How Do You Store Your Guns

Uncle Buck · February 17, 2010, 02:04 PM

A friend and I are in disagreement over this.

I store my handguns with no holster. When I quit shooting for awhile, I just lubed my guns with a heavy coat of grease and put them in a safe.

Now, I clean them, lube them and put them in a safe.

He stores his inside the holster after cleaning and lubing the guns. (These are the same holsters he uses when he goes to the range.)

Some of these guns are not shot for six months to a year at a time.

zombie237 · February 17, 2010, 02:08 PM

the only holster i have is for carry, the guns are cleaned after every range visit and once a month, the rifles same deal, all firearms fully stripped and cleaned, lubed and safe, which has foam to protect firearms. why holster? (just curious)

ZEBRARANGER · February 17, 2010, 02:36 PM

I store mine in open air storage, in the safe, in racks like these. Also with a rechargeable dehumidifier in the safe. I've never had any rust or corrision issues storing this way. Many years back I stored a revolver in its case in the safe and after a while, it started getting the little rust specs on one side of it. I had gone on vacation, turned on the alarm and turned the air off in the house, a big mistake in florida, too much humidity.

FishEngineer · February 17, 2010, 02:40 PM

None of the above from your poll list. I store most in a safe; handguns in a plate rack and long guns in stand up shelving within the safe.

SilentHitz · February 17, 2010, 02:43 PM

Same here, no holster...locked in safes.

**Mike Irwin** · February 17, 2010, 02:44 PM

Leather can, over time, be VERY rough on a gun's finish if they are left in continuous contact.

Baphomet · February 17, 2010, 02:50 PM

.
I store them cleaned, lightly lubed and in racks in the safe. No holster. Holsters are a bad idea for long-term, or even semi-long-term, storage.

ZeSpectre · February 17, 2010, 02:51 PM

Just like ZEBRARANGER in post #3

45Gunner · February 17, 2010, 03:27 PM

I don't even leave my EDC gun in it's holster overnight. It comes out, gets wiped down, and I apply a light coating of oil. It sits on the night stand next to the holster. I do the same for the magazines, take them out of the leather overnight. For years, I stored my guns, after applying a light coat of oil on them in their original box. However, I am running out of space and just ordered some custom gun racks for the safe. Soon, they will sit on the gun rack and the original boxes will be stored elsewhere.

aarondhgraham · February 17, 2010, 03:28 PM

Leather (being a porous material) will absorb moisture from the air,,,
Which if in contact with the metal of the handgun,,,
Provides an optimal condition for rust.

Never store handguns in a leather holster,,,
No matter how well you oil the gun.

Aarond H. Graham
Leather Worker

**Mike Irwin** · February 17, 2010, 03:49 PM

Many leathers are also tanned with metallic salts, trace amounts of which can remain in the leather and which can cause problems with both stainless and blued finishes.

aarondhgraham · February 17, 2010, 04:04 PM

Avoid holsters that are lined with Suede, Garment, or Upholstery leather,,,
They are tanned using Chromium Salt solutions.

They have a chemical reaction to steel that is much worse than rust,,,
It actually corrodes and etches the metal like an acid would,,,
This reaction is accelerated greatly by any moisture,,,
It even has a negative effect on Stainless guns.

Hey Mike,,, Is my endorsement check in the mail yet?

~chuckle~

**Mike Irwin** · February 17, 2010, 04:29 PM

You should consider yourself fortunate that you can agree with me.

Fishslayer · February 17, 2010, 04:33 PM

Thanks, Zebraranger! When my wife says I have too many guns I'm gonna show her yer racks!

Nice collection!

Mine get cleaned & lubed after use and live in a Sentry Firesafe.

No idea why, but it seems very humid in the safe so they get frequent wipedowns with CLP.

aarondhgraham · February 17, 2010, 04:38 PM

I'm glad to know that humor still abounds here,,,
Sometimes these threads get so danged serious like.

Seriously Uncle Buck:
Storing your guns in close contact with anything that may collect moisture is not a good idea at all.

Until I started using cans of desiccant in my cabinet I was even having trouble with the foam absorbing and holding moisture during the more humid months.

I'm a wood worker as well as a leather guy,,,
I made some racks similar (actually copied after) those that ZebraRanger posted the pictures of.

The less surface contact my guns have with anything porous, the better,,,
Oklahoma in the summer is a very humid place to be.

Aarond

Stevie-Ray · February 17, 2010, 06:42 PM

Quote:

No idea why, but it seems very humid in the safe so they get frequent wipedowns with CLP.

These are worth their weight in gold. Available at most outfitters under different names.

Or Goldenrods if you want something constantly plugged in.

armoredman · February 17, 2010, 08:59 PM

I realized I do store one in a leather holster, will stop doing that tonight. The other in-holster stored sidearm is ib a Mikas synthetic pocket rig, don't think that will cause any issues, but I can change that too.

imthegrumpyone · February 18, 2010, 04:27 AM

Throw them in a drawer.

Na don't have enough guns to worry about storing them, just put them on a shelf in the closet with "several" thousands rounds of ammo. Of course one of them is always in SOB in the ready. ZEBRARANGER nice little racks.

blume357 · February 18, 2010, 06:06 AM

I stored a revolver on a leather holster for over 6 months... hanging outside on a covered porch until the holster was growing stuff off of it. The revolver did not have one speck of rust on it.

but even with that said... I don't do store my handguns in holsters of anytype usually. Now I do leave them laying around and transport them in one.

Uncle Buck · February 18, 2010, 07:12 AM

For me, I have also stored my with-out the holster. I never really knew why to do it like that. Twenty-four years in the USAF and nothing was ever stored in a holster in the armory. Everything was store in racks.

The weapons that we shipped on deployments with us (if they were not carried) were cleaned, oiled and wrapped in a brown type of paper. (I can not think what the paper was, but it was also used to ship precision tools, even though the tools were in foam packages.)

I can not wait to show him this thread and have him read the reasons why.

The Great Mahoo · February 18, 2010, 08:56 AM

I store most of my guns in socks or cases in my safe, largely to keep them from scratching each other. My carry guns are stored in a quick-access lock box uncovered. I keep a dehumidifying pack in each safe, which I can bake to recharge every now and then.

I really like the looks of those racks, ZEBRARANGER.

Locoweed · February 18, 2010, 09:19 AM

Are gun socks safe for long term storage? I know they have nothing to do with leather as discussed here but it seems as though a gun sock would soak up the preservative oil that I use.

aarondhgraham · February 18, 2010, 09:27 AM

Supposedly the good ones are permeated/treated with a silicone based substance.

According to the guy selling them at a gun show,,,
The silicone treatment prevents moisture absorption from the air.

I dunno if that's true or not,,,
After all he was trying to sell me a six pack of the things.

But, the logic seems sound enough.

Delaware_Dan · February 18, 2010, 12:15 PM

In a safe, dirty. I don't carry, so I don't own any holsters.

Stevie-Ray · February 18, 2010, 03:24 PM

Quote:

According to the guy selling them at a gun show,,,
The silicone treatment prevents moisture absorption from the air.

I dunno if that's true or not,,,

It's true, they work.

View Poll Results: How do you store your handguns?
In a holster?	19	15.20%
No Holster?	97	77.60%
Wrapped in a water proofed rag? (Grease or silicone)	9	7.20%
Voters: 125. You may not vote on this poll

February 17, 2010, 02:04 PM	#1
Uncle Buck Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2009 Location: West Central Missouri Posts: 2,592	How Do You Store Your Guns A friend and I are in disagreement over this. I store my handguns with no holster. When I quit shooting for awhile, I just lubed my guns with a heavy coat of grease and put them in a safe. Now, I clean them, lube them and put them in a safe. He stores his inside the holster after cleaning and lubing the guns. (These are the same holsters he uses when he goes to the range.) Some of these guns are not shot for six months to a year at a time. __________________ Inside Every Bright Idea Is The 50% Probability Of A Disaster Waiting To Happen.

February 17, 2010, 02:08 PM	#2
zombie237 Member Join Date: December 21, 2009 Posts: 93	the only holster i have is for carry, the guns are cleaned after every range visit and once a month, the rifles same deal, all firearms fully stripped and cleaned, lubed and safe, which has foam to protect firearms. why holster? (just curious) __________________ Beretta Px4 Storm 9mm(x2), Beretta Cx4 Storm 9mm, Beretta Px4 Storm in .45ACP, Walther PK380(x2), pending good long range rifle

February 17, 2010, 02:43 PM	#5
SilentHitz Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Location: Ms. Posts: 1,984	Same here, no holster...locked in safes. __________________ Guns don't kill people, husbands who come home early do. http://k5fv.com/

February 17, 2010, 02:44 PM	#6
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	Leather can, over time, be VERY rough on a gun's finish if they are left in continuous contact. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

February 17, 2010, 02:36 PM	#3
ZEBRARANGER Senior Member Join Date: May 6, 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 620	I store mine in open air storage, in the safe, in racks like these. Also with a rechargeable dehumidifier in the safe. I've never had any rust or corrision issues storing this way. Many years back I stored a revolver in its case in the safe and after a while, it started getting the little rust specs on one side of it. I had gone on vacation, turned on the alarm and turned the air off in the house, a big mistake in florida, too much humidity. Last edited by ZEBRARANGER; February 17, 2010 at 02:48 PM.

February 17, 2010, 02:40 PM	#4
FishEngineer Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 102	None of the above from your poll list. I store most in a safe; handguns in a plate rack and long guns in stand up shelving within the safe.

February 17, 2010, 02:50 PM	#7
Baphomet Senior Member Join Date: October 26, 2006 Posts: 262	. I store them cleaned, lightly lubed and in racks in the safe. No holster. Holsters are a bad idea for long-term, or even semi-long-term, storage.

February 17, 2010, 02:51 PM	#8
ZeSpectre Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2007 Location: Shenandoah Valley Posts: 3,276	Just like ZEBRARANGER in post #3 __________________ "The dogs may bark but the caravan moves on"

February 17, 2010, 03:27 PM	#9
45Gunner Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2009 Location: Boca Raton, FL Posts: 1,902	I don't even leave my EDC gun in it's holster overnight. It comes out, gets wiped down, and I apply a light coating of oil. It sits on the night stand next to the holster. I do the same for the magazines, take them out of the leather overnight. For years, I stored my guns, after applying a light coat of oil on them in their original box. However, I am running out of space and just ordered some custom gun racks for the safe. Soon, they will sit on the gun rack and the original boxes will be stored elsewhere. __________________ 45Gunner May the Schwartz Be With You. NRA Instructor NRA Life Member

February 17, 2010, 03:28 PM	#10
aarondhgraham Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2009 Location: Stillwater, OKlahoma Posts: 8,638	Mike Irwin is correct,,, Leather (being a porous material) will absorb moisture from the air,,, Which if in contact with the metal of the handgun,,, Provides an optimal condition for rust. Never store handguns in a leather holster,,, No matter how well you oil the gun. Aarond H. Graham Leather Worker __________________ Never ever give an enemy the advantage of a verbal threat. Caje: The coward dies a thousand times, the brave only once. Kirby: That's about all it takes, ain't it? Aarond is good,,, Aarond is wise,,, Always trust Aarond! (most of the time)

February 17, 2010, 03:49 PM	#11
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	Many leathers are also tanned with metallic salts, trace amounts of which can remain in the leather and which can cause problems with both stainless and blued finishes. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

February 17, 2010, 04:04 PM	#12
aarondhgraham Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2009 Location: Stillwater, OKlahoma Posts: 8,638	Again Mike is Correct,,, Avoid holsters that are lined with Suede, Garment, or Upholstery leather,,, They are tanned using Chromium Salt solutions. They have a chemical reaction to steel that is much worse than rust,,, It actually corrodes and etches the metal like an acid would,,, This reaction is accelerated greatly by any moisture,,, It even has a negative effect on Stainless guns. Hey Mike,,, Is my endorsement check in the mail yet? ~chuckle~ __________________ Never ever give an enemy the advantage of a verbal threat. Caje: The coward dies a thousand times, the brave only once. Kirby: That's about all it takes, ain't it? Aarond is good,,, Aarond is wise,,, Always trust Aarond! (most of the time)

February 17, 2010, 04:29 PM	#13
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	You should consider yourself fortunate that you can agree with me. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

February 17, 2010, 04:33 PM	#14
Fishslayer Senior Member Join Date: January 1, 2010 Location: San Diego, PRK Posts: 182	Thanks, Zebraranger! When my wife says I have too many guns I'm gonna show her yer racks! Nice collection! Mine get cleaned & lubed after use and live in a Sentry Firesafe. No idea why, but it seems very humid in the safe so they get frequent wipedowns with CLP. __________________ He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion."

February 17, 2010, 04:38 PM	#15
aarondhgraham Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2009 Location: Stillwater, OKlahoma Posts: 8,638	Yer killing me here Mike,,, I'm glad to know that humor still abounds here,,, Sometimes these threads get so danged serious like. Seriously Uncle Buck: Storing your guns in close contact with anything that may collect moisture is not a good idea at all. Until I started using cans of desiccant in my cabinet I was even having trouble with the foam absorbing and holding moisture during the more humid months. I'm a wood worker as well as a leather guy,,, I made some racks similar (actually copied after) those that ZebraRanger posted the pictures of. The less surface contact my guns have with anything porous, the better,,, Oklahoma in the summer is a very humid place to be. Aarond __________________ Never ever give an enemy the advantage of a verbal threat. Caje: The coward dies a thousand times, the brave only once. Kirby: That's about all it takes, ain't it? Aarond is good,,, Aarond is wise,,, Always trust Aarond! (most of the time)

February 17, 2010, 08:59 PM	#17
armoredman Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 5,299	I realized I do store one in a leather holster, will stop doing that tonight. The other in-holster stored sidearm is ib a Mikas synthetic pocket rig, don't think that will cause any issues, but I can change that too.

February 18, 2010, 04:27 AM	#18
imthegrumpyone Senior Member Join Date: July 3, 2007 Location: spring tx Posts: 1,037	Throw them in a drawer. Na don't have enough guns to worry about storing them, just put them on a shelf in the closet with "several" thousands rounds of ammo. Of course one of them is always in SOB in the ready. ZEBRARANGER nice little racks. __________________ chambered and unlocked

February 18, 2010, 06:06 AM	#19
blume357 Senior Member Join Date: August 2, 2005 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 3,943	My experience is the 'evil corrosive leather story' is a myth I stored a revolver on a leather holster for over 6 months... hanging outside on a covered porch until the holster was growing stuff off of it. The revolver did not have one speck of rust on it. but even with that said... I don't do store my handguns in holsters of anytype usually. Now I do leave them laying around and transport them in one.

February 18, 2010, 07:12 AM	#20
Uncle Buck Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2009 Location: West Central Missouri Posts: 2,592	For me, I have also stored my with-out the holster. I never really knew why to do it like that. Twenty-four years in the USAF and nothing was ever stored in a holster in the armory. Everything was store in racks. The weapons that we shipped on deployments with us (if they were not carried) were cleaned, oiled and wrapped in a brown type of paper. (I can not think what the paper was, but it was also used to ship precision tools, even though the tools were in foam packages.) I can not wait to show him this thread and have him read the reasons why. __________________ Inside Every Bright Idea Is The 50% Probability Of A Disaster Waiting To Happen.

February 18, 2010, 08:56 AM	#21
The Great Mahoo Senior Member Join Date: June 3, 2008 Location: Pennsylvania, USA Posts: 1,269	I store most of my guns in socks or cases in my safe, largely to keep them from scratching each other. My carry guns are stored in a quick-access lock box uncovered. I keep a dehumidifying pack in each safe, which I can bake to recharge every now and then. I really like the looks of those racks, ZEBRARANGER. __________________ “There are three reasons to own a gun. To protect yourself and your family, to hunt dangerous and delicious animals, and to keep the King of England out of your face.” - Krusty the Clown

February 18, 2010, 09:19 AM	#22
Locoweed Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2008 Location: Alabama Posts: 661	Are gun socks safe for long term storage? I know they have nothing to do with leather as discussed here but it seems as though a gun sock would soak up the preservative oil that I use.

February 18, 2010, 09:27 AM	#23
aarondhgraham Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2009 Location: Stillwater, OKlahoma Posts: 8,638	Gun socks,,, Supposedly the good ones are permeated/treated with a silicone based substance. According to the guy selling them at a gun show,,, The silicone treatment prevents moisture absorption from the air. I dunno if that's true or not,,, After all he was trying to sell me a six pack of the things. But, the logic seems sound enough. __________________ Never ever give an enemy the advantage of a verbal threat. Caje: The coward dies a thousand times, the brave only once. Kirby: That's about all it takes, ain't it? Aarond is good,,, Aarond is wise,,, Always trust Aarond! (most of the time)

February 18, 2010, 12:15 PM	#24
Delaware_Dan Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2008 Posts: 1,304	In a safe, dirty. I don't carry, so I don't own any holsters.