870 express and rust

[possummanplus3]

Hi, I've got a recently purchased 870 express for HD. I see a lot of posts about how 870's (express) rusting is a problem. I was wondering about a special coating such as duracoat, or parkerizing. I know most importantly keeping gun clean and oiled, but is that enough. It gets very humid where I live. Any suggestions or should I not worry about it?

[md7]

possummanplus3,

i live in south mississippi and it is VERY humid. i have had an 870 Express HD for 2 years now. no problems at all from rust. this gun is also my rabbit hunting gun. it has been sweated on, rained on, bled on, dropped in a creek, you name it.

what i did to my 870 was to break it down, clean it, and let it soak in Breakfree CLP for about 30-45 minutes before ever shooting it. after a good soak, give it a good wipe down and from then on, you should be able to just routinely wipe the gun down with a rag and some Breakfree CLP and you are good to go.

[DaleCooper51]

I use Johnson's paste wax on the wood and metal of my guns and never had any rust issues.

[fireman 9731]

I have had few problems with mine, nothing major, but after it set in the cab of my truck for a few days in damp weather it had a pretty decent case of surface rust.

Once I got that cleaned up I gave it a good coating of PB Blaster and wiped it down with one of Remignton's new VCI impregnated cloths.

It has been fine ever since.

If your gun is just going to be sitting in your house it should be fine with the most basic rust prevention techniques. Duracoat is nice but it isn't cheap... I would save that money for ammo.

[blutarsky]

i posted on a similar thread (http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=5429109#post5429109) recently -- and i hate to repeat myself, but the best thing i did was applying a liberal amount of CLP to mine. when i first got mine new in box, just holding the barrel would leave a light rust color on my hands, but i read someone else's suggestion about applying a soaking coat of CLP, i did it and it's been perfect ever since. i personally use the squirt-bottle type (not the aerosol) of CLP which is a bit thicker and smells better, but after applying a good amount and rubbing it down a couple times i think you'll find rust won't be a problem.

[bhk]

I think one of the problems with the express model is the extreme roughness of the finish. This makes it likely that many users will not use enough oil on the surface to thoroughly penetrate all the pores. I found it very tough putting CLP on a cloth or even directly on the surface and rubbing it in well. The surface was so rough, it would even tear up the cloth. I finally purchaced aerosol CLP, sprayed it on, and wiped off the excess. All the pores are filled and I have no rust to date. I think that most of the reported rust problems are the result of just not enough preservative. I'll bet it took 20 times the clp to thoroughly protect my express than it did on my Browning. But, on the other had, the clp on the express is so imbeded into the surface now that it won't just wipe or rub off easily.

[Lee Lapin]

There's been well over a dozen Express guns through here, different numbers at different tmes. All bought used. The only one that had a rust problem had it when it got here, and even that one cleaned up just fine. When soaked down with spray BreakFree and wiped down, it remained rust free.

One more vote here for Johnson's Paste Wax, too. It sure helps blued steel and wood a lot.

lpl

[Mike U.]

Marine Tuff Cloth is used on my firearms with good results. Before using the Tuff Cloth on my 870, when it got rained on it developed spots of rust immediately. Since wiping it down, then now and again, no problems with wetness or humidity causing rust.

[dat2]

mine has a little rust, but the working parts shine like chrome

[MAKster]

Generous amounts of Breakfree CLP will prevent rusting.

[mike26038]

Mine came with rust, free from the factory. Must have been a special model..

[Mike U.]

Mine came with rust, free from the factory. Must have been a special model..

And they didn't charge extra for it? Wow!

Really, that sucks big. Hope you can get it cleaned up.

[A man with a gun!]

Lots to be said for those silicone gun socks.

[jlv08]

The Express model shotguns where hit and miss on the rust issue. I had one that had light rust and My bro. in law has a 12 ga. rust bucket.(Express)

I've seen enough rusty Expresses owned by others, among other issues, that

have caused me to steer clear of the Express model. I sold my Express years ago and haven't looked back.

[swampboy]

I use Ballistol on mine. That stuff is different from anything I've ever tried. The rough finish on the Express seems to soak it up. It doesn't leave a very oily residue like oil does either.

[Sir Aardvark]

A buddy of mine stored his Express in one of those foam gun cases and he ended up with an egg-crate pattern of rust all over it.

At the time he used Rem-Oil, which is a real light oil.
Since then he has switched to Breakfree CLP, which is a little bit thicker, and he now uses a Bianchi Blue-Bag, which is sorta like a plastic silicone gun sock.

No more rust problems!