how do you store your guns?

[beeker]

thought we could pass on different techniques for storing weapons.

one tip I picked up a while back for bolt rifles was when you go to store em, hold the trigger as you push push the bolt forward, this will release the firing pin safely without the "dry fire" effect.

[kingfisher1]

First and most importantly, I store mine is a fireproof safe.  Secondly, I store all my guns muzzle down so any excess oil runs out the end of the barrel instead of possibly running into the action and the mechanics of the gun.  If I'm not going to use the gun for a while, I make sure they have a decent coat of oil on them, and wipe any prints or anything else off all the metal, as well as any oil off any wood that might be on the gun to reduce the chance of cracking.  The only gun that I am comfortable dry firing is my glock.  The manufacturer actually reccomends this for some reason that I have yet to understand.  Also, I make sure all clips are unloaded (my home defense gun is a revolver) to reduce the chances of memory in the clip as well as for safety reasons.

[beeker]

I gotta go flip my guns, I have em muzzle up (in the safe) .

[JCAMERON]

I like to keep them loaded so no air gets in the chamber.... ... Only kidding.
The only techniques that I use so far is to keep the action open, and never let them sit dirty! Always clean them after a hunt/ shoot or whatever and keep them oiled. I'll have to keep an eye on this thread so I can pick up more tips.

[Cody Gruchow]

i clean my guns spotless before i put them away for the year. make sure the fireing pins are safe, safetys on, chokes out of the shotguns. make sure the lens caps are on the scopes and that all guns there chambers must be CLOSED, for a auto its bad for the spring to leave the action open for long periods of time.

[JCAMERON]

i clean my guns spotless before i put them away for the year. make sure the fireing pins are safe, safetys on, chokes out of the shotguns. make sure the lens caps are on the scopes and that all guns there chambers must be CLOSED, for a auto its bad for the spring to leave the action open for long periods of time.

Would you even leave the action closed on a pump shotgun?... I only have shotguns and I was told to leave the action open. Maybe this was just to dry them out after a hunt...

[kingfisher1]

JC, if you return from a hunt where you're hunting in any moisture, I would suggest keeping the action open for a little while after cleaning to make sure any moisture is out.  IF you're going to store them unused any longer than a week, I would recommend storeing them with the action closed. 

[beeker]

if I've been hunting when it's snowing raining or whatever I'll spray my gun down with oil when I get back to the truck, if I can't clean it that night when I get home I break it down and spray it again and leave it sit to dry out until I get around to a proper cleaning.

also in the safe I have a silica (sp) pack the kind that you can bake in the oven. but I also save those small packs from shoes/backpacks wherever and toss those in on my ammo or up higher in the safe toss one in the tackle box, not sure if they work but nothing has rusted up on me.

not sure with a pump I use a snap cap in mine to release the firing pin and store it closed.

[Cody Gruchow]

yes leave them open after a hunt to dry out but as said before the action should be closed when storing for any period of time, you dont want to put any unnessasary(sp) pressure on the spring or stretch it out.

[JCAMERON]

I better close it when I get home then.  I'm sure whoever told me that ment just to dry it after a hunt. Come to think of it I'm pretty sure it was at firearm safety after our field day... it was raining and I supplied my own firearm...

[Big Slick]

I make sure they are unloaded.
Then I run a dry patch through the barrel.
Then I run a lightly oiled patch through the barrel.
Then put them in the safe.
Then I lock the safe.

[HUNTER2]

If hunting and it is cold or rain or snow, I let them air dry first with the chamber open. Then when the hunting is over I clean and put a light coat of oil on. Stand them upright in the safe and have never had a problem. I used to store them in the closet tell I got a safe. I run a dehumidifier in the room and have never had a rust problem.

[beeker]

I like my safe it's nice to not tuck guns away in the rafters or back of closests anymore (unloaded of course)

[kingfisher1]

I like my safe it's nice to not tuck guns away in the rafters or back of closests anymore (unloaded of course)

It's great for storeing your guns as well as any valuables that you might have.  Ours is rated at 1200 degrees for 30 minutes.  Also, we bolted our safe both to the back wall as well as to the floor.  Call it overkill, but that safe isn't going anywhere!

[beeker]

we have a mechanical room tucked off our basement that we stuck it in. instead of a door I made a "scooby doo door" you have to know what book to pull to open the wall up, if you know there is a door there in the first place. turned out pretty cool

[kingfisher1]

that's a pretty cool idea

[sjohnnie26]

we have a mechanical room tucked off our basement that we stuck it in. instead of a door I made a "scooby doo door" you have to know what book to pull to open the wall up, if you know there is a door there in the first place. turned out pretty cool

I've always wanted a secret room with a door like this. 

[kingfisher1]

one thing that I forgot to mention is that it's a good idea to have some sort of dehumidifier where you store your guns.  They make little rods that sit on the floor of safes.  Great investment to stop rust from forming.

[beeker]

I used one of those gate latches and a thin cable. I think I may switch the book to a statue since a few people know the "book" now as I was rather impressed with myself when I finished it, and showed a few people, what good is a secret door if everyone knows about it?

[sjohnnie26]

true true

[kingfisher1]

Another thing that I've seen from time to time is people that have combination style safes will have it set up so they only have to turn the dial to the last number to open it.  

I was told by a few people that did that is so they can access it easier in case of a break in.  Guess what?  So can the theives!!!!!!!!!!  

If you're that concerned, keep a small safe in your bedroom closet just big enough for a pistol with a numberic keypad.  

[sochr000]

I keep mine in a safe with one of those Silica gel dehumidifiers.  Safe isn't mounted to the floor or wall, but it's heavy, in the basement, and to get it out of there, they'd have to clean my closet, which might not be a bad trade-off.   
I use a keyed safe, with one key on me at all times, the other I keep in a different safe with a keypad combo so its not just sitting around.

As far as unloading the magazines, the steel used in magazine springs wears out faster the more times they're cycled (loaded and unloaded).  Leaving the rounds in them would actually keep the springs in better shape than to unload and reload them every time you use them.  This is assuming you use your guns on a weekly basis, if it's your deer rifle and you only use it a couple months out of the year, then unloading and reloading might not be a bad idea.

My reloading stuff(primers and powder) I keep in my basement also, in a room without carpet, in a metal cabinet.  Its not a fire cabinet, yet, but it'll do.