Pistol Storage

SIMP · November 8, 2012, 11:46 PM

So, I've got my pistols all nice and clean and in the safe. I have a two shelf pistol case with a desiccant pack that's more than adequate. Is it okay to leave them in the safe "open air" after a good cleaning and wipe down?

Many thanks and I do apologize if this is the wrong place to ask this question.

pilpens · November 8, 2012, 11:54 PM

- Should be OK to leave them in the safe "open air". Depends on humidity and how long they will sit.
- Firearms I seldom shoot are inspected every month or two and wiped down with oil/grease.

BarryLee · November 8, 2012, 11:55 PM

The only issues I can think of would be caution related to what material you lay them on. I had a friend that lined his cabinet with some thin foam matting and after some time it deteriorated and stuck to some of the guns. He was able to clean the metal surfaces with no problem, but it was still kind of messy.

FloridaVeteran · November 9, 2012, 12:08 AM

I put mine in "Stor-Bore" (sp?) and they seem to do a great job of preventing rust here in Florida. I don't know why - presumably they are impregnated with silicone.

Putting a "Damp-Rid" or similar dessicant in the safe ought to improve the situation for everything inside.

TunnelRat · November 9, 2012, 12:43 AM

If I am putting something away for a length of time I like to give it a light coat of CLP, and then put it in the case in a folded piece of wax paper. The wax paper keeps the foam from absorbing all the oil and CLP is a pretty good at stopping rust.

SIMP · November 9, 2012, 11:18 AM

Thanks for the help everyone. I'm going to cover the foam padding on the shelves with something or simply place the guns atop some different material as recommended above.

ROGER4314 · November 9, 2012, 11:24 AM

I store my pistols in old socks The open weave material keeps them from scratching each other but still allows the gun to "breathe" so moisture doesn't collect.

Flash

RC20 · November 9, 2012, 11:45 AM

Do not use damp rid. It has other stuff that puts out vapors.

Get silicone dessication form Granger or McMaster and keep in the bottom.

You are fine with open safe for a period of time but should keep it closed up as much as possible and the more humidity the more closed it should stay (I would only go in and out in Florida).

The Silicone get change color or the pack indicator will and when it starts to go from blue to pink replace it.

SIMP · November 9, 2012, 02:11 PM

Quote:

The Silicone get change color or the pack indicator will and when it starts to go from blue to pink replace it.

That's a big 10-4. This is the exact ones I ordered. I believe they are made by Stack On.

cohoskip · November 9, 2012, 04:40 PM

I store my handguns on a coated metal rack with a 25 watt light bulb on.
I live in WA with high humidity. Works for me...

drail · November 9, 2012, 07:32 PM

Just make sure there are NO fingerprints on them and keep a thin coat of oil brushed on and they'll never rust. Oily rags are your friend.

Coltman 77 · November 10, 2012, 04:41 PM

I oil em up and put them in quality gun rugs. It's worked well for me for 35 yrs.

djcantr · November 11, 2012, 03:32 AM

I wipe them down and keep them in a safe with a dry rod.

g.willikers · November 11, 2012, 12:21 PM

Oil them up and wrap them in a cloth sprayed liberally with silicone.
Then put them in a container to prevent the oil and silicone from escaping.
Cheap and effective even in a high humidity area.
Been doing that for many years and it seems to keep them good for at least a year.

SIMP · November 11, 2012, 07:37 PM

Took out the foam padding n the bottom of my pistol case today. Cut cardboard pieces out the same size and stuck them in there instead. Used some tee-shirt rags with oil to line the bottom on top of the cardboard to set the pistols on. I also have my desiccant pack in there as swell.

There are many good ideas posted here and I appreciate that. Everyone seems to have their own special way of storing their guns so that makes it interesting. Thanks to everyone for your input.

rodfac · November 13, 2012, 08:47 AM

Yep...I do that with mine...a good wipe down with a heavier oil...30 wt car oil works well, then into the safe. No fingerprints to start the rusting process after the wipe-down.

Be careful what you lay your guns down on...some fabrics can and do hold moisture...leather has acids in it due to the tanning process...sheepskin "gun sleeves" hold moisture...

I use a plane wood rack, finished in two coats of poly....and I make sure that the gun room does suffer from extreme temperature variations to avoid condensation issues. In that regard, a garage is not a good place for storage., but your closet might be good, no matter what your wife says! Rod

FloridaVeteran · November 25, 2012, 12:46 AM

Rodfac - got more powder than shirts in my closet.

Doesn't keep me from beefing that her closet is 3X the size of mine. Gotta keep 'em aware of priorities.

Besides, how many different shirts do I need? 3? 4? Plus a wedding and funeral one? Powder, now that's way different.

Venom1956 · November 25, 2012, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Do not use damp rid. It has other stuff that puts out vapors.

Really why do you say that? What sort of vapors does it put out?

RC20 · November 25, 2012, 01:01 PM

I have not researched it, but it smells. Not a good thing in my opinion where there are a number of other very good options designed for that specific purpose that are proven to work.

I work on electrical equipment, when we seal up a box we use the silicone packs. I do the same with my gun safe.

AndyWest · November 26, 2012, 05:02 PM

I store my unloaded pistols in my "drive-in" closet. Ports down, bores lightly oiled. Once a month or so I clean completely with dry patches and re-oil the rails, guides, barrel, anything else the manual calls for. Then I wipe the whole thing down with a (very, very) lightly oiled microfiber cloth. An easy routine to do once in a while when you're watching TV, and a good opportunity for some extra mindless scrubbing under the extractor claw, etc.

[Edit]

Also, I keep a notepad right next to my pistols and I jot down the last date I cleaned each. Makes it easier to keep a consistent rotation.

9mm · November 26, 2012, 07:00 PM

My rifles have been in there 1 year + no shooting, I just wipe them down every 6 months. One patch or two, of rem oil down the barrel to keep it safe from rust. A long with dehumidifier in the safe, charge every 3 weeks or so. I have a few pistols in there also, been fine. I bought some packs of Desiccants 1gm packets. I throw them around in the safe and in my ammo cans. Was like $10 on ebay for 100, well worth it.

I used to have a 380 sitting on my desk, I rarely wiped that down. Sat on my desk for about 5 months and never had a problem.

rodfac · November 27, 2012, 08:02 PM

FloridaVet, Well said senor!...And at 66, I"m not buying anymore green bananas either...Her closet is at least 3X mine,,,but I've got the entire basement....women are always welcome down there in the "gun room", .... so far two have actually accepted the invitation! Best Regards, Rod

FloridaVeteran · November 29, 2012, 01:28 AM

Rodfac - yep, and Kudos and a salute to you for being a FAC. Some I knew, and many I knew of, didn't return. That was one of the most unsung way-dangerous jobs you could get. On the ground Forward Observer probably was worse, but both jobs were tough. Good for you, that you did your job, you survived, and your a dedicated gun guy wanting to help others.

A hat tip to you.

armsmaster270 · November 29, 2012, 04:36 AM

After cleaning with CLP I put them in the gun safe with Dessicant.

Wyoredman · November 29, 2012, 10:47 AM

This whole conversation begs the question: What do you guys do with the original boxes the guns came in. Do you store them or throw them away? If you store them, I can imagine some of you need quite a bit of storage space for the empty boxes!

I currently store my guns in them, in the safe, but they are taking up too much room and I need to do something different. Rusting guns is not a problem, as the humidity in Wyoming is lucky to ever reach 30% for more than a day. It's dry, real dry, here!

Thanks.

November 8, 2012, 11:46 PM	#1
SIMP Senior Member Join Date: October 2, 2005 Location: Mississippi Posts: 398	Pistol Storage So, I've got my pistols all nice and clean and in the safe. I have a two shelf pistol case with a desiccant pack that's more than adequate. Is it okay to leave them in the safe "open air" after a good cleaning and wipe down? Many thanks and I do apologize if this is the wrong place to ask this question.

November 8, 2012, 11:54 PM	#2
pilpens Senior Member Join Date: April 24, 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,696	- Should be OK to leave them in the safe "open air". Depends on humidity and how long they will sit. - Firearms I seldom shoot are inspected every month or two and wiped down with oil/grease. Last edited by pilpens; November 9, 2012 at 12:01 AM.

November 8, 2012, 11:55 PM	#3
BarryLee Senior Member Join Date: July 29, 2010 Location: The ATL (OTP) Posts: 3,946	The only issues I can think of would be caution related to what material you lay them on. I had a friend that lined his cabinet with some thin foam matting and after some time it deteriorated and stuck to some of the guns. He was able to clean the metal surfaces with no problem, but it was still kind of messy. __________________ A major source of objection to a free economy is precisely that it ... gives people what they want instead of what a particular group thinks they ought to want. Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself. - Milton Friedman

November 9, 2012, 12:43 AM	#5
TunnelRat Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2011 Posts: 12,212	If I am putting something away for a length of time I like to give it a light coat of CLP, and then put it in the case in a folded piece of wax paper. The wax paper keeps the foam from absorbing all the oil and CLP is a pretty good at stopping rust. __________________ Know the status of your weapon Keep your muzzle oriented so that no one will be hurt if the firearm discharges Keep your finger off the trigger until you have an adequate sight picture Maintain situational awareness

November 9, 2012, 04:40 PM	#10
cohoskip Senior Member Join Date: October 10, 2007 Location: Chimacum, WA Posts: 424	I store my handguns on a coated metal rack with a 25 watt light bulb on. I live in WA with high humidity. Works for me... __________________ To err is human, to forgive divine Neither is Marine Corps policy... NRA Life Member

November 9, 2012, 12:08 AM	#4
FloridaVeteran Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2012 Location: Central Florida Posts: 399	I put mine in "Stor-Bore" (sp?) and they seem to do a great job of preventing rust here in Florida. I don't know why - presumably they are impregnated with silicone. Putting a "Damp-Rid" or similar dessicant in the safe ought to improve the situation for everything inside.

November 9, 2012, 11:18 AM	#6
SIMP Senior Member Join Date: October 2, 2005 Location: Mississippi Posts: 398	Thanks for the help everyone. I'm going to cover the foam padding on the shelves with something or simply place the guns atop some different material as recommended above.

November 9, 2012, 11:24 AM	#7
ROGER4314 Senior Member Join Date: May 17, 2009 Location: East Houston Posts: 257	I store my pistols in old socks The open weave material keeps them from scratching each other but still allows the gun to "breathe" so moisture doesn't collect. Flash

November 9, 2012, 11:45 AM	#8
RC20 Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2008 Location: Alaska Posts: 7,014	Do not use damp rid. It has other stuff that puts out vapors. Get silicone dessication form Granger or McMaster and keep in the bottom. You are fine with open safe for a period of time but should keep it closed up as much as possible and the more humidity the more closed it should stay (I would only go in and out in Florida). The Silicone get change color or the pack indicator will and when it starts to go from blue to pink replace it.

November 9, 2012, 07:32 PM	#11
drail Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2008 Posts: 3,150	Just make sure there are NO fingerprints on them and keep a thin coat of oil brushed on and they'll never rust. Oily rags are your friend.

November 10, 2012, 04:41 PM	#12
Coltman 77 Senior Member Join Date: October 3, 2009 Location: NC Posts: 1,244	I oil em up and put them in quality gun rugs. It's worked well for me for 35 yrs. __________________ "A man can be destroyed but not defeated". Ernest Hemingway Protect our 2nd Amendment Rights -- Join the NRA

November 11, 2012, 03:32 AM	#13
djcantr Senior Member Join Date: January 28, 2012 Posts: 215	I wipe them down and keep them in a safe with a dry rod.

November 11, 2012, 12:21 PM	#14
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Oil them up and wrap them in a cloth sprayed liberally with silicone. Then put them in a container to prevent the oil and silicone from escaping. Cheap and effective even in a high humidity area. Been doing that for many years and it seems to keep them good for at least a year. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

November 11, 2012, 07:37 PM	#15
SIMP Senior Member Join Date: October 2, 2005 Location: Mississippi Posts: 398	Took out the foam padding n the bottom of my pistol case today. Cut cardboard pieces out the same size and stuck them in there instead. Used some tee-shirt rags with oil to line the bottom on top of the cardboard to set the pistols on. I also have my desiccant pack in there as swell. There are many good ideas posted here and I appreciate that. Everyone seems to have their own special way of storing their guns so that makes it interesting. Thanks to everyone for your input.

November 13, 2012, 08:47 AM	#16
rodfac Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,623	Yep...I do that with mine...a good wipe down with a heavier oil...30 wt car oil works well, then into the safe. No fingerprints to start the rusting process after the wipe-down. Be careful what you lay your guns down on...some fabrics can and do hold moisture...leather has acids in it due to the tanning process...sheepskin "gun sleeves" hold moisture... I use a plane wood rack, finished in two coats of poly....and I make sure that the gun room does suffer from extreme temperature variations to avoid condensation issues. In that regard, a garage is not a good place for storage., but your closet might be good, no matter what your wife says! Rod __________________ Cherish our flag, honor it, defend it in word and deed, or get the hell out. Our Bill of Rights has been paid for by heros in uniform and shall not be diluted by misguided governmental social experiments. We owe this to our children, anything less is cowardice. USAF FAC, 5th Spl Forces, Vietnam Vet '69-'73.

November 25, 2012, 12:46 AM	#17
FloridaVeteran Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2012 Location: Central Florida Posts: 399	Rodfac - got more powder than shirts in my closet. Doesn't keep me from beefing that her closet is 3X the size of mine. Gotta keep 'em aware of priorities. Besides, how many different shirts do I need? 3? 4? Plus a wedding and funeral one? Powder, now that's way different.

November 25, 2012, 01:01 PM	#19
RC20 Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2008 Location: Alaska Posts: 7,014	I have not researched it, but it smells. Not a good thing in my opinion where there are a number of other very good options designed for that specific purpose that are proven to work. I work on electrical equipment, when we seal up a box we use the silicone packs. I do the same with my gun safe.

November 26, 2012, 05:02 PM	#20
AndyWest Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2011 Posts: 627	I store my unloaded pistols in my "drive-in" closet. Ports down, bores lightly oiled. Once a month or so I clean completely with dry patches and re-oil the rails, guides, barrel, anything else the manual calls for. Then I wipe the whole thing down with a (very, very) lightly oiled microfiber cloth. An easy routine to do once in a while when you're watching TV, and a good opportunity for some extra mindless scrubbing under the extractor claw, etc. [Edit] Also, I keep a notepad right next to my pistols and I jot down the last date I cleaned each. Makes it easier to keep a consistent rotation. Last edited by AndyWest; November 26, 2012 at 05:07 PM.

November 26, 2012, 07:00 PM	#21
9mm Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2011 Location: Land of the Free Posts: 2,834	My rifles have been in there 1 year + no shooting, I just wipe them down every 6 months. One patch or two, of rem oil down the barrel to keep it safe from rust. A long with dehumidifier in the safe, charge every 3 weeks or so. I have a few pistols in there also, been fine. I bought some packs of Desiccants 1gm packets. I throw them around in the safe and in my ammo cans. Was like $10 on ebay for 100, well worth it. I used to have a 380 sitting on my desk, I rarely wiped that down. Sat on my desk for about 5 months and never had a problem.

November 27, 2012, 08:02 PM	#22
rodfac Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,623	FloridaVet, Well said senor!...And at 66, I"m not buying anymore green bananas either...Her closet is at least 3X mine,,,but I've got the entire basement....women are always welcome down there in the "gun room", .... so far two have actually accepted the invitation! Best Regards, Rod __________________ Cherish our flag, honor it, defend it in word and deed, or get the hell out. Our Bill of Rights has been paid for by heros in uniform and shall not be diluted by misguided governmental social experiments. We owe this to our children, anything less is cowardice. USAF FAC, 5th Spl Forces, Vietnam Vet '69-'73.

November 29, 2012, 01:28 AM	#23
FloridaVeteran Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2012 Location: Central Florida Posts: 399	Rodfac - yep, and Kudos and a salute to you for being a FAC. Some I knew, and many I knew of, didn't return. That was one of the most unsung way-dangerous jobs you could get. On the ground Forward Observer probably was worse, but both jobs were tough. Good for you, that you did your job, you survived, and your a dedicated gun guy wanting to help others. A hat tip to you.

November 29, 2012, 04:36 AM	#24
armsmaster270 Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2008 Location: California Posts: 1,951	After cleaning with CLP I put them in the gun safe with Dessicant. __________________ http://www.armsmaster.net-a.googlepages.com http://s239.photobucket.com/albums/f...aster270/Guns/ Retired LE, M.P., Sr. M.P. Investigator F.B.I. Trained Rangemaster/Firearms Instructor & Armorer, Presently Forensic Document Examiner for D.H.S.

November 29, 2012, 10:47 AM	#25
Wyoredman Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2011 Location: Wyoming Posts: 1,352	This whole conversation begs the question: What do you guys do with the original boxes the guns came in. Do you store them or throw them away? If you store them, I can imagine some of you need quite a bit of storage space for the empty boxes! I currently store my guns in them, in the safe, but they are taking up too much room and I need to do something different. Rusting guns is not a problem, as the humidity in Wyoming is lucky to ever reach 30% for more than a day. It's dry, real dry, here! Thanks. __________________ Go Pokes! Go Rams!