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Storing/Preserving guns

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Sneaky View Drop Down
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    Posted: February/08/2009 at 20:56
I haven't been on the sight in awhile, but was thinking about away to store my guns and figured some on here would have an idea.  I have a few guns now that don't really get used and I also have a food saver.  I was thinking about vacuum sealing some of them.  Anybody think this would be a good idea, my dad laughed at me and thought it was kind of dumb.  Any comments are welcomed even the smarta$$ ones for humor sake.  Thanks in advance.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote rifle looney Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/08/2009 at 21:03
If you have a safe which I hope you do get a dehumidifier rod and be done with it. case closed.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote martin3175 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/08/2009 at 21:07
Humidity / moisture is your enemy ...keep you rifles dry and relatively warm.. even an inexpensive safe with a dehumidifier rod will get'r done.. Oil'em up and put them in there and you'll be set
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote silver Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/08/2009 at 21:19
Coat it down inside and out.  Wrap it in some version of the vapor paper (Unless plated or alloy).  Then bag it at least once. If you can vacuum seal, then great.  At least try and get most of the air out.  You can use water to displace the air by placing the bag in a filled tube or bucket depending on the size of the gun.
 
There are some vapor lined bags from some people.  Those are rated for three to five years. The first thing I notice about those are that Brownells and some other well know names do not offer them for sale.  Makes me wonder...
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote rifle looney Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/08/2009 at 21:22
Silver do you really do this or is it just suggestions?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Monster Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/08/2009 at 21:23
Has anyone tried putting a lot of disecant (sp?) in a coffee can with holes in the top to help get rid of the humidity? I have heard of this but not sure if it works?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Roy Finn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/08/2009 at 22:11
I use the desiccant packs you can buy at gun stores or on line. Depending on the level of moisture you will have to take them out to reactivate them by placing them in an oven for 2-3 hours. If you are worried about rust you could also apply Birchwood Casey Sheath which comes in a spray. Pull the barreled action out (if applicable) and coat all metal. On the desiccant packs, there is a moisture level "window" to tell you when they need to be reactivated.

Edited by Roy Finn - February/08/2009 at 22:23
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Monster Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/08/2009 at 22:19
Thanks Roy 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sneaky Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/08/2009 at 22:29
Thanks for all of the advice, unfortunately at this stage in my life I do not have a gun safe.  No little ones around yet to worry about.  Back to the original question good idea or bad idea on using the food saver to vacuum seal a gun?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote rifle looney Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/08/2009 at 22:32
If you do this, oil it really good or you will be sealing in moisture?...how long are you going to store them?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Kickboxer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/08/2009 at 22:50
If you are going to store a LONG time, cosmoline in plastic, in a vacuum if possible...  It has been used successfully for quite some time.  Cosmoline is a KNOWN preservative.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Roy Finn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/08/2009 at 23:18
Is that how you store your binoculars
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote silver Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/09/2009 at 04:46
Originally posted by rifle looney rifle looney wrote:

Silver do you really do this or is it just suggestions?
 
Most of it.  It is also how I have received several "surplus" guns.  Many makers use  a light coat of oil and a vapor paper and often a plastic bag.  When used to I buy a lot of new or surplus handguns, that's how they came in. S&W used a brown paper, those are coated,  a light coat of oil and a thin plastic bag. The  surplus rifles would be greased, then wraped in a waxed paper and plastic baged. 
 
I have been using Break Free's "Collector" and vapor bags for the blue guns I have.  I used some other stuff, a dry lube, and was not pleased with how it treated the fininsh. It left things a but dull.  I "squeeze" most of the air out of the bag and seal it and date it.  
 
Cosmoline is now out of production.  So is "Rig."  I called Brownells last week and I should have thier recommend substitutes soon. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote geezer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/09/2009 at 12:21
Anybody tried "bore stores" products?  I've been storing some pistols and long guns in them.  I clean them up as I normally do and then put them in the appropriate sized one.  I have been using them for about a year and had no problems to date.  They also help cushion everything in case of minor bumps.
I would give you my two cents worth, but then you would probably have to give half to the gov't and what good is one penny
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote supertool73 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/09/2009 at 12:36
Originally posted by Roy Finn Roy Finn wrote:

Is that how you store your binoculars



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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Tip69 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/09/2009 at 12:43
supertool......... your avatar is starting to make me ill.  Puker How about a new one, please.
take em!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Urimaginaryfrnd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/10/2009 at 07:12
to answer the original question - vaccume sealer -- GOOD --- However add some of the small packs of desicant like you might find in a bag of new brass. These small bags of desicant can be reactivated by removing the moisture through baking them in the oven at about 240 degrees for two hours.  Many sporting goods stores offer the larger packs of desicant suitable for a larger container like a safe or closet.  Depending on the size and type of items stored you may wish to own a pelican case or two which are waterproof and you can put a desicant block and several firearms inside - short of a safe with a goldenrod electric dehumidifyer this is probably the best means of controling the moisture level over time yet allowing ready access. http://www.pelican.com/

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Kickboxer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/10/2009 at 08:32
Originally posted by silver silver wrote:

Originally posted by rifle looney rifle looney wrote:

Silver do you really do this or is it just suggestions?
 
Most of it.  It is also how I have received several "surplus" guns.  Many makers use  a light coat of oil and a vapor paper and often a plastic bag.  When used to I buy a lot of new or surplus handguns, that's how they came in. S&W used a brown paper, those are coated,  a light coat of oil and a thin plastic bag. The  surplus rifles would be greased, then wraped in a waxed paper and plastic baged. 
 
I have been using Break Free's "Collector" and vapor bags for the blue guns I have.  I used some other stuff, a dry lube, and was not pleased with how it treated the fininsh. It left things a but dull.  I "squeeze" most of the air out of the bag and seal it and date it.  
 
Cosmoline is now out of production.  So is "Rig."  I called Brownells last week and I should have thier recommend substitutes soon. 
You can occasionally find cosmoline at gun shows. I got a 1lb can of it a couple of years ago... for just in case. 
Actually, you can get the "new and improved" environmentally safe cosmoline HERE:


Edited by Kickboxer - February/10/2009 at 09:11
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sneaky Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/11/2009 at 14:27
Thanks urimaginaryfriend,  I think I will try sealing them in with those packets.  They will only be sealed for up to a year at a time, at the absolute longest.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote silver Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/11/2009 at 17:25
Originally posted by geezer geezer wrote:

Anybody tried "bore stores" products?  I've been storing some pistols and long guns in them.  I clean them up as I normally do and then put them in the appropriate sized one.  I have been using them for about a year and had no problems to date.  They also help cushion everything in case of minor bumps.
 
The Kleenbore bags? I bought a couple of those over the winter.  I oiled down with BreakFree and placed it in the bag squeezing most of the air out.
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