Worried about your old military rifle? Here’s how you can not only salvage it but restore it.

An old military surplus rifle can be effectively restored in three easy steps. First, carefully disassemble the rifle, and observe all of the parts. Second, look for any old or damaged parts, and replace them. Lastly, use bluing paste on the metal of your rifle to protect against any potential rust in the future.

Follow this step by step guide to to have your Rifle restored and in great condition in no time.

Research the Gun

Before you can accomplish anything, you need to figure out exactly what you’re working with. Each and every gun is individual and specific, so it is crucial that you effectively research and find out the specifications of the gun you are restoring. Things such as the year the gun was made, the type of gun it is, the caliber of the bullets it shoots, and how much the weapon is worth in today’s market are all crucial to know before effective progress can be made in its restoration. If you cannot figure this out on your own, your next best option is to take it into a gun store or have it checked by a gunsmith. Once you have all of this information, you are now free to begin disassembling your firearm.

Disassemble the Firearm

Now that you are aware of what you’re working with, Your next task is to carefully disassemble your gun. Slowly and delicately, begin to take the gun apart, and set each of the parts separately from one another, which will make it easier to reassemble later. Again, since the gun is old, it is crucial you are very meticulous while disassembling it, as it is very fragile. … Once your gun is finally disassembled, take a glance at all the parts. If some of them are rare or older, you may not have the appropriate tools to fix it yourself. If this is the case, the best option to contact a gunsmith, as they likely have a lot more tools and parts to assist you in this process.

Clean the Firearm

Now that you have everything laid out, it is now important to clean everything. Doing this will give the ability to effectively judge what is and is not salvageable. Make sure to have the appropriate tools, such as steel wool and oil. As you begin the process of cleaning, keep a watchful eye out for any signs of rust, dirt, cracks, or anything else that could hinder the overall effectiveness of the gun. If you see any parts or pieces of the gun that are heavily damaged, and likely cannot be repaired, set them off to the side. Hopefully, there aren’t too many pieces that fall into this category, as they will need to be completely replaced.

Replace/Repair damaged parts

Now that you have separated and identified all the parts, it is now time for you to salvage what you can. Separate the parts that can be repaired from the parts that need to be replaced. Depending on the age of the gun, finding the appropriate replacement parts can be a tough process. If this occurs, your best bet is to go to your local gunsmith and ask if they have any access to these parts. More often than not, even if they do not have access to the exact part needed, they will still be able to find you an effective replacement. With the rest of your replaceable parts, you can likely purchase them at your local gun store, the gun makes sure they meet the appropriate specifications for your gun. After all your replacements have been purchased, unless you feel qualified, I would recommend having a gunsmith install it for you. Again, these things are very delicate, and there is a great deal of risk when guessing during an installation. Expect to spend roughly one to four hundred dollars on this process, depending on the extent of the damages.

Restore the metal

Now that you have reassembled your firearm, you are now on to the last and perhaps easiest step: refinishing the gun. A proper finish can be the difference between a decent restoration, and an excellent one that makes your firearm look new. The first thing you’ll need to do is apply is wipe the outside of your firearm with a rag, making sure to remove any dust or debris. After this, you need to use a blue solution on your metal, which will give it a clean and new look. I would recommend common and trustworthy brands such as G96 and Brownells. Not only will these solutions give your gun’s metal a new and cleaner look, but they will also protect it from potential damage in the future. Expect to spend around a hundred dollars on this process, depending on the polishing you choose to use.

How to prevent and clean rust off your Firearm

• Cleaning Rust off your gun

Fortunately, the process of removing rust from your firearm is cheap and simple, just use steel wool and oil. Most regular gun oil brands will be sufficient, so there’s no need to worry about which brand to use. Using these two together, and applying just a little bit of pressure is normally sufficient to remove rust from your firearm. The first step is to simply apply oil across the surface of your gun. Make sure not to apply too much, as just a think layer will suffice. Next, take your steel wool, and begin lightly scrubbing the oil on your gun. In terms of the appropriate wool to use, I would recommend using brass wool, as it is very soft relative to the other types of steel wools, and thus will be a much safer option if you are concerned about potentially scraping your gun. This process ranges from around a minute to several minutes, depending of course on the extent of the rust’s accumulation on your firearm. If the damage is more severe, and the scrubbing is unable to remove it, your only option would be to bring it to a gunsmith and have it repaired there. This will be a bit more costly, so be prepared for that.

• Preventing Rust accumulation

It is common wisdom that problems are much easier to prevent than to cure. Fortunately, preventing rust from building up on your gun is a simple process that requires just a little bit of discipline. Simply, coat your firearm in protective paint or oil. Effective oil/paint can protect your firearm from rust buildup and only needs to be applied occasionally. Another way to prevent rust buildup is by storing your firearm in cool and dry environments with low levels of humidity. Doing this will ensure that your firearm will never be exposed to an environment that could allow rust buildup to occur.

How to keep your gun lubricated

• Carefully Disassemble

First things first, make sure that your gun does not have any bullets inside of it and that the safety is on. Once this has been checked, you will need to slowly and carefully disassemble your firearm, making sure, however, to leave the trigger section of the gun untouched. Make sure to separate each of the pieces of the firearm in an orderly and easy to remember fashion, so you can remember how to reassemble it once you are finished. If you do not have access to a manual to provide you instruction, the next best option would be to take pictures of a video while disassembling the gun. Once this is finished, you are now free to clean your gun.

• Clean the interior

The process of cleaning your firearm is actually a pretty simple one. Just grab a clean rag, and put a few drops of cleaning solvent on it. Begin wiping across the interior of the firearm, making sure to apply the appropriate amount of pressure when necessary. Continue this process until everything looks clean. When cleaning the barrel of the gun, the same process applies. Make sure to add solvent to a rag, and begin wiping the inside of the barrel. After this, to make sure that you didn’t miss any spots or edges, use a bore brush as well. This process should only take a couple of minutes, but make sure to take your time be don’t be afraid to be meticulous, especially if the firearm has a longer barrel.

• Lubricate the gun

Prior to lubricating your gun, make sure to check your manual to know the exact specifications for where your gun needs to be lubricated. Once this has been determined, you can now begin lubricating your gun. Make sure to use an appropriate amount, as too much or too little can be harmful to your gun’s health. Simply apply a thin layer, nothing more, nothing less. Now that the lubricant has been applied, you are now free to reassemble your gun.