How long will a stored rifle keep? Top up maintenance?

[effex]

Hi guys,

So the standard advice "oil your guns before storing them for long periods"... How long is "long".

3 months? 6 months? years?

If you give a rifle a good and proper clean and oil it up how long does that treatment last? Should you give it an oil top up after a few months or a year or how long?

Thanks.

[MeccaOz]

Well ... Lets just say "Hypothetically" That if you oiled them up and wrapped them in grease paper, stored it in a dry place .. your talking decades mate

[Shotfox]

Moisture seems to be the storage barometer.

Not only does this effect the storage life of the gun but also gun bags and what ever else is in the safe.

You can get dehumidifiers etc. but common sense with storage times and proper prep is a good start so its hard to say what is best given the diffrent climates

[Warrigul]

You know it is funny but I was given a WW1 Mauser last year that was brought home from the front, oiled up and stuck on the wall on the loungeroom.

The only thing done to in nearly 100 years was the old blokes son took the paint brush to it shortly after WW2 and painted the metal black.

The only fault is part of the wood ended up with some dry rot and shrinkage- the metal is perfect.

Very low humidity is good for everything but electronics, art/paper and wood, don't forget to oil(or wax) the woodwork every six months or so. rubber buttpads also deteriorate so I remove them for long term storage.

Try not to have a safe in an area where the temperature varies widely.

Never use wooden or felt lined racks in gun safes, far better to use a non absorbent PTFE or nylon to avoid a "rest mark" on a barrel. Never leave a gun bag in a safe and especially NEVER leave a firearm stored for long term in a gunbag.

Wipe the outside of the firearm down at least every three month- more to remove the dust than re-oil as the dust will absorb moisture.

Just my humble opinions.

I re-oil everything regularly, at a minimum of three months and if it is not regularly used the the bore gets cleaned out, heated up and Sweets oiled every year.

[Tiiger]

So the standard advice "oil your guns before storing them for long periods"... How long is "long".

3 months? 6 months? years?

Month absolutely.

Oil isn't a miracle solution though. Excess moisture, salt air etc. all get at it.

If you're living near the beach this kind of stuff needs more attention. If you're a more ideal climate you can get away with less.

[effex]

Well ... Lets just say "Hypothetically" That if you oiled them up and wrapped them in grease paper, stored it in a dry place .. your talking decades mate

Wouldn't need anything that longs so that's good

I sometimes go a month or two without taking mine out. It was more about the need (not as it turns out) to top em up if that becomes, 3,4,5 months on longer spells.

[effex]

Very low humidity is good for everything but electronics, art/paper and wood, don't forget to oil(or wax) the woodwork every six months or so. rubber buttpads also deteriorate so I remove them for long term storage.

Hmm?

What's the prob with low humidity? Cracking the wood?

[roob]

For wood I can see that, but electronics? Never heard of them liking humidity at all?

[Joom]

Never use wooden or felt lined racks in gun safes, far better to use a non absorbent PTFE or nylon to avoid a "rest mark" on a barrel.

The felt absorbing a some moisture can leave a corrosion mark, is that what you're saying?

[Warrigul]

For wood I can see that, but electronics? Never heard of them liking humidity at all?

Low humidity is a killer for static damage, I have built a few conditioned rooms and there is always a lower limit for humidity for a very good reason.

[Warrigul]

Never use wooden or felt lined racks in gun safes, far better to use a non absorbent PTFE or nylon to avoid a "rest mark" on a barrel.

The felt absorbing a some moisture can leave a corrosion mark, is that what you're saying?

yep, the moisture gets drawn out of the felt(or any absorbent material including wood and some forms of foam and natural rubbers) when the metal is cool and the felt absorbs it when conditions are right.

[Joom]

Mmm, right.

Might wrap a little nylon around the shelf of mine then.

[Warrigul]

Mmm, right.

Might wrap a little nylon around the shelf of mine then.

I have been in the ****** a few times in my life for pinching a few inches off the nylon cutting board from the kitchen.

Gotta learn not to do these things in the middle of the night.

[roob]

Low humidity is a killer for static damage, I have built a few conditioned rooms and there is always a lower limit for humidity for a very good reason.

Static hey.

The humidity disperses it I guess?

[Joom]

Gotta learn not to do these things in the middle of the night.

Ah ha ha ha.