Long term storage of firearms for deployment (1 year)

[ClosetCaseNerd]

I made a thread about this at another board and was recommended this:

Brownells rust inhibitor and storage bags

Is there better chemical alternatives? I was planning on coating the firearms in Eezox as well as using the rust vapor inhibitors. Unfortunately I don't have any close friends that are "gun guys" that I trust to clean my firearms during deployment, so the guns will be untouched for a year at least. I don't own a gun safe, only a "cabinet" if you will.

So, what are the best products for my task? I'm all ears!

 

[tank mechanic]

I just throroughly cleaned mine and lubed them up with an aerosol lube. Perfectly fine after a year and I will do the same when I leave again next month.

I wouldn't bother going out and buy anything fancy. I just used what I had on hand and it worked fine.

 

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

When I was at Ft. Leonard Wood for 21 weeks, I just stored my guns in their original foam padded cases. I just cleaned them all real well, and oiled them with Remoil, inside and out. When I got back I just cleaned and reoiled them again. No rust, no corrosion.

 

[possum]

i have deployed twice and i did the same thing both times, went through them put heavy coats of militec on the inside and wiped them down on the outside with g96, keeps em protected and they smell great when you get back and take em out the first time. i leave mine in there cases or after market cases that i have aquired over time.

btw welcome to thr brother.great to see more military types here.

 

[MisterPX]

When I dep'd, I gave tehm to freinds to take care of. SInce you don't have that option, my plan B was to heavily coat with CLP.

 

[Richbaker]

DON'T store them in foam...it can retain moisture and cause rust!

 

[The-Fly]

Heavy coat of CLP or Eezox would probably work nicely. Militec doesn't stop rust for squat. Here's an interesting test of oils that stop rust.


http://www.6mmbr.com/corrosiontest.html

 

[jamesb]

I deployed for 15 months. Before I left I cleaned my guns and gave them a heavier than normal coating of hoppe's lubricating oil. No rust when I got home.

 

[Hokkmike]

My brother, for several years, layered his on platforms in a wooden footlocker. NO chemicals, etc. They were fine after his 3 years away from home.

 

[alsaqr]

"i have deployed twice and i did the same thing both times, went through them put heavy coats of militec on the inside...."

i have been gone from the US as long as two years at a stretch. i lube my guns inside and outside with Militec and do not worry about them. Militec is really good stuff.

 

[ilbob]

I have a number of guns. I will not mention the number.

I try to clean and oil them at least once a year, more often if I actually get top shoot them.

I have not had any rust or other issues just using normal light oil.

You might want to get some gun socks. They are a fabric sack treated with some kind of silicone or something. They seem to work pretty nice.

 

[halvey]

I hear that Renissance Gun Wax is the deal. I've never tried it, but I do have a small can of it. All the double gun guys use it, and you know, those guys don't shoot all those guns all the time . So if they put it on $10,000 guns, I'd trust it.

 

[cslinger]

As long as they are stored in a climate controlled place such as a house or what not I cannot imagine you haveing any problems with simply cleaning, giving a liberal coat of your oil of choice and locking them up. I have firearms that I haven't handled in a year or so that show no issues what so ever.

Do not store in foam anything, as the other poster said this can retain moisture and cause rust.

Chris

 

[GunTech]

If you know someone with a seal-a-meal, just light lube and vacuum seal. You can also buy silica gel packs, or fill with dry nitrogen.

 

[eflatminor]

Lots of options

The easiest, and I think the best method is to clean the weapons as you normally would and then leave a coating of oil in the barrel. I just picked up several rifles that were in storage for over 15 years. I just cleaned out the oil of the barrel and everything was good to go.

 

[Satch]

Over the past 30 years i've stored guns away and sometimes didn't check them out for several years.I just cleaned and put a lite coating of oil in the barrel and used a Silicone cloth on the exposed parts,--no problems.
And thanks to those of you who have deployed for us,God bless you.

 

[fixyurgun]

I just inspected a browning citori o/u that was stored 3 years ago. It was coated with RIG inside & out (not on the wood) and sealed in the bronwnells bag. Gun looks just like it did when we put it up.A year will be a cinch. jim

 

[CletusFudd]

I bought some corrosionx and it works great. I live in Colorado now so rust isn't near the problem it was in Tennessee. I went down to the tractor store and bought some spray on the John Deere uses when they ship tractors overseas. I can't remember the name of it but the firearms I have stored haven't rusted in eight years.

 

[Josh Aston]

I just left mine in my safe which was being stored in a heated storage unit. No problems when I got back.

 

[CWL]

One year isn't really that long.

It will depend more on whether you live in a high-humidity environment or near the ocean. If you will be leaving firearms in a wet environment, then more care should be given such as rust inhibitors or dessicants, but if you don't then standard treatment with conventional protectants (NOT lubricant) such as RIG should be fine.

 

[Docgmt]

from Satch
"And thanks to those of you who have deployed for us,God bless you."

That goes double for me.

 

[Owen]

a thin layer of rust preventative oil and you should more than fine to go. heck, just a wipedown with a silicone cloth, should be fine as long as people aren't handling them, or you are in a humid/seaside envionment.

 

[def4pos8]

Thank you for picking up the slack for us Old Guys and their sons who preceded you.

Much depends on your local environment. In coastal or high humidity areas (worst case), a waxy grease like the synthetic cosmoline I have used works well in protecting bores and external finishes. Partial disassembly is required to thoroughly coat all surfaces. A wax-paper wrap permits easy handling and provides an initial moisture barrier.

It's a chore to remove but six years later everything was exactly as it had been when I packed 'em for storage.

Long-term storage in foam can cause problems. If you do have to "package" your arms, wooden crates in climate-controlled areas are best. Thoroughly cleaned/lubed arms stored in a dehumidifier-equipped safe ought to survive for a year too.

 

[ClosetCaseNerd]

Anyone know where I can get cosmoline or similar "RIB"?

Recommend specific brands?

Anything specific I have to do to worry about storing wood grips?

I am in a coastal environment (about 5 miles from the coast, very humid) so I think its better safe then sorry. Thanks everyone for the support as well. True Americans in this forum!

 

[CajunBass]

I lost interest in hunting and shooting for a number of years, and just got back into it the last three or four years. I left my guns in a regular glass gun cabinet for ten years or more with nothing more than an occasional (once a year or so) dusting and a wipedown with whatever happened to be handy. Sometimes it was silicone spray, sometimes it was "Pledge" furniture polish. Never had a rust problem.

And thank you, and God bless you for your service to our country.