Storing my firearms

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gf1723

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Bought my first gun (Remington 870) about 7-8 years ago and since then have built up a nice little collection. Now I'm starting to run into a problem storing them. I'm in a small apartment and I don't really have the money for a big fancy gun safe. Over the years I have just been throwing them in the soft/hard cases they come with and putting them under my bed.

Now I've been reading that this can help with rusting. It is already noticeable on my poor old 870 after a dove-hunting trip. I put it back in the case without wiping it down. Ever since I've been scared by having rust develop on my firearms. So much to the point where I'll buy a lot of stainless steel versions if available. A couple of my firearms are at my parents house in their basement in soft/hard cases, but I have some (first 3 listed) at my apartment.

-870
-AR15
-1911 (stainless)
-.22 pistol (stainless)
-.22 rifle (stainless)


Obviously my big concern at this point is the AR. I reallllly don't want any rust building up on that baby considering the cost. What I will probably do, and have been doing with the 870 is to wipe the firearm down with some CLP after each use and prop them up in the corner of a closet or something? The long guns are the biggest problem. The handguns I can just put on a shelf in the closet or in a drawer. I don't have any children and am single so I don't have to worry about anyone but burglars handling my guns.

Any thoughts/advice?
 
Obviously my big concern at this point is the AR. I reallllly don't want any rust building up on that baby considering the cost. What I will probably do, and have been doing with the 870 is to wipe the firearm down with some CLP after each use and prop them up in the corner of a closet or something? The long guns are the biggest problem. The handguns I can just put on a shelf in the closet or in a drawer. I don't have any children and am single so I don't have to worry about anyone but burglars handling my guns.
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That sounds good to me. Trust me, there are a lot of people that have rusting issues with 870s. I know the Illinois State Police stopped carrying 870s in their trunks because they would rust so bad.
 
I put it back in the case without wiping it down.
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I think that is a lesson a bunch of us learned the hard way. It always surprises people how fast something will rust after being sweated on.

A couple of my firearms are at my parents house in their basement in soft/hard cases
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If your parent's basement is poorly ventilated or damp, you could be asking for problems with this. Around here most basements are pretty humid and are a terrible place to store firearms.
 
Storing in most basements is never a good idea.

As far as hard/soft cases goes, I have stored guns in them for at least 20 years with no ill effects. Just don't put them in a case that may be damp and be sure to wipe them down with a good gun oil before you put them away. All of my handguns except the NIB ones are stored in pistol rugs. The stainless ones just go in the rug. The blued ones get sprayed down with Rem Oil and then get wrapped in a piece of flannel before going in the rug.
 
I wipe mine down and place them in gun socks that are silicone impregnated so far had good luck and it helps prevent scratches when they are together.
 
A gun cabinet (not safe) is sometimes a good, less expensive alternative. You can put it in a closet and screw it to the wall. While not fireproof it would slow a smash and grab burgler down, especially if hidden. Given enough time and they could be in it, but that is true of a lot of things. Google "Stack-on Gun Cabinet" for some good examples....not the only maker, but they are the most common IMO.

I dont know where they calculate how many guns you can get in one, but dont buy an 8 gun and expect to get 8 in it.
 
First of all, let me tell you that stainless will indeed RUST~! It just takes a lot
longer to do so. Next, storing guns is not a huge problem; even if you don't
have a quality RSC. Some people use was is known in the gun world as "Stack
Ons" as sold by many retailers. Purchase one or more of these, and place it in
a safe location within your apartment, or in your parents home. Next, always
make sure that you use a quality spray- RUST-CORRISON pervenative before
storing any firearms. Its also good for knives as well. I have been using my
favorite, Eezox for a long time; without any types of issues. Its not only a
pervenative protectant, but a cleaner and lubricant as well. Eezox passed the
salt water spray on test with flying colors; beating out Break-Free CLP, Rem-
Oil, Hoppes #9 and several others. Eezox is fine for bores, actions, and such;
with NO harmful effects. Its OK to spray a liberal amount on these, as it will
dry too a silky touch. Next step, place each firearm in a "SACK-UP" gun sock;
a impregnated silicone sock used to store firearms. Place one firearm in each
sock, then its OK to store said firearm in its original box or container. NEVER
EVER leave handguns inside a leather holster, as leather tends to draw some
moisture~! NEVER EVER store blued [or nickeled] weapons next to a foam
line box; as it too tends to draw a bit of moisture. However, after following
the above procedures I do store many of my handguns (mostly Smith & -
Wessons) in their original containers; before placing them in my RSC~!

Hope this helps a little; but be cautious, be safe and enjoy the shooting
sports.
 
I dont know where they calculate how many guns you can get in one, but dont buy an 8 gun and expect to get 8 in it.
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I have one of their 10 gun cabinets and currently have 9 guns in it, 3 of those guns have optics. I think that I could get at least one or two more rifles in there.
 
Yea I've tried to convince my parents to move the old guns out of the basement and somewhere else, but it's the "storage" area of the house. Let's face it, no one goes shooting when I'm not around unless my father gets invited on a bird hunting trip.

I think I'll buy some of those silicone socks for my long guns and lean then up in my closet. Keep my handguns in the drawers next to the long guns. Then I'll just keep the original storage containers underneath the bed or something. Thanks for the help guys!
 
So I just bought some of those socks from Midway. Got a pretty good deal on them. Package of 5 pistol socks for $15. Also got 2 range bags that hold one pistol each for only $8 a piece!
 
I have a 1200 pound safe in my storage unit because it will not fit in my effeciency . (It was in my home that I sold). I now just use a steel gun storage cabinet. You can buy a decent one from Stack On, and like Ohio Gun Guy said, they are strong enough to keep the light weights out and can go into your closet.
 
You probably wont want to hear this about the AR but have you thought about spray painting it? The only thing you really have to worry about rusting would be the barrel.

I have all my AR's camoed, I abuse the HELL out of them and I've never seen one of mine rust.

Just figured I'd throw this picture up, its my "shower gun" I keep it hanging off the shower head in the bathroom;). I really abuse this rifle more than any others. It's been thrown off roof tops, against banks, pissed on......... Really cant worry about any rust lol.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsVPlVIKdco&feature=related
056bd.jpg

055qs.jpg
 
:confused:
I'm sure you're a swell fellow and all , and please forgive me in advance if there is something about this I don't understand, but that photo coupled with your statement indicates to me that you probably shouldn't own a weapon.
 
lol, thats just a weld build made from parts of about 5 different rifles and a damaged reciever from a failed build that a memeber did on another forum I was on. I "built" it just to abuse it:evil: I really dont have nothing in it.

I wanted a "khyber pass/urban resistance battlefield pickup look" and to get it right it has to have some rust/pitting. It actually looks much different now that its been steel wooled. I swapped some parts out and made a hand guard from a m1 carbine cheese grater hand guard.
027r.jpg

012dcb.jpg


Don't fret, my good AK's stay in a safe dry enviroment.

Maturity has nothing to do with this.....Just because it pisses you off because I "destroyed a ak" does not mean that I am not "mature". Frankly I paid for it, I built it, I own it, I can do what I want with it.
 
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If your looking to prevent rust and have a gun that is ready to shoot without having to wipe extra grease or oil off you may be interested in the ZCORR Bags.

ZCORR Vacuum Storage & Preservation Bags offer:
* Puncture & tear resistant material
* Non-abrasive interior will not scratch or scuff finishes
* Reusable, heavy duty, military grade closures
* Depending on use, protection can last up to 20 years
* Flexible material allows for storage in gun safes and hard cases
 
I agree with what another poster said, stainless can and will rust. I've worked in food service from being a waiter, cook, manager, and now accountant. Trust me I've seen a lot of stainless and if not cared for it will rust.
 
I just wipe my guns down with 3 in 1 oil and place them in cheap gun cases. I pull the out every year if I can and wipe them down again and I've had no problems so far.

I really dont like spray oils like rem oil, they dry out fast when a gun is being stored.

My favorite thing to use for long term storage is RIG grease, if you can still find it!
 
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The reason encased guns rust is the insulating effect. Overnight cold. Morning it gets humid outside the case, but gun is insulated but cold. Then humidity reaches the cold gun and condenses.

Rust starts.
 
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