Will it harm any rifles or ammo to store them in excessive heat, such as in my walkup attic? We are moving to new house shortly and the wife is pushing for the long gun safe to be in the attic rather than in the master closet where it is now. Right now, my rifle collection consists of only an SAR-1. Also, I might like to keep rifle and handgun ammo up there. Any drawbacks or possible harm? Thanks.
Storage in excessive heat ok?
- Thread starter RicVa
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Dave Markowitz
Member
I don't think that any harm will come to the guns as long as the humidity isn't bad, but you do not want to store ammo in excessive heat. This will definitely cause it to degrade. It is best to store ammo in a cool, dry place with a pretty constant temperature.
If you have a dry basement, that's a good place to store ammo. Surplus ammo cans are good storage containers, since as long as the gasket is in good shape they are airtight. Plus, they stack well.
If you have a dry basement, that's a good place to store ammo. Surplus ammo cans are good storage containers, since as long as the gasket is in good shape they are airtight. Plus, they stack well.
JohnBT
Member
It's hard on the wood and the ammo. As you know, we have lots of humidity here. And lots of days above 90F, too. That makes it, what, about 120-150 in the attic depending on roof color and ventilation. 
Tell her I said no. I wouldn't do it if there was any other way.
There're always the horizontal storage lockers that fit under the bed.
John
Tell her I said no. I wouldn't do it if there was any other way.
There're always the horizontal storage lockers that fit under the bed.
John
Greg L
Member
Is that the boxes that they come from AIM in? (don't ask me how I know this particular thing
)Plastic rifles may be ok up in the attic but I wouldn't put anything with wood up there.
Greg
0007
Member
If you have a garage, put a good sized safe in there. A friend has one in his "normal" one car garage along with his ammo-can stack and he can still get his car plus the washer and dryer and the usual suspects. Temperature is usually more stable in a garage also. Just my $0.025 worth.
In one word:
NO!
My home has "Shasta White" (kind of an off-white, or very very pale light grey) shingles, lotza vents, and it still hits 140+ up there. I was checking on a particular electrical wiring issue, and I took my digital thermometer up with me.
NO!
My home has "Shasta White" (kind of an off-white, or very very pale light grey) shingles, lotza vents, and it still hits 140+ up there. I was checking on a particular electrical wiring issue, and I took my digital thermometer up with me.
Dave Markowitz
Member
Doh! Forgot about the wood. Yeah, excessive heat would cause it to dry out and maybe crack.
benEzra
Moderator Emeritus
If there is appreciable humidity up there, the heat can accelerate rusting as well. I was shocked to find rust on the op rod of a STAINLESS mini-14 after only a week in my car's trunk during a Florida summer. Gun oils also evaporate much more quickly at high temps.
Access is also an issue. You probably don't want to be going up there to get your stuff out for a range trip when it's a hundred and forty degrees?
Access is also an issue. You probably don't want to be going up there to get your stuff out for a range trip when it's a hundred and forty degrees?
BevrFevr
Member
its the condensation you have to worry about
more than the heat. Spring, Fall and Winter will probably be harder on your gun than the summer. Imagine little beads of water forming on your gun as it heats up and cools off every single day. Just like your car in the morning. It will be no different.
IF you must store it up there build a gund case out of PVC tube from your building supply house. Make it air tight with one of those screw caps. Throw in some desicant, your gun and seal it up and you are ready for hell or high water.
-bevr
more than the heat. Spring, Fall and Winter will probably be harder on your gun than the summer. Imagine little beads of water forming on your gun as it heats up and cools off every single day. Just like your car in the morning. It will be no different.
IF you must store it up there build a gund case out of PVC tube from your building supply house. Make it air tight with one of those screw caps. Throw in some desicant, your gun and seal it up and you are ready for hell or high water.
-bevr
RustyHammer
Member
Until you get more guns, I'd go with a good sturdy locking gun case and maybe a couple large ammo cans that you could lock.
Keep it out of site under a bed or behind a piece of furniture or something.
(I used to keep such a case on a shelf I built inside/above the closet door. Could grab the case and be out the door pretty quickly in a SHT situation too.)
Just a thought.
/Rusty
Keep it out of site under a bed or behind a piece of furniture or something.
(I used to keep such a case on a shelf I built inside/above the closet door. Could grab the case and be out the door pretty quickly in a SHT situation too.)
Just a thought.
/Rusty
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