Long Term Storage

[pterrell]

So, I'm the lucky winner of a 3 year PCS to Japan. The best part about that is I need to store my guns at my parent's house since Japan is about as anti gun as it comes. That being said, here is my current plan. Let me know if there is more or less I need to do to give them the best shot at surviving 3 years of neglect.

I've got my safe (of course) and I'm planning to put a dehumidifying rod along the bottom of the safe. Also going to line the inside of the door with a thin weather stripping to try and seal out any moisture. After that, TW25 or Slip 2000 on all the metal parts that I can reach in a healthy coating.

Does that sound like a solid plan or should I further disassemble things like the bolt or remove the barrel on handguns? I have both modern guns and old guns.

Thanks.

[Dodahdude]

Yep... Good plan. You might consider taping the door gap on the outside of the door.

[edgerly779]

Do not provide combo or any access to safe. It must only be opened by you.

[NiteQwill]

Use wax on the exterior of your guns (Renaissance Wax is great and is used in museums). Eezox for inside the barrels. A good lube for the FCG.

I've stored guns for much longer, without a golden rod, without a hiccup.

[dwtt]

I gave all of my guns a good coating of gun oil from Outers before I put mine in storage at a relative's house in the Bay Area. The guns were fine, but the oil had dried up when I came back a year and a half to take them to my new home out of state. For 3 years, I would recommend coating all the metal parts with a light coat of grease, which you can easily clean out with Hoppes #9 when you return.

[pterrell]

Do not provide combo or any access to safe. It must only be opened by you.

Different state and state of residence than California so different set of rules, although I appreciate your concern.

I dont store anything long-term in a fire proof safe. They are lined with bags of gelwater that turn to steam during a fire, and in my estimation, increase internal humidity. Saves your documents and cash during a fire, but ruins firearms. I use gunlockers, goldenrods and sometimes desicant. Sealing "air tight" is not an option for me. Closed & sealed boxes sweat. I hose everything down with T9 and store all wood stocked long arms inverted, preferably hung or on plastic blocks like cut up pieces of plastic chopping blocks. No rugs or anything that will attract moisture. All this is provided that someone is there, keeping an eye on things as regards fire safety. Have not had a rust problem in years, even in the wet times. There are RV type desicants that come in sealed buckets that may help in a fireproof safe, but they have to be swapped out. You might want to consider flying home once or twice (if allowable) to check.

I opted not to get a fireproof safe for exactly that reason. Eventually my plan was to build a fireproof enclosure for the safe with drywall but, well, this happened. What about rifle socks? I've heard that there are many that are lined with silica as to absorb moisture.

I gave all of my guns a good coating of gun oil from Outers before I put mine in storage at a relative's house in the Bay Area. The guns were fine, but the oil had dried up when I came back a year and a half to take them to my new home out of state. For 3 years, I would recommend coating all the metal parts with a light coat of grease, which you can easily clean out with Hoppes #9 when you return.

Any grease in particular you would use or just regular bearing/wheel grease?

[EspoMan]

I dont store anything long-term in a fire proof safe. They are lined with bags of gelwater that turn to steam during a fire, and in my estimation, increase internal humidity. Saves your documents and cash during a fire, but ruins firearms. I use gunlockers, goldenrods and sometimes desicant. Sealing "air tight" is not an option for me. Closed & sealed boxes sweat. I hose everything down with T9 and store all wood stocked long arms inverted, preferably hung or on plastic blocks like cut up pieces of plastic chopping blocks. No rugs or anything that will attract moisture. All this is provided that someone is there, keeping an eye on things as regards fire safety. Have not had a rust problem in years, even in the wet times. There are RV type desicants that come in sealed buckets that may help in a fireproof safe, but they have to be swapped out. You might want to consider flying home once or twice (if allowable) to check.

You sure? My understanding is that most fireproof safes use drywall as a type of fireproofing.

[oktavist]

Cosmoline?
そして日本語をべんきょうしって。ｗｗ
I'm chemical core so I doubt they'd ever send me to japan...

[Quiet]

Do not provide combo or any access to safe. It must only be opened by you.

Different state and state of residence than California so different set of rules, although I appreciate your concern.

Same set of rules, because it's Federal.

Feds consider it "storage" when the firearms are stored in a locked container and the owner is the only person with the key/combo to the locked container.

If someone else has the key/combo to the locked container, then it is not considered "storage" and if the locked container is in another State, then it can be considered an illegal transfer by residents of different States by the Feds (Federal felony for everyone involved).

[pterrell]

Same set of rules, because it's Federal.

Feds consider it "storage" when the firearms are stored in a locked container and the owner is the only person with the key/combo to the locked container.

If someone else has the key/combo to the locked container, then it is not considered "storage" and if the locked container is in another State, then it can be considered an illegal transfer by residents of different States by the Feds (Federal felony for everyone involved).

If I return to my home of record, and therefore my state of legal residence, while executing pcs orders and my state does not require background checks to privately transfer firearms then it's a moot point.

[baih777]

buy some of these. I have had a few rifles in these for more than 20 years and no rust.

http://www.borestores.com/

[pterrell]

Cosmoline?
そして日本語をべんきょうしって。ｗｗ
I'm chemical core so I doubt they'd ever send me to japan...

Ironically that was my first thought though. I don't understand any Japanese so I'm pretty screwed there, although I think I'll be able to eventually pick up on the Romaji a bit. I'm going to be a very giant white man in a crowd of very small people lol.

[dwtt]

Any grease in particular you would use or just regular bearing/wheel grease?

I don't have any particular brand of grease to recommend, but I had a tube of red grease I bought from the BMW dealership for lubing the clutch splines on my R-bike that I used some times on my guns. It seems to work fine. I think any bearing grease should be OK, since it's job is to keep oxygen and moisture away from the metal to prevent corrosion.

[heidad01]

Marine Grease if you are going to use grease.

[WartHog]

Eezox or Corrosion-X for the win. Easy application, less mess, and MUCH easier to quickly put a weapon back into service if need be.

http://www.6mmbr.com/corrosiontest.html