Poll: How do you store your AR?

[Fossil4Life]

What is the recommended way to store your AR? Muzzle up or down? Bolt open or closed? I'm of the mindset of open bolt, muzzle down: open bolt lets me see the status of the weapon instantly, and muzzle down means I won't sweep anyone or anything with the rifle when removing it from its storage container.

 

[rcmodel]

I store all guns muzzle up, bolt & dust cover closed, hammer snapped, no magazine in the gun.

Thus, all the springs are relaxed during long term storage.

rc

 

[Ranger Roberts]

Muzzle up, bolt closed.

I feel like we just did one of these threads? Am I imagining it? I've been putting in a ton of OT lately so it's possible...

 

[wally]

To fit them in the safe they alternate one muzzle up the next muzzle down. I generally leave them without magazine, hammer cocked, safety on, bolt forward and dust cover closed. Insert magazine, cycle the charging handle and you are ready to go cocked and locked.

I only worry about the spring state during storage on guns where finding replacement springs might be a problem. I've had no issues with pistol magazines that have set loaded for 12+ years before use and since mag springs generally have the greatest strain, I stopped worrying about the others afterwards.

 

[Fossil4Life]

I feel like we just did one of these threads? Am I imagining it? I've been putting in a ton of OT lately so it's possible...

Yes, you're absolutely right. I posted a similiar topic on this just last month. My apologies!

 

[tahunua001]

however it'll stack in the safe alongside 20 other rifles without tipping over.

 

[taliv]

Yes, you're absolutely right. I posted a similiar topic on this just last month. My apologies!

dude.

did you learn anything from the other thread?

open bolt lets me see the status of the weapon instantly,

assuming.... you are on the port side of the gun
assuming.... it's daylight or the lights are on

 

[Bobson]

Yes, you're absolutely right. I posted a similiar topic on this just last month. My apologies!

So why did you open this one? I'm not trying to ridicule you; just wondering what you expected (or wanted) to learn here, that you didn't learn in the other thread. Surely there's a specific thing you're still unclear on?

 

[col.lemat]

Same as RC in #2

 

[captmoto]

And in a safe with a dehumidifier.

 

[Walkalong]

I voted muzzle up, bolt closed, but I have one in two pieces laying on two separate shelves. It only takes a second to check the chamber, and it should be second nature by now.

 

[bangswitch]

I store all guns muzzle up, bolt & dust cover closed, hammer snapped, no magazine in the gun.

Thus, all the springs are relaxed during long term storage.

rc

ditto, but I can't seem to leave any of them alone long enough to qualify as "long term storage"

 

[Panfisher]

Other. Horizontal in a rack over the door, bolt close on empty chamber with 20 round mag of 55 gr. Moderately loaded HPs. Country living and grown kids have some advantages.

 

[Captains1911]

I store all guns muzzle up, bolt & dust cover closed, hammer snapped, no magazine in the gun.

Thus, all the springs are relaxed during long term storage.

rc

This again??? Steel springs don't know how to "relax." Store them compressed or uncompressed, it does not matter.

 

[rcmodel]

How many 100 year old Guns do you have in Your Collection?

I am one of the most vocal proponents of 'store magazines loaded, springs don't care' you will find on this forum if you care to do a search on it.

But over-compressed springs do care.
Not saying the AR-15 is one of them.

But I have more then a few old or fine guns that Do Care.
Do You?

Easier and safer to relax them all in long-term storage then trying to remember which ones need to be, and which ones don't!!

Rc

 

[lxd55]

And in a safe with a dehumidifier.

2 of em.

 

[Inebriated]

Muzzle down, one in the pipe, safety on.

 

[justice06rr]

If the AR is serving HD duty, then its muzzle up, bolt closed, and full mag in.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I also store my AR muzzle up, bolt and dust cover closed.

 

[wally]

How many 100 year old Guns do you have in Your Collection?

I think my oldest is only about 80 years, but I did say "I only worry about the spring state during storage on guns where finding replacement springs might be a problem.".

As to dry firing to release the spring I always say it ain't much of a gun if dry fire breaks it. But then again, if replacement parts could be a problem why risk it, get some snap caps.

 

[1911 guy]

I store everything with the muzzle up. And since i also store everything with springs relaxed, the bolt is closed.

I know that being compressed does not wear springs out. But i also know that every rifle i own has a safety which cannot be moved if the hammer is relaxed. So when i pick anything up the first thing i do is check the safety. If it moves, somebody (probably my son) has messed with it. While i do not rely on this as a substitute for the four rules or common sense, I do rely on this as a check-up on keeping my kids out of my guns. So far there have never been any issues. But one day there may be and i need to correct my kids before something truly bad happens.

I know I'm rambling a bit, but I'd rather give my son a whupping for messing with stuff he shouldn't than let him think he's gotten away with it and let the habit continue.