A priceless rifle.....need advice

[92xj]

History - skip down for my questions
At age 5, my father decided it was time for me to sit in a stand and kill a deer instead of sit at the base of the tree that he sat in for the 2 years prior.  His father, my Grandpa, decided that the gun I needed was his 32 special that he hunted deer with his whole life.  That Christmas break from school my dad and I were getting dressed and Grandpa walked in asking what I was going to shoot a deer with.  Me being young and still somewhat shy around everyone besides the folks, I just stared at Dad and had no answer.  After a few moments Grandpa handed me this rifle and said good luck with the hunt.  That evening, I shot my first deer at age 5.  The following year, I was allowed to sit in my own ladder stand and killed my second and third deer.  Soon, the age of ten rolls around and dad showed me how to run the edger and lawn mower and I started making some money to save up for a 270.  Got that 270 and put the 32 special in the back of the safe.  My cousins then started to grow up and I let them use the rifle.  During their hunting adventures, they decided they needed to be more stealth and wrapped the 32 in camo tape and proceeded to hunt every day it rained.  After 19 years, I talked to the cousins at my Grandfathers funeral 2 months ago and they got the gun back to my Dad.  He then flew out this weekend and brought me the gun.

Advice and guidance-
I have an old gun that has been wrapped in camo tape and hunted in the rain.  The stock is still in great shape, but the metal/ barrel are rusted.  There was also a side mounted scope on it and around the base has rusted some.  The rust is more of pits instead of rust flakes like I think about when I hear the word rust.  What can I do to clean this up some?  WD40 and brillo pads?  the finest grit sand paper made?

Here are some crappy cell phone pics, but hopefully they help show what I need help with.

[Smossy]

Whatever you wind up doing with it, Goodluck and I hope the gun still fires safely. Its a nice piece. I like those old repeaters. Wish my dad could pass down his turkish double barrel hunting shotgun to me but unfortunetly I was an idiot in my younger days as we all know. So that wont be happening.
Good story. Sorry about your grandfather passing away =/

[washelkhunter]

One word - Gunsmith!

[BNAElkhntr]

 

One word - Gunsmith!

[Maligator]

One word - Gunsmith!

x 10

Spend the money & get her professionally restored! Lots of memories there!

[300rum]

Not much you can do now.  They were tools, not prized possessions back then, just leave it a tool.

You can use a copper penny, pre-1954 if I remember right but it is probably way to far gone to make to much of a difference.   

[NoImpactNoIdea]

One word - Gunsmith!

For an heirloom such as this I would pay to have someone restore it the right way.  If you dont have the money now put it back in the safe till you do.

[rtspring]

Hey 92,  I also have a 32 special in great shape that I paid 400 bucks for 5 years ago! In In the late 90's it was appraised for around 1400.00.  Have since had it looked at by old gun collectors, and was told never ever no matter what restore the gun!  Mine is in great shape!  So I guess sentimental value is what you are looking at??


Get that baby shooting, we can go shoot them some time! Mine is dead nuts!!!

Rt

[92xj]

I dont really have a desire to do a full restore on it.  I only really want to clean the surface rust that the tape created.  Grandpa used it all the time and for hus truck gun for years and years, it's in great shape. 
RT, bought 2 boxes of shells last night, ready when you are!

[300rum]

Try the penny the best you can but if it is pitted, there isn't much you can do.  Then go use it to shoot your cousins or whomever put a scope on it! 

[hirshey]

Boy someone would probably beat me for saying it but I've carefully removed small patches of rust on my muzzleloader with vinegar.. I don't know about the whole barrel though. Best of luck!!

[mkcj]

I would think a gunsmith.

[AWS]

oooo streel wool and Kroil shouldn't hurt any bluing that is left and won't scratch the surface.  Pull the forend and try it where it can"t be seen if you are unsure.  Do NOT use sand paper.

[smdave]

Was taught to use a wool sock on our shotguns that we used in the bay, after 12 hours of hunting they would come back with rust on them. Wool sock and wd-40. Use your lubricant of choice.

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

Try some flitz to remove the rust and the use their gun wax. If that don't work learn a lesson from it. You can pay a gunsmith to restore it but honestly, who the heck wraps camo tape around a rifle? Need help... Idiots.