Long term storage of firearms

Stan in Oly, WA

Well-known Member
If you had to leave some firearms in secure but unheated storage for a few years, what, short of covering them with and filling them up with cosmoline, would you do to protect them? Years ago I bought the occasional military surplus rifle, and they were always full of as well as covered with cosmoline (or similar), and it was a real chore to get them cleaned up. Good protection, but a real mess. Is there a better way?

Stan
 
Break Free lube makes a long term storage coating. I have never used it, but if it is as good as their regular lube it should work. The other alternative is a light oil.
 
ZEP makes a rust preventer called Ironclad. I've used it quite often over the years on items that needed to be left outside and not rust, and it works GREAT.

I have used in instances where I had to open up an engine, say pull a head, and didn't want the cylinder walls, or the deck to rust while waiting on the head to come back from the machine shop. The most impressive use I've seen was when I sandblasted a housing for a customers machine, with the intent to repair it. They decided against repairing the machine, and the housing set outside the shop for several years. The freshly sandblasted area had a couple of light rust spots on it, but nothing like what you'd expect from a sandblasted part.

Hopefully the link will work, but if not, again it's called Ironclad. Just go to the ZEP site and look it up.
ZEP Ironclad
 
Thanks Wayne;

I'm going to look into that for an additional use besides firearms storage. The metal sculptors in a class I run are always looking for a finish for outdoor bare metal (steel) sculpture that will allow the finished surface to show for a few years without rusting. Nothing protects bare steel for very long in our damp climate. The current coating of choice is clear powder coat, but people would sometimes like to be able to apply the finish themselves---for control as well as for cost.

Stan
 
This Australian product is a favorite of local metal sculptors , it lets you appreciate the texture and colours of unprimed metal while arresting the inevitable march of rust . It can be put on over rust as well so that a piece can be weathered to look just right before sealing to keep it that way . Works on plastic as a restorer and as a binder to help new paint bond to loose or crocodiled substrates as well .

http://www.floodaustralia.net/products/anti_corrosion/penetrol-anti_rust.php
 
I would still use cosmoline if I really want to protect them for a long period time. I have bought old military rifles that were pickeled in cosmoline for over 40 years and looked like new when cleaned. It can be still had through Cosmoline Direct of Farmington,UT. It comes in oil, grease or spray. A carton of three spray cans is $58.95.
 
Feeling a little patriotic today ! Another Australian produced product that is similar in some ways to WD40 but vastly superior . Used a lot on commercial boats for long term protection against salt corrosion . Much heavier than most sprays and lasts a very long time .
http://www.inoxmx.com/inox-mx3-for-firearms/
 
I put a lamp in my gun safe to dry any moisture that is in the air. It is on a timer and it is on for two hours, If I remember correctly.
 
Have you ever looked at a Golden Rod for moisture in your safe. They run all the time and all you do is when you open safe from time to time just feel it to see that its running. It will take up less room than a lamp not saying a lamp won't do the job just takes up room. A Golden Rod is about the same price as a good timer.
 
Before I put anything in long term storage, I ask myself "If I didn't own this now would I ever buy another one?" If the answer is "No.", I know right then that I will probably never miss it if I sold it. That question helps cut down on clutter.
 
You've got a good point, but you have to come up with a different question if the thing you're putting into storage was purchased as an investment. In that case, what you need to ask yourself is "Will the value of this---measured in purchasing power---be greater in the future than it is today?" In trying to decide the answer, you have to try to take into account that even something which would go up in value won't do so if it is lost, stolen, destroyed, damaged, or allowed to deteriorate.

Stan
 
Stan, I would probably get some Fluid Film and spray it down good with that. We sell a lot of it where I work to guys spreading salt to prevent corrosion on their equipment, it is a lanolin base, so really gentle on metal and cleans off pretty easy when the time comes. I had an old crank off a stationary engine, that was left in unheated machine shed with a concrete floor that sweated bad in the spring, sprayed all the journals on it, and 4 years later, they were still shiny and the day they were put in the machine shed.
 
There's a product made for just that with easy cleanup. It's a water displacing fluid. Prevents rust. Sold as WD-40.
Everyone uses it for everthing it wasn't made for and not for what is was made for.
 
WD 40 is Okfor short term only. Will dry out an a few weeks to months and leave metal unprotected. Some heavier oils would be preferable, such as gun oil or motor oil. Far better would be cosmoline or at least grease designed for machinery lubrication. Yeah, I know, a mess to clean up but far better protection.
 
Industrial or machine tool suppliers have a spray that is cosmoline like for machine tools and tooling. It is good for quite a while if not left out in the weather and will wash off with solvent.
 
Thanks to everyone for good suggestions. As an unanticipated bonus I got some suggestions for products that may provide protection for bare steel left exposed to the elements---something the metal sculptors I work with will also appreciate. It will be nice to have something to offer the class beyond just handling the administrative duties and keeping the machinery functioning. Five years ago I was enthusiastic and used to bring in guest speakers, do PowerPoint presentations, etc. and even crank out the occasional art project myself. Not so much anymore, though.

Stan
 
We use automatic transmission fluid. Works well. My dad used to take firearms to the gun and knife shows he would always coat them with ATF as everyone was touching them. I keep a shotgun at the barn in a cabinet had it covered with WD 40 it started developing some light rust. Cleaned it covered with ATF been good for a couple of years now. One bottle will treat many firearms. LOL.
 
Was the ATF put on the guns that were taken to gun shows to protect them from people touching them, or to make people sorry they had touched them without asking permission? I can see benefit either way.

Stan
 
Nothing beats RIG for long term storage. I've had some ten years rig on the inside and out. They come out just as when they were stored. On cast iron saw tops and woodworking tools I like Johnsons Paste Wax, never any rust.
David
 
(quoted from post at 19:09:38 03/06/15) I would coat them with a light oil and put in desiccant packets.

That's what I do and some have been stored for 20+ years with absolutely ZERO rust - but then I live in a very low humidity environment :)
 

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