I would use the WD-40 but I heard it can damage some stock finishes and mess up the blueing. I know that if you were careful it would work really good. The thing about WD-40 is that it is most likely sitting around your house.

For a couple of dollars more, buy a gun oil that says it prevents rust. A bottle lasts ten years for many shooters. Isn't your rifle worth pennies a year more by investing in a specialized oil?

These are gimmick exposuretests that do not work/protect in various/numerous conditions. When they start showing the results of this test with gun barrels as the object of testing, then I will believe them. Sometimes you even have to be careful about readingbarrel corrosion testing. We recently had a thread that showed WD-40 worked very well on the barrel exterior. Forum members here became estastic.But no testing was done inside the bore aftercareful reading exposed the dubious play-on-words that the testing author used.

Always read between the lines - always read the fine print with these tests. Read slow & you usually will find a slip-up or a big gap/missing chapter somewhere.

To each man there is a different poison [8D]I think
sometimes we get too caught up in the hype. I
mean we all know about rust and most of us have
our own brand that we use & trust. Just think how
dull life would be if they only made chocolot &
vanilla?? Viewing someone elses take on a
product or product line doesn't mean we endorse it.
Information is a good thing, to quote my 6th. grade
english teacher. Although when I thought I was
really informed, she still gave me a C.
Good shooting & God bless..................Danny

great info,i really hate wd-40.but thats something. you know, i have been using only bore butter from 1971 in my hawkins t/c and no rust i can see.but i had been using hoppes no.9 after washing barrel in hot water/soap then hoppes, then bore butter. now, i dont use bore butter to store. i use birchwood sheath. all those years and no trouble, now i change. oh well.

I have guns that I bought new back in the mid 70's and I've been using WD-40 on them for as long as I can remember and the blueing looks new on them. After every season and anytime I handle my guns they get a wipe down with it. I also run a patch down the barrel soaked with WD-40. It has always worked for me.

sproulman

This is just my personal belief so no-one go ballistic... I think WD isa great product for what it suppose to do. It does displace water and it displaces water very well inside or outside the bore. But!, because of its consistency I am not sure that it will provide long term protection without attendance. It you are willing to re-new its protection every few months/for weeks what ever it takes it will last and protect for a long time. I believe it will and it does evaporate with time offering less protection.

Since for all intents and purposes I have given up shooting my centerfires they have all been wiped down with sheath and bore grease has been applied to the bores - I even thought about cosmoline but could make myself do it.

It is my opinion if you are using your ML on some sort of consistent basis treating it with WD will provide protection. I think the ability of WD to displace water in the bore is worth its weight in gold. And again if I were going to use the gun on a regular basis WD would be all you need, if it is going to sit for a couple of months I think I might be inclined to add a bore oil with a thicker consistentcy that WD.

just my random thoughts and worth about 2 bits

I kind of agree with Sabotloader. Well said

I think I want to try some of that RIG Universal Grease. It may attract dust but I keep my muzzleloader in a good gun sleeve. Any kitcken cleaner that cuts grease or degreaser will take it right off.Kind oflike what Triple Se7en said... it is worth it in the long run to go the extra mile. If that involves spending more money on a product or taking more time degreasing your rifle before youuse it due to the product you used, or just taking extra little steps like that will all pay off in the long run to have a rifle in good condition.

I had no idea WD40 was such a good rust preventer. Remember a "test" from a few years back where one half of a nail was dipped in Break Free and left outside for a year. The undipped half was rusted away severely while the half dipped in Break Free looked almost new. Same sort of quasi-scientific study.

One thing about WD40, though. It is not good stuff to put in complicated mechanisms like locks and firearm trigger/stirker assemblies. Tends to turn into a gummy substance over time.

i have also seen wd-40 evaporate over timeat work.if you go to shooting clay birds.most all top shooters use BREAK-FREE on their guns.its only thing they let near their guns. wd-40 will eat rubber or neoperin gaskets or washers in a semi-auto shotgun. i had it happened to me. we only use BREAK-FREE now in our beratta shotguns.

Another test.

http://www.thegunzone.com/rust.html