The best place to store firearms - rust prevention

It depends more on the climate you live in. If you're in a predominantly humid area it will require a little more effort to keep things rust free. I've always felt the easiest way is a gun safe or closet away from showers and the like, with a can of desiccant or a de-humidifier. Or both.

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Store them in Arizona. Nothing rusts here!

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You want the temperature to be above the dew point (I believe that is the combination of temperature and humidity levels which creates condensation). I believe you also want to try to prevent rapid drops or rises in temperature.

I have a lot of tools in my basement along with my reloading equipment and several guns. When I see water beads on the cold water pipe coming from the 220' well, then I know it is time to run the dehumidifier, which runs nearly non-stop all summer until the boiler goes back on around September for the long heating season we have.

I keep each gun in an impregnated gun sock, in the safe. I have several packages of dessicant in the bottom to suck up any moisture. It's very hot and humid here in the summer and I haven't had any problems with rust.

Another "SACK-UP" user checking in; NO problems here in hot, humid Alabama~!

If you REALLY want to store them long term and are terrified of rust, you can coat them in an oil, the specific name is slipping my mind at the moment though. That's how my Mosin came. Check Dr Google!

Keep guns oiled and in the safe. I have an LED rope light strung up in the safe that provides light and makes enough heat to keep it about 5° warmer than the house. With this combo I have never had rust issue in east TN.

Cosmoline works, but it is messy.

ANY good oil, even car wax, that supplies a coating between the air and the metal will prevent rust. There are a lot of good products out there and i will wipe a gun with one of them and THEN use the silicone socks in the safe with the golden rod and three huge dessicant boxes. Here in FL, that seems to be working. When I lived in northern NV, the safe was in the garage and I used none of the above with no issues.

One problem if your area is too dry is having wood stocks or grips dry out and crack

Cabinets and safes are better than racks or most gun cases for rust prevention. Cloth lined cases draw moisture unless they are silicon impregnated (and even these loose some of their protective abilities with age). Exterior walls should be avoided. Temperature isn't very critical (although higher temps are able to hold more moisture) but changes in temperature are. Ground level (or above) floors are better than basements. Silicon wipes, desiccant bags, and dehumidifiers/wands ad extra protection in humid environments. I have also kept guns in safes, racks and cases in a dry basement without wipes or desiccant by keeping a household dehumidifier running in the basement continuously from March through November. The remaining months the furnace kept the basement dry enough in my area. If you have a metal safe it’s also preferable not to have it sitting directly on a cold concrete floor without some type of insulating material underneath it. The concrete will act as a heat sink making the cabinet colder than the surrounding air leading to condensation. By keeping these things in mind I have never had any rust issues whatsoever. I hope this helps...

I have an LED rope light strung up in the safe

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Great idea fatcat! I'm going to try that...

VCI emitters or bags (vapor corrosion inhibitors). They protect all metal surfaces and leave no residue behind so they're not messy like oils and greases. Plus VCI is safe for stocks, ammo, and optics.

Friendly said:

You want the temperature to be above the dew point....

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Excellent point. Any of the weather web sites can tell you what this is. Stick your zip code on the end of this url for current data.

I've never had an issue with rust, even with heavily used rifles showing lots of wear. Guns have always been stored in either a closet or a gun cabinet. Since I've never had a problem, therefore never looked for a solution, I'm not really sure why I don't have problems. My guess is I've always stored guns in the house. Never in the garage, or the shop or whatever where temp swings/high humidity could be an issue. Light cleaning, oiling, and a quick rub down after shooting probably also helps a lot.

Put a coat of Johnston paste wax on them

A coating of Eezox and a goldenrod in the RSC are working well for me...

The RSC is in a heated/air conditioned room.

NMPOPS said:

Store them in Arizona. Nothing rusts here!

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I was thinking the same thing, especially this time of year with single digit humidity.

FriendlyDon'fire; I like your dew point suggestion. Several weeks ago before temps began to warm up, 91F and 3% humidity resulted in a -2F dew point.

Send then to me for strorage in a 65* 15% humity basement safe. Nothing rust now there ether.

NMPOPS

You have that right!

I was just at Lowes Home Improvement Warehouse and saw a toolbox with a rust proofing vapor that fills the box. There is or will be something available to shooters soon I expect. I hope you are shooting them regularly. They're not intended to stay stored for really long periods unless they are encased in cosmoline. Even if you don't shoot them take them out and caress them from time to time so they'll know you still love them.

Everyone reading this already knows, I am sure, but when I was a lot younger I did not, and if it helps only one person I will feel better about my mistake and embarrassment.

Do not store a firearm with a plug in the barrel to keep out dust, or spiders, or whatever. I know for a fact (ouch) that it will allow moisture to accumulate and cause rust in the bore. Leave them 'unplugged' so they can breathe.

For long term storage, cosmoline can't be beat. It's been time-tested with military surplus stockpiles that have been left untouched for decades. It works. It's messy, but it works.

What's the best way to store your firearms to keep rust from developing? Is there a certain temperature that's best,

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70 degrees at 50% humidity is "museum quality" storage conditions for firearms.

The best long term protection I have found is R.I.G. Rust Inhibitor Grease.

Cleaned and wiped down every time they are handled with a RIG-RAG will insure no rust for at least 40 years.
But that is only how long I have been using it on a 50+ gun collection.

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=31843/Product/RIG-RAG-UNIVERSAL-GREASE-APPLICATOR

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=31842/Product/RIG-reg-UNIVERSAL-GUN-GREASE

rc

Delford said:

I was just at Lowes Home Improvement Warehouse and saw a toolbox with a rust proofing vapor that fills the box. There is or will be something available to shooters soon I expect. I hope you are shooting them regularly. They're not intended to stay stored for really long periods unless they are encased in cosmoline. Even if you don't shoot them take them out and caress them from time to time so they'll know you still love them.

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As ZCORR Jay pointed out.

VpCI (Vapor Phase Corrosion Inhibitors)have been available for many, many years, most folks just do not know about them.

Look here for retail focused products--> http://www.bull-frog.com/
Check out their emitters and gun sleeves

Or go here too see a complete line of VpCI packaging products --> http://www.cortecvci.com/Products/Packaging_Products/vci_packaging_products.html