Proper way to Store a handgun ?

0 Kudo

Forum Jump

Author	Comment
volgakraut	Proper way to Store a handgun ?	Lead	[-]
Posts: 228 (01/13/09 01:07 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Tags : None Gents, After use, I always clean and lightly oil all the metal on my handguns. Then, I put each handgun in a 'soft' zippered pistol case and put it back into a gun safe, which has a goldenrod gun heater inside. I recently read that you should not store a handgun in a soft pistol case or a holster. What is the reasoning for this? I thought the soft pistol case was the way to go ? How do you store your pistols? Volga
Cisco		#1	[-]
Posts: 1856 (01/13/09 01:19 PM) Veteran member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	I currently have pistols stored in cases and just loose in my safe with the goldenrod. Never had a problem but I live in a dry climate.
Bryan 45		#2	[-]
Posts: 2392 (01/13/09 06:18 PM) Host Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	The foam or cotton lined pistol cases can absorb moisture from the air and without any ventilation, the handgun may rust. In a dry climate it probably won't happen, but I would be money here in Kentucky it will rust during the summer. Of course the hard plastic gun cases without lining do not present the chance of this happening. I use racks like these: http://www.cabelas.com/ca...exId=cat601048&hasJS=true
stantheman1986		#3	[-]
Posts: 5320 (01/16/09 04:18 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Yes, the foam cases are bad! I found rust on a Garand I stored in a cheap "egg crate" type lined cheap gun case, totally my error, I hadn't been able to see my collection for over a year, and forgot this rifle was in there. Luckily, I guess, it was a muzzle-worn frosty bore Dane and not one of my really nice M1's. I don't keep any of my handguns in the factory foam lined cases anymore, I usually keep them wrapped in a soft porous cloth like an old t-shirt. I have some I store in their original holsters and never had a problem, but my basement has an industrial de-humidifier and the rocky soil where I live doesn't trap moisture. I even tried to rust the metal on a repro cap and ball revolver I was trying to "antique" by darkening the metal on the barrel and cylinder with some light rust frosting, bare unblued steel that I got wet and left on a shelf. Two days later the gun was dry and not a speck of rust! Go figure.
dou 44		#4	[-]
Posts: 2368 (01/30/09 06:06 PM) Host Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	i started putting mine in thin holsters that hang on the door. they velcro on and it freed up some space for me.
jjk308		#5	[-]
Posts: 2903 (02/08/09 10:57 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Either hang up or store in a corrosiopn preventing plastic bag or other anti-rust material. And use grease instead of oil. In a humid climate I've found rust spots with every brand of oil I've tried, while a very thin coating of RIG grease prevents it. I'd guess either solvent evaporation or surface tension in the lighter oils exposes bare metal. BTW the goldenrod's a good idea, prevents condensation on cold gunmetal. I use a small fourescent teist bulb in my cabinets instead, cheaper and just as effective at warming.
WVBrady		#6	[-]
Posts: 27 (05/05/09 07:39 PM) active member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	dou 44 wrote: i started putting mine in thin holsters that hang on the door. they velcro on and it freed up some space for me. Sounds like the ones I just got from Sportsman's Guide. The part that is supposed to fasten to the inside of the door didn't fit either of my gun safes, but the velcro holsters stick fine to the lining of the doors. Had I known that, I could have just bought the holsters separately and saved some money.
vn6869		#7	[-]
Posts: 10 (07/23/09 08:41 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	I would suggest hanging on the door in a holster is not the "best" idea. I did this when I got my first safe years ago, thought I had really solved a space problem. Used latch hooks and put them through the belt loops of my holsters. Unfortunately did not consider the wear it would cause on the gun as the door was open and closed over time. I started to notice wear on the guns I didn't shoot that often. Would suggest switching the the racks sold by Cabela's mention previously, or gun socks. The padded cases are a no-no, as they not only retain moisture, but also absorb the oil you put on the gun.
JTB1967		#8	[-]
Posts: 737 (07/23/09 12:45 PM) Veteran member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	I keep the ones I collect greased and inside cardboard boxes wrapped in acid free foam. Guns I actually shoot are wiped with a light gun oil and stored inside one of my safes shelves.
Michael Littman		#9	[-]
Posts: 11 (08/12/09 09:35 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	AS has been stated storage rules are general in nature but specific rules may apply depending on your climate. It is always a good idea to wipe down handguns with a clean, soft cloth to get acids and prints from fingers off the metal. As a fellow Floridian I agree with JJK that grease is excellent in sealing off the metals from moisture. Yet, the conditions that prevail in our state may be different from yours.Just be careful about getting solvent based oils onto some grips made from older plastics. Bad things may happen to the grips.