Question about Storing Guns

[Lycidas Janwor]

Does it really matter if your gun is stored in a case if it's clean and you don't live in a humid environment (I live in the mountains at approximately 6k ft. above sea level). I'm asking because I have all my guns stored in cases due to my living situation. I reside in a relatively dry climate so what are the chances my guns will rust simply because they are in a case? Should I just make sure and oil them a little more?

 

[Field Tester]

Mine have been stored in my case the past year. I just check them every month and make sure to change or recharge my desiccant. Keep in mind that I live in a very low humidity area. I wouldn't do it anywhere else.

 

[Lycidas Janwor]

Mine have been stored in my case the past year. I just check them every month and make sure to change or recharge my desiccant. Keep in mind that I live in a few low humidity area. I wouldn't do it anywhere else.

Ok, I can definitely put a desiccant pack in each case, I have not done that. Thanks Field Tester.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I have at least 30 that are stored in cases and gave been for years.

 

[Cee Zee]

It depends on what type of case you're using. Foam rubber lined cases are not good for storage even if you live in a dry climate and no matter what you put in them to keep them dry. You just never know when the foam could managed to soak up some moisture. Other cases have no problems at all with permanent storage. They're designed for it and they generally say so on the case. I wouldn't risk my guns in a foam lined case. There's just no reason for it. If things are so dry just use a gun sock. They're cheap and won't draw moisture. Personally I store my guns in a safe or some are scattered around where I might need them. It's been a long time since I've had kids in my house and when some visit the guns all go in the safe. If you have many guns and you want to be as responsible as possible then a safe is a good choice if you can swing it.

 

[ku4hx]

Given a few hours, maybe less, the air inside a case and the air outside will both have the same moisture content, i.e. relative humidity. Hermetically sealed containers were invented specifically to keep moisture out (or in maybe); most gun cases do not hermetically seal. Most cases being porous to water molecule size particles will allow moisture to move both ways.

Certain materials do hold moisture better than others; open cell foam being a likely example.

Be careful with putting desiccant packs in contact with metal. They do after all absorb (and thereby concentrate) moisture. The best packs I've seen for use inside a gun case are those little plastic ones found in prescription medicine bottles. They absorb moisture and isolate the actual desiccant very well.

 

[oneounceload]

I have had a rifle stored in a foam-lined hard gun case here in Florida for 10 years. Check it now and again and give it a wipe about once a year. No rust anywhere

 

[Drail]

Storing a gun in any type of case is a risky proposition - you may get away with it or not. When I worked as a gunsmith I saw so many guns that were stored in cases that had rusted badly. Cases and factory packaging are intended to be used for transporting guns - not storing them. All it takes is to open and close the case one time on a day when the humidity is over 35% and moisture will be trapped and held against the metal. The best way to store a gun is in open dry air with oil on it. If you have them in a safe you should have a dehumidifier or dessicant packs inside.

 

[RustyShackelford]

Guns/cleaning/gun care products....

For long term storage, Id suggest the great Bore-Store bags. They protect the weapon surface but all air to circulate thru the fabric.
I use and have used cheaper Plano/Docksil plastic cases with the foam type liners for years. I never had any issues but could see the point(s) of gun owners/serious collectors who advise not to use them.
The foam material can absorb oils or grease.
The smart bet would be to open up & inspect/clean firearms from time to time. Even firearms you may not use or carry. Inherited guns, family heirlooms, historical or museum grade weapons.

A few gunsmiths & historians suggest using a storage type grease or gun care product like Eezox, Break-Free Collector(I think that the brand name), FrogLube grease, Flitz, Ballistol, Slip 2000, etc.
See www.Brownells.com or www.midwayusa.com for good gun care items/storage products.

Rusty

 

[CoRoMo]

My father-in-law has every single long gun in soft zipper cases, then locked up in his gun cabinet... in the basement, which I can't determine whether or not it might be the dampest location in his house. I cringe every time I check it out, but no rust at all and some of those guns have been in there, stored like that for two or three decades. He doesn't live in a particularly humid location though.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

My dad also keep long guns in a case in a safe in his basement, but uses a golden rod. The longest one cases I know he has had 45 years. It is mint.

I keep at about 10 regular shooter's cased in a secure closet. I leave the light on.

 

[CoRoMo]

Ah, dang. Forgot about Dad.

Contrary to my FIL, my dad doesn't store his long guns in zipper cases. But he does store a handgun or two like that.

He has a big, long Blackhawk in .357MAX that was mint when he bought it for ~$850. He's not shot it a whole lot, but kept it in a zipper case for years. I took it out a couple years ago and it was pitted all over, here and there. A shame. He's not one to clean, care for, or value his guns much to begin with, so they all end up going downhill like that. I was more hurt at the sight of it than he was. He probably still hasn't done anything about it. When I visit him this week, I think I'll take it out and scrub any and all rust pits with oil 'til that thing looks tip top.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

2 cents worth of good oil goes a long way.

 

[Cee Zee]

If you have them in a safe you should have a dehumidifier or dessicant packs inside.

+1 on that. A safe is one of those things that is sealed well enough to trap moisture. If you have a safe in a garage this goes double because of the temperature swings. Oil does make a big difference but one mistake can lead to a ruined gun. Shoot the oil out of the bore (basically absorbing it with powder residue or whatever) can mean you have a gun that's going to rust in that bore. If you happen to shoot corrosive ammo through a rifle (or handgun) then again you've got problems even if you did have oil in the bore when you started. Certain guns I own I clean and oil every time I shoot them. Most guns don't require that much care but some do. It depends on a lot of factors. For example a chrome lined Norinco SKS can handle corrosive primers much better than a Yugo SKS that doesn't have a chrome lined barrel. I've seen that happen to my Yugo. Luckily I caught it in time to fix it before it became a permanent problem.

That's another thing we shouldn't forget - check your guns once in a while. You just never know what might happen. I even had some rust on the slide release of my Sig P220 because when I used it for my CCW class they made us lay them down after firing our required rounds. It was raining that day and my bench was wet. I almost took a fail on the class just so I wouldn't have to lay my gun down in water. The instructor saw what my problem was and insisted that I lay it down anyway. Within a couple of days that moisture caused that release to rust. I cleaned it up of course and it hasn't rusted since. But even well made weapons with a reputation for being almost indestructible can have rust problems. Again the main thing is to keep up on monitoring the condition of your guns. I actually try to limit the number of guns I keep so I don't have to keep up with so many maintenance routines. If I get past 20 guns I tend to overlook the ones in the back of the safe that don't get shot a lot. I know that isn't a lot of guns but it's enough for my needs. I've bought and sold my share of guns that I didn't keep for whatever reason. 20 is a good number for me. It lets me keep up with monitoring any problems without making it a grind job. I learned early to take care of a gun so it won't let you down when you need it. I try to do that still.

 

[Field Tester]

Ok, I can definitely put a desiccant pack in each case, I have not done that. Thanks Field Tester.

You have to keep in mind that I live in a Mediterranean/Desert climate where we've had extremely low rainfall.
I wouldn't do this anywhere with a higher humidity. I also change the desiccant regularly. Quick gun cloth wipe down too. Check the bore every now and again too. Also this is only short term. I've heard more than enough horror stories to know better.
Try and seek a better alternative if you can.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I keep a digital hygrometer in my safe, secure storage closet, and in my reloading area to monitor humidity. I have never had a speck of rust on firearms including ones that stay cased or boxed for several months at a time

 

[Lycidas Janwor]

Thanks for all the help! I've taken the guns out of the cases and stored them in my closet (guns on one side of closet, cases on another, ammo in another place). I also cleaned and oiled my guns just because, well, I'm kind of meticulous when it comes to my guns.

Thanks again and Happy Thanksgiving, we have much to be grateful for!

 

[B!ngoFuelUSN]

I live in a dry climate here in CA so it's probably moot but, I keep all guns in a safe for safety and legal reasons as well as ensuring their care. It's a lot easier to keep an eye on them if they are all accessible by opening one door.
But in addition to the dry area, I chose to move the safe in to a small utility room that also houses our forced hot air heater. At least in the cooler months, the gas fired flames keep everything in that room even dryer than the typical climate. I thus don't use any of those heating rods in the safe.
Finally for the few guns I own that I treat as collectibles, I keep them in mylar (desiccating) drying bags as well. Kind of a belts and suspenders play.
B

 

[Eral Flinn]

I live in TEXAS so hot and humid, Liberty Fat Boy Deluxe with two dehumidifier's.

C-7 Z51

 

[Cee Zee]

How much moisture is too much for a gun? It's about holding moisture against the gun with a piece of foam. That's what makes guns rust in foam cases. It doesn't take all the much humidity to make a gun rust and if you compound that by holding moisture to the gun with foam then you will have more of a problem with rust than a gun stored in open air or in a safe with a dehumidifier.

 

[jmr40]

A lot of people seem to do so with no ill effects. I've seen enough guns damaged by doing this that I won't do it. They are your guns. If you think it is worth the risk then go for it.

 

[redneck2]

When I worked at the LGS, we had a guy bring in a mid 50's Colt revolver that had never been out of the wooden, velvet lined display case it came in. Some special type of presentation model. Unfired, cylinder never turned. It was his pride and joy, but time for it to move on

When the owner pulled it out, the entire underside was very deeply pitted from laying on the velvet all those years. The gun was pretty much worthless except as a knock around shooter.

Don't know if he wanted to puke or cry.

 

[jcwit]

Regarding handguns.

1. they are oiled
2. they are slipped into a sock that has been sprayed with silicone spray
3. they are placed into a case

This has worked for me for 40 years.

 

[RustyShackelford]

Post 22.....

Post 22 is a good point....
Don't buy firearms then let them sit for months or years on end without checking or cleaning them from time to time.
Firearms are mechanical devices. They need oil or sometimes grease to prevent rust/corrosion & they need to be inspected for function.
In 2014, there are many gun care products & books/videos available to gun owners-hunters.
I use FrogLube now mostly. It leaves a slight sticky residue but I'm happy with the level of protection on the metal surfaces of my Glock 21 .45acp gen 04.