New Browning stainless rust bucket!

[Tropical Z]

I was dropping off my "new" security six for rebluing,when in walked a guy with a nice rusty rifle.I asked what had happened,and in disgust he related his tale of a 10 day Alaskan caribou trip with his new .375 H&H (i think?).This rifle had some nasty rust along the barrel and receiver.He was not happy with his new stainless Browning and i didnt have the heart to tell him about car wax.He said Browning basically told him to kiss off!

 

[Tropical Z]

By the way,i dont know squat about Brownings so don't ask.

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

Nobody ever said stainless was rustless---just more rust resistant.

You still have to take care of it.

 

[Tropical Z]

I know stainless is just that (stains-less),but you would think that a company like Browning would have done ample testing on their alloys so it could withstand a 10 day trip without too much babying.

 

[mete]

This subject has shown up on more than one forum so I will repeat my comments here. When stainless steel is machined and polished with the same machinery as used for plain steel , small particles of plain steel become imbedded on the surface. These particles rust and the rust then can continue into the stainless steel. The stainlees steel should be given a "passivating " treatment which is done with nitric acid. This will remove particles of plain steel and also build up the protective layer of oxide. The guns that have rusted obviously have not been given this treatment. Its called QUALITY CONTROL. I read a comment about a Knight black powder gun with this problem.Knight told the fellow it was caused by the zinc in the stainlees steel !!! Only one problem --there is NO zinc in stainless steel. Metallurgy marches on !

 

[Gordon]

Brought to you by the "salt wood" people!

 

[Gewehr98]

When I machine stainless steel...

I have to use different cutting bits than those I use for carbon steel on the lathe and mill. So are they using their good stainless steel cutting bits on carbon steel work to economize?

 

[stellarpod]

Good reply Mete. But, the imbedding of carbon steel particles can also happen during a simple sand- or bead-blasting. It is VERY common that the same blasting media is used for both carbon and stainless in most machine shops. This will always imbed particles of carbon steel into the stainless surface.

The pickling/passivation process is highly important in warding of residual rust on stainless components.

stellarpod

 

[Kentucky Rifle]

Were the rust streaks "brown"? Or did they have a "greenish/blue" tint to them?

KR

 

[Tropical Z]

It was typical looking rust.Reddish/brown
I wasnt aware that the cutting tools were what likely caused this problem.

 

[Wildalaska]

I know stainless is just that (stains-less),but you would think that a company like Browning would have done ample testing on their alloys so it could withstand a 10 day trip without too much babying.

Obviously you have never been on a 10 day hunting trip to Alaska.

I an assure all of you that Browning SS is the equal in quality to any of the other gun comapnies. I can also assure you that up here, everything rusts unless you take care of it.

I use wax myslelf on a blue rifle and it keeps the rust down quite well.