Handgun storage?

[GKC]

I'm not sure where to ask this question, but here goes:

Until recently, I only owned one handgun, and it went with me when I traveled (unless I flew.) Now, in the past couple of weeks, I have bought eight new handguns...sorta went crazy, but then you can't take it with you, right?

Anyway, I am now wondering about safe storage when I travel. When our house was built, the builder installed a safe in the concrete in our closet floor. I have been advised that it isn't a good idea to store guns in a floor safe like that, due to condensation.

I bought a handgun gun safe that I am bolting to the wall, on a shelf in a closet...and we do have a alarm system. I just think the floor safe is the strongest option, though, and so I wonder if it really is a bad idea to store guns there for a short time (like a week or so) when we travel?

I don't think I want to take 9 handguns on the road with me!

 

[qennis]

You may want to look into getting a dry rod/ golden rod.
These things work great. As long as the temp inside the safe is warmer than the air out side the safe you should be fine.
Also if you only store the firearms for a short time (2 weeks or so)
then a good lube should protect against corrosion.

 

[GKC]

Thanks.

I looked up dri-rods on the internet, and found some...basically a heating tube with an electric cord. I'm not sure how I could make that work in the floor safe, since there is no electric outlet inside the safe, and the door won't close if the cord is coming out through the door. (Unfortunately, that is not something I can add now. If we build another house, that is something I will include.)

Surely they would be ok if I put them in a silicone sock, and if I'm not away more than a week or so, wouldn't you think? Maybe I am just being paranoid, but this isn't a problem I've had to deal with in years.

I guess I need to invest in a high quality, very heavy gun safe and have it bolted to the floor. I don't know if someone could easily get my handgun safe off the wall in a limited amount of time, since we do have an alarm system. I suppose it would be adequate defense against a smash-and-grab style of intruder.

 

[LDThornton]

Silicone socks will probably keep them rust free for years in a safe IMO.

 

[Scrapper]

Try some desiccant bags and put them in there. Cover the guns with silicone socks also.

Desiccators: Custom Bagged Desiccant

 

[shooter7]

Does the safe have a pop out plastic plug in the rear, as that's where people feed the dehumidifying rod through and out to an outlet in the wall.

Yes, oil up your stuff and store in something like the Bore-Stores, Big Spring Enterprises-Bore Stores Homepage, like you can get online.

You can also get reusable dehumidifiers, like the ones I use, in enclosed places, and are available at amazon.com, etc. for reasonable prices. EVA-DRY Mini Dehumidifier

 

[GKC]

Does the safe have a pop out plastic plug in the rear, as that's where people feed the dehumidifying rod through and out to an outlet in the wall.

The floor safe doesn't...it is set down in the concrete (foundation) and the door is flush with the concrete floor. It sets a little lower than carpet level, since the carpet and pad are on laid on top of the concrete foundation. There carpet has a cut section so it can lift up to expose the door. It's in the corner of the walk-in closet in our master bedroom, and I usually keep a box sitting on top of it so that you don't see the outline where the carpet is cut.

Thanks for the tips on the other desiccants...I will look for those.

 

[robertrwalsh]

Silicone socks are great. Even plain wool socks are not bad, they tend to wick moisture away from the metal.

 

[shooter7]

The floor safe doesn't...it is set down in the concrete (foundation) and the door is flush with the concrete floor. It sets a little lower than carpet level, since the carpet and pad are on laid on top of the concrete foundation. There carpet has a cut section so it can lift up to expose the door. It's in the corner of the walk-in closet in our master bedroom, and I usually keep a box sitting on top of it so that you don't see the outline where the carpet is cut.

Thanks for the tips on the other desiccants...I will look for those.

Ok, gotcha. You can also use the vci (vapor corrosion inhibitor) products, made by Cortec, for Bullfrog and others, which I've used in the past, and put them in any safe as well. They do say that this product can yellow paper, though I've never had that happen, so if there are important papers in there, you'll have to read up more on the various vci products.

I've used the Kleen-bore inhibitor zip loc handguns bags before succesfully over years, and thrown in some small dessicant bags, like those that come in shoe boxes. Anti-Corrosion Gun Storage Bags

 

[Double-O-Dave]

Ken,

This has been covered before, but you might want to clean and wax the outer surfaces of your handguns also. Some use expensive metal wax, I use a good grade of car wax on mine - especially the blued steel ones, and it seems to help prevent rust. I also remove the grips and wax the frames to help prevent rust formation.

Best of luck,

Dave

 

[srgvaz]

Gun socks, desiccant bags, silica gel, an Eva-dry all work well. But an Alarm System is a great piece of mind times have changed and the world is a different place. I'm sure all your valuables won't fit in that floor safe when your away. If you're at home and someone gets in would you prefer shooting dead center? or could a dual siren alarm save you a legal headache?

 

[Class III]

You may be able to get the dessicant bags for free. Before I put Goldenrods in my safes I would go to the local Harley-Davidson dealership and get them as H-D packs new bikes with the dessicant bags for transportation. Most dealerships just toss the dessicant bags in the dumpster after unpacking the new bikes.

Class III

 

[swampersand]

Wrap a gun in a microfiber rag or sock, go to the kitchen and use your wife's Food Saver to vacuum pack the unit. This will hold it for a good spell, longer than any vacation +. The rag or sock will keep the sharp edges of the gun from piercing the vacuum bag and keep the bag off of the gun finish.

 

[racuda]

If moisture is the enemy, why not get a cheap hygrometer? You could quickly see if the safe is more humid than your house. $6.47 at Walmart

 

[eaglebeaver]

Remington markets a dessicant filled container which can be plugged in a wall socket until the beads are blue. You then put the container in your safe and it will soak up any moisture. When the beads turn pink you remove it from the safe and plug it back in. Mine came from Academy Sports and was about $20. Eaglebeaver

 

[hsguy]

I would just wipe the guns with Breakfree and put them in a freezer storage bag and then in a pistol rug and then in the floor safe. You said you will be only storing for a week or two so I think Goldenrods and dessicant packs are a bit of overkill.

 

[cuad2001]

+1 on the dessicant bags. They work.

 

[GKC]

Gun socks, desiccant bags, silica gel, an Eva-dry all work well. But an Alarm System is a great piece of mind times have changed and the world is a different place. I'm sure all your valuables won't fit in that floor safe when your away. If you're at home and someone gets in would you prefer shooting dead center? or could a dual siren alarm save you a legal headache?

We do have a monitored alarm system...and it will wake the neighbors, as I can attest when I have accidentally set it off. Of course, the times that you accidentally set it off are when you get the fast responses...my luck, all hell would be breaking loose in the other end of the county, and all the fire and police and everyone would be there while some yayhoo was breaking into my house for real. (We live in a rural area.)

 

[GKC]

Before I put Goldenrods in my safes I would go to the local Harley-Davidson dealership and get them

Oh heck no, I couldn't do that....they might leak oil on the carpet. Besides, I ride a 2003 Honda VTX 1300. Maybe the Honda dealer will have some.

(And my Honda was made in Marysville, Ohio... )

 

[srgvaz]

As per the posts above-- do not vacuum seal any gun for storage unless you leave it marinated with gun oil --or it will rust. As for the zip lock's they are good when you are on a boat but not for storing in a safe.