Storage of firearms

concealedG36

I store several of my pistols rifles in my attic (actually, in the closet of the upstairs part of my bungalow) in foam-padded plastic cases. Anyway, the temperature in that closet usually resembles the outside temperature (in Michigan that ranges from about -10 to 110 F). Am I unnecessarily risking rust or other damage to my guns by storing them there? My house isn't exactly huge so I don't have a lot of choice, but I could possibly move them elsewhere before I damage them. Any thoughts? By the way, I will be getting a nice safe with dehumidifier once I get into a new house, one day..

idsman75

You are risking corrosion. Keeping them encased means that the air is not circulated around the gun. The warmer temps (esp in fall and spring) during the day introduce moisture which will condense when the air cools at night -- especially on metal surfaces. Here's a suggestion if on a budget. Get one of the swivel gun-show style racks and put them in a small coat closet. Then get a Golden Rod and put that in the closet with the guns. With proper application of preservative (i.e. CLP) combined with the fact that the guns will no longer be sealed up in a container, you stand less risk of corrosion. The Golden Rod will circulate dry air in the closet.

He Dog

Foam padded cases are among the worst for holding moisture, and even before the rusting starts you will see changes in the bluing. Sort of a waffle of lighter areas where the egg-crate of the foam was in contact with the metal. At very least get them into siliconized holders like Bore-Stores, and move them to an area away from outside walls with less temperature fluctuation. The above suggestion is a good one if you have the space.

DaRoosta

This is an interesting topic. I'm basically in the same boat as concealedG36. Will it help if you put silica packets or something like that in the foam cases to reduce moisture or would it simply be better just to take them out of everything? Sounds like the latter.

He Dog

Silica jel will help of course, but you have to keep replacing it and drying it and almost no one ever really does that. At the very least get some open weave fabric, like a towel, between the metal and the foam. I use borestores to store my rifles and have only a couple of soft cases for the field. I had to store a rifle in a hard case for three months and ended up with waffle marks on the barrel from the egg-crate foam. I don't use that case anymore unless the rifle is in a borestore inside it. Also if you do continue to use the foam cases, leave them somewhat open to allow some air circulation and to vent condensation when the temps drop. Even a closet on an outside wall of the house is likly to have enough temperature change to cause condensation and rusting. The greater the average humidity where you live the greater the problem.

ED P

You could get a de-humidifying rod, like a Goldenrod, or some other brand. They're around 40 bucks, and run at only 7 watts.A cheap alternative is a low wattage lightbulb, which I've heard some people put in their safe. Agree with the foam not being the greatest. Airflow around it is important.

competentone

concealed,Agree with the others on the foam, but disagree with the "air circulation" ideas--atleast for an attic area.Air circulation is a good idea in a climate-controled environment where the temperature is relatively constant, but NOT a good idea when the air temperature can fluctuate relatively rapidly--example: a cool night, the gun cools down, the morning sun heats humid air in the attic and that humidity will want to condense on anything cooler--which could be your guns.I'd suggest a good film of oil, a sealed plastic bag (the zipper type food storage bags are great) and a small silica gel pad with blue indicator to tell you when it's saturated (Cabela's sells them for about $5 each--you can use them over and over). A closed environment, made by the sealed bag, and made dry by the silica gel, combined with a good oil film on the metal surfaces will not generate rust no matter how the temperature fluctuates.For long guns, Bianchi (sp?) makes a long polyethylene bag with a corrosion inhibitor inside, but I've used just plain polyethylene 55gal drum liner bags with the silica gel, which seem to perform just as well.

nunn

Anybody ever got a rifle from the CMP, formerly the DCM. My Garand came with a very light coat of grease or oil on all the metal parts. It was vacuum sealed in a big plastic bag. When I took it out and cleaned it, it was perfect. No telling how long it had been stored that way.

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Certified SIG pistol armorer/FFL Dealer/Full time Peace Officer, Moderator of the General Discussion Board on Gunbroker. Visit www.gunbroker.com, the premier gun auction site on the Net! Email davidnunn@texoma.net Jesus is Lord!

concealedG36

Nunn! You just gave me a great idea!! I could use that vacuum sealer I used for the salmon I got recently to seal up the less-used guns!! Squirt some oil on 'em, stuff 'em in a bag and suck the air out! Of course, that doesn't really make them ready to rock n roll if needed, but it would sure help for long-term storage! Anyway, whether I do that or not I will be getting a gun cabinet this weekend. I'd prefer a safe, but my house is too small for one (and they're too heavy for my little house). I wonder, can I put a goldenrod in one of those steel cabinets?Thanks to all who've helped me out here...G36

Iconoclast

Concealed - agree on the vacuum seal, great idea (thanks, nunn!). What's the name, etc. of your unit?

concealedG36

It's called the FoodSaver. I actually borrowed it from my dad. You can read more at http://www.tilia.com/ I also thought about using it to seal up stuff in my hunting pack, like matches, tinder, maps and other items that might be damaged by water. I'm going to have to buy one of those things for myself, the more I think about it the more ideas I get..

mudge

Nunn.....Yeah I got a M1 and an M1D from DCM (the D BEFORE the prices went out of sight). Both are in excellent shape. The M1 had a rare stock on it which I traded to a collector friend for some stuff to restore my Winchester M1. The D is beautiful. X ring at 500 yds. no problemo.Mudge

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I can't come to work today. The voices said, STAY HOME AND CLEAN THE GUNS!

He Dog

Hey Concealed the goldenrod will work in the gun cabinet, as will a small wattage light bulb. Good going. I like the vacuum bag idea as well!

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