doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Salt Water protection for a double

Guys, decided to take a Md 21 hunting for sea ducks in Maine. Heading out there to freelance for a week. Have been several times before and it is a tough environment on guns. Just can't leave the 21 at home this time.

So, what's some good suggestions for protecting the gun from the salt water environment? Have already waxed the gun, have a clean, floating gun case. Thought about getting a silcon sock to put in it immeadiately before and after the hunt.

Other suggestions?

Watch for the future eider and oldsquaw pics!

Cory

The only thing that you could do that would make it somewhat safe for you to take that Model 21 out sea duck hunting is to have the all the metal parts coated with Robar NP3 or something similar. And that might not be enough to stop the corrosion. Are you going to be hunting out of a layout boat, barnegat sneak box, etc or just hunting from shore? If you are just hunting from shore, I wouldn't worry about it too much, but if you plan on hunting from a boat of some sort and are going to be salt sprayed all day, I would leave the 21 home and use something else.

LeFusil-

We'll be hunting from a boat or the tidal rocks. As the tide swings, rocks are exposed and we drop off people on the rocks as the eider come in to feed on the barnacales and mussels.

I have left good guns home before to hunt with coated semi auto guns. I can't leave the 21 home this time. It deserves to be used, not saved for another day.

Thanks for your input. I don't know much about Robar NP3. What is this?

Cory

You might look at John Deere Fluid Film...I believe it was designed for the Navy to protect agains salt water corrosion.

I'd forget about the wax...metal will rust with wax.

If you do a total strip down and clean within a few days of the hunt I'd think the gun would be okay....not like it can't be replaced.

I'd get me a good water tite gun case for it...

Cory,

I have no direct experience with guns in a salt water environment but will offer my ideas. Rig Universal for the metal parts. It has the consistency of thick, sticky grease. Wipe the metal parts down good with it. I would wax the wood. When you're done hunting I would wipe the gun down good with a soft, dry cloth or two to get any salt residue off followed by a complete wipe down with Ballistol which won't harm the wood. Depending on the weather/salt spray conditions a strip, clean and oil may be in order when you get back home.

Good luck and have a good hunt.

Phil

I would pack quality O/U with synthetic stock like Browning Cynergy. Ruger even makes SS version with black "furniture". You would still have to clean thoroughly after use becuase the "guts" are not SS, but modern synthetic is much harder to crack then wood if stock needs to be removed for cleaning.

Cory, I wouldn't worry too much about it. I just got in from salt-water shooting from the rocks. I'm in that environment at least three times a week. Wipe your barrels and action with an oily rag before you go out and you'll do just fine. I was using my 12ga L.C. Specialty Grade today. Good as the day it came from the factory.

I second the suggestion for RIG. Great stuff.

I'll third RIG. Has protected my blue/wood rifles and drilling during several hunts in the Kodiak area.

Jeff