Hey all,

After going on a Smith Binge this year...(19-3,15-3, 586, 686, 29-3 and a Patrolman) I would like to hear how you guys clean and store your wheels guns. Mine are a mix of excellent nickel, good blue and not so good blue. Any input on wax or oil or anything you use successfully.

Thanks in advance!

Jared

The short answers are:

Nickel - polish with Flitz and then Renwax.
Blue - wipe off any oils then Renwax (the good ones and the not so good)
Storing - Silicone impregnated Bore Socks
Don't - Store in holsters, foam lined box's or any place where moisture
can be trapped.
Hope this helps, hardcase60

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You want me to do what?

Any polishing should be gently done to preserve the finish. With Flitz a little goes a long way.

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Even older, even crankier....

After shooting, clean with MPro 7 gun cleaner and follow with their lubricant on the working parts. Finish with Remwax and store. I use Remwax only on my antiques for storage. I have not had any problems with those applications.

Nick

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NRA Instructor\GCA Gunsmith

After a good cleaning and applying a THIN coat of J&J paste wax, I store my firearms in silicon treated "Crown Royal bags. These bags are placed in padded gun rugs along with two silica packs.

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Always Stay Strong!

After about 50 years of experience my short answer is most people overthink storage with the one caveat that humidity is relevant.

If you store your firearms in a high humidity environment such as a basement, a bathroom, or live in a state with high humidity you should either coat the firearm in a protective material (oil based product, wax, etc) and/or store in a protective cover or case.

If you live in a state with average or low humidity and store the firearm in a non-humid area of your residence then you can probably get by with doing nothing.

I live in Kansas (average humidity) and I am convinced if you just wipe the firearm down and leave it in the open it will not show any appreciable problems for 50 years and I have 2 blue finished firearm examples to confirm this.

On the other hand I think it's reasonable to take reasonable precautions so I have taken to wiping down the firearm and placing it in a Bore Stores, a thick and soft silicone-impregnated protective gun case, and placing that inside a Zip-Lock bag from which I've squeezed all the air out. From my recollection there are a number of S&W members who have given positive reviews of using Bore Stores for storage.

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Scoundrel & Ne'er-Do-Well

If squeezing out the air is good, I have one of those things that sucks all the air out for food storage. Would that be even better? I put a nice coat of re wax on. I would imagine Johnsons paste wax would work also. I have a manageable amount of guns. So it's no big deal to pull them out, fondle them, wipe down again, and store for another day. I do oil the metal on metal parts.

After cleaning and using the preservative of choice, and enveloping in your choice of whatever touches the piece, mine go in a large ZipLoc bag from which I suck out the air with a straw. Simply insert the contents, zip shut with a straw sticking out, suck out the air, and with one quick move (while still sucking) withdraw the straw and finish the zip closure.

Every few years I take them out of the box and wipe them off with an oily rag whether they need it or not.

For guns that regularly get shot I clean with Rig #2 Oil, leave a little on the gun, wrap in S&W VOC paper and store in their original box in my safe. My safe is located in an air conditioned and heated environment and humidity is very low. NEVER any problems.

What about new technologies? I'm very interested about VCI (vapour corrosion inhibitors), that covers any metal surface with a micro-film, lasting more than one year and are likely more efficient and efficace than traditional methods. Bags, stripes and capsules for all preferences (envelopes for single weapon or environment capsules for all the safe), and very cheap.

An exemple:
Gun Storage Bags - Zerust Consumer Products