Rust & A Beretta 92D Centurion

[40SWHero51]

I have come across a Beretta 92D Centurion in my travels of looking for different weapons to use at the range. This one does not belong to me, but rather a friend that is looking to move it. I was happy to try it out as the 9mm chamber is cheaper to play with than my normal range gun.

I was given a range bag full of all sorts of things - most of all the Beretta. Anyhow, the gun was in very bad shape. I doubt it was ever cleaned and it showed actual spots of rust along the barrel - the rust has broken the surface and has begun to scab into the metal. There were other patches of rust but mostly surface spots.

After firing it, very poorly I might add, I took it home and gave it the best cleaning I could without breaking it down into a million pieces. I was able to eradicate most of the rust except for the deeper scars on the barrel. I cleaned most of it away but there are little bits left. I used Gun Scrubber on the entire weapon, then CLP, and then WD40 and Rem Oil to protect and lubricate as needed.

Question:
How do I attack the small amounts of rust left? The small scabs left on the barrel are not too far gone to be repaired, in my opinion.

Question:
The overall finish of the weapon is poor as well. Is it appropriate to pick up some Gun Blue and attempt to refinish the weapon? The slide is much slicker than the rest of the metal frame - will it accept Gun Blue? Is this a bad idea to try assuming I eradicate all rust spots?

Question:
The gun shot terribly - I assume because it was dirty, maybe. My M&P ran laps around it. Is this gun known to perform poorly?

Question:
I believe the Trijicon sights are dead as well - they do not glow at all. Can the front sight be changed/removed/replaced - it appears to be fixed to the slide?

The bag has a speed loader, bore snake, ammo, ears, eyes, and a few other things in it including the gun. Even the bag is in poor shape - but if I can get it all for $150 is the gun worth my time? I am not new to shooting, but very fairly new to "overhauling" a gun. I see it as a potential project learning to refinish, rescue & etc.

Thoughts?

 

[Scimmia]

Question:
How do I attack the small amounts of rust left? The small scabs left on the barrel are not too far gone to be repaired, in my opinion.

0000 steel wool with some oil, and I don't mean WD40. From the sound of it, you'll be left with some pitting, but that can't be avoided at this juncture.

Question:
The overall finish of the weapon is poor as well. Is it appropriate to pick up some Gun Blue and attempt to refinish the weapon? The slide is much slicker than the rest of the metal frame - will it accept Gun Blue? Is this a bad idea to try assuming I eradicate all rust spots?

Cold bluing is mostly a cosmetic fix and generally isn't very durable. If you're just looking to dress up a few areas, it's fine, but trying to refinish a gun with it isn't a good idea IMO. The slide and barrel should take it, but the frame is aluminum and cannot be blued.

Question:
The gun shot terribly - I assume because it was dirty, maybe. My M&P ran laps around it. Is this gun known to perform poorly?

No, they're not known for performing poorly, quite the opposite in fact. Did you check the bore for rust? Rusting and pitting there can hurt accuracy, sometimes permanently. You compare it to your M&P, but the trigger on the "D" model is double action only, is it possible you're just not used to that?

 

[40SWHero51]

My M&P is DA Only - there is no hammer though like on the Beretta. I will check the inside of the barrel for rust.

 

[bannockburn]

I would try using some Flitz on the rusted spots. It has done a great job of removing the rust without removing any remaining bluing in the affected area. I think it would be worth your time and money if you could get it for $150.

 

[40SWHero51]

Sprayed it down, in, and out with CLP last night and have it sitting in a plastic baggie "marinating" to hopefully loosen the rust further. I am picking up some 0000 steal wool today, hopefully they'll have some at Home Depot.

I am guessing that this will do the trick. Depending on how it looks afterwards I may not apply any blue to it, it needs it as there are scattered scratch marks on the barrel, but I'm not sure if I want to give it a shot. Seems simple enough after watching some videos of folks applying it online last night.