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Gun storage

TardocTardoc Member Posts: 7 ✭✭
edited December 2013 in Ask the Experts
I have recently retired. Plan on spending my winters in Florida. My guns will be staying in upstate NY in my gun safe. Will I have a problem with my guns being stored in the unheated safe for the winter? There will be no heat in the house. Would appreciate any input.

SS
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Comments

  • TardocTardoc Member Posts: 7 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    What is the best thing to apply to your guns that are going to be stored in a safe for awhile and not be used? I was thining of using Rem oil? But was wondering if something works better. YOU GUYS ARE HITTING THIS RIGHT ON THE HEAD. SOME OF THESE GUNS WILL ONLY GET WIPED DOWN ONCE A YEAR. I HAVE A FAIRLY LARGE COLLECTION AND WOULD LIKE TO THINK TWICE A YEAR. BUT TO BE REALISTIC. SOME MAY SEE ONCE A YEAR. SO I'M LOOKING FOR THE BEST.

    Thanks
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  • TardocTardoc Member Posts: 7 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Is there a tutorial on how to store a bunch of guns? Grandpa had too many for his garage, some are getting rusty so he gave them to me to care for (till he dies which according to him should be in the next year or 5 since he's in his 90's) I want to of course care for them well and get rid of the rust on the ones witha little rust and prevent the rest from rust.

    I have about 300 rifles, to many for a safe. The are in a storage unit now. Trying to figure out best way to care for them.
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  • TardocTardoc Member Posts: 7 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I'm a newbie to posting on the forums but read them on a fairly regular basis. I've seen different threads concerning storage, but I need some clarification.

    For security from theft or some other problem, I keep my guns in a safe. I have some that are still in the original boxes (foam on some, cardboard boxes on some), 1 that is in the green plastic sleeve that it came in (LWRC), but most don't have boxes. My wife has sewn some fleece bags for the guns so they don't rub each other when handling or removing them from the safe.

    I have used Strike Hold as a lubricant and to wipe the guns down before being put back in the safe. Should I continue to keep the guns that are in their original boxes or put them in the fleece bags? What about guns that don't have the boxes? Will the fleece have any adverse affects on the guns?

    Thanks for your help. This is a really exceptional site that I visit every day.

    Tom
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  • TardocTardoc Member Posts: 7 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    When I store my firearms should I release the firing pin or not? I know doing this with a rim fire is bad for the pin due to it hitting against the steel, however what should i do with my center fire firearms. I have been told both and was wanting some input.

    Thanks
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  • TardocTardoc Member Posts: 7 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Anybody have a good resource for the proper way to clean and prep a gun for long term storage. Thanks.
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  • charliemeyer007charliemeyer007 Member Posts: 6,572 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I like Shooter's Choice to clean the bore and parts subject to powder combustion products. After the last clean dry patch, I wait a while and run a patch wet with Break Free a couple of times. I wipe all the metal down with Break Free. If I have completely taken the gun completely apart I lube critical areas with Rig grease. On Stainless I use their Stainless+ grease.
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  • nmyersnmyers Member Posts: 16,892 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    You might want to do a search (select 'Search' at the top of the forum page) for "long term storage".

    Neal
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  • babunbabun Member Posts: 11,038 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    What is "long term" to you????

    A rifle totally covered in cosmoline will be shootable after 50 years left in just about any storage.
    But it will take a bit of work before it is usable.
    Proper "prepping" of a gun for storage depends on many factors, some of which are, length of storage, climate, speed of useability needed,
    even type of gun being stored.
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  • beantownshootahbeantownshootah Member Posts: 12,776 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I think there is more than one way to skin a cat here.

    You want the gun cleaned thoroughly to remove any powder and primer residue, then all parts subject to corrosion coated with a protective coating, inside and out.

    Dunking the entire gun into cosmoline, of course, is the time-tested way to "stop the clock" on a gun, but its also messy, and requires quite a bit of work on the other end to clean the gun up and make it ready for shooting again. I don't really think this is practical or necessary for home use.

    If by "long term storage" you mean at home for a several year to indefinitely long period, I'd clean it, oil it well inside and out, put in in an air tight, moisture proof bag with dessicant inside, then make sure it was stored in a climate controlled area.

    Special mylar bags are made specifically for this purpose; something like this: https://www.zcorrproducts.com/
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  • Ray BRay B Member Posts: 11,822
    edited November -1
    In previous years I've thoroughly cleaned then coated with RIG, and for guns with synthetic stocks I still do. However when dealing with wood stocks, any metal that will come into contact with the wood gets one of those synthetic sealants so that the wood won't get "oiled".
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  • fyrfinderfyrfinder Member Posts: 205 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Since few of my rifles ever get out of the lockup I guess they are in long term storage. I have been using the knit silicone impregnated gun socks and have always heard good talk about them. Recently had a "high moisture" situation that flooded into the storage area .. was tense moments for almost a month after .. no signs of damage or rusting on any of the weapons in the socks. I think they are great and available in many brands. Has anyone heard any bad issues with the gun socks? [?]
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