Long-term storage of arms.

[Adam Helmer]

Many of us have many arms and the need arises to preserve the bores and exteriors of the guns waiting their turn at the firing line.

Many new gun owners today do not understand how to safely store arms for long terms. Most think an oil patch down the bore is "good enough." I am not an expert, but I have safely preserved my collection for far too many decades and here is my prescription:

I clean the arm and then run a RIG (Rust Inhibiting Grease) or Mil-Spec Rifle greased patch down the bore two or three times to coat the bore and wipe the exterior metal with a cloth with 50-50 rifle grease and oil and then put the arm into the vault. I have left some guns, so treated, for 5 or 6 years with no rust problems. Occasionally I open a vault and regrease and wipe down the guns therein.

Before firing a greased arm, I run a few dry patches down the bore to remove all grease and then go shoot the arm. I also wipe down the bayonet collection every year or two to keep the blades pristine.

At the Springfield Armory they have "the organ" which is a stack of Model 1855 rifled muskets standing one layer atop another that were greased in the late 1850s and they are still pristine.

Adam

[Gil Martin]

I have stored guns for over a decade that were cleaned and treated with grease as you have described and they were perfect when taken out of storage. Even wiping firearms down would be very helpful. I know a number of folks that handle the metal on their firearms with sweaty hands then place them in a safe. That is their choice. Good post. All the best...
Gil

[Adam Helmer]

Gil,

I need to add that I keep 3 or 4 one-pound bags of dessicant in the vaults. When the indicator goes from blue to pink, I toss them in the kitchen oven on a cookie sheet for a few hours at 265 degrees to "recharge" them.

Adam

[gumpokc]

The dessicant is a good idea, and as long as you bake it like Adam mentioned it'll last for a long long time. Just becareful of it adam, if the bags start getting really dusty, it's because the granules are breaking down.

I've done similar to what you all mentioned, but what i usually do nowdays is just lightly oil and inspect all of them at least once a month.

If i was going to do a long term storage though, I'd go exactly as adam mentioned in his first post.

[Adam Helmer]

gumpokc,

Thanks for your input.

I would be careful of depending on oil for bore preservation; oil migrates and many folks store their arms butt down. Since gravity ALWAYS is at work, the oil will move DOWN toward the breech whereas grease stays in place.

A large gun vault has many rows of arms and it is not easy to check on them monthly. I have to make a map of each gun's location BEFORE I remove them from my vault to ensure I get them all back in again! I find it easier to simply grease the iron and let it sit until I need to go use any of those on establishment.

In the larger sense; maybe "Long-Term Firearms Storage" will not be a "problem" after the 2008 elections. Whatever. Be well.

Adam

[Win75]

I have used BreakFree in the bores of my firearms for years and as a wipe down on the exterior. I have never had a problem with any of them.

I do use the dessicant in my safes. Don't know that it makes a big difference but it can never hurt.

I also place each one in a silicone gun sock mainly to cut down on bumps and bruises. I also store each rifle with the butt up.

David.

[skeet]

I just happened to buy a post hole digger for my tractor so I can put my guns in plastic pipe and be put in the ground greased and stored with dessicant butt up...just in case... after 2008. especially the quick ones