Good job.
Wow. 
That pitting!
It’s not terrible - just a lot deeper than I was hoping to see.
A refinish might indeed be in order.
An Excuse for something Custom! 
Thanks! You can probably notice a few areas that need more elbow grease, but for as bad as it initially looked I’m surprised there wasnt more damage. They’re lathered down in grease for the moment until I can get back to them.
I was actually expecting it to be a lot worse, but yeah they will definitely need new finishes.
Wow…I’ve seen Conflict bring backs from SE Asia , the Caribbean and Central America that didn’t look that bad. I can assure you they saw more than Condensation from A/C and Slight indoor temperature changes too.
1st off. You’ve clearly hit the point of Pitting which means Material has been lost or compromised. The Rust process needs to be addressed Chemically before talking Duracoat or anything else. Coating will not fix deepened compromised metal anymore than paint alone will repair a rusted out car.
Alternative…treat the problem then maintain your weapon better…consider a real dehumidifier or a safe with one installed. …keep it away from direct A/C or parts of the room subject to greater temperature swings…a window for example.
If any of the above done…slap some Surplus wood on it and have that " Been There, Done That" Look that’s already started. Remember…this is an Economical PSA . Not a Trophy gun. Don,t trip over Dollars picking Dimes trying to make it perfect again.
Just my opinion.
Good Luck
Thank you, @andrew.heffker , for sharing the whole process even if it might be difficult. It’s something we all need to be mindful of long-term storage consequences.
I’ve read about the following link quite a while ago. These bags are supposed to be good for long term storage for up to 5 years, when you can’t use a temperature/humidity-controlled room or safe. They also have other products
Wow. Had to go dig mine out of the safe and check her after seeing this. Haven’t had her out in over a year. Thankfully still looking good. Get yourself some eezox. Amazing rust prevention. If you aren’t shooting them often renaissance wax is also great to use on the exterior for storage and a small tin will last a lifetime. It’s used in museums across the world.
I live in Claiborne Parish Louisiana and had all of my rifles on racks for years before I got my safes and I never saw rust on any of them. Granted I wiped them all down with Breakfree CLP the minute they came in to the house and cleaned and reoiled each of them any time they were used but hell , that’s bad. I keep a plastic coffee can with a rag in it that’s soaked in CLP and every time I touch one it gets a wipe down. That looks like the salts from sweat on your hands might have caused some of that.
Its quite possible. I never did anything to them before other than function checking them. Didn’t think about cleaning them after that.
Ballistol is the greatest stuff ever! I wipe down all my firearms with it every 4-5 months. Best protectant for all your firearms. Here is a vice I sandblasted and restored. The bare metal was wiped down with Ballistol in beginning of March, it is stored in my garage. There is zero rust forming on it. Zoom in on photos.
Yeah, but this one was used to save a whole platoon from militant drug lords, gargantuan pythons, and that one Jaguar that tried to drag the Colonel out of his tent that night of the mud slide.
It was hard enough just surviving, but also being alive and able to bring it back home was almost impossible.
Hmm? Engraving? Palmetto State Armory you say? Uhh, see, grandpa had to let them borrow it for their museum exhibition that one time and they marked it up with those engravings. Some kind of ATF thing, IDK. Anyway, where was I? Oh right, that’s just before those Amazon Warrior princesses attacked the whole squad. Many good men died from snu snu that day. But grandpa’s will and flesh were both strong.
^That’s how you sell the story, my friends. Plus, children can’t confirm any of it. It’s the perfect crime.
Good reason to go with camo finish?
I know this is an old thread. But I wanted to comment and ask questions.
First. How does a firearm rust like the OP’s when it’s been painted? The factory finish is paint. It’s not blueing or phosphate, were you are actually touching the metal.
Think about your car. It’s painted to protect the metal surface. As long as nothing scracthes the paint, into the metal, the metal will not rust.
It’s an interesting thought exercise at the least. How does surface rust start on a solidly painted metal surface?