Welcome guest, is this your first visit? Create Account now to join.
  • Login:

Welcome to the NZ Hunting and Shooting Forums.

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed.

Terminator Alpine


User Tag List

+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 4 1234 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 51
Like Tree43Likes

Thread: Rusting Howa's

  1. #1
    Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    BOP
    Posts
    1,003

    Rusting Howa's

    My SS Howa mini action practically rusts in front of your eyes. Way worse than my other stainless or blued rifles. Only seems to be the action, barrel is fine. Anyone else found this? Also any ideas on prevention? Gun oil did bugger all, eezox seems to be better but still the odd it of rust just sitting in safe let alone hunting!

  2. #2
    Member 40mm's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2017
    Location
    North Auckland
    Posts
    5,921
    hmm, either Howa are rubbish or you need to look at your safe .
    Cordite and Dago like this.
    Use enough gun

  3. #3
    Banned
    Join Date
    Jun 2015
    Location
    christchurch
    Posts
    17,992
    not one spot of rust on mine, none on any rifles in the safe
    Micky Duck likes this.

  4. #4
    Member Cordite's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2017
    Location
    NZ Mainland (Dunedin)
    Posts
    5,531
    It seems you need to passivate the stainless steel parts.

    Basically boiling the stainless steel part in a citric acid solution. It removes rust and it removes the free exposed iron that is prone to rust --- leaving only nickel and chrome in touch with the outside environment.

    The nickel later oxidizes, which further protects the part.

    NB! Of course, don't do this to carbon steel items.
    hamsav, mimms2 and Wildcat like this.
    An itch ... is ... a desire to scratch

  5. #5
    The Original Striker
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    waikato
    Posts
    758
    WD40, takes a a few applications to seal them.
    Bigger Better Faster Stronger
    Handle the Jandle, or get off the Beach

    The Original Striker

  6. #6
    Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
    Location
    Christchurch
    Posts
    703
    My 1500 (short action) 223 has had this issue - a lot of rust appeared quickly - very similar to the one that was on here for sale a wee while ago. The other Howa I bought 3 years ago hasn't had this issue at all with the same treatment and handling.

  7. #7
    Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Location
    Invervegas
    Posts
    5,210
    Quote Originally Posted by Cordite View Post
    It seems you need to passivate the stainless steel parts.

    Basically boiling the stainless steel part in a citric acid solution. It removes rust and it removes the free exposed iron that is prone to rust --- leaving only nickel and chrome in touch with the outside environment.

    The nickel later oxidizes, which further protects the part.

    NB! Of course, don't do this to carbon steel items.
    Hmmmm - my Howa did the same. @Cordite is onto it I think we used to passivate boat fittings (which are a higher grade of SS) or they'd "spot" as well.
    Cordite likes this.

  8. #8
    Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Otago
    Posts
    1,559
    Yup howa rifles are terrible for this. So seem to be worse than others. My .308 gets rusty arond the action. Bolt and barrel are fine.
    "The generalist hunter and angler is a well-fed mofo" - Steven Rinella

  9. #9
    northdude
    Guest
    My howa doesnt do this but my tikka does they live in the same safe
    veitnamcam likes this.

  10. #10
    Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2021
    Location
    Napier
    Posts
    1
    My Tikka does the same on the action though.....when I inquired about it I got the answer"....its all in the name....stain less...its not stain nothing..." thought it was quite funny at the time but after giving it some thought it makes sense. For stainless to achieve the hardness needed for knives and barrels for that matter its needs to be mixed with carbon ect ect. So it does require some kind of oil/protection but not as much as normal steel.
    veitnamcam likes this.

  11. #11
    Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2019
    Location
    Queenstown
    Posts
    331
    Interesting thing to keep in mind! Just because something is 'stainless' does not mean it won't corrode. All of the Howa's I have owned, have been great rifles and have never rusted (however I do live in a very dry climate and don't hunt on the coast/Fiordland). I have seen some terribly rusted Tikka's in the past too. So it could be to do with how it is stored, or the mix of metals in the build. Either way, it's really gutting when a rifle rusts!!!

  12. #12
    Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    BOP
    Posts
    1,003
    Interesting, never had a blued rifle rust as readily as the howa, kinda defeats the point of paying extra for stainless for extra corrosion resistance.
    hamsav likes this.

  13. #13
    Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Otago
    Posts
    1,559
    I'm the same @Hunty1

    I love my .308 but that rust really annoys me. I'm contemplating getting a mini but will buy a blued one if they are cheaper. A quick wipe with an oily rag removes rust from blued steel, but the rust on my howa is stubborn as.

    In saying that the stainless barrels seem to be fine and that what counts the most in the field.
    "The generalist hunter and angler is a well-fed mofo" - Steven Rinella

  14. #14
    Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
    Location
    kaiapoi
    Posts
    7,124
    My browning A5 (possible circa 70's but couldn't track it by the serial number even after contacting Browning), would rust if you turned your back on it.
    PITA.
    Gunsmith type at my local gunclub did some repairs on it after my son managed to jam it when I wasnt there one weekend. Also stripped and reblued it for me.
    Came out a new gun-almost. Showed it to a good mate who just remembered it as almost shiny and he was gob smacked. Some pitting on exterior of muzzle but still pretty good.
    It was a bitch for rust.
    It did get a hiding but always tried to keep it oiled. Didnt seem to matter
    sgteval and Micky Duck like this.

  15. #15
    Member Flyblown's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Location
    Waikato
    Posts
    3,339
    Eezox or similar. It works. I treat my stainless Howas with this and keep up the treatment with use. I'm also diligent about properly drying the rifles after wet use - and they often gets used in drenching rain. I strip it down, dry it in front of the fire or in the sun in summer, and re-apply the Eezox. No rust. I have left my .243 on the bike overnight in the rain (long story) and it was fine.

    Comments re Tikka are spot on, they do it too, though not to the same extent. Several stainless brands will rust if not maintained.

    There's a really interesting YouTube video testing all the different coatings, you should see untreated stainless steel in the warm salt water spray after 12 hours. Looks like it's been on the bottom of the ocean for 12 years. Cerakote was mint!
    Micky Duck and caberslash like this.
    Just...say...the...word

 

 

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
Welcome to NZ Hunting and Shooting Forums! We see you're new here, or arn't logged in. Create an account, and Login for full access including our FREE BUY and SELL section Register NOW!!