Attic Storage?

[andrewdl007]

I have a question that I was thinking about the other day. I have a gun safe, but i was wondering if anyone ever stored their guns in their attics. It really doesnt make sense because why store it in a non climate controlled attic rather than in a room where theoretically temperature an humidity could be controlled. If you where going to store your guns in a room that was susceptible to warm humid weather in summer and freezing temperature in winter what how would you store it so that it stayed in good condition?

 

[Archie]

Long Term Storage?

About the only serious way - to avoid climate damage - would be to spray or wipe them down with a thick preservative. Cosmoline or RIG come to mind. Following that, wrap them in dry, air tight bags. This would only be for long term storage, as I see it.

The only way I would store guns in the attic would be if that were where my office, den or bedroom was located and the area was sealed off, unlike a normal attic.

 

[atlctyslkr]

Grease them, bag them, load up with dessicant. I've thought about this myself a few times but just can't bring myself to do it. I think one rainy warm winter day and the condensation would ruin them.

 

[mbt2001]

There are some "navy bags", that is what I call them... Use those.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/z-corr_bags.htm

 

[doubleh]

I did it for many years with no problems at all and took no special precautions. Damp weather isn't much of a concern here.

 

[ZCORR Jay]

The easiest way without having to slop grease on your guns is a preservation bag. ZCORR bags work in temps ranging from sub zero to 140 degrees and all you have to do is simply perform a normal cleaning before putting the gun in.

These are the tests our M16A2 Rifle bags were subjected to and our silver ZCORR Bags are made of the same VpCI Material so they offer the same exact performance.

* Cold Temperature (-40 F, 24 Hour Duration)
* Temperature Shock (-40 F to 95 F)
* 1 High Temperature Cycle (91 to 160 F, 24 Hour Duration)
* Ten 24 Hour High Temperature / High Humidity Cycles (86 to 140 F, 95% RH)

Here is a in detail explanation of how ZCORR Bags work
ZCORR How It Works

 

[JohnBT]

I'm not putting any of my guns in a hot attic.

 

[ridgerunner1965]

dissasemble, coat everything in grease, inside and out.furniture wax inside and out on the stock.vacuum seal everything and yur good to go.read a article recently where a guy buried a mini 14 for 15 yrs under a stump like this and and it was good to go.along with the vacum sealed ammo.

 

[the foot]

I live in one of the most humid areas in the US, but my loft is the driest place in the house. There is absolutely no way moisture would be a problem there. For me the only problem would be if temperatures got too high in the attic.

 

[FROGO207]

If your attic is a finished space same as the rest of your living space then normal considerations. Otherwise I would think the heating cooling cycles/moisture swings would be a large problem even on a moderately protected firearm. I am sure it could be accomplished but at what cost versus a different area of the residence. If you are looking for out of sight the better option would be a hidden safe or like secure area. That works, I know from the real life test.

 

[oldbanjo]

NO WAY! I've stored some Guns in walls in the house where I used to live for near 30 years. I would Remove paneling and check them ever now and then. When I'd take a Business trip Overseas I'd hide all my Guns under the bath tubs, of course I cut the water off while I was gone. I also always kept 2 or 3 cheap Guns in site. This gave a thief something to steal so he would not go to a lot of trouble looking for others. I have had brake in's but have never lost a good Gun. When I moved here I took three Guns out of my wall and gave them to my Son in Law, one was a M1 Carbine in cosmoline that looked new. It was made by Underwood Typewriter Co in 1943. He said I've never seen this Gun, I told him that was why I was able to keep it that long. No one see's all my Guns.

 

[yakkingallover]

My boss inherited a lot of rifles that had been stored in a Florida attic with no special attention given to them. It is unfortunate because quite a few old black powder guns and several original Winchester 1866's and 1873's were all but ruined because of this. My advice would be to either store them well oiled and sealed or find a better location.