Over two years , and the guns are fine...

[sm]

Off site, in a private warehouse setting, some guns have been stored since , best recall, April of 2005.

I checked on them today, finally, and they are fine and dandy.

Now the "warehouse setting" is used, the heat turned on when in use for short periods in the fall and winter, and there is no air conditioning, just fans in the summer.

Guns were cleaned, wiped down, and stuck in silicone impregnated socks, one brand is Sack-Ups [tm]

Handguns were placed in a "sock", put into a Cigar Box, or similar cardboard box, .
Long guns, just in a "sock".
Guns tossed in a RSC , which is hidden, and behind a locked door. Just the way this "warehouse" is laid out.

The old boy does not have means to access these guns , he does not want access to these.
He started in about a year and a half ago with - "you coming out to check, inspect and wipe these down?"
I was busy, honestly not worried, and would forget, only to be reminded by him from time to time.

I had some guns, not mine in there with mine, and this was the only reason I went today.


One gun, has been sitting loaded, for 3 years before being tossed in with these others for 2 years, making 5 years total , and it ran just grabbing and going out back to shoot, as did all 5 of its magazines, that have been loaded for 5 years.

Kel-Tec P-11 the person bought as a off site backup gun, ran over 2000 rds through it, and all the mags, cleaned it, and stuck it back...

Another gun, a bone stock Gov't model of 1911, Cocked & Locked, with USGI /Colt 7 rds mags did the same thing, for about 4 years
All 15 mags that were loaded, worked too.

Super X Model 1, - heck its a SX1 , these just run Period!
4 years is just a nap for one of these guns...with 4 slugs loaded in the mag tube.

Like one of Mentors used to say " Just shoot the damn thing, and focus on the target, don't let this other "crap" take up room in your head".

 

[brentn]

Interesting to hear that the magazines were fully functional. I guess it goes to show that some springs just will not get weak in a magazine.

 

[PAshooter]

Interesting to hear that the magazines were fully functional. I guess it goes to show that some springs just will not get weak in a magazine.

I've heard of .45 mags loaded ca. WWII functioning fine when discovered around 50 years later. No, the spring in a loaded mag will not take a set or "wear out" with time. It's cycling (loading & unloading) that will eventually cause a spring to lose tension.

 

[Titan6]

Five years some sat without being fired? They may be fine in your mind but how will the guns themselves overcome the emotional damage wrought by the neglect?

You are lucky there is no ''Department of Gun Services'' for people to inform on you

 

[Matt King]

I can just hear that 1911~ " Steve, Shoot me, Please!. I just can't take it any longer! I was meant to be shot!"~

 

[Ala Dan]

Boy, that is a comforting feeling Steve my friend; as I don't get a
chance to shoot all of my weapons on the same day~!

 

[sm]

You buy that thing to shoot, or to clean and show off - Mentors.

Mentors even way then, raised eyebrows, turned head at folks always buying the "latest and greatest" , spending money on "accessories" , always taking apart, putting on stuff, cleaning, and repeating.

Yeah, so how does it shoot ? - Mentors often asked.

Even way back then, folks were not shooting, just bringing guns out to show off.

Now there were collectible guns, real sentimental guns, even guns with History, that folks knew were put up, and Preserved. This was different, for these same folks had guns they carried, shot, practiced and - used.

Oh, anyone remember the Old "Flying Ashtrays" from yesteryear?
That BIG hollow point?

That old Bone Stock Gov't Model of 1911, Fed these from the Get-Go back in the day...
...and still will.

These rounds were part of the loadings in them mags that have been sitting all these years.


Then again it is a 1911 , and not a 1911 Clone.

Remember the old Western Shotgun shells?
Think Winchester.
These old shotgun loads, bought in 25 round shell boxes - ran just fine, even the ones in that SX1 mag tube...

Remember Super Vels?
Kel-Tec P-11 will eat these like candy, as it will old NATO rounds.

Old boy had his 1929 Colt Detective Special out.
"I'm not going to hell for shooting these old loads out of Colt am I " he asked , just laughing.
"Nah" - I replied.

Colt ate up them old Smith&Wesson cartridges , and ate up one big hole in the target doing so.
It was nice to see a Seventy year fellow do that from 20 steps.
Old boy can still shoot that Colt out to 50 yards too...

About him and that '29 Colt :
"We have spent a lot of time together, know each other real well, and still she does not complain about my snoring in bed after all these years..."

Lesson in there somewhere...