[Mr. Designer]

Your shotgun is leaning in the corner. Should the muzzle be pointing up or down?

[porsche]

one of the maker's web sites, Beretta i think, said "down" in an ask the expert column. the reason: keep oil from being abrorbed by the stock and weakening the wood where the receiver joins the stoc.

[Mr. Designer]

keep oil from being abrorbed by the stock and weakening the wood where the receiver joins the stoc.
That's a good reason, although I was thinking more on the lines of safety.

[John4me05]

Muzzle up would be my choice.... More stable

[MudPuppy]

I think that's probably a valid point with oil and stocks, but I run polymer furniture.

How hard is it to ding up the muzzle on a shotgun?

[Striker]

As John4me05 pointed out, muzzle up is more stable.

[Wetawd]

One more for muzzle up.

It's more stable and if your a synthetic stock, oil on the wood won't matter, less chance of obstructions in the barrel, if it does go off less chance for hitting people and less chance of ricochets.

[Fred Fuller]

We rack shotguns with wooden furniture muzzle down in the safe to keep the wrists of the stocks from getting oil soaked. Defensive guns hidden away in vertical hidey holes are muzzle down also, because we work from 'low ready' by training and habit, and it's easier to begin with the muzzle down.

YMMV of course...

lpl/nc

[sm]

Lee Lapin expressed my reasons 110 %

[mossberg]

You can stand it muzzle down:confused:

[Fish828]

i think it depends where in the house you are storing it as far as safety is concerned. if it is in a room on the bottom floor, i would say muzzle down. if it is a room on the top floor i would say muzzle up.

[waterhouse]

Muzzle down. This means the grip is up, which makes it easier to grab and go.

[JohnBT]

Up for me. I don't use much oil anymore, mostly light grease.

John

[mswestfall]

Clean a gun and store it muzzle down on a piece of plastic wrap. Check it the next day and you'll find residue from your cleaning. This can be avoided by not oiling the bbl before storage.

It is most pronounced in a rifled bbl.

I've hunted with a person who's trigger (O/U) wouldn't reset for the second bbl because oil from the bbl ran back into the action during storage.

I store muzzle down. I don't advocate either way. I do believe you need to be aware of your "conditions".

Storing up is safer. Storing down brings the gun into position with less hand movement unless you go to one knee to pick it up.

This might not be your experience. Practice both, keeping safety in mind.

[RNB65]

My grandfather's 16ga single shot has been sitting muzzle up for over a century and the stock is as solid as they day it was made. Yes, I still shoot it occasionally. The barrel is pitted but the stock is solid as a rock.
-

[PJR]

If you are using so much oil that wood damage is a concern then you are using too much oil.

[Snarlingiron]

If you are using so much oil that wood damage is a concern then you are using too much oil.

Absolutely.

[Quiet]

Muzzle up.
It also how it sits in the patrol car.

[okiewita40]

I was taught to store any long gun rifle or shotgun muzzle down. So that is how mine is stored.

[Markbo]

That's how I was taught too. The reason was so oil would not drain down and muck up the action. I have learned through my own experience however that if I have enough oil in a shotgun that it flows, I need to clean my gun! :rolleyes:

Mine is muzzle up, leaning against the bedpost. I can reach over with either hand and have it 'at ready' in seconds. I have actually practiced and since it is between the bed and nightstand muzzle down takes longer to fish it out. When I brab it by the muzzle, it is basically a jerk/throw in the direction of the door and my hands go naturally to where they should.

When it was muzzle down I tended to want to 'steer' the muzzle out and THEN swing... it just took longer.

[jimbob86]

Who is using that much oil?

[Bailey Boat]

Down for me, but mine sits in a wrap around lock device that is bolted to the studs with 6" lag bolts. The way it's mounted when it's closed and locked you can't move the gun up or down.......

[possum]

maybe i am old fashioned but before i had kids it was muzzle up. but that is the only way that i ever even thought to do it, but now my shotgun is on a shelf in the closet so that really dosne't aply to me anymore.

[riverdog]

The only shotgun I have in the corner is an 870 muzzle up. Running oil is not an issue because all excess is wipes off, only a thin film remains after cleaning.

[Kestrel]

Bailey Boat,

Do you mind me asking what kind of wrap-around lock you use?

Thanks.

[Hornet 6]

Muzzle down for me, safer (I live in a ground floor flat) and no chance of oil in the wood.

Neil.

[Wopasaurus]

I live on the top floor of an apt building, so it goes face up for me, I have it on a coathook on the inside of the closet on the inside wall you can't see unless you're inside it, hanging by a it's strap. It's really secure, and won't fall even if you bump it.

[Hansli]

Muzzle down, otherwise recoil pad is permanently deformed. All mine in the safe have socks and are butt up.

[Sav .250]

Mine are all muzzle-up but there is a case for down.
After cleaning muzzle down would keep any and all solvents/oil from soaking into the wood over time. A long time at that.
I think this one falls under ...old habits are hard to break.

[Mr. Designer]

Mine is muzzle up, leaning against the bedpost. I can reach over with either hand and have it 'at ready' in seconds. I have actually practiced and since it is between the bed and nightstand muzzle down takes longer to fish it out. When I brab it by the muzzle, it is basically a jerk/throw in the direction of the door and my hands go naturally to where they should.

When it was muzzle down I tended to want to 'steer' the muzzle out and THEN swing... it just took longer.
When I originally posted this I was thinking for self defense purposes. I guess I should have put that in the original post but hey. The muzzle up makes sense in your situation. Muzzle down would make sense if you got out of bed and grabbed the gun which would make it easier to get into the low ready position.

[scout26]

Muzzle up with a piece of scotch tape over the muzzle to keep dust and dirt out.

[Bailey Boat]

(I wish I knew how to "quote")

Bailey Boat,

Do you mind me asking what kind of wrap-around lock you use?

Thanks.

I got your PM and answered..... The one I currently use is from a patrol vehicle back in my GSP days. It was going to the bone yard and we were being given the new, miracle scabbards that hung in front of the front seat (without any means to be locked) so I liberated one of the old locks..... Wish I had gotten several.....

[jgo296]

for this ill summon the great chinese principle
a shot gun in hand is worth 2 in the corner :P