Surface rust on new rifle

[Bganz]

Hey Everyone!

So I bought my first rifle, a new stainless steel Tikka T3 Lite 30-06 (and I love it!). I purchased the rifle over the phone and picked it up in the box and brought it home. But, when I got it home and took it out I noticed some surface rust.

I switched the recoil pad to a limb saver and the screws were covered in rust and what looked to be some sort or white build up. I sprayed the screws down with G96 and scrubbed them with a brass brush and that seemed to help quite a bit. Then I tried to clean where screws go in with G96 and patches. The barrel doesn't seem to have any rust spots on it, but there are small spots over the action and on the bottom where it is sits in the stock. I've just been soaking it in G96 and wiping it off with rags and it seems to be helping and has removed some spots, but it appears I've reached the max that will remove and there are still some stubborn ones. It's not crazy bad, but I just want to baby this rifle as I need it to last me a long time.

Anyways, I'm new to the sport and have no sure what I should do. After searching online and on old posts on here, people suggest some steel wool and oil, but I couldn't find much on stainless steel barrels. Any suggestions? Any and all help is greatly appreciated! Thank you!

[Pathfinder76]

Don't use steel wool on stainless steel.

[Bushrat]

Try some toothpaste and a little water with a hard nylon tooth brush.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by chuck

Don't use steel wool on stainless steel.

X2!
Steel wool is detrimental to stainless, it can cause more rust than was first on the gun.
Kroil and and a cloth should take care of it, and a rub down with G96.
Cat

[Bganz]

Originally Posted by catnthehat

X2!
Steel wool is detrimental to stainless, it can cause more rust than was first on the gun.
Kroil and and a cloth should take care of it, and a rub down with G96.
Cat

Ok thanks! No wool will come near this beauty!

Can you get Kroil at all the typical hunting/shooting stores?

[Hunter1602]

Use white vinegar and a light abrasive cloth pad.
Finish with a coat of gun oil.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by Bganz

Ok thanks! No wool will come near this beauty!

Can you get Kroil at all the typical hunting/shooting stores?

P&D sells it, but it is available at most industrial supply stores.
Cat

[WbyHunter]

I wouldn't have even touched the rifle, or tried to clean it up. If you have pictures of what it looked like before you started cleaning it I would send them and the rifle back to where you bought it and see if they will go good for a new one.

[StenneS]

Let me know how you like that setup, I'm looking into something very similar if not the same.