Reminton 700 SPS Rust

[The Grand Baboon]

Howdy folks. I'm having somewhat of a problem with my Remington 700 SPS. It rusts like a mother. I've tried using Outer's Rust Remover but it always seems to come back. I'm starting to be concerned about the barrel though. I clean it regularly, but should I be worried about rust inside the barrel? Other than soaking the thing in oil before putting it up or transporting it, what can I do?

A short anecdote: After an eleven hour car drive from Idaho to Arizona I took my 700 out of the case it had be transported in. The outside of the barrel, crown, and most of the action had already developed a thin coat of rust.

 

[MAKster]

I believe the SPS has the same finish as the 870 Express shotguns which are also known to rust. Other than not storing it in a humid place and oiling it regularly there is not much you can do. As long as you check it regularly that cheetoes rust will just wipe off and not pit.

 

[Gunnerboy]

mine rusts like crazy also and i live in the pacific northwest

 

[Ramone]

also, DO NOT use steel wool to remove rust.

It leaves little traces of (mild) steel in the finish, which will rust like crazy.

 

[xfyrfiter]

Try storing it in one of those silicone treated gun sacks with a dessicant package.

 

[snakeman]

I call remingtons matte finish remrust. Just have the gun cerakoted and forget about it.

 

[LoonWulf]

Pretty much what snakeman said. All the 700s ive had almost instantly rusted (hawaii, and lotsa handling will do that). Ive taken to just painting them right off the bat.

 

[snakeman]

mossberg has the same problem. Ruger and Weatherby on the other hand have executed the matte finish well. Don't know about savage.

 

[NOLAEMT]

Its pretty sad. We have remington rifles turn orange just sitting on the rack at the store, in a climate controlled building. If I were to buy one, i would consider the additional cost of refinishing as part of the purchase price.

 

[bhk]

I think one of the problems folks have with these is that the finish is so rough they never get oil to the bottom of the pores in the finish. Merely wiping on whatever preventative you use with a rag may leave just the top of the gun finish protected. The rust then forms underneath.

I have had compete success by spraying a liberal dose of CLP on the exposed finish, letting in soak in for a while, and then wiping off the excess. Never had a speck of rust using this method. Just get it dripping wet with the preventative so there is enough to soak in well. This deep soak only needs to be done occassionally as the preventative at the bottom of the finish pores doesn't wipe off easily from use. Adding your preventative lightly with a rag will then work to protect easier to reach (outer) portion of the finsh.

This process is, of course, pretty much the same way we handle a parkerized finish.

 

[Mac's Precision]

Remove the action from the stock. Clean all exterior surfaces with Hoppies 9. Then wipe down all surfaces with Acetone or lacquer thinner. Use compressed air or hair dryer to ensure that all thin solvent is evaporated. Apply a liberal dose of Eezox to a sheen. Allow it to sit for 24 hours to penetrate and dry. If tacky, wipe the surface with a rag that has a light application of Eezox. Once you get Eezox into the pores of the rough surfaces your problems are ended. Reapply a light coat of Eezox after shooting / cleaning.

When it comes to rust protection on blued or black oxide surfaces Eezox is the very best I've ever used. It is the only product on the market that is heavier than water and as such water / moisture cannot get under it.

Additionally what ever surface rust you have accumulated at this point will be removed with each application of Eezox. Don't be shocked if your rags come off BRIGHT orange / rust color. You will get rust residue off guns that don't APPEAR rusty.

 

[gamestalker]

I have a 700 SPS and it is a good 4 yrs. old and has never rusted. It gets exposed to some pretty severe elements too. But several times a year when I see it getting really dirty on the outside, I remove it from the stock and cover it top to bottom with cello tape. After I've completely covered it with tape and pressed it into the every nook and cranny, I then remove the tape and what I'm left with is a near new looking finish. I give it a light coat of oil and put it back in the case. So far as the inside of the barrel and chamber, I've never had anything develope in there, but I take good care of my guns after each shooting session.
Many years ago I lived in a house that was cooled with a swamp cooler, so no matter what I did, I couldn't keep rust off my firearms for even 24 hrs..

 

[fireman 9731]

Try Remington's Rem-Oil Volatile Corrosion Inhibitor. Its in a spray bottle and is about the best thing I have ever used for rust. It sprays out in a very fine mist then you just wipe off the excess. I use it on my truck guns and they are rust free for at least 2-3 months at a time.

 

[HOWARD J]

I use Birchwood-Casey Barricade---wipe a little on with a gun patch & my guns are good for 6 months to a year in the gun safe.--NO RUST

 

[stonecutter2]

My 700 SPS came back from a shooting session with orange near where it was handled - i was horrified.

But, I just took a bottle of Outers gun oil and i wet the whole thing down. Not just wiping down, i doused it. The oil soaked in and so far no problems. You may consider doing this on a warm sunny day, as the metal will heat up and the oil with then thin and soak into the pores.

The 700 finish is really prone to "oranging over" as others have said.

If I do have more orange sometime down the line, I'll just get the rifle refinished. Good reason to customize it a little!

I know it looks kind of cheap due to the rust problem, but the rifle itself is pretty sweet. I figure the rifle is for shootin' not for lookin' at!

 

[jimmyraythomason]

also, DO NOT use steel wool to remove rust.

It leaves little traces of (mild) steel in the finish, which will rust like crazy.

Not true in my experience (over 40 years). Use well oiled 0000 steel wool(WD-40 works great) and scrub lightly/vigorously the effected areas. Flush the residue with a good spray (I prefer WD-40 but any spray lubricant will work fine).Wipe with a clean cloth and you're done. I have done this literally hundreds of times with no problems.

 

[lesgeaux]

Mac's has got the ticket! EEZOX is some excellent stuff. I have two remingtons with the type of finish discussed here and with EEZOX rust not a problem, let it soak in. My benelli shotguns also have that porous finish, still not a problem with this stuff, an I dont even have a DH unit in my safe.

 

[d2wing]

Never have rust on mine. Do not leave guns in cases. In vehicles or unheated areas, or basements. Clean and oil as needed.

 

[MikeRussell]

This is new to me...I've got 2 SPS rifles, both about 4yrs old, no rusting issues. They go out every year for deer season, get cleaned or wiped down after each trip. And I live in Louisiana, so you aren't going to find much more of a harsh environment (it's hot, humid, and wet most of the time).

Maybe it's a problem with uneven finishes on the ones that rust?