Gun storage???

Idahobound

What is the best way to store a long gun in a safe Barrel up or down? I was selling a safe to a customer yesterday and he said that you should always store a gun barrel down. I have never heard of this. Any thoughts?

LOKO383

J...long term..ie 6months or longer..barrel down..why?..because properly oiled,the gun if stored bar. up, the oil will creep/down the bar.and into the wood..ruining your finish..synthetic stks obv. don't apply here..but for wood I store old or valuable wood stkd. guns bar.down for this reason..just my 2 cents..of course all guns should be oiled or wiped down every 6mnths or sooner..Loko

Hunter Mag

quote:Originally posted by LOKO383
J...long term..ie 6months or longer..barrel down..why?..because properly oiled,the gun if stored bar. up, the oil will creep/down the bar.and into the wood..ruining your finish..synthetic stks obv. don't apply here..but for wood I store old or valuable wood stkd. guns bar.down for this reason..just my 2 cents..of course all guns should be oiled or wiped down every 6mnths or sooner..Loko

Yes I've heard that too and tend to agree. Also what I do is check and re-oil the guns before 6 months. That way you don't look one day and wish you checked them sooner. If they seem to be ok then oil again and check in a year. Some/most oils dry out over time.

11b6r

Have a very old pair of rifles- SMLE and a Mauser 98- the wood directly behind the action had become oil soaked, spongy, and cracked. Glopped with oil, and put away in long term storage. Barrel down DOES make oil tend to drip t'other way.

yoshmyster

Boy am I glad all my stocks are either Hogue or plastic[:D].