Storing your rifle

Casshooter said:
You might consider starting with a Stack On wall unit. They will hold two long guns and come with several shelves to allow flexibility. You cut a hole in the sheet rock of a wall and screw it in place. They are approved for firearm storage here in the Republik, so they must be OK!!!!! I have two and for my purpose they are fine. Look on Amazon for a good price.
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You don't need to cut the drywall. I just used an electronic stud finder and used lag screws to fasten to the studs. I think the Stack On is OK for a quick "goto" case for a bedroom closet. I am not sure my wife would give up shoe storage space for a big Liberty safe in the walk-in closet. :)

Update: Didn't realize there are between-stud safes from Stack On (or others). I just have one of the ugly green "surface-mount" ones ...
 
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One thing you should do with rifles or metal handguns is after you clean them and get ready to store them is to wax them with a wax like Renaissance wax. It is the wax that museums use on the guns in their collection. It seals the surface and stops oxidation and it has a neutral PH. A 200 ml can sells on EBay for around $20 and it will last you years. I have a very large gun collection and I clean and wax mine twice a year and I live in the south with high humidity and never have I had rust on a gun.
 
Razer1 said:
My thoughts on it is to get a safe anyway. Not just to keep any possible children away from t hem, but to keep them from being stolen if your home is ever broken into.

Maryland just passed a law last week that if your firearm is stolen and used in a crime where someone is killed you get 10 yrs in Prison.
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I live in MD and have been heavily involved in testifying and rallying in Annopolis to defeat SB281. Unfortunately, it passed yesterday afternoon and is now only awaiting the governors signature.

The provision you're speaking of is that you have 72 hrs after you find out a gun has gone missing. Failure to report is a crime but I don't believe the penalty is anything close to 10yrs. As for the rest of the bill, well, lets just say that it's about as left leaning and draconian as you can get.

Back on topic, get the safe now, you won't regret it as your collection grows.
 
mssandy713 said:
Thank you guys for all the advises. This is my first rifle and I do not have a large safe to store it. And I heard leaving it in a case is a big no-no. But I also have infants. So I can't just have it laying around. I don't plan on buying anymore rifles, so to invest in a large safe may just be a waste. Do you guys use the lock that it comes with? Sorry for all the stupid questions but you all seem to be pretty knowledgeable in here.
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Hee, hee...he said he wasn't buying anymore rifles. Yeah right!!!!! I can see into the future and you will be buying another one within 8-10 months, I just don't know which one.
 
grb said:
... 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 ;).
....
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You beat me to the High-Voltage warning decals!
 
I'm glad to see some positive real world feedback on the in-wall Stack On. I see one of them in my future. :)

I'll add that I picked up silicone impregnated gun socks from Midway (about $10/gun or less, available in assorted sizes) for when things aren't going to get shot for a while.
 
Just a warning about the Stack-on units - ALL OF THEM ...

They use the same locking mechanism that is used by metal office storage cabinets - two sheet metal bars fitting behind a sheet metal lip (look at the photos!). They will keep out curious kids, but anyone with a 12" crowbar can pop them open in less than two minutes.

They will NOT keep your firearms safe from theft. To think otherwise is foolish.

If you simply must use these things, at least put them in a closet or other location where they are not readily visible.
 
grb said:
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.
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I have a new weekend project for my walkin closet.
 
Majorlk said:
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.
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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.
 
mp15.22 said:
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.
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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.
 
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Majorlk said:
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. :)
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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 :D
 
Razer1 said:
The video of the vote is on youtube
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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?
 
mssandy713 said:
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?....
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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.
 
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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!!!
 
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Warren Sear said:
You need to come up with original ideas... and then DON'T POST THEM ON THE INTERNET!!!
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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". :rolleyes:

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 said:
Get a Golden Rod.
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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.
 
I use eezox which is a great rust inhibitor. I store it in a metal gun cabinet in my air conditioned bedroom.
 
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.
 
Eezox is the thing for rust prevention on the gun itself. All the other ideas have merit when you have properly treated the firearm.
 
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!!!
 
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Majorlk said:
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.
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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.
 
uniquesnd said:
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.
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The negligence is on the thief who stole the gun and pulled the trigger, not on the lawful owner.
 
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.
 
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. :)
 
Majorlk said:
Blaster ...

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