How To Clean A Rusty Gun Barrel (DIY Tips and Steps)

how to clean rusty gun barrel

Prudent scrutinizing and frequent cleansing of the gun will promote effective utility and shooting safely.

Sediments and residues of impurities can be visualized inside the barrel due to the tiny bang on the chamber when the trigger is pulled.

This condition makes it essential to clean the gun barrel regularly to avoid malfunctions.

The owner of the gun should compulsorily accomplish full knowledge of the firearms to handle the parts of the gun properly.

Do Not Forget About Unloading and Discardment of Bolt Before Cleaning

Before cleaning the gun barrel, impeding action makes it comfortable for its owner to cleanse the gun according to its model.

Remove the bolt in the gun, or fasten open the act of a shotgun, or pistol. Smooth up with solvent, discarding impurities, make sure it is moisture-free. Then slightly apply lubricant to the bolt.

Also, be confident that you have brushed the extractor or ejector and have removed the barrel from the frame.

Easy Steps for How to Clean a Rusty Gun Barrel

For a professional gun barrel cleaning, you can  on the barrel.

Let the CLP sit there for a few hours and then gently polish the barrel using a soft cotton cloth.

You will see that the cloth will remove the rust from the barrel without damaging the original bluing.

Do care that the above methods can be used to remove rust from the gun when the rust deposited is very light.

If you have heavy bright red patches of rust on your shotgun or firearms that look ugly, you need to work a bit extra.

1- Cleaning Heavy Rust On Gun Barrel

First of all, do the Breakfree treatment as mentioned above.

Then scrub the rusty parts lightly using a very fine grit or sandpaper wrapped around the sanding block.

Be extra careful that you do this very lightly and keeping checking after every rub. This will ensure that you do not take off the metal which will leave your firearm to get damaged and look ugly forever.

After you see the rust go off from your gun barrel, burnish the affected area using steel wool. You can then do the refinishing using a cold bluing solution.

Do not forget to check and follow the instructions you get on the bottle while bluing.

2- Cleaning your Gun with Vinegar Safely

As an alternative to CLP gun cleaning, we recommend using vinegar to clean your deeply rusty guns at home.

As vinegar is easily available, cheap and safe to use, it acts as a good DIY way to clean your guns at home.

Being acidic in nature, vinegar comes with natural de-oxidizing properties that help to break down deep rust formation on your gun barrel; making it easier to remove from the metal surface.

Unlike sandpaper, cleaning your gun with vinegar does not make the metal rough. Also, it prevents the removal of any markings or metal material when used with proper care.

But be ensured that as bluing is an oxide, using vinegar on it will remove the bluing.

Make sure you do not use ammonia in place of vinegar as it can damage your gun.


How To Polish A Gun Barrel?

Gun barrel polishing can be done in an easy way after you have cleaned up your barrel. All you require is a clean cotton cloth and a polish (like Flitz gun polish).

To use it you can follow the given steps:

  • Shake the Flitz gun polish well
  • Apply a bit of it to a bronze brush
  • Push the brush through the barrel and out the muzzle

That’s all, you have not got a clean polished barrel and muzzle to a mirror look.

If required you can repeat the process above to get even better & shiny polishing.

The good part of using a formula like Flitz gun polish is its ammonia-free formulation which does not foam-up to create the mess.

Also, it is completely safe, environment-friendly, non-abrasive, and non-flammable.


Simple Way to Clean Rust Off Your Gun (Video)

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