Originally Posted by
halfbakedi420
I can tell you the Stainless Steel (Exterior) of a rifle barrel can easily be cleaned with #000 Steel Wool and Light Gun Oil. There are many that believe that Stainless Steel cannot rust when in fact it can and oxidation is also common on the surface area of Stainless Steel Firearms.Most Stainless Steel rifle barrels are "Bead Blasted" with tiny particles of abrasive to make them non-light-reflecting as part of the manufacturing process and this surface is deeper than most realize. Certainly if you don't take proper measures on anything it will not last as long.
Crumpled up aluminum foil and white vinegar also makes an excellent rust remover. Has to do with the reduction potential of aluminum being greater than the oxidation potential of iron.
But yes, if neglected badly and/or exposed to extremely corrosion inducing environments, the type of stainless steel used to make firearms can and will rust. It takes longer than blued chromoly steel, but it will happen eventually. A small amount of Breakfree CLP or like will eliminate this problem completely.
Mike