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Storage Question

capecod
After shooting a handgun or rifle, I clean the weapon, apply a light coating of Sheath to the exterior, bore and chamber and store the weapon in a Silicone Treated "Sock".
Because of the rough winter we've had here, I haven't done any shooting at the range in several months and probably won't for another month or so..
My question is: How often is it wise the remove the weapon from the Sock and clean & re-apply Sheath & return it to the Sock? I have no idea the amount of protection these Silicone Treated Socks provide. I have a 15% humidity factor in my safe.
Any advice will be appreciated.
Thanks
John
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Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • Rusticwater
    capecod,

    You know where I live so I have a high humidity factor (and salt) to deal with. I just keep my long guns in regular zippered gun cases, and when I'm done cleaning them I just put a coat of lubricant (I've used teflon-oil aerosols for over 25 years) on them and put them away, sometimes for years. If I do anticipate long term storage of a firearm I usually wait 24-48 hours before giving it a good thorough cleaning, there is usually some additional residue that works itself out of the barrel and related surfaces after that time.

    As you have a safe, which I assume is closed with the low humidity factor, I would think things would be fine, however, I don't know the long term effects of silicone on certain gun finishes, wood, etc.
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  • capecod
    Thanks for the info - I appreciate it. So far, I never had a problem with rust. I bought a Savage 99 250-3000 that someone didn't take care of. Bore was ok but finish had rust and pitting. I had it bead blasted and reblued but you can still see the faint pitting that the process failed to remove.
    Regards,
    John
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  • Der Gebirgsjager
    I, too, have lived by the ocean at one time; but now live in rainy Oregon. 'Way,'way back when I realized that I had too many long guns to clean as often as I would like (they seem to multiply if left alone in dark closets), I also sought for the best storage method. I have often seen the results of putting a prized possession, with or without a protective coating, into a zippered case and ignoring it for a couple of years. The lining of the case will absorb the oil, leaving the gun's surface unprotected, and will also attract and hold moisture, with the result being a seriouly rusted firearm. This is also true of a foam lined hardcase. The problem becomes how to keep the lube on the gun, and the gun away from moisture. What I came up with was to oil the metal surfaces well and put the gun into a thick plastic bag with a strip of rust inhibtor paper. I'd hold the strip against the gun with a couple of rubber bands, insert the gun into the bag, and put the whole thing into a cheap hardcase. Orignially I used thick plastic bags made for storage purposes (obtained from Brownells) and this system worked quite well. Often I'd pull a gun from storage after 5-10 years and find the gun free from rust; although in some cases all the oil had disappeared. Some of it went into the paper strip, and I guess some evaporated or dried up. Now I find that Brownells no longer carries the old clear plastic bags, but they have some new silver colored bags that are completely inert. They claim you can even bury them with no moisture transfer or decomposition, but I'm not going to try it with one of mine! What I have found is that after oiling up some guns and putting them away in these new bags, still with a paper strip, and still in a hardcase, they are still oily when I remove them. In my opinion these bags are too expensive, but us old timers feel that way about almost everything. One more clue--when placing the gun case in the storage area I stand it on end muzzle down; or if lengthwise I insert the gun so that the barrel/receiver will be to the bottom of the case, so that the oil will tend to run away from the wood and not be absorbed into the stock. Guess I'd look for a different approach if I had a gun safe, like silica gel and Goldenrods. Can't afford a bank vault, though.[;)]
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  • WIN 1894
    Try using Eezox. It works great and dissipates the moisture. I have
    rifles stored with this over 10 years and no problem. It also doesnt
    bother the barrel or action or the wood/finish. Our humidity to usually 12% to 18%. It also has a temperature factor of approx. 400+ to -90. Also works great on bearings, motors etc.

    Good Luck
    Frank
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  • playthings
    I have always heard not to store guns in zippered cases because the metal will attract and hold moisture resulting in a rusted gun. It always scared the heck out of me, but I've been doing it now for 15 years and not seen a problem. Living in Iowa, we have temperature and humidity changes but no salty ocean air.
    After having a gun outside, I wait (procrastinate) for several days before cleaning, lubricating with a silicone oil, putting it back into its case and returning it to the storage closet. I feel it's important to let the gun thoroughly reach the storage room temperature and humidity before putting it into the case.
    Does this procedure make sense? Have I just been lucky and should still worry about storing guns in zippered gun cases?
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  • Der Gebirgsjager
    Playthings--Well, it's hard to argue with 15 years of success; and, yes, your procedure of allowing your guns to assume the temperature of the surrounding environment before storing also makes sense. Waiting several days before cleaning and storage would seem to be a little long--but, whatever works for you. I do believe that you'd find the idea of storing guns in zippered cases to be a bad one in other parts of the country, and in general I'd never recommend the practice.[:)]
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  • cbxjeff
    Frank,

    What is eezox? I've never heard of it.

    cbxjeffIt's too late for me, save yourself.
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  • Wagion
    For long term storage I have in the past rubbed guns down and packed action with Vaseline cheap and it work I am talking about storing guns that only get used one a year or so

    If force ain't work'n... Your not use'n nough of it
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  • MIKE WISKEY
    shame on you for trying to take away your local gunsmiths reblueing business, i reblue 6/12 guns a year that have been put up in soft cases after hunting season and forgoten until next year.
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  • WIN 1894
    cbxjeff: I got it from my local sporting goods store many years ago
    and it only takes a small amount to do the job. I think the small
    spray can is around $7-$8 bucks and I have had that can for about 8 years and it is still about 1/4 left. Their email is:david@craigsports.com. I know they ship it all over the country.
    If you cant make contact let me know. They are real helpful.

    Good Luck
    Frank
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