[lwaldron]

I keep my 3 rifles (M91/30, Chi-com SKS, M1 Garand) in the back of my closet, leaning against the wall.
I've read posts in forums where the writer will make some snarky comment about such a storage method.
Is this somehow bad for my rifles? If so, how so?

[swingset]

It's very bad for the rifles.

They will get bored in there. You should store them on your lap, or at the range where they can play with other guns and be happy.

Seriously.

[moredes]

Some say that a rifle should be stored muzzle down instead of muzzle up. The thinking is that the oils and chemical preservatives that are swabbed through the bore and chamber will leak into the stock around the receiver/action and soften the bedding or loosen the tight fit between receiver/action and stock.

This may not apply to synthetics.

[Lone Star]

I've stored my rifles this way for years. Unless you've over-oiled them, there is no problem.

Lone Star

[mete]

Over oiling will cause the oil to run down into the wood .Eventually the wood will be damaged by the oil. This was especially a problem in the old side lock guns where there is very little wood holding everything together.

[Publicola]

Actually it can cause a problem if your rifles have recoil pads.

By storing the rifles on their butt the pad will compress & take a "set" to it. But this isn't something I'd really sweat unless we're talking years of storage. Still all things being equal it's better to store your rifles hangin with the muzzle pointed downward. If you're gonna change your method of storage to preserve the recoil pad then titling the muzzle downward to prevent any oils from leaking into the action won't hurt.

So what I'd do is keep the gun safe for when the house is unattended (assuming you have a gun safe) & build a rack for storing the rifles horizontally (with a muzzle down attitude) for when you or someone else is around the house. Besides, a full rifle rack might look cool, but if you really want to show off your long guns a horizontal rack is the way to go.

[Master Blaster]

Does anyone have a picture of their horizontal rifle rack or suggestions for the correct hardware to use for a horizontal rack, preferably stuff you can buy or order and notan expensive commercial rack that only holds two or three guns?

In some states they have safe storage laws which require you to keep the rifles under lock and key if you have any children, irrespective of the children's training and trustworthiness.

Thanks

:)

[Jaywalker]

It's very bad for the rifles.

They will get bored in there. You should store them on your lap, or at the range where they can play with other guns and be happy.
:D

Jaywalker

[Sean Cloherty]

I can't imagine that storing them pointing down and resting on the muzzle would be too good for the crowns.

[pauli]

the crown is still steel, right? what's it going to hurt? unless you intend to balance the rifle on a router bit or something...

[skebe]

"Over oiling will cause the oil to run down into the wood .Eventually the wood will be damaged by the oil. This was especially a problem in the old side lock guns where there is very little wood holding everything together."


Wood? :confused:



Just kidding. :D

[Beav]

Isn't that basically how they are stored in most safes?

[sigman4rt]

Dude, I would be more worried about leaving the trigger guard on your Garand latched while in storage than I would be about oil.