I'm moving to China for 3 years for work and I obviously can't take my firearms with me so I'm thinking about lubing up everything with ATF, which is what I keep in my range bag for lube anyway, and putting them in the case. I thought I'd ask if anyone had any experience using ATF for long term storage or if anyone had any different advice?
The one concern I have is that I have a Winchester '94 and I'm concerned about whether or not the ATF will damage the wood on the rifle?
ATF is automatic transmission fluid, it is a hydraulic fluid designed to transmit power, not to provide corrosion protection. Any corrosion protection you have experienced with ATF is only due to the light oil film layer on the surface of steel. That oil layer is a minor barrier for oxygen migration.
Corrosion prevention compounds have additives which block oxygen migration, lubricants, hydraulic fluids don't need these and won't have them. In my opinion ATF is a poor choice for long term corrosion prevention.
I have had excellent results with
RIG (rust inhibiting grease) or products from the Marine Boating Store. For weapons that I greased up and put away, I wiped down the surfaces and removed all traces of powder fouling. Once clean, I then rubbed an light oily patch over the metal, then added a heavy coat of RIG or
Cosmoline either with fingers, or patches. I run patches down the bore and over anything inside the mechanism. Then, I wrapped the item, such as swords, with wax paper. This has protected items for over ten years. Once the grease dries out its rust preventative properties are gone, and that is why I wrap the thing in wax paper, to help keep the grease from drying out, and it helps block contact with air.
I would keep ATF off wood, I have no idea what it will do, but since it is a hydraulic fluid, not a wood preservative, I would not recommend experimenting on an expensive to replace rifle stock.