Went on vacation and came home to find the sump pump had lost the fight. I had a humidity reading in my safe room of 80%. Most all the guns (overflow from gun safe) were okay but several in hard cases did not fare so well. I'm looking for some advice on how to get rid of the surface rust. The humidity is under control but the damage has been done. Most of the rust is on barrels, hardly any on receivers. Any experience in getting this under control?

I just use a terry cloth towel soaked in Kroil. When done it’s either light coat of oil or I will use some carnuba wax. Medium size desiccant packs on the inside of the hard case helps also.

Look up big 45 rust remover pad.

Let us know how it works.

Hal

0000 steel wool and oil.

Take a cartridge case, hammer the mouth flat, shape it with a file if you wish, and use it as a scraper............

It will not remove the blue, and an oil cloth takes the 'brass' look off..............

The scraper trick was shown to me by a gentleman who restores and hunts old British best guns. He actually uses steel with a polished/rounded edge. Haven't been brave enough to try it myself, but watched him do it.

This has worked for me. Use a decent oil with it.

Just ordered a big 45 rust remover pad. Will also try the cartridge case idea.

Thanks to all.

Watch them like a hawk.
Every gun I've ever had issue with, was prone to rust in the dame spots.

Bronze wool 0000 and kroil

GET THIS AS I JUST USED ONE ON 3 GUNS AND DAMN IT WORKS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!

I was advised to use Bronze wool and not steel wool because bronze won't rust.

I've had good luck with the squirt of gun oil
and scrape it with a penny trick
You can feel it coming off. Just wipe with a
rag and squirt more oil and scrape until the
rust is gone

thanks. I'm going to try that tonight. Just need to dig up a wheat stalk penny...

I just used kroil and a soft brass brush.

I have a friend in Central Point Orygun who is professional restorer of fine old European rifles and shotguns. He uses many tools but for most surfaces he uses "Chore Boy" coarse copper pot scrubbing pads or the same type pad but made of nickel. Nickel was what he recommended for my 120 year old Damascus SxS. They actually look like lathe shavings/swarf. He uses a variety of fluids and frequently water...yes H2o. Colt owners forum recommends them also...and those guys are picky.

More good information to have. Thank you.

What I have done is a good layer of gun grease overnight and the 45 pad with oil. I have used Flitz polish but would try under stock first.
I assume you removed them all from the stocks and dried the metal already?

Yes.