Help! White ants attack leaving trails all over.

[sportmuaythai]

My house was flooded, and in haste to evacuate, I placed two rifles in a Cabela's Safari gun case. The flood lasted about three weeks, but I didn't check the case after the flood. After about another five months, ( today) I remembered about the rifles, and went to retrieve the case. To my horror, I found that white ants have entered the case. I had taken bolts off both rifles, and the ants may have intered the bore as well. They certainly plug up some holes in the muzzle brakes. Both rifles have synthetic stock, so I assume that these white ants did not chow on my rifles. However, they left excrement trails all over both rifles and the scopes. I'd be very grateful for any reccommendation for cleaning up the rifles. These are custom Remington rifles built by a welknown bean field specialist. I live half way across the US (the other side of the world), and sending the rifles back to the smith would be quite an expensive task.

 

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

Seperate them from the stocks blast everything down with a degresser brake cleaner etc get them all cleaned up re oiled and re assemble.

 

[sportmuaythai]

Thanks for your kind and prompt advice. The action and the barrel were treated to prevent corrosion, so I assume that degreaser will not hurt the finish.

 

[Boss Hoss]

Edited

 

[sportmuaythai]

I thank both of you for your concern in restoring my rifles. I went and bought a spray can of degreaser ( I use the generic term " gunk"). NowI have only used degreaser previously to clean up chain and oily engine followed with soapy water, and finally finishing with hosed down water, and left to dry. How should I use degreaser with rifle? Should I just spray the degreaser on , wait 5 minutes and wipe off with soft cloth or paper towel? I could oil the metal parts after I'm done. Pls pardon my complete ignorance.

 

[Edd]

Be cautious about what automotive chemicals you use. You can spray anything on the metal parts but some of them will soften other materials such as paint.

 

[J E Custom]

As stated ; Remove the stocks and wash the barreled action immediately.

Also take an air hose and blow the stocks as clean as possible then wipe them down with a wet soapy rag.

Where I come from white ants are called termites and they can and will damage the stocks
by consuming them or there by products(Wast) are very corrosive. they were looking for a dry
place and need to be evicted as soon as possible.

I hope they did not do any permanent damage to your rifles.

Good luck !!!!!

J E CUSTOM

 

[sportmuaythai]

As stated ; Remove the stocks and wash the barreled action immediately.

Also take an air hose and blow the stocks as clean as possible then wipe them down with a wet soapy rag.

Where I come from white ants are called termites and they can and will damage the stocks
by consuming them or their by products(Waste) are very corrosive. they were looking for a dry
place and need to be evicted as soon as possible.

I hope they did not do any permanent damage to your rifles.

Good luck !!!!!

J E CUSTOM

Thanks. I have questions here. Do I wash the barreled action with dish washing liquid? Will detergent be OK? The stock is McMillan. I was afraid of the waste product which still leaves stain on the metal parts, after degreaser treatment. I have taken my rifles from the old building, and moved into my house.

 

[alcesgigas]

For a few years I hunted exclusively from a boat & canoe. When game was processed and subsequently carried in either vessel blood permeated everywhere. Sometimes, particularly in the canoe, my rifle was submerged in water--and whatever else--in its bottom. A couple of times it became necessary to really clean this rifle; I mean seriously. It went into the tub with lukewarm water & Biz--for several days. The first time I removed the stock--but not the Leupold VXIII scope--and the bolt and all went bathing. The second time--worse--I couldn't get the stock off the barreled action so I just removed the bolt and in the tub they went. Again, scope and all. Upon removal I rinsed with hot water (not on the scope however), let dry, wiped down, oiled, and kept an eye on the rifle to see if any residual effects resulted. None did.

In view of my experience juxtaposed your situation I'd say try this--but if you can remove the scope do so no matter what kind it is. Also, the rifle in question is/was a stainless w/synthetic stock. Chrome moly might require some diligent attention after removal. Biz should take care of the stains too.

 

[sportmuaythai]

Thank you alcesgigas for your kind post. J E Custom was most correct with his reccommendtion. The termites' excrements are certainly corrosive. I managed to clean up the crud. Despite this, there are faint trails like spider web on the metal parts and the stock. No engraving trails that you can feel them though.