Gun Storage and Maintenance

[gyrfalcon]

I've used a ton of different methods... If you have a safe this is the best option:

[V Man]

I've used a ton of different methods... If you have a safe this is the best option:

Do you just drill a hole in the safe to get the cord through? What is the best one to get and where do you get them?

[Dave Pendleton]

I've used a ton of different methods... If you have a safe this is the best option:

Do you just drill a hole in the safe to get the cord through? What is the best one to get and where do you get them?

Your safe should already have a hole. I've not seen one that doesn't.

[yuppiejr]

Most good size gunsafes will have at least one hole for a dehumidifier unit, otherwise you can drill your own BUT you will want to seal it up as well as you can to keep the inside air in.

Midway, Natchez and locally Fleet Farm all sell that type of dehumidifier. I've been using a Remington "plug in to recharge" super desiccant packet style and it works fine... there was simply no way to get power to the location of my safe at reasonable cost and the Remington unit is both cheap and effective as long as you recharge it once a month or so.

[yuppiejr]

What if my storage is not temp controlled? But still have the goldenrod thing. Am I doomed?

I'm surprised a hole hasn't ripped in the space-time continuum and sucked your entire collection through yet...

[gyrfalcon]

On the rod, install the biggest one you can...

[JJ]

On the rod, install the biggest one you can...

Always want the bigest rod you can get....

[Scott Notaeh]

Do you just drill a hole in the safe to get the cord through? What is the best one to get and where do you get them?

I had a little black plastic plug in the back of my safe that I punched out and ran the cord through. The plug is not attached to the cord when you get it so you can use a small hole to thread it through and then attach the plug to the cord. It is just a little heater that heats the inside of the safe a bit so it is hotter than the surrounding air and won't allow moisture to condensate.

My question is if this is good enough if there is no temp or humidity control in the building it is in such as a shed, barn, or workshop.

And V Man, didn't you store rifles for the military and shouldn't you be telling us how to do this? Step 1 - locate in a large desert...

[SparkyJeff]

................ I've been using a Remington "plug in to recharge" super desiccant packet style and it works fine... there was simply no way to get power to the location of my safe at reasonable cost and the Remington unit is both cheap and effective as long as you recharge it once a month or so.

I have heard claims that in humid environments, the heaters are preferred over the desiccants.
My friend in Georgia uses a nightlight in his safe, his cousin used a bunch of silica gel in a coffee can (He didn't want to waste electricity.)
Now they both use nightlights.
The thinking is that desiccants absorb moisture, so if the safe isn't perfectly sealed, the desiccant will always be drawing moisture into the safe. The nightlight warms the air in the safe and helps to push the moisture out.

I'm not a scientist, That's what my friend that moved to Georgia ten years ago said. I've seen it discussed elsewhere too.
It makes sense to me, my cold beer always gets damp, a hot coffee never does.
I clean and lube my guns after shooting them, the locker they are placed in is secure from theft, not moisture. Rifles go in cheap silicone gunsocks, handguns in borestores, helps with protection from scratches and banging around.

[V Man]

And V Man, didn't you store rifles for the military and shouldn't you be telling us how to do this? Step 1 - locate in a large desert...

I never let my rifle get more than an arms length away from me and it was always clean. When you get back home you clean the hell out of all of your gear especially your rifle and it goes to the armorer. The arms room is temperature and humidity controlled and on long deployments they would allow us to store our personal firearms in the arms room.

[Rem700]

Goldenrods work good and come in different sizes wattage, CFL bulbs come in different wattages are cheaper and add light to the interior of your safe but need some form of a shatter shield as they will break.

[bri]

As others have mentioned, maintain a steady temperature and keep humidity around 50%.

Then, wipe all your firearms down with some Eezox and you're good to go.

http://www.eezox.com/

[V Man]

I ended up buying a 18" Golden Rod and a Remington model 365. I wiped everything down real good with oil and I think I am good to go right now.

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/remington-model-365-mini-dehumidifier.aspx?a=180353

[onebohemian]

Here's the 64,000 dollar question............

What kind of damage are you talking about?

I don't understand how the damage shown could have occured short of the rifle being stored in virtually flooded conditions for many months. It appears there is rust under the factory finish. More explanation of where and how this gun was stored wouuld be appreciated. No golden rod is going to stop whatever caused this, but I assume the rifle is now beeing stored some other way.

[V Man]

Here's the 64,000 dollar question............

What kind of damage are you talking about?

I don't understand how the damage shown could have occured short of the rifle being stored in virtually flooded conditions for many months. It appears there is rust under the factory finish. More explanation of where and how this gun was stored wouuld be appreciated. No golden rod is going to stop whatever caused this, but I assume the rifle is now beeing stored some other way.

I work for an engineering company and our guys think it is galvanic corrosion from the metal not being cleaned and prepared properly. Colt says that the damage was caused by elevated humidity and improper storage. To catch you up with the rest of the story my old Army buddy had this rifle in his safe in Indiana and sold it to me for 400 bucks. I know his safe is in his room that is in the second story of a 2 story house so there wasn't a flood involved. He has been through several long deployments and I can see how it could have sat in the safe for at least a year at a time without being cleaned. I should also mention that none of his other firearms are showing any kind of issues like this. The funny thing is that the barrel and all of the other metal parts are fine, no rusting or pitting anywhere.

I am still talking to Colt who is going to have it evaluated by one of their senior gunsmiths (currently on vacation for 2 weeks) and let me know what if anything they can do. At a minimum I would think that the lower would need to be replaced and I know that is tough because it is serial numbered. Stay tuned!