Long Term Watertight Storage Of Firearms And Ammo Without a Safe In This Case?

[adn258]

Hey everyone, I'm looking to gather ideas on storing rifles, pistols, and ammo for the long-term and preventing moisture and rust whilst being relatively easy to access frequently. I do NOT want a safe in my case, as the guns are secured by a locked room etc.

Not going to go into details about the room itself, but it will have to suffice on here to say that it's secure. What I'm worried about is moisture on the riffles etc. For ammo I'm going to use desiccant and ammo metal cans (militarily surplus) with an O-ring seal. I believe those work well, but what I'm most concerned about are rifles in some sort of storage that is preferably watertight.

I've seen Mylar bags that are relatively cheap, but they they are heat sealed and not resealable making them not easy to use if I want to access my rifles for the shooting range etc. Any suggestions would be great?

Does anyone have any ideas for containers to use with desiccant but long/large enough to store a lot of rifles?

[44 AMP]

Seal the room. Its a bigger job but done right will not only protect your rifles but also allow unlimited "in and out" use without needing to reseal/replace bags or gun cases.

I SUGGEST also some kind of dehumidifier system. And consider, you don't want bone dry "zero" humidity you want low humidity, because there are things you don't really want completely drying out over time. Like anything leather, for instance. And while wood stocks ought to be well sealed many aren't, and you don't want them drying out completely, either.

Vacuum packed shrink wrap is the best barrier, but it its not something that can be reused, once opened, it must be reapplied.

Hope this helps, or at least gives you some other things to think about.

[GE-Minigun]

Pelican cases will work…however. If it were I and it isn’t; I would get some STP oil treatment and wipe the guns down before putting them in the case…its some messy stuff but works well, I would also remove all the foam…foam can attract moisture. If the room is secure, I’d pass on the case and build a rack of some sort then STP the guns and call it a day.

[adn258]

I really appreciate the help guys! 44 AMP I appreciate that advice, and like I said I don't wan to go into too man details but sealing the room airtight is a really great idea, but in this case its impossible for me in my situationfor reasons I can't go into here. It's going to have to be some storage solution(s)?

Those pelican cases do look amazing, but the prices on those are insane for rifle cases as I was just looking. For some of the most valuable guns I could see it, but for the prices they are charging you could almost just buy another gun. Those prices are crazy!

I'm not trying to get by on the dirt cheap, but there has got to be another solution that doesn't cost that much?

[Shadow9mm]

Foam can attract and hold moisture. I only use my gun cases for transport. If I had a secure room, that I could not seal and put a dehumidifier in I would use the mylar bags. But rather than vacuumed and heat seal them. I would put in a 40g silica gel pack and roll the end a few times, like a bag of chips, then use a spring type wood working clamp to hold it closed.of course after a proper cleaning and light oiling of all metal surfaces with your oil of choice. At the risk of getting off topic, I would suggest eezox. Just ok gun oil, but the best I have personally tried for rust prevention. And I have tried more than a few. Might I suggest you get a cheap piece of steel and strip it with alcohol. Leave one patch bare, put your preferred oil or the ones you want to try in a few spots and put it in the room unprotected. See how it fares. You could also put a thermometer / hygrometer in the room for a few days to see the humidity.

How long will the guns be in storage between use? A week, a month. A year longer? If no safe how will they be stored, on a rack, against a wall, on shelves?

One thought. Perhaps a cheap gun cabinet? One of the metal stack on type? You could caulk the seams on the inside and put painters tape over the cracks around the door. Good seal, easy to remove. Put a big silica gel pack, or a goldenrod inside if you have power. Should be good to go. you can get a basic 8 gun cabinet from Walmart for about 130. And it would take care of organization/storage.

[rmh3481]

My Folks had a home on the North Carolina Coast. Moisture to Mold was a yearly problem because of humidity. What actually worked for our firearms was a metal cabinet with a 40watt light bulb fastened into the bottom corner. It kept the cabinet just warm enough to keep the humidity moving. Summer A/C helped, but winter heat was used only in the coldest months. I used RIG (Rust Inhibiting Grease) on the parts and pieces that didnt get out real often. Even with all of this, My Dad traded me a Revolver one Christmas, and it hadnt been shot or cleaned for some time being in his night stand. That Revolver was full of rust. I took it apart and cleaned it up, but nevertheless it was loaded with rust. He had it stuffed into a holster which didnt help. Keep going over them is the best remedy. Take them all out at least once a year to make sure they work.

[adn258]

Shadow9mm As always you have really good replies and I have something to add of value here in terms of RUST and cleaning since it's related to storing/preserving firearms and I don't think you got off topic at all with that.

In any case, I agree with you about the Mylar bags. Steel which was brought up by another user is the best option, but steel isn't practical for holding guns. Steel ammo boxes that the militarily uses (ammo cans) work the best for ammo so long as they have a good O-ring seal. This would be too expensive or not practical unless we are talking about a safe/steel cabinet for long rifles.

The Mylar bags are a great option, and after use I'll either have to use an iron to reseal, or some clip option; I like your idea of using clips because some of these guns I will frequently train with. In terms of just rust and oils/cleaning, I do think I've found the Holy Grail in terms of that topic by itself.

Shadow9mm you might have already read this, but 46 products on steel have been compared. If you haven't read the comprehensive test where products are tested against rust and their ability to reduce friction for use I recommend this:
https://dayattherange.com/?page_id=3667

I've tried most of these myself, and one product keeps coming out on top for almost all categories. Not affiliated with them, and not trying to market their product, but "Hornady ONE SHOT with DynaGlide Plus Gun Cleaner and Dry Lube". Specifically with DynaGlide and NOT the case/brass cleaner. I actually can't recommend this product enough and it's what I use.

The only caveat to this product is it's reasonably expensive in terms of gun CLPs. It's all I've been using at this point though for general cleaning, and the results are impressive. I get an shiny sheen on metals, carbon removes easily etc. I actually think the product is incredible.
https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/horn...r-and-dry-lube

The only caveat again is that it's expensive, but considering I don't need to use very much of it, it seems worth it to me in my humble opinion. That said, there was one product that in terms of just rust corrosion beats even One Shot by Hornady, and that's WD-40 specifically WD-40 Specialist Corrosion Inhibitor not just plain old WD-40.

If I were going to store firearms that I weren't going to use in a longtime I would consider using it. Hmmm....I wish there were a steel case with an O-Ring seal though that I could use with desiccant packs. Some sort of giant trunk/tote. For now I might have to use Mylar bags and steel ammo cans for storage.

[seanc]

If they're going to be stored in a secured room and you want to have somewhat frequent but intermittent access/use, try VCI bags. They protect from corrosion for up to 5 years. You don't need to grease them up with cosmoline, just clean as you normally do and put them in the bag. They also have VCI bags for ammo too.

[ocharry]

adn258

i have what sounds kinda like your set up...but i do keep the guns in a safe, but the room is where all the ammo and reloading and guns live

44 suggested you seal the room and run a dehumidifier...well ok but i dont think you really need to seal it up as tight as you think

the reason i say that is, that is exactly how my room is set up....i have a large for area dehumidifier that runs in the room with the door shut....i can make the humidity in the room where ever i want it to be by using the controls on the dehu...i usually keep it about 40% and it stays pretty consistent but the room isnt really sealed up per say, just a door between it and the rest of the house....been doing it this way for a LOOOOOONG time.....30 years or so i guess...never a problem

i do run the dehu on a timer.....4hrs on and 4hrs off.....probably dont need to do that but thats how i do it and it works for me....the dehu will shut its self off but it does seem to run more than it needs to so thats the reason i use a timer

the REAL problem these days is finding a good quality dehumidifier....man the new ones dont last like the old ones

but i think you will like this approach for your problem....open the door get what you need out of your room and close the door.....the dehu takes care of the rest.......no special oils or treatments for the ammo or the weapons.......if you do this you will either need a way to drain the dehu OR you will have to stay vigilant about emptying the dehu....my dehu holds about 2.5-3 gal of water....and it will fill up in about a week or so....i just catch it when it is shut off and dump it about every 3 days...usually it has about a gal. or so of water in it

just a thought from a guy doing it this way and it does work very well

ocharry

[lll Otto lll]

Originally Posted by adn258

Not going to go into details about the room itself, but it will have to suffice on here to say that it's secure. What I'm worried about is moisture on the riffles etc.

Is your room fireproof as well?

[eflyguy]

I would say the dehumidifier is the way to go, one with an automated pump, and the longest extended warranty you can get from Costco when you purchase. Count on it lasting a few years, then no hassle to get it replaced down the road when it gives up.

The room does not need to be anywhere near airtight for it to be effective.

[natman]

Wipe the guns down, inside and out with Breakfree COLLECTOR oil.

Store them in VCI bags.

Breakfree COLLECTOR oil is easily applied and doesn't need to be removed to use the gun.

The VCI bags can be reopened and used again.

I've used this combo for guns that were stored for years untouched with no issues.

[adn258]

Natman. Great reply, this is what I think I'll be doing. I want a tote to put them in, in my case though. This VCI bags website I've never seen before but is really awesome and reasonably priced.

[Reloadron]

The room is secure so that's done.

I would run with the suggestions of 44AMP. All you need to do is make sure you have a handle on humidity and temperature or simply the environment. Just add a dehumidifier if humidity is a problem. Between 30%-50% humidity at 70 degrees room temperature is the perfect storage condition. This way there is no need to package your guns.

Ron

[Shadow9mm]

Originally Posted by adn258

Natman. Great reply, this is what I think I'll be doing. I want a tote to put them in, in my case though. This VCI bags website I've never seen before but is really awesome and reasonably priced.

you could get the under bed type storage totes. long wide but not very deep. should be enough to fit 2-3 guns each. easily stackable. You could add some foam to the snap together lid part. like what you use to help seal air leaks in doors. to help seal it up. throw a reasonably sized silica gel pack in each to keep the moisture down. plus, they are generally clear so easy to see what you looking for. You could line the bottom with felt, much better for moisture to my understanding, for a little padding if you felt the need.