Cleaning rust off a firing pin assembly

[welkin]

Spent a week hunting in very wet conditions, when I got home the bolt on my t3x felt sticky and the trigger wasn't pulling correctly. Disassembled the bolt and there is a little rust on the firing pin assembly, specifically the part towards the rear that the spring partially covers. Some brake cleaner and reassembling the bolt got it back to feeling normal but I can't clean the rust off easily with steel wool or even a soft wire brush because the spring is in the way. How should I go about getting the rust off? I've soaked rusty tools in vinegar and had good results, is that safe for a bolt?

 

[rayporter]

remove the spring to clean it. there is a tool to change the spring for remington type firing pins and there should be one for yours.

 

[Weldor]

Kimball midwest and a few suppliers sell rust stop. It stops rust and coats the surface so it does not come back. It's called Black rust converter

 

[TaperPin]

I don’t know anything about Tikka rifles, but that’s good you caught it before it caused a missed animal. Do Tikka triggers need de rusting as well?

 

[BigStick]

Oldest Trick In The Book,is to soak same in diesel over night and then I'd go right to a S/S brush.

I prefer my striker assemblies to be sans lube and am warm/fuzzy with the residual diesel and/or Starting Fluid residual. Brake Cleaner can be rather tough on things that aren't metal.

No big deal..............