Rust on a Remington 870

[RustyJr]

I was wondering if anyone else out there with a Remington 870 Express has any issues with rust on the receiver and barrel. I have a 3.5" 12 gauge that I have had for about 4 years. When I first got it I put it behind the seat of the truck in a case and left the case unzipped so that it could breathe. At the end of the day (only eight hours or so) I removed the shotgun from my truck and took it inside. I immediately noticed that it had rust on it. I also had a Remington 700 in 223 that experienced the same issue (roughly the same amount of time in the truck). I have done this with other firearms for a lot longer and never had an issue. I understand that guns can rust but these seem to rust a little easier than most. I just purchased a brand new 870 Tactical and after getting it home noticed what appears to be a small amount of surface rust on the mag tube just below the action bars. I have since rubbed it down with Rem Oil (same thing I used on my other 870 after having rust issues with it). Has anyone had any issues similar to this and also what do you use to prevent rust?



Thanks,
RustyJr.

[CEMENTHEAD]

Remington will tell you to remove the stocks and soak the entire weapon in RemOil....let it sit overnight standing up and wipe it down with a lint free cloth moistened with RemOil. Re-assemble and it's usually good for about 6-8 months of use or storage. I know it sounds like a pain, however my Rem 700LTR had that issue and this works very well to this day(about 6 years). I now do it to my 870 as well before and after hunting season. Just another opinion.....hope it helps

Thanks, Tom

[Griff]

ALWAYS make sure to keep a light coat of oil over the metal. In areas subject to high humidity, always make sure your cases haven't aborbed any moisture. I've used an "oilcloth" inside the case with dessicant cartridges (bags) and close 'em up tight. Cycling the air inside a car from hot to cold to hot, etc. will develope condensation and moisture... instant rust, unless the metal is protected.

[shooter]

I have tons of trouble with mine rusting. It's rusted every time I take it out of the closet. It doesn't seem to matter what kind of oil I rub it down with or how much oil I put on it. I think that cheap finish is just too porous to be reliable at keeping away rust. I have an acidic PH to begin with, and I have trouble with rust on some higher end blued guns, and have even had a stainless 1911 rust on me before, so my results might not be typical. As soon as I get around to it I'm going to Duracoat my 870. Only costs about $20 or so to do it, and I won't have to worry about the rust anymore.

[C. Cash]

Had issues with mine around the rib, and had to take some off the reciever when I first got it. Only thing that seems to work is to keep after it with Hoppes or Ballistol.

[Rusty]

I'm wondering if another oil such as Kroil wouldn't offer better protection than the Rem oil?

[madman4570]

Nope----they just seem to rust like stuff if not completely wiped down/oiled well/in a humidity zone less than 60%

Had same problem with mine------Best thing to do-----------------Dura-Coat that sucker.

Or, better yet------------------





Buy an Ithaca 37

Kidding/Kidding -----------------------well kinda

[allhands]

Back when I worked for Cabelas, we sold tons of 870's and 700's. It would truly amaze you what we found when opening brand new guns straight from the distributor/factory. Most were rusty, some to greater extent than others, but the quality of Remington's finish is terrible and rust is prevalent even on brand new guns. Two of my buddies have Remington 870's and they have to coat them with oil constantly. I don't know why Remington doesn't do something about this.

[Mike D.]

Must be a new thing. My 1960s 870 3" 12 has been extensively used and has not a speck of rust. Of course, I do live in the low humidity of sunny "Kooklipornya".

[Old Savage]

Put RIG on them.

[Cliff]

I found RIG is one of the best to keep rust away. Also most guns when the metal is finished upon production, they will rinse it in a stop (oil) bath prior to packaging and shipping. This helps a bit but here in Florida not much. I have found the best treatment for new blued gun is to strip the wood off, disassemble it somewhat. Then wipe it down with rough paper towels, check the towels see if they show red color. Then coat all blued metal parts with CLP, heavy coat, then set aside for a day, next day wipe it down again with paper towels, check for red (rust) colors and repeat the CLP treatment again, repeat until no more red or rust colors appear at the wipe down. Then lightly wipe down with ATF (Automatic Transmission oil), followed by an occasional RIG wipe down. The whole process takes three or four days, but the pores of the metal are cleaned of blueing salts and the finish will be protected for some time. ATF has a high detergent base and is great on preventing rust reoccuring on black powder muzzle loaders. Anyway that is what works for me. Good Luck.

[shooter]

Must be a new thing. My 1960s 870 3" 12 has been extensively used and has not a speck of rust. Of course, I do live in the low humidity of sunny "Kooklipornya".

I think it is a fairly new thing. Yours is around the same age as my dad's, and his has a nice, smooth, high quality blue on it. The newer Remington 870 Express, the lowest grade, has a cheap, rough finish on the metal that seems very porous. I'm not sure what kind of bluing it has. I don't know if it is true bluing, or some kind of cheap coating made to look like bluing. I love those guns for the price and reliability, but keeping the rust off mine is a pain in the you-know-what.

[MrMurphy]

The Express finish is known for rusting.

Mine, circa 2002, had issues with it.

Sentry Solutions makes the Tuf-Cloth, which will bond with the metal when you wipe it down. Having used it on around 10 different rifles and pistols and 2 machine guns, the stuff works. And at $10 or so per, they last for a long time if you reseal them after use in the container.

One wipedown cured that 870 of rusting issues forever. I had rust issues due to humidity (130F outside, 70F inside air conditioned buildings and vehicles) deployed constantly going in and out on my M4 and M9. Quick disassembly and wipedown cured that too.

Brownells sells them, and they're worth every penny.

[Dave]

RIG has always worked for me. It is back in production after a terrifying time when they quit making it. The finish on the Express guns will rust. It looks like Parkerizing but it's not. My old grey parkerized "Special Purpose" 870 never rusts. Also the Park on the Police Magnums is gtg.

[DPris]

99% of Internet gun forum posts that have "Remington 870 Rust" in the title involve the Express models.
It's very common with them.
Not at all common with non-Express versions.
Denis

[FWiedner]

Oil the thing.

Keep it oiled.

Problem solved.