[az4x4runner]

Hello,

Just decided to join up, I have gotten much valuable information from this forum in the past.

I have always kept my rifles in soft cases with the ends unzipped, I know this is not ideal but I have never had a rust problem.

I recently purchased a Maverick 88 12ga Accu-Choke model. I was wondering if anyone here stores their shotguns with the action open to allow air flow though the barrel? Would this cause more harm that good by letting in dust or humid air? I am not too worried about dust as the case is zipped at least to the ejection port usually.

Thanks,
Bryan

[Fred Fuller]

Depends on what you mean by 'storage.' Is storage just sitting around waiting for use/practice/cleaning, or is storage 'not gonna touch it for a year or three?'

The house guns here (3 Remington 870s) that live outside the safe are stored either horizontally or muzzle down depending on their hidey holes. They have the actions closed, hammer cocked, safety on, and magazines loaded one down from full. When we're both gone they go back in the safe, as long as one of us is home they stay in their cubbies.

Long guns that mostly stay in the (overcrowded) safe are kept in Bore Stores ( http://www.borestores.com/ ) to protect them better from dings and rust. Keeping a gun in a 'regular' gun case, especially a plastic one, in a closet etc. is a good way to promote rust...

fwiw,

lpl

[ChairborneRanger]

I would expect that you are not going to get all that much air movement or "flow" through the action---accordingly, I doubt it is going to make any difference whether your action is open or closed.

Most areas of Arizona are pretty dry---I'd be prone to cover the surface of the shoutgun with a good quality rust preventative and put it in storage. Consider tossing in a few dessicant packs if you still have concerns.

[FloridaConfederate]

The bags are a good point. Have have wife keep those things they are good for a lot of things.

[az4x4runner]

Thanks for the input guys. I didn't mean long time storage, just waiting til the next use which is usually every couple weeks to every couple months.

I have heard a lot about the regular gun cases promoting rust. Maybe it is the environment here, but I have never had an issue. I do however leave the ends unzipped and lay them horizontally in a closet which has a 450 gram silica desiccant pack in it. They are not the plastic cases.

I will leave the actions closed.