THE BEST EXTENDED OR LONG TERM STORAGE PREPARATION I KNOW OF

[chief38]

This comes up from time to time and I will tell you what I do for long term or extended storage. Before I get into the process, I will tell you why I do this on certain firearms. There have been times that I will buy a pristine or NIB example of a gun I already own and want to save it for future use, gift to my Son, etc. and don't want to discover that a few years down the road it has gotten damaged. Although I am not a "safe queen" gun collector there are times that I shoot a particular gun repeatedly and then have had my temporary fill of it and want to tuck it in for a while. These are the times I will use the following process which is pretty straight forward.

First I completely disassemble the entire gun and thoroughly clean it - then completely dry it and remove all solvents. I blow it off with dry compressed air just to make sure. While the gun is completely disassembled, I apply RIG Universal Grease (now owned by Birchwood - Casey Corp.) with a small dedicated shaving brush and apply Rig Grease on every part, inside and out. After everything is coated I reassemble the gun. Then I take the greasy gun and wrap it in a few layers of waxed paper (the kind they sell in the Supermarket) and then I use heavy duty Reynolds Wrap to wrap up the waxed paper package. After that is done I place it back in the original box and into my safe. NOTE: Grips are not put back on gun while being stored.

I have successfully stored guns for long periods (many years) and when they are removed from their tombs they look and shoot as good as the day I tucked them in. All I do to "revive them" is I disassemble, spray them down with one of the gun degreasers (I use Birchwood - Casey Gun Scrubber) dry off with clean compressed air, properly lubricate, reassemble and shoot. In all the years I've been doing this I have not had one single problem, not one speck of rust, and absolutely no degradation what so ever.

This is not a process that I do for short term storage as it is obviously a little time consuming, but for storing a firearm for a considerable amount of time and knowing it will not be affected negatively in any way, there is no better method that I have ever found.

There are other products such as Cosmoline (great time proven military grade product) that also work well and while I know some who use that, I prefer the RIG Universal Grease because it protects just as well but is less difficult when removing it.

So there is my process that I picked up from my Dad who had been doing it that way since 1950. It worked for him, it works for me and should work for anybody else too. This is my process and while there might be others (I'm sure there are) this is just how I do it and I wanted to share that with you guys.

Regards,
Chief38

 

[Tom S.]

A long time ago, Gun Test magazine ran a comprehensive test of various gun care products and their protection qualities. As I recall, the test samples were plain cold rolled steel, and they were subjected to open air, water spray, and salt water spray (different batches, not exposed to all 3). The top winner was Cosmoline but a very close second was Rig Gun Grease. That made a believer out of me. When I store a gun long time, instead of swabbing the barrel with gun oil, I use the Rig.

 

[elpac3]

For long term "safe queen" storage, have you ever looked at Cortec brand heat seal storage bags? They have a bag system that delivers an anti corrosion molecular layer for long term storage. I know the military uses the systems for weapons as it get you away from the oil, grease and the old cosmo that took forever to clean before you could use the weapon.

 

[chief38]

Cosmoline works great! The one characteristic that I don't like it for is it slightly thicker, more difficult to apply and a bit more stubborn to remove than the Rig is.

 

[chief38]

For long term "safe queen" storage, have you ever looked at Cortec brand heat seal storage bags? They have a bag system that delivers an anti corrosion molecular layer for long term storage. I know the military uses the systems for weapons as it get you away from the oil, grease and the old cosmo that took forever to clean before you could use the weapon.

I have never heard of them but don't doubt that they work great! Usually any product the Military uses is top shelf. I've just been doing it my way with 100% success for so long and have enough Rig Universal Grease to last me forever. Makes a great hair tonic too!

I guess for some of the younger guys here the Cortec system might be a great thing to look into!

 

[dfariswheel]

The military and industry that need long term storage of guns or machinery that need protection from rust no longer slather on any greases.

That requires too much time to prepare for storage and way too much time to remove the coating.
An additional problem is, it's too easy to miss a hidden recess and find rust when it's unpacked.

Today, the best product is the vapor barrier system.
This is a chemical that produces fumes that surround the gun and eliminate any chance of rust, even in hidden areas.
Best, to put the item in use, all you have to do is open the bag, wipe out the bore, and possibly add a little fresh lubricant to key areas.

The best systems are what was known as Z-Corr now Bluguard, and Gun Wrap VCPI paper.

The Z-Corr/Bluguard system is a bag with the vapor barrier material inside. Just vacuum out the air and it's protected as the vapor drives out any residual air, and surrounds the metal.

Gun Wrap is sheets of treated paper with which the gun is wrapped, then stored in a special plastic bag.
Again, the vapor drives out air and surrounds the gun with the vapor.

Used properly these methods will protect a gun for from 10 to as much as 20 years.

If using the Gun Wrap, DON'T use ordinary plastic bags.
Standard plastic bags will pass moisture and allow air in and the vapor to leak out.
The special "Hard" plastic bags are made of a plastic similar to the plastic bags that electronics are shipped in and won't pass moisture or air.

BROWNELLS/BLUGUARD VCI VACUUM SEAL STORAGE BAGS | Brownells

Gun Wrap vapor paper.
BROWNELLS GUNWRAP™ PAPER | Brownells

Special "Hard" plastic bags:
BROWNELLS TRIPLE TOUGH™ PREMIUM STORAGE BAGS | Brownells

 

[elpac3]

Correct on the VCI. I have visited the Cortec plant where they produce the bags and VCI devices. They make them from handgun size bags to Bradley fighting vehicle drive in bags for long term storage.

We used to have a similar device (when I worked for a large manufacturer who made electrical boxes for oil platforms) that looked like a tennis ball. You would stick this inside the electrical cabinet then the "device" would emit a vapor that coated all the electrical components with a one molecule thick layer to prevent corrosion. We used to take them home for the gun lockers which really worked well.