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oakledge35c
I have recently retired. Plan on spending my winters in Florida. My guns will be staying in upstate NY in my gun safe. Will I have a problem with my guns being stored in the unheated safe for the winter? There will be no heat in the house. Would appreciate any input.

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10 comments

Date Votes
  • oakledge35c
    What is the best thing to apply to your guns that are going to be stored in a safe for awhile and not be used? I was thining of using Rem oil? But was wondering if something works better. YOU GUYS ARE HITTING THIS RIGHT ON THE HEAD. SOME OF THESE GUNS WILL ONLY GET WIPED DOWN ONCE A YEAR. I HAVE A FAIRLY LARGE COLLECTION AND WOULD LIKE TO THINK TWICE A YEAR. BUT TO BE REALISTIC. SOME MAY SEE ONCE A YEAR. SO I'M LOOKING FOR THE BEST.

    Thanks
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  • gary wray
    oakledge35c.......it depends entirely on humidity levels where you live. I would put a goldenrod in it and not worry if levels are low. Higher levels would require a higher level of concern. Remember that moisture is the enemy of gunsafes so getting it all out is the key for proper storage.
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  • Floyd58523
    If you do not put a goldenrod in and leave the guns in an unheated areas, moisture will condensate on the metal. You can oil them very well and they may be all right. If you have electricity for the safe it is good insurance to have a goldenrod in it.
    I have left rifles out at an unheated building in ND over the winter. Oiled well and they still had surface fuzzy rust on them in the spring. The humidity levels rise as the snow melts.
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  • nmyers
    I agree with Gary.

    Plus, where you have your safe in the house may also be a factor. You need to have it where there are no large swings in temperature, as the humidity in the air condenses when the air cools. Your basement will generally maintain a constant temperature similar to that of the powder magazines in colonial era forts, but rooms exposed to direct sunlight will warm & cool throughout the day.

    Neal
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  • GuvamintCheese
    If you cant protect them, sell them.
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  • oakledge35c
    Thanks for the replies. I have a golden rod now but I wasn't sure it would work if the temps got down below freezing. What do you think?
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  • md1634
    Call the manufacturer.
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  • beantownshootah
    I suppose dunking the guns in cosmoline is out of the question.

    I understand the military is now going with vaccum-pack PET film. You could try something like that throwing dessicant in there too to be safe.

    EDIT: See here. I think if you oiled the guns well, and threw them in these bags with dessicant, they'd be good regardless of outside temp swings:

    http://www.brownells.com/1/3/brownells-gun-storage-bags

    Anyway to answer the question all the golden-rod does is heat the air to dry it out.

    It should still work at cold temperatures, particularly inside a safe which is a closed and actually somewhat insulated box, that will tend to be at least slightly resistant to outside temperature swings.

    Again, the biggest thing is to avoid hot/cold swings which can cause ambient humidity to condense on the gun and cause rust.
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  • tskry
    the goldenrod will raise the temprature in your safe and lower the humidity level, you should be fine with it , the cosmoline is a good idea for some added protection.

    I have a camp in the central ADKS and i leave a rifle there all year, just a good coat of oil on it and its just fine.
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  • gotstolefrom
    Electricity may go out, goldenrods last a long time....but this one breaks once and you don't find out for months.

    I would use the goldenrod AND vac-pack in the mil-tec bags with desicant.

    I don't know how may pieces you are leaving there, but if you are like most of us you have a few that are used infrequently....I would cosmoline and bag those.


    Enjoy !
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