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How is it possible that my 2014 stainless Kimber Montana is starting to get rust spots on the bolt handle and trigger guard? I've wiped this gun down religiously and have stored it on a ground level gun case. Could this be a manufacturing defect?? The rest of the gun is spotless of rust. Living in PA, it's not like I'm in a salt water environment

Most gun SS rusts. Some quicker than others.

I had my Montana cerakoted.

Cheers, Chris

Kimber's rust easily. PA is pretty darn humid relative to here in MT. Your report doesn't surprise me in the least. The MT rusts here too.

Clean it up good with some Flitz polish. The advantage of stainless isn't that it won't rust,but that it cleans up easier.You still have to do the regular stuff to prevent the rust.

'Bolt and trigger guard'? Those are areas often touched & touched last by damp fingers. Give a good wipedown with an oily cloth before setting the gun down. If you do that already, do it again every 6 months minimum.

If that isn't enough, add more oil & do it more often.

How do the tikka or Ruger stainless rifles compare to the Kimber in rust resistance?

If you actually mean gun case and not gun safe, that's part of the problem.

Stainless can have some ferrous(iron) in it. Depending on the grade and what characteristics of the use are required

X2
Never store one in a case. They need room to breathe.

No, this gun has been stored in a gun cabinet w a desiccant. It has been wiped down meticulously after every contact. Still it shows some signs of rust; only on bolt handle & trigger guard.

Hmmm, mine are in a safe with dessicant, no rust at all and I'm honestly not great about wiping down my SS rifles. And I'm on the gulf coast - not close enough for salt issues, but plenty of humidity.

Did you ever use any steel wool to clean the parts? Regular iron steel wool will leave enough trace iron on the stainless to make it appear that the stainless is rusting. I'm fairly sure other methods of transferring the small amounts of rustable material to the stainless work about as good as steel wool. Also it is called stainless not stain proof. I will say that the humidity here in South Georgia runs high and I have had no problems with my stainless Kimber.

I coated my SS M70 with Dyna-Tek Gun Shield prior to my brown bear hunt in SE Alaska this past spring. It saw loads of rain and two full dunks in the sea. I did not clean/wipe the rifle for the 12 days I hunted. The coating worked incredibly well. That said, I had rust in every small place I missed coating like the trigger, back side of the floor plate, scope ring screws, etc.

I have seen every kind of stainless steel rust , have never seen 410 stainless steel ever rust in lower 48.

Thanks Ed, that's good to know...

I can make anything rust.

Kimber Montanas rust. Eddie has a good fix for it though.

Some people's skin chemistry causes their fingerprints to mildly corrosive. There is noting to be done about it except being aware and taking pains to wipe down metal surfaces after handling.

RAN