Storing guns in a safe?

[jennageit]

I've been chatting to a mate who I will happily label as a Gun Nut.

I don't particularly like him, or his views, or the way he handles firearms for that matter, but my question is:

He's told me that if I choose (as if I have a choice that is!) to store my guns in a safe, I HAVE to put a dehumidifier in with them to stop them from rusting, or something like that. Something to do with it being wetter down south so my guns will rust.

Mind you, he's also the guy that said it's okay to keep your gun loaded in the safe as this stops moisture from getting into the chamber, or some such s**t!

Anyway, do I need a dehumidifier in my safe?

Oh, and does anyone know why my father would wrap the barrel of his rifle in an oily rag for storage?

Jenna

[NukeBOMB88]

I never had a dehumidifier I'm my safe and all my guns were getting rust spots even after a short period of storage unless I covered them in lanolin . The other week I bought a large container of damprid and chucked it in the safe and I haven't seen any signs of rust at all. I would highly recommend getting a container of damprid or something like it . You could get an electrical dehumidifier but I think they are comparatively expensive and you have to drill a hole in your safe. Just my 2c

[Baldrick314]

I chuck little silica packets that come with most anything that gets shipped to you in the bottom of my safe. They absorb moisture pretty well. Also rub everything over with a cloth that has oil on it before storage which leaves a layer of oil protecting my firearms. This is the same reason your dad would have wrapped his barrels in oily rag

[Die Judicii]

Sorry, but you refer to him as a "Mate"?

Apart from the "loaded gun in the safe" it seems the only thing he is missing is the stick of sweaty gelignite.

[on_one_wheel]

I've been chatting to a mate who I will happily label as a Gun Nut.

I don't particularly like him, or his views, or the way he handles firearms for that matter, but my question is:

He's told me that if I choose (as if I have a choice that is!) to store my guns in a safe, I HAVE to put a dehumidifier in with them to stop them from rusting, or something like that. Something to do with it being wetter down south so my guns will rust.

Mind you, he's also the guy that said it's okay to keep your gun loaded in the safe as this stops moisture from getting into the chamber, or some such s**t!

Anyway, do I need a dehumidifier in my safe?

Oh, and does anyone know why my father would wrap the barrel of his rifle in an oily rag for storage?

Jenna

Please donk keep your gun loaded in your safe, or anywhere else other than when your ready to take a shot.

I have never usea a dehumidifier in my safe and store my rifles inside it in thier bags wich is not recomended by most people as "they can hold moisture and dont breathe "wich is a total crock.

keep your rifles lightly oiled inside and out, thats why your old man kept his wrapped in an oily rag.

Try to keep your safe inside the house where the temperature dose not vary too fast, when your rifle goes from cold to warm it will form condensation on the metal surfaces wich will cause rust.
A good gun bag will help slow the tempture changes your rifle sees and protect it from dammage if other rifles bump against it or you knock it inside the safe, just make sure your bag is properly dryed before the gun is stored in it if it has got wet.

A dehumidifier is a good idea if the environment you live in is wet, humid or the tempture is varied from cold to hot like in a tin shed.

[Noisydad]

If you can channel an extension cord into your safe a little 7 watt night light will provide enough heat in such a small volume container to keep moisture at bay AND will provide that awesome aura of light when you open the door!

[T_M]

I would highly recommend getting a container of damprid or something like it

Is DampRid safe? There are some horror stories online about it attracting moisture into safes.

Would silica be better?

[jennageit]

I was probably wrong referring to his guy as a mate. He was a mate until I found out just how much of an idiot he is. Old habits die hard I guess.

I've changed my mind about where to put my safe. The room I was going to put it in, although in a BIR has a high range of temperatures. In the summer it gets stinking hot, in the winter it gets quite damp. I'll find somewhere else with a more stable temperature.

I would NEVER leave a gun loaded, and given that I'll mainly be doing target shooting at home until I'm ready to start picking off the foxes, there isn't any need for me to have the gun loaded until I'm at my chosen spot for the targets. I know my dad used to have his gun loaded whilst walking around, but he was shooting foxes and bunnies so I guess he didn't really have time to stop and load before taking a shot. He was also very careful when we were around him, making sure that we stayed behind him at all times. Usually about 15 feet back from where he was.
Jenna

[Baronvonrort]

I've changed my mind about where to put my safe. The room I was going to put it in, although in a BIR has a high range of temperatures. In the summer it gets stinking hot, in the winter it gets quite damp. I'll find somewhere else with a more stable temperature.

I keep mine in the bedroom, i have air conditioning which is a dehumidifier so no worries about rust.

[Norton]

Mind you, he's also the guy that said it's okay to keep your gun loaded in the safe as this stops moisture from getting into the chamber, or some such s**t!

Tell him he's a f***ing idiot.

Then never speak to him again.

[ployer]

Just wait till he has a safe inspection and the plod find a loaded set of rifles in his safe.

Bye bye license.

[Gregg]

I've never used one and I don't think I know anyone who has.

I just swap out bags of silica beads from other things when they come through.

Between that and cleaning and oiling them after every use that's worked for me.

[Turkle]

Short answer = no.

Depends on your environment too. If you live in a dry area and your safe is inside that's obviously different to if you live in a very humid area and you safe is in the garage with a lost of moisture.

Cleaning and oiling your guns properly will be the most important thing either way.

If you want something extra you can get vapour capsules for your gun safe which emit a vapour into the safe which protect everything from corrosion.

About $30 and last 2 years.

[lole]

I'm sure you're smart enough to work out every this guy has told you is stupid.

That aside, most of what he's telling you is also illegal...

How does this guy still have a license?

[mausermate]

putting a pair of gloves on when you put the gun in the safe after cleaning and oiling is a real winner as well. Fingerprints create rust spots.
Ditto about the d**k head. Outside and flogged with a bull whip comes to mind.

[Wheelbarrow]

putting a pair of gloves on when you put the gun in the safe after cleaning and oiling is a real winner as well.

You're getting fancy with it

Just jokes. I just make sure the last thing I tough with mine is the stock, not the steel.

[jennageit]

Thanks for all of the advice guys. This idiot I referred to as a mate is the reason we all have to jump through ****** of hoops to get anything.

I've got an almost permanent supply of silica sachets, my stepson found eBay lol.

I never thought about fingerprints being a problem, maybe my gloves will come in handy after all.

Another quick question :

Wood laminated stock, or synthetic? Other than looks, are they much different to each other? Is there benefits for one over the other?

Anyway guys, the meds are kicking in and I'm starting to see double.

I look forward to reading more from you all, it's making my days go quicker!

Take care, Jenna

[schink]

Anyway guys, the meds are kicking in and I'm starting to see double.

Good times

Hope you're feeling better.

[SendIt]

Wood laminated stock, or synthetic? Other than looks, are they much different to each other? Is there benefits for one over the other?

There are some practical pros and cons, and personal preference plays a part as always.


Synthetic (plastic) - is typically the lightest option, durable and easy to clean. A big + is it doesn't swell or warp with moisture like Walnut can.

Some are better than others, but as a general rule I find synthetic stocks feel pretty flimsy. There are some exceptions and different styles of synthetics. The Sauer 101 does a kind of hard rubber version which is very sturdy but has the smallest fraction of give in the surface touch which makes it feel better.


Walnut - Looks good and feels good and solid.

In addition to cleaning, you need to oil (or whatever) to maintain your Walnut stock were a plastic one just needs cleaning.

In the wet wood can slightly also. In the worst case if your barrel was just floated from the stock a swelling stock can touch the barrel and apply pressure in a way that can negatively effect accuracy. Could happen if you get caught in the rain or brush a wet fern in the wrong way or something.

(Different subject now, but pays to have a properly floated barrel with enough clearance Start a new topic if you want to talk about that because it will be a whole other conversation )


Laminate - Bit of a mix of the two. Perfectly solid stock. Heavier than synthetic. A bit more durable and doesn't warp like walnut can.


Don't get turned off walnut by that though. Just needs a little attention, I don't mean to make it sound like it's a ongoing hassle to keep a walnut stock in good shape.

[RDobber]

I use a Tikka Lite (synthetic) and a Hunter with the timber stock regularly and the timber is definitely a better feel. I reckon everyone will agree with that.

The trade off with for the Lite synthetic is it's something like 200gram lighter for the same stock.

Good if you really need an ultra light rifle, or it's a wet weather rifle and synthetic will just make life easier.

[jennageit]

Anyway guys, the meds are kicking in and I'm starting to see double.

Good times

Hope you're feeling better.

I'm feeling much better Schink, thank you.

Because I had a couple of falls in hospital, they were constantly checking my eyesight. They chose about 20 minutes after giving me my heavy duty meds to test me! Like that was going to work!

The meds are:

Targin - Oxycodone Hydrochloride 10mg - it's slow release, so i get to feel high and horrible 24 hours a day lol
Gabapentin - 300mg - makes me just as high. it's used to treat epileptics, something to do with nerve pain inhibitor
Diazepam - 5mg - muscle relaxant - delicious stuff that makes the world all warm and fuzzy lol, and
Endone - 5mg - another oxycodone - lovely, lovely drug
These combined should see me flaked out in bed drooling into my pillow and talking to magical creatures. However, all they do for me is make me rather high and keep the pain to a dull roar.

I have to get off them before I go anywhere near firearms, it could be disastrous

Jenna

PS. Regarding the stocks, thanks for the info guys, you're helping me choose what's going to be best for me!

[RDobber]

All good.

[T_M]

Interesting video about safes and rust:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltK-bDbADa8&t=18m19s

[Westy]

Wow! Them's some sweet safes right there!

[FuzzyM]

I found that in a safe that wasn't well sealed, in a shed, I was getting mould on my synthetic gun bag. I have since sealed up the safe a lot better and added a couple of "Thirsty Hippos" and the result is no more mould. Its wet and cold in the Dandenongs!

[Lorgar]

I found that in a safe that wasn't well sealed, in a shed, I was getting mould on my synthetic gun bag.

I'm definitely not a fan of having the safe in your average shed or garage.

(I've sold mine now, but) a mate and I both had the same rifle, scope and rings. My safe was inside the house, his was in the garage. His garage is double brick, single roller door to get in, not some rickety old tin shed that the rain got into or anything.

The rifles had basically the same amount of use and treatment as we go hunting together, and I bought mine about a month after this. After a year though my rings and scope looked good as new, his both had little patches of surface rust on them.

Only difference was that his was in the garage and a bit closer to the external weather/air.

[morerams]

The light bulb doesn't dry the air as much as it is keeping the temperature above the 'Dew point' where moisture will condense on cold things when the air warms, dehumidifiers actually take the moisture out of the air which will also reduce the chance of mould growing.

Probably more of an issue in coastal & tropical areas, I tried many options to stop rust & mould before I bought a dehumidifier, it would have saved me a lot of trouble had I bought one first up.

It cost under $300 and I set it on 60% in the room where the safe is, problem solved!

I live a couple of kms from the coast and just run it when humidity is over that.

[Fujix]

Probably more of an issue in coastal & tropical areas

Anywhere near the coast definitely.

That salt air is a destroyer!

[nords]

Tropical QLD too from the pictures guys have posted.

Their rifles are just about swimming in oil to keep them protected

[jennageit]

My hubby was helping me get the cupboard ready to install my safe (when I buy it) the other day, and i've read through what everyone has suggested, so now i know how i'm going to keep my guns rust free (hopefully) !