Has anyone had an experience using "off site" gun storage?

The best option (and one I am part of right now) is to find a friend who is willing to take the safe and all and put it in their home.

I am doing this for a friend currently, and the guns have been with me for more than 10 years. He comes back to shoot when he gets back in-country, or between deployments.

maxxhavoc said:

The best option (and one I am part of right now) is to find a friend who is willing to take the safe and all and put it in their home.

I am doing this for a friend currently, and the guns have been with me for more than 10 years. He comes back to shoot when he gets back in-country, or between deployments.

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This was my thought as well.

Kaybee could you just take on the safe keeping since its s small safe?

Back in the day when I was single and had disposable income, and lots of milsurps were cheap... I bought about one or two a month. (That’s the danger of getting a C+R 03FFL).

Nowadays I’m spending my hard earned loot on baby sitters and diapers. I keep most of my guns and stuff I don’t want anyone getting into in a storage facility the next town over.

When I went the storage route, I used my vacuum sealer and a couple large rolls of vacuum bags. Depending on the rifle, I greased, put in desiccant packs, or CLP. I also vacuum sealed most of my ammo that isn’t in spam cans, despite it being a climate controlled facility.

When I drop by to add to the collection or take some out for a range trip, I always transport them in unmarked bags or cardboard boxes... no case that screams gun.

desidog said:

Back in the day when I was single and had disposable income, and lots of milsurps were cheap... I bought about one or two a month. (That’s the danger of getting a C+R 03FFL).

Nowadays I’m spending my hard earned loot on baby sitters and diapers. I keep most of my guns and stuff I don’t want anyone getting into in a storage facility the next town over.

When I went the storage route, I used my vacuum sealer and a couple large rolls of vacuum bags. Depending on the rifle, I greased, put in desiccant packs, or CLP. I also vacuum sealed most of my ammo that isn’t in spam cans, despite it being a climate controlled facility.

When I drop by to add to the collection or take some out for a range trip, I always transport them in unmarked bags or cardboard boxes... no case that screams gun.

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I’d use either a golf club case like they use on Airlines or something that doesn’t draw attention like a bag chair.

None of the local franchise (UHaul, et al.) storage outfits specifically prohibit firearms from storage in their facility. All of them have active fire suppression and intrusion detection systems.

VCI bags and nondescript boxes in a reputable storage unit sound like an alternative to consider, if no better options come along.

A true story. The gentleman passed on a few years ago but a local pawnshop owner told me the following story. He had a customer bring in a very expensive Weatherby rifle that was worth about $1000. And this was in the 1980's. He pawned the rifle for $50. The interest was $10/month which he paid on time every month. After a few months passed the shop owner finally asked the guy why he didn't just pay off the loan and take his gun home. His reply. "It's costing me $10/month to store the rifle here. You have it in a safe, there are bars on the doors and window, security cameras and an alarm system. I live in a rough neighborhood and the rifle is much safer stored here. I'll be back to get it when hunting season starts."

Not that I'd recommend this approach, but it worked for this guy.

maxxhavoc said:

The best option (and one I am part of right now) is to find a friend who is willing to take the safe and all and put it in their home.

I am doing this for a friend currently, and the guns have been with me for more than 10 years. He comes back to shoot when he gets back in-country, or between deployments.

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This makes the most sense. When I was single and active duty, I had a deployment (10 month) come up as my lease ended. I put my safe in a friend's garage and everything else in storage.

I know some gun stores offer storage. Could be a good idea, especially if they offer cleaning and smithing. But I wouldn’t have the foggiest idea about pricing.

Some of the gun ranges around here offer storage. I don't know anything about their locker/vault sizes but that might be an option.

I don't know of any companies that do this specifically. But like others have said she might be able to work out a private arrangement with a friend or a local gun store.

Kaybee said:

Update: Found this which seems absolutely perfect, a really unique service.
https://nationalsecurestorage.com/
Only problem is, can't find any reviews or testimonials anywhere on the place so can't get any kind of feeling on how legit the place is.

So, to add some complications she is probably going to be moving to another state when she returns and is not sure where (depends on job search).

What she decided is to break the long guns down and oil them well, and then vacuum seal them and put them in plain boxes. They'll be stored in a "pod" with her other belongings and since most states don't require paperwork when moving somewhere with long guns she should be able to just ship the pod when she returns. (will check local laws first)

Has a few old quality revolvers, is looking for a local solution for those. Sounds like she may need to transfer the revolvers into the state via FFL depending where she moves to (?), if its out of state. Looking around for a safety deposit box for a gun shop or club that seems reputable. The bonus would be a gun shop would be able to transfer the handguns fl to fl when she is settled but a safety deposit box she would have to go there and handle that when visiting friends or something.

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There is another company like National Secure Storage that has several locations in my area. I looked into it for a friend and found it was considerably more expensive than a climate controlled storage facility but one of it's selling points is that they had an FFL so that you could transfer the firearms to them to keep law enforcement from grabbing them if you were to temporarily become a "prohibited person". The downside is that if you're in a 1 gun a month state like me, it could take years to get them all back. Another plus is the security they provide but the downside to that is that being known as a firearm storage facility makes them a target whereas a regular storage facility lets you be stealthy and stay under the radar.

I am using the "friend's house" option myself. Stealthy and, unlike a storage facility, family members see the safe every day. Being in an occupied house lessens the chance of a burglary.

Except in a few extreme cases there is no need for an FFL. In most states you just bring them with you like any other possessions. Only a few super-corrupt states are a problem. For example, NY requires that you obtain a permit to possess the handguns BEFORE you bring them into the state and you can't even apply for it until AFTER you start living there so some storage arrangements would be needed. CA requires that each handgun be registered (last I heard it was $50 per gun) but I don't know if that has to be done before the guns are brought into the state or not. You should probably advise her to take such things into consideration when choosing a destination.

With all of the legal strangleholds out there in various states, and changing on a almost monthly basis, I would strongly suggest what a few others have, and that is for her to have a trusted friend hold on to them.

We lack details but, depending on what state she decides to store them with a business, and what state she ends up residing in it could become quite complicated getting them back.

Having a trusted friend hold on to them bypasses a lot of that, at least for now.

Not all the guns at my house are mine. Not all the guns at some friends' houses are theirs.

Statistically, it's more likely that one of us will have a burglary, fire, or other problem. On the other hand, we're not going to lose everything should that happen.

There are always risks, but it works for us.

I don't think I would ever store my firearms outside my house and control.
If I need them, I want them readily available and not in some "storage" place.
In my home, they are in a secure, strong, safe that is bolted to the floor, so, no one, outside a dedicated professional, is going to get that safe out of my house.
And, I am not trusting enough of anyone else when it comes to "caring" for my weapons.

Never would I store anything in a storage unit or P.O.D. which burglars would really want. I can't imagine the security systems needed to keep low lifes out, but maybe if available, it is dependable?

Can another storage unit 'renter' (or their sleazy buddy) have possible access to your unit, using common tools to break in?

kaybee wrote:
Any advice on packing a firearm for storage would be appreciated.

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When talking about "long term" storage, I have the somewhat unique experience of having the sudden onset of a neurological condition that kept me from my guns for nearly 20 years.

I routinely cleaned and oiled my guns every time they were taken from the safe; whether or not they were shot. The oil used was Sears Household Oil (their store brand of 3-in-1). On a couple of guns where the stock made routinely getting at the metal impractical, I used an automotive grease to LIGHTLY coat the barrel.

Nothing more than this was required to see my guns through 20 years of unwilling neglect with ZERO rust and ZERO deterioration. My experience suggests that thorough routine cleaning and oiling of firearms is sufficient for their safe long-term storage.

Kaybee asked:
Does this even exist?

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Yes.

Do an internet search.

For a while I lodged my guns with a guy who had a repository with minimal security located at the end of a dirt road where the guy running the place was a Veteran of World War II, Korea and Vietnam (with combat experience in World War II and Vietnam).

I got all of my guns back in pristine condition.

All manner of issues exist with using storage units. Lots of folks have had their belongings stolen from storage units. Some have burned to the ground .... meth makers thought it would be a great idea to cook inside a 24 access facility, that went wrong. Another time a homeless guy was living in one and he died so the authorities were all over the place.

Sovblocgunfan said:

I know some gun stores offer storage. Could be a good idea, especially if they offer cleaning and smithing. But I wouldn’t have the foggiest idea about pricing.

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Many years ago, before I joined the Army, I worked for Carter's Country in Houston TX. They offered gun storage and had a dedicated climate controlled room set aside for the purpose. There were some great collections stored there and some of my favorite days were when I would be sent to wipe evrything down and inspect them all once a month.
They probably still do it, and I'm sure they're not the only ones.

I believe Carter’s still does, and I am pretty sure Collector’s Firearms here in Houston does now.

Sovblocgunfan said:

I believe Carter’s still does, and I am pretty sure Collector’s Firearms here in Houston does now.

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The most heavily guarded businesses I have seen here since moving back to H-town are Collectors Firearms, and the Spec's downtown, lol.