Honestly I think it was just the salt. The salty air, with the salt water can rust a nail inside a vaccume sealed bag. Don't know how, its amazing. I haven't owned many camo finished guns, two to be accurate. One I have sold off, the other is my turkey gun. I never had any issues with either of them. The turkey gun is an 835, and the other was a Nova. Sold it used for more than I bought it new...so I couldn'tpass it up. I didn't shoot it that well anyway. Only issue with those Nova's is getting moisture behind those metalic parts inside the poly formed receiver. THAT is a real deal breaker, because you cannot stop rust once it starts back there. Only seen this a couple of times, there again, even basic, heck even half arsed maintence will prevent this sort of thing.