Tikka T3 rust!!! And other questions

[sammyspizza]

Hello,
I haven't made a post in a while on this forum, but I'm back.
I have had a tikka T3 lite in 308 for several years and it is an absolute joy to shoot. I love the smooth action and accuracy.
However, every single time I clean it there is some slight surface rust that comes off of the barrel and the receiver.
This is extremely bothersome to me and I am considering painting the gun or getting it professionally painted, perhaps cerakoted.
On a side note, I am considering buying a mountain tactical rail and new scope rings. Any recommendation on rings?

Thanks a lot for your input!

 

[CB900F]

Sammy;

I've got a few Tikka's & they all wear Talley lightweight rings now. No problems whatsoever with the Talley's. The .338 Winchester magnum used to have a set of Burris rings. They couldn't hold the scope against recoil.

900F

 

[627PCFan]

I have two rings from DNZ. Can't say enough good things about them.

I rub the gun down with light oil one a year.keeps the rust away.

 

[rcmodel]

However, every single time I clean it there is some slight surface rust that comes off of the barrel and the receiver.

I have so many questions, and so little time.

A. How often is it you clean it?

B. Do you have toxic fingerprint sweat that will rust the chrome of a trailer hitch ball??

C. What do you wipe it down with every time you handle it??

D. Do you bring it in from the cold and stick in in a closet in a gun case?

E. How do you store it?
Inside a plastic and cloth gun case is BAD, Mkayy?
Freely circulating air is better for it


To stop the problem once and for all.
1. Clean it thoroughly with 0000 Super-Fine steel wool & gun solvent or oil to get all the active rust off of it & stopped.

2. Buy yourself a RIG-RAG and wipe it down every time you handle it, and after you clean it.
http://www.brownells.com/gun-cleani...ag-universal-grease-applicator-prod31843.aspx

Problem solved!!

rc

 

[sammyspizza]

A. After every time I shoot it, or after I bring it out into the woods hunting.
B. No...
C. I clean it with hoppes and then cover it with remoil.
D. Hell no!
E. In a gun safe with a dehumidifier in it.

Thanks for the advise

 

[rust collector]

I haven't experienced rust on my T3 lite stainless in the 8 years I've had it, but I have read of others having problems, especially out in the pacific northwest and in wet climates. They will rust, as will all stainless steel under the right conditions, and the finish probably doesn't help.

My T3 is my meat gun, so it does get used, but most of my hunts are day trips and it gets a wipe with Eezox when it returns to the house. If you can keep it coated, the rust should not have an opportunity to form. Some use paste wax, others RIG, and Sheath is another option. Eezox has done a good job for me, but I think the most important thing is to keep a barrier in place.

If it gets wet, WD40 will get the water out, but in my experience, it's not a good anticorrosive or long term lubricant.

 

[280shooter]

I been using Eezox for years, use it the right way, and you won't have rust,I always wipe my firearms down after touching them.and after shootings,

 

[dubbleA]

My T3 Lite came out of the box with rust on the barrel in several places. So much for quality, it was a poor shooter and was returned to the dealer. Not thrilled at all with Tikka. The factory rings leave a lot to be desired. Installed Warnes on mine but wound up giving them away when I returned the rifle. It will probably continue to rust so I would make sure you have it oiled down.

 

[Skylerbone]

A huge +1 on Rig +P, it kept my Remington 1100 rust free stored in a soft case through my college years when, on the bottom of my priorities list, shooting guns was second only to cleaning them.

My current favorite rings are TPS TSRs in steel, though they come in aluminum as well. Available in any color you like, as long as it's black. I'd also second the Talleys for great rings and for a less expensive option, Warne.

 

[jehu]

Get Ballistol and wipe it down,problem solved.

 

[TBH]

Wow! You store it in a safe with a dehumidifier??? That was going to be my suggestion. Is the dehumidifier working? Do you live in a very humid area? I live in VT., we have big temp changes and high humidity in the summer.
When I clean my firearms, I wipe down with Rem. oil. And always wipe after handling with a silicone cloth.
I agree ultra fine steel wool and lots of oil.

 

[wild willy]

There are much better rust preventing oils than Remoil.Do a search for gun oil rust tests.Remoil doesn't do very well in any of the tests I looked at.

 

[hardluk1]

Start using a clp. Buy some g96 clp for general lube as breakfree ain't what it once was. . Pro-shot pro-gold for the rifles lugs . You can clean that rifle , get the stock off it pull the bolt, strip down as best as you can. Lube all metal parts down well, keep them wet with clp and heat it to 200* for a couple hours. Use the oven and your wife will clock you. Heat lamp bulbs and tin foil will do. Let it sit over night then use clp as needed to maintain your rifle and rust will have a hard time comeing back. I used a clp since to 70's in rain snow no rust.

 

[ball3006]

Been wiping down my guns with LPS2 for about 15 years. Zero rust. I also use it as a last bore swab too......LPS is a milspec rust preventative and lube that dries after application...chris3

 

[sammyspizza]

I have come up with the optimistic idea that maybe it isn't rust that I've been rubbing off of my gun when I clean it. Is it possible that the Hoppes or the RemOil comes off looking like rust? IE orange...
I can see a slight orange hue on the barrel without even wiping it down, but it comes off very easy, so I think it may be the solvent or oil that is creating the illusion of rust. Thoughts?

 

[sammyspizza]

Scope Rings?

So I'm thinking of ordering a set of Talley LW rings for my Tikka. I just ordered a Performance series rail for it, so they need to fit a picatinny rail. Anything specific I need to order? And I assume it should be medium height for a 3x9x40 Nikon Monarch scope?

Thanks gentlemen!

 

[CB900F]

Sammy;

I'd get the rings & then see if you need the rail. I've never had to resort to one on any of my Tikka's using the Talley lightweight rings, and I've got a few of that combination. If you buy directly from Talley, they'll swap if the first pair aren't right, but I'd call them & ask for their suggestion first. Very easy folks to talk too, 'course I've known 'em since they were located in Glenrock Wyoming & I lived in Casper. No reason to raise the scope unless for some reason you absolutely have to.

900F

 

[bhk]

I have come up with the optimistic idea that maybe it isn't rust that I've been rubbing off of my gun when I clean it. Is it possible that the Hoppes or the RemOil comes off looking like rust? IE orange...
I can see a slight orange hue on the barrel without even wiping it down, but it comes off very easy, so I think it may be the solvent or oil that is creating the illusion of rust. Thoughts?

Entirely possible. Some manufacturers (Remington on the Express Models for ex.) put lots of preservative on to their matt finished guns to prevent rust prior to the final sale. The preservative seems to soak in the matt finish extremely well. This stuff seems to rub off the guns when wiped down with CLP and other oils/cleaners, often for months and months after purchase by the consumer. This is often reddish or brownish in color and often confused with rust.

 

[Wolfgang james]

I have an 870 that is only a yr old and cant keep the rust off so it'll be headed to a place about 30mi from here called tarjac to be camoed. I had my 935 dipped and have had no problems and looks great.

 

[220slow]

't hur

Get some Amsoil "MP" spray. A little on the surfaces of the gun will keep rust from being a problem also doesn't freeze up. Won't hurt wood finishes. Have used it for like 30 years. Not expensive either.



Won

 

[boricua9mm]

Ditch the Remoil. It's Modus Operandi is to evaporate quickly and leave behind a thin film of teflon. That's fine for certain applications, but not for protecting a firearm against rust/corrosion.

Breakfree CLP works well and doesn't smell offensive. It's pretty humid down here in FL and I've never had to look elsewhere for general firearm protection over the past 20 years.