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Rust Removal From a Rifle

Rust occurs when iron molecules react with water and oxygen to form iron oxide. Prolonged rust can pit metal and eventually ruin the function of a precision item such as a gun. Guns can develop rust if they are exposed to moisture and oxygen. Prompt rust removal is essential to protecting a gun and keeping it prepared to fire correctly, and therefore, safely.

Things You'll Need

Lemon juice
Baking soda
Steel wool 4/0
WD-40
Wire brush
Pipe cleaner
Gun-cleaning kit

Instructions

- 1
  Brush loose rust away with a fine wire brush. Clean the inside of the barrel with a soft cloth over a cleaning rod. Look for rust stains or spots on the cloth.
- 2
  Mix lemon juice and baking soda into a slurry or paste; start with a tablespoon of baking soda and add lemon juice until the consistency is that of a paste.
- 3
  Spread the paste over the rust spots on the gun. If there is rust inside the barrel, use the pipe cleaner or cleaning rod to gently spread the paste inside the barrel in an even coat. Let the mixture sit on the gun for 10 to 15 minutes.
- 4
  Wipe the mixture off and clean inside of the barrel, taking care not to push the cleaning paste farther into the mechanism. Look for any rust is still on the gun and polish it off with the very fine steel wool to avoid scratching the metal.
- 5
  Wipe the gun with WD-40 or a different water-displacement material such as mineral oil or linseed oil to help prevent rust and displace any moisture remaining from the lemon-juice paste.

Antiquing