How do you store your pistols?

[weeha1966]

I am needing some input on how to store my guns correctly for extended periods of time. I thought about storing the istols in Crown Royal bags. Not sure if this will work. How about wool socks? I even thought about getting some of those silicon impregnated long gun socks and cutting them to length and sewing one end shut. Any ideas?

 

[logictox]

I use Pelican cases that stack in the safes neatly.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Wiped down and stored in cotton socks........a few of the smaller ones sometimes live in CR bags.

 

[Drail]

The best way depends somewhat on your environment. The potential problem with foam or fabric storage cases is that they can (but not all) absorb a lot of moisture from the ambient air if the humidity gets much above 50% and put it right onto your guns. If your humidity never gets above 40% then you won't have any problems. But if you say, take some guns to the range in a foam or fabric case and the humidity gets high while you're there when you close the case you are trapping that moisture in with the guns. If you don't get them out pretty quick corrosion can take place. I store all of my guns on open shelves in a safe with nothing absorbent in the safe. (no rags, cases, etc.) When I did smithing work I saw many nice rifles and shotguns rusted badly because the owner kept them in a fabric case under their bed (humid air stays close to the floor). They were all pretty much ruined simply because the owner didn't know any better. Just keep them well oiled and check on them weekly and pay attention to the humidity in the room. The best way to keep them protected is to buy a small paint brush and place 3 or 4 drops of your favorite rust preventative oil on the brush and "paint" it all over the metal surfaces. The brush allows you to get oil into small crevices that a rag can't, like checkering and screw slots and leaves a nice even thin layer on the gun. If you live in a humid climate or run a humidifier in the wintertime some type of dehumidifier or packs of dessicant are a good idea. I have multiple dessicant packs in my safe and recharge them in the oven several times a year and have never had any rust. Consider most cases to be used for transporting guns and not storing them. They're really not intended for that purpose. If moist air gets trapped in with the guns just one time you could be sorry. You mentioned extended storage, for that I would disassemble them as much as possible, remove any wood grips or stocks and coat them generously with oil and place them in a heavy gauge ziploc bag with dessicant packs in the bag. Squeeze all of the air out of the bag before you seal it. Check on them regularly if you can. Logictox, you have TOO MANY GUNS!!!

 

[alaskavett]

I agree with Drail up to where he accuses a connoisseur of having too many guns... Now we all know that's just silly! Watch the humidity in the environment that your storing them. I make sure they are well cleaned and either oiled or waxed and placed in clean old socks so as they don't get nicked in the safe. Check on them periodically. Wait, if you are going to store them indefinitely I will take good care of them for you Kyle

 

[gr8smiles]

Logictox, you have TOO MANY GUNS!!!

That's not possible. You can NEVER have too many guns. He who dies with the most toys wins, and he who has the most toys may even live longer

 

[PMRet]

I keep mine in Bore-Stores stacked in the safe.

 

[mark1616]

A nice coat of oil, in their respective boxes, in the safe. Except for my carry... always out, always loaded!

 

[TAROMAN]

I keep mine in Bore-Stores stacked in the safe.

Same here. I mark them with a Sharpie to ID the gun inside.

 

[Boxhead]

I use Pelican cases that stack in the safes neatly.

I do the same.

 

[chud333]

Bore store as well. They come in a variety of sizes. Impregnated
with silicone protects wood and metal, permits air circulation,
6.99 each for up to 7 inch handguns.


chuck

 

[nosreme]

All over the house--on coffee tables, kitchen table, couches, many 1911s and AR15s in various states of disassembly, cylinders open on the revolvers, some grips off, rags and various tools and cleaning products all over the place...my goal is to be the internet opposite of the hypermicro-organized types who pursue gun storage rituals with an assiduous solemnity and sense of awesomeness of heavy responsibility that one might associate with high priests overseeing preservation of ancient holy relics. I can't post pics because the forum's chaos filters would reject them. Just think of the gun version of Redd Foxx's living room on Sanford & Son.

 

[chief38]

RIG UNIVERSAL GREASE

The best way I have ever found is to use RIG UNIVERSAL GREASE inside and out. Apply with a patch & bore jag in the charge holes and barrel, and use an old shaving brush or similar on the rest of the gun. I also take the gun down and do the inside as well so I have 100% coverage.

Wrap the re-assembled greased gun in wax paper, then again with heavy duty aluminum foil. Now you can stick it in the original box and store in your safe. It will NEVER rust! BEST preservative I have ever found and I just de-greased a stored gun after having it "RIGED" for 30+ years. That particular gun was RIGED by my Dad and I and stored in his un-airconditioned basement for 30+ years. He passed away last March and I took the gun and cleaned it up------good as new!!

By the way, RIG stands for :

Rust Inhibitive Grease.

Chief38

 

[DavidA762]

I am a new M&P-9 owner. My first pistol.
I keep the gun in a quick access gun safe.
Is it best to store a pistol with the slide locked open or closed?

 

[sqhead]

hmmmmmmmmmmmm,was the gun in this pelican case or that one? Dang ,maybe in the one on the bottom ? dang !!!!!!.ha...I made shelves in my safe,as many as would fit,and just lay the guns out.I can get alot in them that way.

 

[S&Wman]

I store mine wiped down with a rust preventative and stored in Bore Stores.

 

[Steve in Vermont]

Bore store as well. They come in a variety of sizes. Impregnated
with silicone protects wood and metal, permits air circulation,
6.99 each for up to 7 inch handguns.


chuck

I use them also. Store in a plastic case, Plano or original (plastic) case, remove one layer of foam leaving enough room for the gun wrapped in a Bore Store (which are on sale at Midway for $ 4.99, different sizes for 2", 4" and 6" bbl). Stack them with a label on the front, easy to grab and go.

 

[rck281]

I have used RIG for many years with outstanding results. I never used aluminum foil but wrapped them in a plastic
zip lock bag.

However, the new thinking is to use Renaissance Wax. You can find many posts on the forum explaining it's application and benefits. It sure makes the guns look good but I'm just not sure I want to risk it. I am confident in RIG.

The best way I have ever found is to use RIG UNIVERSAL GREASE inside and out. Apply with a patch & bore jag in the charge holes and barrel, and use an old shaving brush or similar on the rest of the gun. I also take the gun down and do the inside as well so I have 100% coverage.

Wrap the re-assembled greased gun in wax paper, then again with heavy duty aluminum foil. Now you can stick it in the original box and store in your safe. It will NEVER rust! BEST preservative I have ever found and I just de-greased a stored gun after having it "RIGED" for 30+ years. That particular gun was RIGED by my Dad and I and stored in his un-airconditioned basement for 30+ years. He passed away last March and I took the gun and cleaned it up------good as new!!

By the way, RIG stands for :

Rust Inhibitive Grease.

Chief38

 

[logictox]

The potential problem with foam or fabric storage cases is that they can (but not all) absorb a lot of moisture from the ambient air if the humidity gets much above 50% and put it right onto your guns. If your humidity never gets above 40% then you won't have any problems. Logictox, you have TOO MANY GUNS!!!

The foam in the pelican case appears very similar to what comes in colt, S&W, Beretta and just about every other gun manufacture I have seen boxing material. I do a regular inspection with oiling, as I would no matter what was used to store them. So far no issues at all. Easy to organize, easy to transport and the boxes are coded so I know what's in them.

There is no such thing as TOO many guns.

 

[Have gun-will travel]

That's not possible. You can NEVER have too many guns. He who dies with the most toys wins, and he who has the most toys may even live longer

IF you know how many guns you have you don't have enough. I keep mine guns wiped down with a rag that has G96 on it .They are kept in a safe with a 18 inch golden rod.I' had some of my revolvers for 35 and 40 years and have never had ANY problems with any of them.

 

[cmj8591]

RIG is a good gun preservative. I also use Hoppe's Gun Grease and I've found that it is more widely available than RIG. Coat the outside of the gun and the bore and chambers if it's a revolver. Being a shot gun reloader, I have lots of canvas shot bags and I've found that they make good storage containers. Cheep and they don't attract moisture. The good part of using RIG or Hoppe's is that when the time comes to remove it, a dry, clean rag will do the trick. Cosmoline is about the best preservative made and once you coat the gun with it, you'll never have to look at it again. It is very difficult to use and even harder to remove when the time comes.

 

[wmspdi]

I bought a stacking 26" wide Craftsman mechanics tool chest (3 upper and 2 lower drawer units) and lined the bottom of each drawer with the foam tool box liners.

My magazines and speedloaders are stored in the top tray where the lid is, my 1911s, Glocks, SIG and pocket guns live in the two 2" drawers in the top unit (up to 4 guns in a drawer). My revolvers and scoped guns are in the next two 4"drawers in the middle of the cabinet (holds up to 6 guns per drawer).

Holsters and accesories are in yet a lower 4" drawer (below the guns), and my range bags live in the bottom section of the cabinet with a lift up door (about 12-14" high).

The whole unit is lockable and resides in my locked gun room. Not quite a safe but it suits my needs.

 

[ogilvyspecial]

Another Bore Stores user here, usually after they (the guns) get a coat of Ren Wax or Eezox.

 

[weeha1966]

I like the idea of bore stores. I also have a lot of CR bags. I've been toying with the idea of turning the CR bags inside-out and spraying them with silicon. Opinions???

 

[B. Burris]

Logictox, I'm available for adoption!

 

[brucev]

I do not own so very many handguns... or rifles. My beloved 1903 and 1903-A3 rifles and my precious M-1 Garands (you get the idea don't you) reside in a walnut gun cabinet that was built by one of my church members. I got it shortly after the birth of my first daughter in 1986. He was concerned that I have a safe way to store my rifles given that small children were soon to be running around the parsonage. My revolvers and pistols are stored in my dresser drawer... lying on t-shirts or socks (I know... horrors!). But please keep in mind that my two little girls are now grown women and that no one goes in the bedroom and "fiddles" with my handguns unless my wife or I are present. As to protection from rust/corrosion, I've not had any problems. We keep the house air-conditioned or heated according to the weather. We've not had any problem with humidity. I keep my revolvers wiped down with Break-Free and look them over on about a weekly basis. I've not ever had a instance of problems with them except a little Ruger Mk. II, and that was my fault. I took it out to the range on a scalding hot summer afternoon and fired it heavily. Upon returning home, I failed to clean it. The next afternoon I took time to clean it and found that the grip portion has a light haze of rust from (I think) my sweaty hand. It taught me a hard lesson about being less than attentive to cleaning my handguns. Now... because I am more concerned with protecting my handguns... I figure I'll fit the bottom drawer of the gun cabinet with holders to fit each handgun. If I put a 40 watt light bulb in the drawer and leave it on I figure that should keep things nice and warm and dry. Properly oiled/greased... I would think that would provide excellent protection for my handguns and rifles. JMHO. Sincerely. brucev.

 

[yamadeal]

Use Collector by Break Free place in Bore Stores check ever few months.