Long term storage

Bill Barrett · January 19, 2002, 07:59 AM

I have several handguns I wish to put away for about 5 years while I am in NY. I will buy others to shoot here, but these are handguns bought at private sale or several years ago I will store out of state. To make them acceptable here I would have to take them to an FFL where they are stored, Pay an FFL fee and have them shipped to an FFL here and pay another fee. All told about $75 per handgun.

How should I prepare them for storage? I have an old locking steel footlocker (WWII era medical supplies storage footlocker) I will secure them in. They will live with a relative.

George Stringer · January 19, 2002, 09:30 AM

Good ole' cosmoline will work. But I might opt for some of the more modern methods like the silica paks offered by Brownells. www.brownells.com. They have some that have to be attended to about every 6 months but between that and a good coat of oil I believe your guns would never know you left. George

Jim V · January 19, 2002, 07:35 PM

What I have done in the past for long term stoarage of hand guns (mostly 1911s), I cleaned them well and made sure there were no fingerprints on the metal, lubed them up and placed them in clean white socks. I then sprayed the socks with G-86 (I think) gun oil and placed them in .50 cal ammo cans. (2 1911's fit well in one layer in the can) I then tossed in several, a good handfull, of the rust prevenative chips that can be found at Midway's and Brownell's sites as well as a silica gel pack or two. The .50 cans I have all have the rubber seal around the can lid so the can is well sealed. No rust yet on any of the 1911's stored that way for me.

YMMV, NWEI, NVIAS, VWP, CCBS, LS/MFT and TttttAF.

Dfariswheel · January 19, 2002, 09:43 PM

A friend of mine was sent to Saudi Aribia for 5 years. He put on a pair of clean cotton gloves, and coated his guns with CLP Breakfree. The gloves prevented leaving fingerprints.
He then sealed them in vapor paper bags. I think he got them from Brownell's. Bianchi Holster Co. also sold these. The envelope gives off a rust preventing vapor that pretty well precludes any rust or corrosion, and are rated for 10 years????.

These vapor barrier bags are how the military does storage these days.

johnwill · January 20, 2002, 12:36 PM

I'd also remove the grips and store them separately, especially if they're wood. One thing about desiccant, if the container is truly sealed, it should be good for years, and not require periodic service.

January 19, 2002, 07:59 AM	#1
Bill Barrett Senior Member Join Date: June 22, 2000 Location: West Melbourne, Florida Posts: 454	Long term storage I have several handguns I wish to put away for about 5 years while I am in NY. I will buy others to shoot here, but these are handguns bought at private sale or several years ago I will store out of state. To make them acceptable here I would have to take them to an FFL where they are stored, Pay an FFL fee and have them shipped to an FFL here and pay another fee. All told about $75 per handgun. How should I prepare them for storage? I have an old locking steel footlocker (WWII era medical supplies storage footlocker) I will secure them in. They will live with a relative. __________________ Florida Shooters Network

January 19, 2002, 07:35 PM	#3
Jim V Senior Member Join Date: January 31, 1999 Location: SE Michigan - USA Posts: 4,038	What I have done in the past for long term stoarage of hand guns (mostly 1911s), I cleaned them well and made sure there were no fingerprints on the metal, lubed them up and placed them in clean white socks. I then sprayed the socks with G-86 (I think) gun oil and placed them in .50 cal ammo cans. (2 1911's fit well in one layer in the can) I then tossed in several, a good handfull, of the rust prevenative chips that can be found at Midway's and Brownell's sites as well as a silica gel pack or two. The .50 cans I have all have the rubber seal around the can lid so the can is well sealed. No rust yet on any of the 1911's stored that way for me. YMMV, NWEI, NVIAS, VWP, CCBS, LS/MFT and TttttAF. __________________ *MOLON LABE* If it ain't metal, single stack & single action, it ain't a 1911 no matter what it looks like. 1911 Forum THE TUBBY CURMUDGEON

January 19, 2002, 09:30 AM	#2
George Stringer Staff Alumnus Join Date: October 12, 1998 Location: Earlington KY Posts: 2,299	Good ole' cosmoline will work. But I might opt for some of the more modern methods like the silica paks offered by Brownells. www.brownells.com. They have some that have to be attended to about every 6 months but between that and a good coat of oil I believe your guns would never know you left. George

January 19, 2002, 09:43 PM	#4
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,478	A friend of mine was sent to Saudi Aribia for 5 years. He put on a pair of clean cotton gloves, and coated his guns with CLP Breakfree. The gloves prevented leaving fingerprints. He then sealed them in vapor paper bags. I think he got them from Brownell's. Bianchi Holster Co. also sold these. The envelope gives off a rust preventing vapor that pretty well precludes any rust or corrosion, and are rated for 10 years????. These vapor barrier bags are how the military does storage these days.

January 20, 2002, 12:36 PM	#5
johnwill Senior Member Join Date: April 6, 2000 Location: PA Posts: 3,451	I'd also remove the grips and store them separately, especially if they're wood. One thing about desiccant, if the container is truly sealed, it should be good for years, and not require periodic service.