Mowart---Gun Storage... Revisited

Here's what works for me along with some comments: I've been a general gunsmith and student of arms for lots of years, and I found it convenient to acquire more guns (than I want to admit to) over the years for reference and comparision. I can't possibly clean them all every month, every 6 months, or even every year. Buying the cheap-o black gun cases (Doskocil, Contico, etc.) protects them much better than a cardboard box or soft guncase. I have them stacked 15 deep without damage to the one on the bottom. You can get these cases on sale by the case of 4 for about $11 each average. Sometimes you need to wait for the sale, or have a buddy in the gun business. I coat the metal with G-96 Gun Oil (my favorite), but there is absolutely nothing wrong with Rem-Oil that I've ever found. I do nothing to the stocks, and shudder to think of any wood stock immersed in motor oil! My philosophy here is that if the stock is properly finished in whatever manner, the finish is the stock's preservative. If it's not finished to your satisfaction, make it so before you store it. Other than linseed oil-type finishes, I can't see where an application of anything is needed to the wood for dry, temperate conditions storage. Next, I place the oiled rifle in a long plastic storage bag (again--no oil on the wood!). These used to be sold by Brownell's, but they have now gone to an aluminum foil-type exterior, lined bag. Nice, and I use them also, but expensive. You'll have to look around for the plastic bags, but I've also had good luck by wrapping the gun with the thin plastic from dry cleaning bags. In some ways thin plastic is actually better, as it sucks right onto the oiled metal and makes a better seal. Next to the gun place a strip of Brownell's rust prentative paper. The paper usually says one side or the other should be placed next to the gun, but I recently got a batch with no printing on either side; and assume either side works. How I arrived at all of this is that if you place an oiled gun into a foam-lined hardcase without the plastic wrapping the foam will absorb the oil from the gun's surface and leave it unprotected. A plastic barrier makes absorbtion impossible. The no-rust paper strip fights the moisture in the air inside the plastic bag. The cheap-o hardcase also tends to exclude much moisture and guard against bumps. I've stored guns in this manner for 10 years without opening, and then found them to be in excellent condition. Usually the oil is gone, but the metal surfaces are rust-free. Oil will absorb into metal surface pores over time. Store the cases horizontally to prevent the oil from the metal and bore from running into the wood. One variation to this theme: Sometimes certain guns are better preserved with a thin coat of carnuba wax. Hmmmmm! What guns? Hard to say----you'll know it when you see it! One case might be a mildly pitted surface, where you can rub the wax into the pits. Sealed from air and moisture rusting will not continue in the bottom of the pits. Another possiblity would be a very fine, expensive, old antique rifle where you don't want the oil on the metal parts to seep into the stock. The really great thing about carnuba wax is that you can apply it to both metal and wood. TREWAX is a great brand for this purpose. It was originally made for the preservation of hardwood floors. Since floors are seldom hardwood anymore you may have to ask your hardware store to specially order it. Buy three or four cans and have a lifetime supply. Place your finger on the wax for 3 or 4 seconds and enough will melt onto your finger tip from your body heat to apply in a swirling motion over about a 3-inch square area. Let it dry for about 20-30 minutes and then buff it all with a soft rag. If you have a lot of time, three applications will preserve it for a long, long time. Be sure not to apply too much per application, and buff off any excess. Go ahead and used the plastic, paper, and hardcase as previously described. When you take it out to look at it 10 years from now it will still look great.