Brown discolouration on brand new Maverick 88 lifter

[u/VladimirVladislavich]

I've kept it oiled and stored in a silicone-treated gun sock since I got it a few weeks ago and yet it seems like I'm getting surface rust on the lifter anyway. I tried hitting it with 0000 steel wool and oil and it didn't come off with light pressure.

Just curious what it is (whether it is surface rust or not), whether I need to worry about it, and if there's anything else I can do in such a case.

EDIT: and before you downvote, this is the first gun I've actually taken to shoot so I'm new to a lot of this stuff.

[u/EmailMeBaby]

I think youre looking in to the matter too deeply. Shoot the thing.

[u/VladimirVladislavich → u/EmailMeBaby]

"You're being neurotic about this" was kinda exactly what I was hoping to hear hahaha.

Thanks for the reassurance!

[u/TheObviousNovice]

I think that discoloration is just a minor defect in the bluing process, I may be mistaken but it might because there was some sort of residue like a cutting fluid or lubricant that wasn't completely washed off before they blued it. Looking closely it almost has a case colour hardening effect. I've seen this on a couple of home bluing projects I've done in the past. Honestly keep it lightly oiled and away from too much humidity or moisture and you'll be fine. If you took the time to tear the whole thing apart to clean and oil it you won't have anything to worry about, sounds like you'll take good care of your stuff.

Enjoy that 88!

[u/PermissionSafe2183]

I wouldn’t worry about it tbh
I don’t think gun socks are a good idea tho

[u/VladimirVladislavich → u/PermissionSafe2183]

Gotcha, thank you.

Why no on the gun sock? I'm not somewhere I can have a full gun safe just yet so I figured this was better than just having them sit out

[u/looloopklopm → u/VladimirVladislavich]

They can collect moisture and then that moisture sits with/against your gun. Can lead to rust.

[u/Dill_Pickle_Tears → u/looloopklopm]

I think it’s similar to a soft case, try not to use as a long term storage solution alone. I’ve had rust form via a soft case + gun sock combo after a hunting trip.

That said, I have a small cabinet so I love gun socks to prevent dings and scratches when removing / returning guns in the cabinet. Humidity is low and I oil regularly so they stay in good shape that way

[u/SocksOfDeath → u/VladimirVladislavich]

Buy a cheap small gun cabinet from canadiantire or princess auto. Takes up like 1sq foot of floor space.

[u/Huxya → u/SocksOfDeath]

I also suggest wrapping the foam spacers in duck tape to keep the foam from contacting the gun itself, i heard of the foam wearing down the bluing!

[u/SolitudeCollective]

These things are indestructible, I have two and shot the first one 2000 times without cleaning it, not a single problem ever  

[u/Borealbound]

It’s a Maverick 88, they are the town bicycles of the shotgun world, they go bang every time. I wouldn’t be concerned.

[u/Dickastigmatism]

Gun is fine, gun is tool.

[u/GreenMan165]

It's tough to tell but does almost look like something done in the manufacturing process to me, given how widely splotched it looks. Given how cheaply these are produced, it wouldn't surprise me if not every surface is totally spotless from the factory on them, so long as it works.

I will tell you having ridden my Maverick relatively hard in its day as my knock around trustworthy shotgun, their bluing isn't bomb proof. I've picked up small rust speckles on my magazine tube and the outside of my barrel chamber side, but nothing that's affected function at all. I just scrapped it back with a brass brush and kept the spots oiled better, and they haven't spread any more. Given how cheap these shotguns are, I personally don't mind just shrugging it off and, I do like the look of the bluing even if it isn't as tough as a Cerakote or what have you.

[u/olongjohnson25]

That gun is 100% fine, nothing to worry about brother! Just the fact that you broke it down to thoroughly inspect it, and asked a question when you were unsure, tells me you take good care of your stuff, and in turn, your stuff will take good care of you.

Don't buy into the whole "buy once, cry once" thing; while there is some truth to it, and every purchase should be looked at through their own unique lenses, there are still lots of good guns at affordable prices if you're willing to look around and be patient. And remember the age-old adage: "it will go on sale, or will be sold second-hand eventually". With everything, and especially guns and ammo, being so expensive these days, find those deals and tell the boomers who want $1000 for an SKS to shove it.

The extra money is better spent on ammo and practice than on a fancy piece of kit you're scared to scratch.