Storing your guns?

[bang bang]

A comment on another post got me thinking about this. How is everyone storing their guns?
I recently bought a 'real' safe, and I have my handguns in the factory cases or boxes stacked inside. I always wipe them down before putting them away. It was mentioned that storing them in that way could case some rusting from moisture being trapped.

So whats everyone here doing about keeping their guns rust free in storage?

pad wan.

Iirc from my chemistry/materials classes..a short lecture...fyi

EVERYTHING wants to find the lowest state of happiness - EQUILIBRIUM !

So, your gun and the metal parts want to find that happy place and that will probably mean going back to iron ore.  You are just fighting time and in the end, you will loose if you live long enough.   

Since you are from the USA and TN, do you have any friends?  Maybe shooting friends?  how about co-workers or relatives that shoot?  Or maybe any gun rental ranges?  Ask them what they do and see if you want to try it or go your own path.  Since they live where you live, chances are they will or have experienced what in store for you.

If you are going to try anythings to apply on your toy, i would remove your grip panels and apply a dab under it or in your mag well or on your mag if they are the same base material.  If it damages/removes the finish, then i wouldn't use.  You can use this idea on anything you think you want to try.

if my guns are used out in the elements or even if its under a canopy when its raining, when i get home, i will open the gun case whatever it is and let it "dry" out for 1 week.  Then the gun will be left out and i will remove the grip panels.  If im going to clean, i will clean, but for the most part try to let any moisture on/in the gun evaporate.  Then i will wipe down with an oily cloth and then put away until the next time. 

good luck

[Claymore504]

I store all guns in a safe. Most handguns are on racks. Rifles are on end in the built in rifle rack area. For the guns that are just collectable for me, they are coated in gun oil and are pretty wet. The guns I use such as my EDC are cleaned as needed. The factory boxes are all thrown in a box in the attic. I keep them for if I ever sell a gun, or for moving purposes.

[Swamp ash]

Welp, since you asked...............

Firearm starts like this. Cleaned, lubricated and exterior wiped down with EEZOX



Once EEZOX is dry, placed in a breathable canvas bag with napped interior.  Mine are from a company called Muzzle Nuzzle but unfortunately they are no longer in business. I store my rifles in these bags as well.



Then into a homemade wood box



And finally stacked like this in one of my wood shelved gun safes with golden-rod dehumidifiers.



All my pistols are bagged & boxed the same way, above pic is simply a sampling.
YMMV

That's an awesome system!

[P.08]

For over 20 years I have been storing my pistols on rubber coated wire racks. I apply a thin coat of Rem oil every 2 years and place them on the racks. I use a Golden Rod and a 1-2 dehumidifiers for the summer months. I have a humidity gauge in each safe and check them. Never had rust problems.

[Joe L]

For over 20 years I have been storing my pistols on rubber coated wire racks. I apply a thin coat of Rem oil every 2 years and place them on the racks. I use a Golden Rod and a 1-2 dehumidifiers for the summer months. I have a humidity gauge in each safe and check them. Never had rust problems.

Can I come visit some time??  Your safe is neater than my safe!! 

Joe

[jurek]

I keep my handguns in original factory cases. After cleaning and lubing, I wrap them with cloth and put small silicon bag (used fe. with medicine) into the case.
I stack the cases in network rack above all devices and servers to keep them warm and ventilated.
That's a great thing to be IT in your own house 

[rbuzz00]

I store all of mine in my Superior Gun Safe, with a Golden Rod dehumidifier installed. All guns are wiped down with CLP and I strategically place at least four Zerust VC2-2 NoRust Vapor Capsules in the safe. The Zerust capsules are replaced every two years or sooner.

Pistols are stored in Hyskore closed cell foam modular pistol racks. Original manufacturer gun cases are boxed and stored in a closet. 

Lately as space is becoming more and more crowded, I've purchased gun socks impregnated with Vapor Corrosion Inhibitor (VCI) for all of the long guns to prevent nicks and scratches from storing. It seems silicon gun socks are more plentiful, but I've heard that silicon can seal in moisture leading to damage over a period of time.  The gun socks are a PIA, but if they prevent damage, it's worth it.

[john seeley]

I keep mine in ammo cans. I made compartments out of that coarse black foam material so two cz handguns are stored vertically. I place them loosely in food bags to keep the oil away from the foam. I place a 6" desiccant bag in each can and even in the ones with only ammo. And I tape a humidity indicator card to the underside of the lid to let me know when to recharge the desiccants.

So here, mineral oil, gun oil, silicone and others were mentioned as a finishing polycoat wipe before storage. I guess most use gun oil. For a long time, I didn't use anything as a finishing wipe on the outside... just kept the polycoat bone dry, but I recently started using a rag with Hoppe's regular non-synthetic oil. But it seems the mineral oil would be a better option because it would be non reactive to the polycoat. Any reason not to use mineral oil?

[cracker57]

if I am storing a gun for a long period they are cleaned and before put in the safe they are wiped down with a heavy coat of Johnson's floor wax.  Rust requires three chemicals in order to form: iron, oxygen, and water. the floor wax creates a film to keep air ( oxygen and humidity) away from the metal. it works for me, you mileage may very.

[bang bang]

A comment on another post got me thinking about this. How is everyone storing their guns?
I recently bought a 'real' safe, and I have my handguns in the factory cases or boxes stacked inside. I always wipe them down before putting them away. It was mentioned that storing them in that way could case some rusting from moisture being trapped.

So whats everyone here doing about keeping their guns rust free in storage?

just an fyi,

many things in life are relative.

i live in PDX and there as you may know, its not a dry place. 

what i do will depend on what i have planned for the gun.

 > if i plan to shoot it alot (again relative) then it will live outside on a shelf.  It may get wiped down between shoots and sometimes it may not.  My SS guns dont get allot of TLC since it doesnt require much.

 > if a gun will be put away for a long time (again relative) then it will get a good strip down/disassembly (again relative) and then cleaned/oiled and if there is an OEM box, put back into the OEM box.  If not, then into a gun rug with some Rust Inhibitor Paper.

 > some of my guns that are of more value (again relative) will go into one of my safes. 

 > the ones that get used alot into the gun cabinets where they maybe stacked on top of each other with some foam padding between.

 > my go to revolver lives in a holster with some speed loader and they are in a "handy" place.  Again relative.  A gun isnt of any good use if you cant get to it in a pinch.

im sure others do their own thing.  You will want to look at your options and come up with your own thing too.

good luck

[Gunnerdad80]

For over 20 years I have been storing my pistols on rubber coated wire racks. I apply a thin coat of Rem oil every 2 years and place them on the racks. I use a Golden Rod and a 1-2 dehumidifiers for the summer months. I have a humidity gauge in each safe and check them. Never had rust problems.

Nice collection!

[Gunnerdad80]

I keep most of my guns locked in the safe. My home defense guns are locked in a biometric quick access safe. I used to keep my guns in the original cases but, like many, I’ve run out of room even though I bought a safe bigger than what I thought I’d need. I just keep all the original cases stored in a box in my closet. I try to wipe down my guns before I put them back in the safe but I have a couple of cedar blocks and some corrosion inhibitors in there as well and have had no issues with rust.

[ShotgunAg]

I have 2 safes in my garage and have always kept a heated piano rod in the safes to minimize moisture in them.  Have live in Houston and now in Dallas and no issues because of the heating elements.

[tomboyjr]

WOW, lots of different storage plans and ideas here. Some even kind of anal-lol. I ended up taking all the handguns out of their boxes, wiping them real good, and putting them in several padded slotted storage racks that just sit on shelves in the safe. And one that just has 6 rods that stick in the barrel. Gives me a lot more room in there, thats for sure. And I have all the original boxes in a big storage container. Thanks for all the replies and ideas.

[bullet45acp]

Hi All-

I keep my gun safe in a place that is not temperature controlled so I keep all my guns in these things...

https://www.zerustproducts.com/products/firearms-ammo-weapons/vci-gun-storage-bags/

I have been using them for years and years.
I buy new ones about every 5 years and swap them out...

I keep my guns clean and tend to spray them down and wipe them off with Hornady One Shot before putting them in the bags.

JAG