents the plastic from instantly sealing the intake), turn on the vacuum. The air will be gone in about 2 seconds. Slowly draw back the shop vac hose past the end of the barrel about 6 or 8 inches or so. Spin the garbage bag to create seal and turn off vacuum. Fold the twisted end of the garbage bag over double, and use a heavy rubber band to secure the doubled over twisted end. Done.

It's not 100% "food safe" vacuum sealing, but it will keep 99.9% of ambient air/moisture away from the rifle. You also might want to drop in some form of desiccant into the bag - rice baked on a cookie sheet at 250F for 20 minutes works pretty good.

It's totally Bubba, but quite effective. Better than just oiling/greasing alone, and doesn't cost much - free if you scrounge the bag/rubber band/rice and borrow the shopvac.
 
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