Is it possible to shoot rust out of a bore?

Admittedly, I have little firearms experience, specifically when compared to some folks on here. However, my first concern would be things like barrel pressures as the projectile isn't smoothly traveling down the bore and thusly potnetial damages to the firearm and shooter. Depending on how much rust there is, I'd be hesitant to try it.

From a hypothetical standpoint, I doubt that you'd be successful this way, as there's still going to be rust in the lands.

I've heard the argument that leading can be removed from a handgun barrel by shooting a full metal jacket through it. This was disproved to my satisfaction by shooting a few FMJs through a leaded .45 barrel, then using an Outer's Foul Out Electro-Chemical System. Although the leading was less visible after shooting the FMJs, the Foul Out revealed that a lot of lead remained in the bore. A bullet doesn't "scrape" the barrel. If the barrel has significant rust, shooting could create excessive pressure possibly leading to failure.

Probably, everything but the pits anyway. For the best results use the oxidized ones you find lying on the ground at the range. That is if you are asking about .22 rimfire anyway.

Just kidding, in reality the answer is NO!

If there is visible rust in the barrel, I recommend at least a cleaning, then inspection before firing. "Shooting the rust out" may work, but I would not try it. Is the gun new to you?

Just clean it, you lazy bum, lol

TCB

Seems like shooting a blank might have the effect of shaking loose some rust like the "dynamite in the grain silo" trick, but I think a brass brush would work just as well.

Shooting a bullet and hoping it moves the rust instead of the rust causing it to squib... no thanks.

I am in the no camp on this one just clean the gun and don't worry about it

Perhaps firing a few rounds of slightly (.002 or so) undersized bullets down the bore would start the rust removal process, much like using a rough piece of steel wool, without risking overpressure.

But then, any sort of physical agitation usually helps remove surface rust. Even the act of slugging the barrel might do it. Regardless, it will still need a thorough cleaning by the more conventional method.

Even minor rust should be mechanically/chemically removed from a bore prior to shooting; I would treat it as an obstruction. And if its really far gone I'd have a close look after cleaning and before shooting just in case.

Don't do it.

The rust would be extremely abrasive and I would think shooting a bullet over it would just drag it over the lands and cause extra wear on the bore. Whether or not this would effect accuracy, I don't know. Because if the bore has rusted it probably isn't going to be all that accurate ever again.

But I've been proved wrong before! Anyone here have a pitted-tack-driver??

I wouldn't do it. The rust needs to be removed. Take it to a gunsmith if you don't know how to get the rust out. Is it badly rusted?
Brake fluid and a bronze brush may work on removing the rust. If it's badly rusted, there will be pits in the barrel no matter what.

I've run a patch down the bbl., then fired the gun to clean the rust out. (CF rifle) It worked just fine, i just wouldn't do it to my fav target right though...

DM

If you fill a round with powdered aluminum that should really clear it out

Rust is a condition of the surface layer of the steel. So yeah, you can blast out the bigger chunks of it (the product of the rust), but I don't think you'd really be able to get all of it out that way. If you've got a rusted bore, a brass bore brush, a penetrating oil, and elbow grease are required.
Does that about sound right, my friends?

I think it depends on the kind of corrosion going on. I had an Enfield #4 Mk1 with a significant pitting. I could only make so much progress with bore brushes and copper solvent. However, live fire over time seemed to loosen things up, and with normal cleaning, the bore got shinier.

Rust is iron oxide, the same thing as crocus cloth, an abrasive. I prefer not to abrade my barrels other than with JB or other dedicated lapping media and then only when necessary.

Perhaps firing a few rounds of slightly (.002 or so) undersized bullets down the bore would start the rust removal process, much like using a rough piece of steel wool, without risking overpressure.

Click to expand...

This is bad advice.

First off, Rust has two parts.
The Red Fluffy part that you see and comes loose when cleaning and the Part that goes INTO the metal or the pitting.
The first part makes the Barrel Undersized, the second makes the barrel Oversized.
You can clean out the first part, and then Fire Lap the barrel with Lapping Bullets.
But at best, it only polishes the Tops of the Pitting that is in the barrel.
The Pits will remain, and cause resistance as the bullet goes down the barrel.
That can increase barrel pressure, or disrupt accuracy.

But if the rust in the Pitting is not stopped, it is like a Cancer and will keep getting worse, and causing the Red Fluffy stuff that you keep having to clean out.
But a regular bullet will not scrape or push out the rust.
It has to be removed so the barrel is as freee as it can get, then the bore must be Lapped , either by hand, or by fire Lapping.
You can make SOME Rusty barrels Shootable again, but Not ALL.
Leave it to the professionals to determine what is safe and economicly feasable.

Alexander45, yep, Thermite will cure the barrel

Sure, but it's the damage on its way out that you should be concerned with. As to the pitting, that's not going away till the barrel does.

I wouldn't do it to anything I cared about, of course I wouldn't let them get rusted anyway.


But,

I might be guilty of shooting the rust out of a beater that already had worn rifling and I didn't give a darn about.