Finish Options for INSIDE reciever.

[LRShooting]

Im working on my savage build still and Im starting the large task of finishing. I plan shooting it first and all that before I put a base cerakote on for protection, but I do want to go ahead and address the inside of the action. I have some nicks and scratches as well as old residue from last year. Definetly going to have to be refinished, but I figure Ill leave the outside alone for now until I can get it cerakoted. The inside I would like to refinish.

I wouldn't be worried about it except the fact that if I go ahead and start removing epoxy that is stuck to some parts of the gun, its going to leave even more bare metal. That allows rust and Im not up for that so I need to get this fixed.

Ive considered sand blasting the inside of the action with a very fine sand and using picks to remove any thing that blasting wont remove. Im not sure if walnut shells or a fine abrasive like aluminum oxide or sand would work better. I dont want it shiny, but I dont want it to affect the action cycle either. Itd be nice to have a matte finish since the entire gun is that way. Then cold blue it repeatedly until the finish is nice and dark.

Biggest concerns are action function and rust. Im not considering anything that is spray on because you cant really spray the inside of a action. Id say the best jobs are going to be something like a swab or dip type application. Eventually when I do the outside, I can just tape off the inside of the reciever, and do all the prep work and application for cerakote without worrying about the inside.

 

[Catpop]

Abrasive blasting removes metal and hence increases tolerances. Better to glass bead blast, doesn't remove metal. Diesel injector reman shop use this method for critical dimension parts cleaning. Soda blast may be an even better option, but i don't hsve any experience there.
Jmtcw, catpop

 

[Jim K]

Just leave it bare and keep a light oil or grease on it. Anything you put inside the receiver will wear where the bolt rubs it, and look worse than no finish. In the old days of rust bluing, interior surfaces were normally not blued. Tank bluing, of course, blues everything, which is why we now think it has always been that way.

Jim

 

[LRShooting]

Interesting. I didn't realize that. Sounds like higher maintenance, but more practical. Higher maintenance meaning areas that typically would be blues and would not come in contact with action inside would now have to be oiled as well. I used to just oil areas that I could see were wearing.

 

[Jim K]

Your experience may differ, but I have never had a problem with the interior surfaces of a gun rusting, only the outside where it is handled. Of course, if you are around salt air or are hunting around the sea shore, it might be different.

Jim

 

[LRShooting]

Nope, I'm in missouri. It's humid but not that humid. Learn something new everyday!