Gun storage?

Question

What is the best type of gun storage. I read on my cases "dont store in this case". What should you store in than?

Answer 1

For guns that are going to be stored for a undetermined period of time, I would recommend the following

1 - clean Firearm as completely as you can

2 - Lubricate all metal parts you are able to access (disassemble as much as you are capable of) with a quality lubricant. WD40 is not a quality lubricant. I recommend either a FP-10 or using a full synthetic motor oil (Mobil One Full synthetic works really well). There are other brands, but I am only posting what I use and have experience with.

3 - Place in a Silicone impregnated "sock" - available at cabellas and other on-line retailers for a reasonable amount. This will stop moisture from betting to the firearm

4 - Place firearm in a safe. This does not need to be an expensive ordeal, but there are some available for 40-50 dollars that can be bolted to a wall (even if you are renting...do this. Fixing the wall on removal is EASY and cheap). A Safe from Harbor Freight, or one from the Home Dept / Lowes can suffice (assuming you are talking about a pistol... for a rifle, check Wallmart... can be done for 300 for a larger gun safe)

5 - Place a Dessicant material in the safe. There are several kinds. Some are plug in to the wall, others are moisture absorbing materials that you need to "re-fresh" every few months by plugging in to a wall outlet. This is less of a concern if the safe is placed in a humidity controlled environment...like your house... not basement or attic, car, etc. I use the plug in type, it works well enough.

6 - Check Firearms every 6mo - Year for the signs of Rusting. While it is out, run a patch with oil down the barrell, and re-oil the moving parts - lightly. May not need a whole lot. It is there to protect the parts.

As others have pointed out. Placing the firearm in a gun case has the tendency to wick the oil away, and trap moisture in the case. While you may get away with wrapping the weapon in a silicone sock and placing some dessicant material (not the plug in type) in the case, I can not assure you that nothing will happen. It merely has a greater potential for something to happen. For my guns, this is unacceptable.

Answer 2

Your hard and soft cases are not for long term storage. For long term storage I would get a safe. There are many safes out there from as little as $150 all the way up to $10000. I have a Timber Ridge made by Liberty for Gander Mtn. It weighs in at 900 pounds and has a 45 min fire rating.

If you store firearms in hard or soft cases you are going to get rust no matter what you do. Some will say to get a gun cabinet. I now shy away from them because they are like a smash and grab showcase for a thief.

If you want many local PD or sheriff departments will give you a gun lock for free for all of your guns. I am one person who does not like them as they cause more damage to the firearms than protection. Trigger locks are not that good either. I have taken floor plates off and had access to the trigger with a trigger lock on.

Stack on makes metal gun lockers that work and can be bolted to the floor and wall rather easily these are a cost affective way to store your firearms. You can stick it in the far back corner of the closet and no one will ever know it is there unless you tell them. If you are going to use this modle I would get gun soks for them that way you do not bank up the finish or the metal or wood.

Answer 3

the reason for not storing a gun in a case, is that the cases actually draw moisture in some cases, which rusts the firearm. The best storage is in a locking gunsafe with either an electronic dehumidifier, or some packets of desicant to absorb moisture. I have in years past, before I could afford a gunsafe, placed a solid core door on a closet, installed a double set of deadbolts on the door and made gun racks inside it, placed dessicant in the closet and locked my firearms up that way. Even if you can only afford around $100.00 you can find upright gun lockers at sporting goods stores, Kmart, sears, online etc that bolt to a wall stud and lock. Thess are not gun "safes" in that a determined person with a crow bar can get into them, but they are better than nothing and, you can place dessicant in them. Also, I found that if you bolt them to the wall stud to the sides of a small closet, there isn't enough room for a person to get to them with a crow bar.

Answer 4

Soft cases aren't a good choice for long-term storage because they can attract moisture which will rust your gun. Hard cases are better and your gun is less likely to be damaged in a hard case.

What doesn't fit in my vault (need another one now) goes in hard cases with silica gel dessicant bags and locked in my 'gun-room.'

Happy New Year Ya'll! Be back after the First!

Best wishes,

H

Answer 5

That warning is there for the protection of the gun's finish. The foam rubber in hard cases or the padding in soft ones can hold moisture against the gun's surfaces and allow rust to develop quicker. For long term storage you want to put them somewhere dry, where air can move around them (at least a little bit). And of course keep them lightly oiled.

Answer 6

So long as you keep your guns free of moisture then you will be fine. I always store my guns with some kind of dehumidifier that absorbs and holds moisture

Answer 7

Go to a local gun shop.They will have cases,gun locks,etc.They need to be licenced .Tell what you have and they can give the best advise for what you have.