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Sako Trg 22 finish durability?

Shortdraw

Alaskan Guide
Full Member
Minuteman
Aug 14, 2010
1,451
16
49
Kodiak, Alaska
I live in a rainforest climate on an island in the Gulf of Alaska. Corrosion is an issue here in the worst way. Noone dares own a blued rifle here for real use, and even the stainless ones get rusty. I am considering upgrading to a Trg 22 and am wondering how the finish holds up in wet climates. I don't want to have to ceracoat the whole works, but I will if I need to to prevent rust. Thanks, MSD
 
Re: Sako Trg 22 finish durability?

The stock should be able to handle the weather, the action is phosphatized so that should hold up fairly well also.

Keep the bore well oiled with an anti corrosion oil when not in use as it's cro-moly and will rust if not kept oiled.
 
Re: Sako Trg 22 finish durability?

Knowing the Last Frontier's weather extremes...I would highly recommend a coating. Duracoat, Cerakote, Robar, Black T, etc.
 
Re: Sako Trg 22 finish durability?

The only thing that matters is the barrel, bolt and reciever. Keep them oiled. When you store it, put an oily rag in the end of the barrel. Keep in mind, when it freezes, you can get FROST on the metal surfaces of steel, that will cause rust. So watch out for it when storing it where it can freeze.

Paint is the best rust preventative. Of course you can't paint the inside of the barrel, so you will have to put some oil or similar on it to keep it from rusting.
 
Re: Sako Trg 22 finish durability?

The phosphate finish, same as parkerized, will retain more oil compaired to blueing. Thats a plus in prevention, as long as you keep it oiled up on a regular basis.

I can only imagine the extreme enviorment of Alaska. The cold enviorment will make all the metal sweat once it starts getting back into inside room temp's, thus causing rust, inside and out of every metal piece there is. That could be a pain if I had to totally break it all down, including the bolt, and wipe every piece of metal with a oil rag.

I would coat it with something. At least that gives you more protection to the most major pieces of the rifle, the only thing to worry about would be the bore and whatever else was not coated.
 
Re: Sako Trg 22 finish durability?

Thanks for the replies. The problem isn't the cold here normally, just rain, sleet, fog, and snow. Usually sideways. I think I would have to get a coating to keep it nice. If you guys could see the rifles in the used rack at the gun shop here, you would understand. Ever see a really rusty stainless rifle?
 
Re: Sako Trg 22 finish durability?

I spent a short time in the south pacific and Rustoleum was the choice for any metal items. (Not firearms) Based on that experience and observations, I would not recommend it. Mother Ocean rusted out anything not matter if is was painted.! Robar has developed coatings specifically for marine applications and in particular, I am very impressed with my experience with NP3.
Alaska is similar in that its weather extremes are brutal.