XD + kayak = rust

[mr0w1]

So, while on vacation, I went kayaking. After the "drunken snake head biting" incident of the river trip from the year before, I decided to take my XD. I packed it up in a "waterproof" canoeing pouch, and tied it to my kayak.

Well, after much flipping and wettening of the kayak, and getting back to the cabin, I pull out my XD to find that no only has it gotten wet, but it's rusted. A lot. After 3 hours.

It's good as new now (except for the grip safety spring...I decided to detail strip the gun to make sure all the moisture was out, and well, I really boogered up the gs spring), and all cleaned up. Shoots just as well as ever.

So now you know. Being closed up in a wet bag in the heat and humidity of N. Arkansas during the summer will rust your XD.

[BBunin]

I'd send it to SA and have them GunKote it.
There's no excuse for it to rust up like that in only a couple of hours!
Overnight, sure. But 3 hours?

[Delija]

I am totally amazed that you got that kind of rust in such a short time.

I had written here before that I had taken my XD9 out on the ocean. That first time it got sea spray all over it and I have little doubt that it would have pitted badly in very little time. But after shooting it for 15 or 20 minutes, I did all I could, which wasn't much. I rinsed it off with fresh water, wiped it with a dry, clean towel...dried it as best as I could (didn't have a cleaning kit with me, no Q-tips, nothing but a too bulky towel) and stuck it in a baggie that I left unzipped and the gun unassembled so it would hopefully dry some more in the cabin (the cabin is air conditioned so I figured that might help...couldn't hurt).

I cleaned it that night and found no rust at all. I did see it was still a bit wet once I got it off the boat.

After that first time I took my little Kleene Bore kit with me and got it well dried and lubed right after shooting (shooting on the ocean is a lot of fun, but salt water is hell on metal).

So I'm just really surprised your gun rusted the way it did. Maybe there's some kinds of minerals in the river water that contributes to the oxydation....I really don't know. I do know that my XD was wet for at least 5 or more hours and didn't rust at all. (It was "waxed" with a polymer car wax, but only on the outside).

Peace,
D.

[mr0w1]

Yeah, I was kinda surprised at how much rust there was on it myself. The entire length of the slide had at at least a little (and in some places quite a bit) of rust, and there was also a couple of good rust spots on the barrel, grip safety and slide release.

As far as getting it refinished...I probably ought to call them up and see what I can get. I need to call them anyway to get a replacement spring, so maybe I'll mention it then.

But then again, I am the one who took a metal object into the water immediately prior to said rusting...

[Old School]

I would guess than any blued gun will rust just the same in the same conditions.

[shipwreck]

Well, I heard that they would coat the guns for free in armory kote if you have rusting issues with the XD - give them a call. Maybe U'll get that.

[mr0w1]

Originally Posted by Old School

I would guess than any blued gun will rust just the same in the same conditions.

You think that any gun would've rusted that fast and to that extent under the same conditions??


Hmmmmm...


Maybe this calls for a Rust of Truth test.

[[TASF]Overkill]

My XD, before getting Koted, would rust within 30 minutes... Wash my hands, dry them off, touch the slide... Put it on counter top... Take shower... Brush teeth... Get dressed... A perfect rusty fingerprint. Whorls and all.

[Delija]

Originally Posted by Old School

I would guess than any blued gun will rust just the same in the same conditions.

Originally Posted by mr0w1

You think that any gun would've rusted that fast and to that extent under the same conditions??
Hmmmmm...
Maybe this calls for a Rust of Truth test.

Originally Posted by [TASF]Overkill

My XD, before getting Koted, would rust within 30 minutes... Wash my hands, dry them off, touch the slide... Put it on counter top... Take shower... Brush teeth... Get dressed... A perfect rusty fingerprint. Whorls and all.

It does seem any two XDs (excluding the XD45acp) should react the same way. But that doesn't seem to be what we are hearing.

I will do a test with photos and I guess a few different exposure to moisture times. Any suggestions on what to use to remove any oils or waxes that are on the gun? Alcohol? (I don't want to use anything TOO harsh). I could remove from one side of the slide and keep the other side of the slide protected as normal.

Open to suggestions. I can get to it sometime today. (I hope I don't have any unexpected disasters)!!!

Peace,
D.

[mr0w1]

Alcohol should remove the oil fairly well. I'd say sweat would be a better test than just water, but I can't say that I'd recommend mixing up a batch of hi-concentration salt water.