For a shotgun, how much rust is unsafe in/on a barrel?

Question

I have these shotgun barrels, seven of them, 2 double and 5 single all in 20 gauge, some have rust on them, none of them have it on the inside. Their rust degree various, some even have none, I believe all of them are safe to use to shoot, but how much rust on a barrel makes it unsafe? They aren't coated with rust just have some spots. So how much rust does it take for a gun barrel to become unsafe?

Update:

I also ask because I know where I can pick up some more but they're really rusted up bad, just coated, inside and out and if they're too rusted to work there's no point in getting them.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Unless you have pits within/outside the barrels that you can easily catch a fingernail on (drag your finger lightly, over the barrel/suspected area), then you are perfectly fine. There are a lot of people who think that just because they have one or two little pits, the gun is all of a sudden, unsafe. Chances are that they are still good. It takes a lot of rust (to the point of flaking...) to damage a properly constructed barrel to the extent of rendering it unsafe to fire. Don't worry about it. They might not be pretty, but chances are that they will work just fine. A little rust doesn't hurt anything. Shotguns are very low pressure firearms, maybe pushing 18,000 psi on a good day. Not like a high powered rifle, where some breech pressures can reach into the hundreds of thousands of psi!

_t · Answer

Surface rust that comes off easy is fine assuming the gun is not real old or damaged. If the pitting is deep that's a different story and you need that ck'd out.

Any rust inside a barrel is usually a killer for safe use or a good shooter.

mack_9 · Answer

I would say that as long as the rust has not eaten through the barrel enough for you to break the barrel with your bare hands you should be good to go.

? · Answer

i'll answer with a query. Why do you desire to take the barrel off,if the gun is functioning precise? i don't understand of any penetrating answer,that hasn't been suggested that may not wreck the end on the gun. PB Blaster works great,yet takes time to do it. do not drown the gun with it,yet purely placed a splash on on a daily basis,and have persistence! it is going to separate at last! shooting it is going to certainly help,because it motives the gun to warmth and funky! good luck on it! :)

dca2003311@yahoo.com · Answer

Any, and all quantities of Rust are Destructive to a Firearm.* Remove any and all rust asap.*

randall · Answer

first you have to clean it to answer that question and if there is heavy pitting in the barrels there probably on the questionable side best to have the gunsmith examine

Lukesfather · Answer

Minuteman

A guy with 2 hearts · Answer

not a lot

? · Answer

buddy....it a god damn shotgun, muh ***** ur lil grandkids be firin them long after ur dead. if they rusted rlly bad people be thinkin u like a serial killer or sumthin but they damn sure will shoot forward

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For a shotgun, how much rust is unsafe in/on a barrel?

9 Answers