Condensation inside gun case - maintenance question

Bolt action rifles, lever action, pump action, self loading rifles and other miscellaneous longarms.

Condensation inside gun case - maintenance question

Post by MG5150 » 20 Jul 2025, 7:41 pm

Hi Everyone

Last night I went out for a fox hunt and got a few drops of rain earlier in the night. It cleared up for the last 2 hours and I put the gun in the case dry.

When I got it out this afternoon, the barrel and other exposed metal had condensation on it including some of the bolt.

I dried all the metal, ran a patch through it a few times, then a second patch with some gun oil and wiped down all the metal with an oily patch.

Lesson for next time, don't leave it in the car overnight (even if I get in at 2am) - Do you think I have anything to worry about in terms of rust inside the barrel?

It's a Lithgow 223 Varmint rifle with some sort of blue/black ceracote on the metal.
MG5150
Lance Corporal
Lance Corporal
 
Posts: 125
Victoria

Re: Condensation inside gun case - maintenance question

Post by No1Mk3 » 20 Jul 2025, 8:57 pm

No, the bore should be fine after dry patches then oiled patch. If I got rained on during a hunt I would spray the F out of my rifle with a dispersant such as 5,56 or WD40 then wipe off where I could, then pull the barrel out of the stock and clean all the metal and wipe the stock within a day or two. Never had a rust problem.
No1Mk3
Lieutenant
Lieutenant
 
Posts: 2304
Victoria

Re: Condensation inside gun case - maintenance question

Post by Fester » 21 Jul 2025, 11:29 am

Should be fine but you do have to be wary of rifle bags.

I have never had a rifle rust in my safe, or when out hunting in the rain.

I did have spots of surface rust appear on my stainless Tikka hunting rifle after a 2-day, 1-night trip.
The gun bag had a bad wet patch as it must have been right under where the ute's hardtop leaks the worst.
Fester
Lance Corporal
Lance Corporal
 
Posts: 184
New South Wales

Re: Condensation inside gun case - maintenance question

Post by Wapiti » 21 Jul 2025, 3:53 pm

Keep an eye on those Lithgows. As I understand it, they use carbon steel for all their metalwork and cerakote the exterior. The bore will be exposed to moisture, especially any residues that could suck up the humidity/moisture of the conditions of your storage.

As has been said, use a water dispersant on any exposed steelwork.
Wapiti
Warrant Officer C2
Warrant Officer C2
 
Posts: 1069
Queensland

Re: Condensation inside gun case - maintenance question

Post by MG5150 » 21 Jul 2025, 5:28 pm

No1Mk3 wrote:No, the bore should be fine after dry patches then oiled patch. If I got rained on during a hunt I would spray the F out of my rifle with a dispersant such as 5,56 or WD40 then wipe off where I could, then pull the barrel out of the stock and clean all the metal and wipe the stock within a day or two. Never had a rust problem.


Do you spray WD40 down the barrel and inside the chamber?
MG5150
Lance Corporal
Lance Corporal
 
Posts: 125
Victoria


Back to top
 
Return to Centerfire rifles