does powder tend to 'speckle' the outside of a stainless barrel?

Venom1956 · May 17, 2012, 01:48 PM

I assume this happens to all barrels but stainless its noticeable? My two stainless guns just have very small (pin sized) slightly darker grey spots on them, you have to hold it about an inch or two from your eye just to see them.

I'm pretty sure its not rust, perhaps I am wrong? I am guessing its just stains on the metal? Is this pretty normal for a stainless gun?

drail · May 17, 2012, 02:42 PM

Where exactly are you seeing this and what type of guns?

Venom1956 · May 17, 2012, 11:43 PM

1911 barrel and a Ruger SR9. I shoot mostly WWB and Federal ammo thru them. Clean them after each range session. its very very small and faint on the 1911 I'm not sure if I could get it to show up on a picture. I will try. it has no feel to it either. (such as pitting) barrel is still smooth to the touch.

first thing I thought was 'powder' such as on the face of a revolver cylinder. Then I wanted to make sure it wasn't rust. Because it seems quite uniform around the barrel.

**JohnKSa** · May 17, 2012, 11:47 PM

Not in my experience.

Sounds like rust.

Venom1956 · May 18, 2012, 12:08 AM

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

I'll try and get a picture.

Nakanokalronin · May 18, 2012, 03:29 AM

Is your 1911 a Kimber? Most of their models have uncoated steel barrels and are not stainless.I've gotten speckles on stainless parts if the oil mixed with powder residue gets splattered onto them, but your talking pin size dots so I'll have to see those pictures like everyone else.

voyager4520 · May 18, 2012, 05:57 AM

Rust can often appear as dark spots, especially on stainless. Stainless steel can rust, it's not rust proof, it's rust resistant.

Venom1956 · May 19, 2012, 01:52 AM

negative on a kimber its a DW.

I realize stainless can rust. I just can't seem to prevent it. Pics coming.

Venom1956 · May 19, 2012, 03:12 AM

Here are some attempts at pictures.

These are under LED light from a maglite.

Inside of my 1911 barrel. spots on the outside I couldn't get to photograph. I haven't had this 1911 long. I am honestly not sure how my barrel looked when I got it. It could've come this way. I think some is copper fouling but it doesn't look 'normal' to me.

The exterior of my SR9 barrel

**JohnKSa** · May 19, 2012, 03:38 AM

I don't see any speckles. Is it inside the barrel? Your first post says the outside of the barrel...

Venom1956 · May 19, 2012, 09:35 AM

yes the darker "spots" are on the exterior of the barrel but they are very small and my limited camera selection cannot seem to focus on it well enough to make them out. it did manage to focus on the muzzle and rifling so i posted them because to be totally honest i have no idea what a stainless bore is supposed to look like? I thought someone could let me know. im very paranoid about gun rust its given me trouble in the past when my safe had to be stored in a basement. my safe is @ 40% humidity with a golden rod and small fan to circulate air, also some silica. i also have eezox on the way.

**JohnKSa** · May 19, 2012, 03:44 PM

It all looks ok to me. I don't see anything that would cause me any worry.

tekarra · May 19, 2012, 05:28 PM

I agree with JohnKSa, no need for concern. If you you want, try remove the speckles with a fine abrasive.

May 17, 2012, 01:48 PM	#1
Venom1956 Senior Member Join Date: October 4, 2008 Location: WI Posts: 3,656	does powder tend to 'speckle' the outside of a stainless barrel? I assume this happens to all barrels but stainless its noticeable? My two stainless guns just have very small (pin sized) slightly darker grey spots on them, you have to hold it about an inch or two from your eye just to see them. I'm pretty sure its not rust, perhaps I am wrong? I am guessing its just stains on the metal? Is this pretty normal for a stainless gun? Last edited by Venom1956; May 17, 2012 at 02:17 PM.

May 17, 2012, 11:47 PM	#4
JohnKSa Staff Join Date: February 12, 2001 Location: DFW Area Posts: 25,571	Not in my experience. Sounds like rust. __________________ Do you know about the TEXAS State Rifle Association?

May 19, 2012, 03:12 AM	#9
Venom1956 Senior Member Join Date: October 4, 2008 Location: WI Posts: 3,656	Here are some attempts at pictures. These are under LED light from a maglite. Inside of my 1911 barrel. spots on the outside I couldn't get to photograph. I haven't had this 1911 long. I am honestly not sure how my barrel looked when I got it. It could've come this way. I think some is copper fouling but it doesn't look 'normal' to me. The exterior of my SR9 barrel Last edited by Venom1956; May 19, 2012 at 03:18 AM.

May 19, 2012, 03:38 AM	#10
JohnKSa Staff Join Date: February 12, 2001 Location: DFW Area Posts: 25,571	I don't see any speckles. Is it inside the barrel? Your first post says the outside of the barrel... __________________ Do you know about the TEXAS State Rifle Association?

May 19, 2012, 03:44 PM	#12
JohnKSa Staff Join Date: February 12, 2001 Location: DFW Area Posts: 25,571	It all looks ok to me. I don't see anything that would cause me any worry. __________________ Do you know about the TEXAS State Rifle Association?

May 17, 2012, 02:42 PM	#2
drail Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2008 Posts: 3,150	Where exactly are you seeing this and what type of guns?

May 17, 2012, 11:43 PM	#3
Venom1956 Senior Member Join Date: October 4, 2008 Location: WI Posts: 3,656	1911 barrel and a Ruger SR9. I shoot mostly WWB and Federal ammo thru them. Clean them after each range session. its very very small and faint on the 1911 I'm not sure if I could get it to show up on a picture. I will try. it has no feel to it either. (such as pitting) barrel is still smooth to the touch. first thing I thought was 'powder' such as on the face of a revolver cylinder. Then I wanted to make sure it wasn't rust. Because it seems quite uniform around the barrel.

May 18, 2012, 12:08 AM	#5
Venom1956 Senior Member Join Date: October 4, 2008 Location: WI Posts: 3,656	NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I'll try and get a picture.

May 18, 2012, 03:29 AM	#6
Nakanokalronin Senior Member Join Date: July 29, 2006 Posts: 1,066	Is your 1911 a Kimber? Most of their models have uncoated steel barrels and are not stainless.I've gotten speckles on stainless parts if the oil mixed with powder residue gets splattered onto them, but your talking pin size dots so I'll have to see those pictures like everyone else.

May 18, 2012, 05:57 AM	#7
voyager4520 Senior Member Join Date: April 1, 2009 Location: SE Colorado Posts: 840	Rust can often appear as dark spots, especially on stainless. Stainless steel can rust, it's not rust proof, it's rust resistant.

May 19, 2012, 01:52 AM	#8
Venom1956 Senior Member Join Date: October 4, 2008 Location: WI Posts: 3,656	negative on a kimber its a DW. I realize stainless can rust. I just can't seem to prevent it. Pics coming.

May 19, 2012, 09:35 AM	#11
Venom1956 Senior Member Join Date: October 4, 2008 Location: WI Posts: 3,656	yes the darker "spots" are on the exterior of the barrel but they are very small and my limited camera selection cannot seem to focus on it well enough to make them out. it did manage to focus on the muzzle and rifling so i posted them because to be totally honest i have no idea what a stainless bore is supposed to look like? I thought someone could let me know. im very paranoid about gun rust its given me trouble in the past when my safe had to be stored in a basement. my safe is @ 40% humidity with a golden rod and small fan to circulate air, also some silica. i also have eezox on the way.

May 19, 2012, 05:28 PM	#13
tekarra Senior Member Join Date: May 26, 2007 Posts: 1,164	I agree with JohnKSa, no need for concern. If you you want, try remove the speckles with a fine abrasive.