Storing your rifle

[diducmeb4]

I'm pretty new to the hobby myself and couldn't see forking out big $ for a true safe at this time.
I went with this $75 Stack-On cabinet from Wally World. It locks and hides away very nicely as long as your willing to cut out some sheet rock between studs.
I personally think its a fantastic value @ $75. Other than fire, I think it's as good as a safe. Kids can't get in it and a thief would have to spend way too much time to get in it.
It looks so much like an electrical box, I slapped some high voltage decals on it to fool the fools .
Depending on how you configure the 3 supplied shelves, It'll hold 2 long guns and a pistol or two. Although I don't seem to need it, I also threw a $15 rechargeable dehumidifier in it.

I have a new weekend project for my walkin closet.

 

[mp15.22]

If you wipe down the firearm with a silicone rag or similar and store is in a location with less than 50 percent humidity, rust will not be a problem.

All my firearms are stored in a vault in a room with a dehumidifier that holds the humidity to 40 percent.

DO NOT put them in gun cases with cloth or plush interiors. In reality, storing them in cases is a bad idea, no matter what kind of case it is.

Why is it a bad idea to put it in a rifle case? I keep mines in a rifle case and have notice any wear.

 

[Majorlk]

Why is it a bad idea to put it in a rifle case? I keep mines in a rifle case and have notice any wear.

It has nothing to do with wear. The lining in most rifles and pistol cases can attract and hold moisture unless they are aired out on a regular basis. Moisture causes rust. You can get away with it if you have them in a cool, dry environment AND exposed metal has been wiped down with a silicone or other preservative-impregnated cloth and is free of fingerprints. BTW, WD-40 is NOT a good rust preventative for firearms, no matter what the advertising says.

Individual cases are meant for transport, not storage.

 

[Jyezahn]

Interesting, but a magnetic lock is only useful for keeping the kids out. And it's a single-point lock, from the looks of it. I think I'd take a Stack-On first.

Yes, the thing that I like about this one over the Stack-On, is the concealment/misdirection that it gives. Normal burglars wouldn't think twice about a mirror hanging on the wall. This would be more for handy access I think, and serves two purposes... gotta check to make sure you look presentable when confronting the intruder.. lol

 

[Razer1]

You know this last statement for a fact?

The video of the vote is on youtube

 

[Jyezahn]

The video of the vote is on youtube

Can you post a link to the video or a link to the actual law that states and confirms that anyone in Maryland who has their firearm stolen, and it is used to kill someone, they will face a 10 year prison sentence? Yes or no?

 

[Skunkhome]

I will definatley take out the bolt and use the cable lock. When the kids get older I will definately get a larger safe but for now they are still not mobile and can't even wipe their own ***. Also, I keep the ammo in a separate room. You are probably right that this will not be my last rifle I was just trying to convince myself or lie to myself. have you guys ever heard of a rifle sock?....

I have heard of such that is treated with something that is supposed to prevent rust but I have no experience with it. Regardless you need to be mindful to allow a firearm to warm up in the open air after you have been out in the cold. I once shoved a cold dry shotgun I had wiped down into a case and drove home 4 hours only to find the firearm wet and already rusting in the case when I arrived home. The same is true going from an air conditioned house out to the gun range in the summer. A gun will sweat and a cased gun will rust.

 

[Warren Sear]

Guys, keep in mind that one of the first things thieves check is closets, looking for guns. Putting a cabinet there is not a good idea, unless it is a very secure one.

It's been done: the "high voltage" sign isn't going to fool anyone. You need to come up with original ideas... and then DON'T POST THEM ON THE INTERNET!!!

 

[Jyezahn]

You need to come up with original ideas... and then DON'T POST THEM ON THE INTERNET!!!

LOL, yeah, because criminals can't think for themselves. Same logic as news reporting on heinous crimes, (mass shootings, anyone?) and saying, "They shouldn't report on that stuff, it'll give other criminals ideas".

Fact: Many houses have electrical panels in the closets.

Fact (not really, I made this one up): 9 out of 10 burglars will open a closet door without thinking twice about the electrical panel inside. The 10th one, will think, "Hey, I didn't know they put electrical panels inside closets. Makes sense though, it'd be an eyesore anywhere else."

If the presence of these products online or even other faux products like them, is enough to alert most burglars to their use, then the majority of burglarized homes would suffer more damage than they do on average.

 

[Blaster22]

Of late I have thought about putting a low wattage light in the cabinet since it would very effectively keep the interior warm and prevent any build up of moisture.

Get a Golden Rod.

 

[Majorlk]

Get a Golden Rod.

Feel good purchase and a waste of money. Unless you get one as long as your safe is tall and mount it vertically, at most, it will raise the ambient temperature in the typical safe by less than three degrees and this will have a negligible impact upon humidity. And that three degrees presumes a room temperature above 60 degrees.

If you want to reduce humidity, buy a real dehumidifier for the room your storage container is in. With one of these, it's quite easy to keep the ambient humidity well under 50 percent. My gun and reloading room stays at 40 percent, no matter what the room's temperature is.

 

[bjb4242]

I use eezox which is a great rust inhibitor. I store it in a metal gun cabinet in my air conditioned bedroom.

 

[uniquesnd]

I keep mine in a big cannon safe. Like others have said about theft would you want to known your negligence caused a death if your firearm is stolen and used in a homicide? Only one that doesnt stay in the safe is my para 1911 that i carry everyday.

 

[photoracer]

Eezox is the thing for rust prevention on the gun itself. All the other ideas have merit when you have properly treated the firearm.

 

[Casshooter]

Storage comments

I wipe all my firearms regularly with Bull Frog Gun Wipes.
I really like them and have been using them for a long time.
I cannot control the humidity in my secured storage so I am anal about regularly using wipes.
Next comment.
I now store my 15 22 with a Marlin barrel cable lock. One end of the cable has a brass end that looks exactly like a 22 brass case. You feed it into the barrel thru the breach, it runs the length of the barrel and a few inches more, and is secured by a padlock style end. I have no idea where I got it!
I have a bunch of locks in a box that I have acquired over the past few years. I was looking for something to use going back and forth to the range and there it was! The bolts is closed, all springs relaxed and I am solidly in compliance during transport.
It isn't wise to be careless here in the Republik!!!

 

[Blaster22]

s

Feel good purchase and a waste of money. Unless you get one as long as your safe is tall and mount it vertically, at most, it will raise the ambient temperature in the typical safe by less than three degrees and this will have a negligible impact upon humidity. And that three degrees presumes a room temperature above 60 degrees.

If you want to reduce humidity, buy a real dehumidifier for the room your storage container is in. With one of these, it's quite easy to keep the ambient humidity well under 50 percent. My gun and reloading room stays at 40 percent, no matter what the room's temperature is.

All in your opinion, of course. I have two safes. One with a rod, one without. The one without had issues. The one with, didn't. Both have them now and now neither have issues.
Yes, they raise the temperature in the safe a few degrees, but that's enough to avoid condensation.

Dehumidifiers are nothing but room air conditioners, and the room they are in must be treated as you would any area you are trying to change the climate in, and that is that it must be sealed.

Anyone who knows anything about air knows that humid air will be pulled towards less humid air. Running a dehumidifier in a room that isn't sufficiently sealed, and all you are going to do is pull in more humid air for you to pay to dehumidify.

For most people, having a sealed climate controlled room isn't an option. For others, a rod can work just fine for the small area inside of a safe.

 

[Blaster22]

I keep mine in a big cannon safe. Like others have said about theft would you want to known your negligence caused a death if your firearm is stolen and used in a homicide? Only one that doesnt stay in the safe is my para 1911 that i carry everyday.

The negligence is on the thief who stole the gun and pulled the trigger, not on the lawful owner.

 

[Capt_Destro]

My 15-22 is stored broken down in 2 pieces (upper and lower)

It's basically because of the size of my safe. :S

19" Deep/, 17" Wide/, 22" High/. Thing weighs about 250lbs too and it's tucked away in my closet bolted to the ground.

Prior to my 15-22 I had a 10/22 in a Nomad Stock and it fit just fine. It's not like take down on an AR is inconvenient. Kind of glad I chose the 15-22 over the take down.

 

[Majorlk]

Blaster ...

Yes it is my opinion based on storing firearms and other objects in various situations over the last 40 years. Never found a situation yet where a little heating rod kept the moisture down except in the Texas panhandle, where then ambient humidity was under 40 percent anyway.

And yea, I know what a dehumidifier is and how it works. Professional dry storage facilities use them; not little heating elements.

 

[Blaster22]

Blaster ...

And yea, I know what a dehumidifier is and how it works. Professional dry storage facilities use them; not little heating elements.

I'm sure their storage area is a little bigger than the average gun safe, wouldn't you think?

Hardly a realistic comparison worth a snide remark, IMHO.