Short term storage in soft cases

[NoYesIdunnoMaybe]

I was wondering if anyone stores their consistently used guns in a soft case all the time, and what affect that has on the gun. I used to just keep my two guns leaning in a corner in the bedroom, but now the collection is rapidly growing and I'd like to keep the guns protected from scratches and maybe hang them in the closet or something in soft cases. I'm one of those guys that like to take all the guns out a few times a month and give them a good once over. Will rust still happen even if I'm oiling them often? And my guns all usually get regular work outs, and then are cleaned right after. It just seems to me like I give them enough attention that I could avoid rusting in soft cases.

 

[Ghost Tracker]

I don't know the humidity conditions where you live or inside your home. And with guns oiled heavily & often enough, it "shouldn't" matter. But I've seen the finish of a nice Ruger Mk2 ruined in short-order by soft case storage in humid conditions. If you're checking that often, it should be okay. (Unless it's a Remington 870 Express , I like mine, but the finish? Not so much.)

 

[Fred Fuller]

Soft cases tend to be a major invitation to surface rust, in my experience. I wouldn't use them for storage, only transportation and short term at that.

My gun safe tends to be too crowded (whose safe isn't crowded?), and I use silicone treated storage socks to help protect long guns in the safe from both rust and safe dings.

http://www.cabelas.com/sleeves-camo-bore-stores-silicone-impregnated-gun-case.shtml

http://www.amazon.com/Remington-Multi-Green-Silicone-Treated-Gun-Sack/dp/B006IC0UM2

http://www.deansafe.com/sac-106.html

Etc

 

[alsaqr]

Do not store guns in soft cases. "Short term" storage can morph into long term storage and a ruined gun.

 

[Tom Held]

rust

Well, the worse case I every saw involved a 870 express I gave to one of my sons when he was 16 (25 years ago). He took to duck hunting in a salt water marsh on the eastern shore of maryland and put in back in the soft case for a couple of weeks. Certain gave the gun "character". It was an ugly gun to begin with but now it is beyond ugly. But he still shoots it once in a while when he's back in a marsh.

Tom

 

[DAdams]

My gun safe tends to be too crowded (whose safe isn't crowded?), and I use silicone treated storage socks to help protect long guns in the safe from both rust and safe dings.

Same here. I have a safe in the basement and run a de-humidifier. I take them out and clean and lube once a year. I have seen absolutely no corrosion developing. I used to inspect them once every 6 months but am comfortable at once a year now.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Soft cases or any closed cases give me the heebie jeebies every time I seal them. Although they're necessary, I free the firearms as quickly as I can. My CZ is from the Berlin Rod & Gun club so I had a Federal card on it from new and used to take it overseas from time to time. In one scenario in which I found myself - it seemed the best way at the time to cope with some corrosive ammo was to use some local detergent and hot water. Who knew (seems, everyone!) that it would strip that weird Czech finish off?

Anyhow, I figured to keep it well oiled and have it redone when I got home. Slather it in grease, pop it in the case and pull it out later to find that in some freaky Mr Science way, the grease had been pulled into the case and moisture had built up on the gun to the point of the exhibited damage. Now, I opened it at the point of departure in the country I was leaving and re-opened it in Maryland upon arrival and ALL this was in the period of time in between. All damage is only where the case contacted it and it still functions flawslessly, so...

 

[Ghost Tracker]

...involved an 870 Express

That's what I said. I've got NO problem with the function. And they ARE butt-ugly to begin with. But summers in Death Valley couldn't stop rust on that gun!

 

[Virginian]

I stored guns in soft cases for decades with no ill effects, before I could afford a safe. I made a place to hide them under the sofa. You must make sure you have a controlled humidity environment, and a dry case with NO trace of salt water ever left on one. I would occasionally spray the spread opened case lightly - lightly, you don't want to darken the wood - with WD-40, and then rub it all over with a gun rag similarly exposed to WD-40 over they years.

 

[Hotshot10]

+1 on Lee's suggestion about the Bore Stores. They're a good product and not too expensive.