So, Say You've Got A Safe Queen...

I think there are very few of us that use WD-40 on our guns. it has a reputation for hardening, especially after long term inactivity, and gumming up small moving parts. Those of us that do use WD-40 on our guns, may use it to displace water after a gun is dunked in the water as a short term water displacer, but the WD-40 gets cleaned off as soon as practical.

I've done exactly what you're done since about 1959 with my first gun. I've never had a problem with non cumulative surface applications of WD-40 although I've heard some people have. But every gun I own gets a wipe down every couple of months so that may be a factor. I can tell you, accumulated WD-40 will gum things up over time.

Lately, after initial wipe down with WD-40, I've been using various silicone cloths to wipe with. They were free, easy and come in a plastic bag. I also like Remoil for internal lube on some guns and Sheath/Barricade for occasional wipe down. The thing about Sheath is it dries to a non oily coating which is good for trips to colder climates.

The thing is, all oils and preservatives have a useful coating lifetime. I've seen studies on that and some do better than others. I just clean 'em good, lube as the makers suggests and periodically give 'em a good fondling. Safe queens need love too. That and dry air.

Breakfree makes a specific formula called "collector" designed for use on guns stored for over 5 years. Eezox also seems to be popular

Collector is said to be nice. I use RIG grease a lot, and it is a fantastic long-term protectant.

I would steer heavily away from WD-40. Used it a lot as a kid. We didn't know any better. Won't use it now except for water-displacement...and I don't even use it for that. Its worst problems seem to arise with long-term use, which is exactly what you're doing.

Eezox is what I use. Spray on, lightly wipe down and allow to air dry. Good to go.

This is incidently what I use on my blued CCW pieces. I have yet to see even the smallest freckle of rust, even after a week riding around in a sweaty IWB holster in the summer heat.

Because of the spray on nature and the low viscosity, it tends to do a very nice job of penetrating into all of the nooks and crannies that tend to pick up corrosion during long term storage.

I use RIG.

By all means, lose the WD-40! It will work in a pinch in field conditions, but that's the only time is recommend it. Get yourself a true gun oil and protectant. It's not like the stuff costs a lot of money.

I have several safe queens. My method is to completely wipe then off with a dry cloth and then completely spray them liberally with protectant. I hold them by the grip only and make sure my hands never touch any metal after. They stay perfect for years without being touched again.

But I also use a golden rod dehumidifier in my safe also.

Wd40 is better than nothing. There are better choices

I think there are very few of us that use WD-40 on our guns. it has a reputation for hardening, especially after long term inactivity, and gumming up small moving parts.

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Yep. WD40 is a no-no for firearms.

My brother inherited a Winchester 77 from my grandfather that had been stored with a liberal application of WD40. Over the years (maybe 15) the WD40 hardened into a hard lacquer-like substance that was next to impossible to remove from the trigger assembly and bolt (even with brake cleaner!).

I'm not sure if my brother ever got it completely removed.

I have always thought of WD-40 as being more of a solvent/water dispersement product that really doesn't offer any kind of long term protection to a gun. For long term storage I use RIG grease and a silicone cloth.

I use Outers gun oil and I've never had a rust problem. I saw a great comparison of products sometime back and Eezox won hands down.

Fishbed77 said:

Yep. WD40 is a no-no for firearms.

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WD40 is just fine...if used correctly. It isn't always the best option, but it won't instantly melt your guns like some people seem to think.

I can just hear chairs tip over as people recoil from their computer in fright when WD40 is mentioned on a gun message board.

My family has used WD-40 since it was sold to the public and I have never seen residue or crud built up from its use. There are some very good gun products and I use them as well. The guns that go in my safe all get a good rub down with a rag that is generously sprayed with WD-40, CLP, Rem Oil or what ever oil, lube, preservative is handy when it needs re soaked.
In a humid environment I would use desiccant or dehumidifier and give a shot of oil and wipe down every couple months. Since you say it is an heirloom, how has it been cared for up to now? If the gun is in good shape I would continue with what has worked.

Zerust bags have worked for me.

http://www.zerustproducts.com/firearms-weapons/?zenid=0a8b01db5ec0e2d545ba3a49777fa7aa

So after applying the rig do you store the pistol in a plastic bag or gun sock, or what?

WD40 is great for around the house but it turns to crud when it sits because it collects dust, so its not great for firearm storage.
Clean off the WD40 and give it a good cleaning with CLP. Get a good gun lube, I use kellube and it works amazingly well, and oil the few spots a 1911 need. Once done and the pistol is clean and wiped down, put it in a silicon impregnated gun sock or gun rug.
I've done this with rifles and pistols handed down to me and have yet to see a spot of rust on them. Some have been in storage for several years and I haven't had to do anything to them.

Corrosion X. Most all True Value stores carry it. Spray it and keep the gun dry and it will be fine. Spray every 3-4 months if the humidity isn't controlled.

... put it in a silicon impregnated gun sock or gun rug.

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Ooohhh, no no. Don't put it in gun rug! Those are for transporting only! They KILL finishes on guns all the time. The archives here have horror stories about folks who opened a gun rug to find their treasured firearm coated with rust with the fabric or pile of the gun rug adhering to the corroding metal.

The BEST thing for a gun is to place it on a hard, dry surface where air can circulate around it. A shelf or rack in a safe is perfect. Don't wrap it up, let it breathe.

just put her in a ziploc bag filled with motor oil, that's what gun companies do nowadays anyhow hahaha

Breakfree (company that makes CLP) has a slightly altered formula specially designed for long term storage that I highly recommend. Either that or just good old fashioned 5w40. I'd stay away from WD40 even if it weren't an heirloom piece.

Used to work part time at the LGS. Guy brought in a 50's vintage Colt. Never fired. We pulled it out of the original storage box and the backside was totally rusted and pitted. Never store anything in a soft case. Holds humidity.

I use RIG.

I have often wondered what conditions cause problems with wd40. I don't doubt people have had issues with it but at the same time I've dealt with guns that received regular wd40 soakings since at least the mid-1960s - 50 years of wd40 exposure - and didn't have issues. What's the difference? I'm not sure.

Anyway...

For multi-year long-term storage:

Vacuum bags (tilla food saver type bags) will puncture themselves on the sharp edges of most guns.
If the bags don't start leaking from self-punctures, they will leave a pattern on the bluing that goes away with oiling but can be quite disconcerting.
Both of those concerns are eliminated if you put the gun in a "bore store" (http://www.borestores.com) before vacuum bagging.
Vacuum bags are still vulnerable to physical damage, but can be cushioned with an outer sock.
I have opened a socked/vacuum bagged/bore stored pistol after 10 years in a safe with zero human contact. That pistol was, as far as I could tell, unchanged after 10 years of storage. No rust, no cracking wood, no dings.
You can buy oxygen absorbing discs which are normally used in food storage. I didn't use them when I wrapped up a few guns many years ago, but might today.

That's what I did. Of course I had the vacuum bagger on hand and there may have been a bit of, "everything is a nail," going on.

If you will want to take out and fondle the gun every few months, RIG works.

Until CLP became readily available I used WD-40 on a rag and wiped my firearms down, note I've had many of my weapons for 45 Years and never did I detect any rust or finish destroyed nor did I ever notice any build up of varnish type substance. Believe me I have quite a few "safe queens" in my collection and until recently that was my main solvent/perservative. I now reccomend CLP or a silicon rag to wipe down a firearm. Just my thoughts, as I can't believe the number of people that say WD40 is evil.