Looking for advice to restore a rusted magazine

[no-regard]

I realized early last week that I was missing a magazine for my .243, I new when the last time I had used it was and where I usually store it between uses but it wasn't there. I was quite upset because the rifle is an old Tikka M55, and the magazines are very difficult to replace.

Long story short, I've searched high and low trying to find it with no luck. I came home today and it was sitting on the kitchen counter, my wife found it in the gutter in front of our house. Seems that it fell out of my rifle bag when unloading from the truck (no more putting stuff in the velcro pockets), and I must have shovelled it down to the street the next morning (6am still dark outside).

I'm ecstatic to have it back but it is in rough shape already. I'm shocked at how quick it deteriorated, I always keep them oiled a bit.




I didn't have time to do anything with it tonight other that put it in a baggie submersed in oil. I tried briefly to get the spring and 'lifter' out but didn't have much luck, it's wedged in there pretty tight. The internal walls are in bad shape so I'll definitely need to get in there as well.

I know there are many talented people on here and I'd sure love some advice on how I should tackle this.

EDIT: I have no idea why this picture is so big, sorry.

[Huntasauras]

I would try WD 40 Specialist Rust removing soak. Works really well on rusted car parts. Pretty amazing stuff.

[elkhunter11]

Get yourself some CRC rust remover.

[Mackinaw]

Keep the xxx magazines out of the bathroom they won't get rusty..lol

Maybe some clr and dry good with air

Mack

[roger]

I like removable magazines as a rule but as a rule i hate the possibiltie of loss.
Maybe a coating of duracoat Teflon or other epoxy potion like that will make it shine like a new dime.

[RobF]

Soak in some cola overnight (works great to remove rust) then reblue.

[1886]

Evapo rust. You can get it from lee valley tools

[amosfella]

take it apart and boil it in water for 45 minutes... The brush the rust off...

[^v^Tinda wolf^v^]

Buff it with a wire wheel and repaint. The oxidization blemishes can't be removed but you could always spray it with rock guard to hide them. Wear safety glasses if you choose this method

[Bluedog]

Just soak it in diesel fuel! It will come out looking like new!
Bluedog

[buzzard]

Evapo rust. Canadian tire

[saskbooknut]

light oil and 0000 steel wool before you use a chemical stripper.
See how bad it really is before you rush to fixes.
Sometimes the fix is more trouble than the problem.

[CaberTosser]

Evapo-rust will clean all the rust but be warned it will also strip the bluing. You could buff it afterwards with scotchbrite pads and either re-blue or use one of the finishing products such as Cerakote, Duracoat or equivalent.

[no-regard]

Thanks for the tips. I'm hoping to have some time to get after it tomorrow. Still not sure how to get the spring and follower out though, it's in there tight. I don't want to have to bend the lips on the mag, but it seems like that might be whats required.

[jethunter]

Most of that looks to be staining, probably not nearly as bad as it looks. Wipe it with an oily rag and it will look much better, then polish with light oil and extra-fine steel wool.

[qwert]

Originally Posted by no-regard

snip
Still not sure how to get the spring and follower out though, it's in there tight. I don't want to have to bend the lips on the mag, but it seems like that might be whats required.

ISTM, that the base of the mag should slide off.
Soaking in a thin oil like ATF or even better ATF/kerosene 50/50 should help.
Bending the lips would be the absolute last resort to be avoided as long as possible.
Some mag followers (from mags with non-removable bases) need to be twisted to disassemble.

Good Luck, YMMV.

[fordtruckin]

I was thinking soaking in Coke or WD40 and then hitting it up with some steel wool or real fine sandpaper. Once its stripped down to bare metal, cerakote it. What ever you do put up an after picture so we can see how it turned out.

[no-regard]

I haven't touched this yet, soon hopefully.

[bigjohncdn]

Probably rusty on the inside too. Disassemble, bead or sand blast and re-blue to restore to original condition.

[Bushrat]

Too bad it wasn't plastic....