BROWNING 81 FINISH

[1988rrc]

I finally picked up my browning blr from the gun store yesterday. took it home and cleaned it. while cleaning the barrel, i noticed the cleaning rag was turning brown. didn't really look like rust; there differently was no rust on this gun; the barrel has nice black blue in color. the more i cleaned the more brown i saw. i stopped rubbing and oiled down the barrel as i was afraid i was removing the finish or something destructive.

anyone have an explanation as to the brown color?

[kimwcook]

I'm no expert but my guess is that it's part of the blueing. Blueing is just a form of rust and for whatever reason yours hasn't stopped rusting. Just my 2 cents.

[CaptainFinn]

It could be you are removing a preservative grease like RIG or cosmoline that was applied at the factory. Is this residue coming from inside the barrel--the bore--or outside the barrel, the exterior finish ?

[1988rrc]

Is this residue coming from inside the barrel--the bore--or outside the barrel, the exterior finish ?

its on the outside of the barrel. looks like the color of brown paste shoe polish on a rag.

the gun was fairly clean and had been shot.

[95fan]

I believe it to be a preseritive to the final blueing process on brownings. I had the same thing happen, and it seemed to stop after two or three wipedowns. As long as you use a good quaility oil and a soft cloth you shouldn't be able to hurt the blueing.