[ShotgunPro]

So my dad gave me his old 870 Express and it has some corrosion on the receiver, barrel, in the bore, and near the choke. The finish is in less than good shape and I plan on getting it either Duracoated or Cerakoted anyway (going to be a little rebuild, fun project).

Do you guys have any tips or methods for removing rust spots on these parts. Sorry for lack of pictures, I have to go pick it up at my grandfather's still.

 

[ShotgunPro]

best way I've found to remove light rust is some 0000 steel wool and 3n1 oil (probably any oil would do). Just get some oil on the rust spot and lightly scrub with the 0000 steel wool. Wipe with a rag/paper towel every little bit and drip some more oil on it and rub some more.

So far I've never removed the finish. This wil remove the rust, but if its pitted the pits will still be there with no finish in the pit itself.

 

[ShotgunPro]

best way I've found to remove light rust is some 0000 steel wool and 3n1 oil (probably any oil would do). Just get some oil on the rust spot and lightly scrub with the 0000 steel wool. Wipe with a rag/paper towel every little bit and drip some more oil on it and rub some more.

So far I've never removed the finish. This wil remove the rust, but if its pitted the pits will still be there with no finish in the pit itself.

This however will result in stripping of the bluing where the rust is (unless you do it very LIGHTLY) Even the green scrachy stuff from a dish washing sponge will help too.

If you are going to re-finish then refinish it right and use high strength vinegar to fully eat the bluing off, then take a sand/bead blaster and clean it down to raw metal so it has an irregular surface for the duracoat to bond to better.

 

[ShotgunPro]

Exactly, you don't have to rub hard. I've never taken the bluing or parkerizing off a gun doing this. Its amazing the difference it makes in the appearance of a gun.

I bought an old Browning Auto 5 a couple of years ago for just $295 that was graded "poor condition" at the gun store. I was going to refinish it with some type of durable finish (get it parkerized, ceramic coated, etc) but decided to tear it down first and clean it up. I took the 0000 steel wool and oil and went over the whole outside surface of the gun. It is actually blue again in many places. That oily rag I kept wiping the brown crud off with was loaded with oil/brown rust stains when I finished and I only found one place on the receiver that was pitted. I decided to leave the original finish (what is left of it) on the gun and just shoot it. Wonderful old (mid 30's gun) Browning that shoots/work great.

 

[ShotgunPro]

This however will result in stripping of the bluing where the rust is (unless you do it very LIGHTLY) Even the green scrachy stuff from a dish washing sponge will help too.

If you are going to re-finish then refinish it right and use high strength vinegar to fully eat the bluing off, then take a sand/bead blaster and clean it down to raw metal so it has an irregular surface for the duracoat to bond to better.

Yeah, I plan on getting it Duracoated. Thanks for the advice, I didn't know vinegar would work to strip the bluing.