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Steve H

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I didn't know where to post this but I thought if it was here it would get more views.

I have had a older Winchester 101 Pigeon Grade sitting out in the shop for the past few months waiting for me to start doing some general clean up on it. the gun was given to me a few years ago, it was in good mechanical condition and fair cosmetic condition. I fired it a few months ago, cleaned it and put it in the corner to wait till I got some time to work on the cosmetic stuff. Today I went to look at it, broke it open and found the upper barrel was "blocked" and there was a BUNCH of rust around the firing pin hole. Come to find that a potato bug had gotten in the barrel, fell down to the chamber and died...............leaving a mess. I immediately blew out the chunks then started to soak the metal parts in Kroil. A wire brush on the dremel has removed the some of the rust but there is pitting around the firing pin hole now. Once I get the rust cleaned do you think this could still be shot? Any other thoughts except to control the damn potato bugs better?
 

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I'm not an expert but I don't see why not. At least once. I'd finish cleaning it up, very slowly, and see what it looks like. Might have to replace the firing pin and polish it up a lot....
 
Yes, I would replace the firing pin.

Such as it is, you will likely get pierced primers and gas leakage eroding it worse.

Other then that, it is safe to use.

Bug control?
No idea.

But here in Kansas you don't leave things with holes in them out & unplugged.

Mud Dauber wasps, and other critters love to build nests in gas can spouts & gun barrels.

rc
 
I kept a double barrel coach gun in the garage for starlings and ring necked doves. Glad I checked when loading because both barrels were clogged with miller moths. Now there's a vinyl glove over the muzzles.

One of the old time gunwriters, maybe Robert Rourk, tells about some African wasp plugging the barrel of his rifle with wet leaves and wasp eggs.
 
I don't have a bug problem, but I starter storing my muzzleloader muzzle down in my safe. It keeps lube from pudding in the breech.
I now store all my long guns muzzle down.
Maybe that would work for a high insect local.
 
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