Anybody have experience with military gun storage?

[Mirage]

Hey looking for some experience.

My son is going to have a 3 year deployment coming up.
He was going to ship his firearms to me for safe keeping, but that is more complex than I thought (NC to CA).
So, he has the option to have the Navy/Marines store his firearms but, we don't know if that is a good idea or not.
Number one, they will be stored in coastal North Carolina (high humidity) so, a little worried they will be a rusted disaster by time he gets back.
Number 2 will they be well secured, or could things be procured?
Any help, ideas, etc. would be greatly appreciated.
Ron W.

[ten888]

There is a member here by the username Audiophil2 who is an FFL and offers storage services in AZ.

https://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?p=22266711

[edgerly779]

military knows how to store firearms in any climate. they should be very safe.











they should be very safe.

[rero360]

[Milsurp1]

[Milsurp1]

And no, I would not put those firearms in California for any reason!

[BajaJames83]

Where does he currently store them?
IMHO I would not want the military to store them for me.
They get locked in the armory in a case. While its not the worst case they will get handled and moved around often.

[GunDog]

Absolutely no way in hell I would have the military store my firearms. To do so would render them subject to theft and/or damage due to mishandling.

When I first enlisted in the Navy over 50 years ago, I had some firearms that I had to leave home because I didn't quite know at the time what the future held for me. Upon the advice of a retired Army ordnance officer, family friend and firearms mentor, I removed the furniture (i.e. stocks and grips) from my weapons, greased the actions and barrels down with rust inhibiting grease and then wrapped them up in plastic sheeting. Next I placed the firearms in a secured locker that was stored in the basement of my parent's house close to the furnace where I knew everything would remain nice and dry and safe and most of all undisturbed. Three years later when I returned home and retrieved my small arsenal, grease was removed and after everything was once again clean and oiled, inspection revealed zero rust or corrosion and most of all no evidence of mishandling by curious minds and hands in my absence.

It was good advice then and is good advice today.

[edgerly779]

Maybe someone who has stored items with military while deployed can chime in instead of I think this will happen or paranoia.

[Mirage]

From what he was told they contract out the storage to a private company.
They will probably be stored somewhere in Jacksonville NC.
Any prep like grease, plastic bags, desicant would be his responsibility.
He has been in NC. for 3 years but still owns a home in CA. that he has been renting out. I don't know if that makes him a dual resident or not. Had to pay CA. property taxes during that time.

[Mirage]

He will have 20 years by next year, so I don't think he will know till he is asked to re-up whether he will retire or continue. I think it will depend on how things go this time with him and his family.
If he retires, I think he will come back to CA., at least for a while.
He will have to do some reading, and think about what he may do after this tour.
Thanks

[Milsurp1]

Oh, military storage as in household goods? Definitely not. To be clear, I am saying that I would trust the on-base arms room for storage of my personal firearms. Bank vault security, paper trail, climate controlled, and alarmed. Even if Private Snuffy fondles the gun, is he really going to hurt it?

[Transient]

Veteran and spouse to active duty sailor currently stationed in Norfolk, VA. We're moving to California in August.

First thing, I don't recommend storing firearms with the base armory. Although they are indoors and temperature controlled, they are not secure with the armory staff. While stationed in Chicago I opted to do this, even though I was warned not to. I thought the rumors about the armory helping themselves to personal firearms weren't credible. I was wrong. I sent them to the armory freshly cleaned. When I took them out a few years Lear it was apparent they were used. Carbon build up, etc. One firearm in particular, a wood stock rifle only built in the 1950s, was damaged with some parts missing. I've been working on restoring it, but it hasn't been easy.

If I'm just up the road in Norfolk, VA and had zero issues with humidity and tidal flooding, then I seriously doubt you would too. However, that is dependent upon how the firearms are stored (indoor and not in a place common to coastal flooding). The real concern I see here is that under the law allowing somebody other than the owner to possess the firearm is essentially a transfer of ownership. I have a brother in Nevada. There's nothing prohibiting from possessing any firearms, and I considered this option. I ultimately decided to not go this route out of concern of federal laws regarding ownership and possession changing while in California. I'd want my ownership of certain firearms to be grandfathered should the worst possible scenario play out.

As somebody else already mentioned, I'm looking into the Audiophilz guy that was recommended, and other similar options. I'm also considering purchasing a very cheap piece of land in thir middle of nowhere USA and storing the firearms there. Point being, it is my recommendation that your family member keep those firearms legally in their ownership.

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[Transient]

From what he was told they contract out the storage to a private company.
They will probably be stored somewhere in Jacksonville NC.
Any prep like grease, plastic bags, desicant would be his responsibility.
He has been in NC. for 3 years but still owns a home in CA. that he has been renting out. I don't know if that makes him a dual resident or not. Had to pay CA. property taxes during that time.

If this were the case, I could claim dual citizenship in Virginia. My wife and I have owned a home here since 2009, but rented it out from 2012-2017. We're Utah residents.

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[Transient]

Oh, military storage as in household goods? Definitely not. To be clear, I am saying that I would trust the on-base arms room for storage of my personal firearms. Bank vault security, paper trail, climate controlled, and alarmed. Even if Private Snuffy fondles the gun, is he really going to hurt it?

Just to get the guns on base you need to call the armory and base police to arrange a time to do everything. Personal firearms aren't allowed on most bases. Typical policy and procedure is to met a military police officer in a visitor parking lot at the gate entrance and they will escort you to the armory whe they will make sure your firearms are taken and stored. You would need to do this every time you want to pick up from or deliver your firearms to the armory. Compliance with state firearm laws is required.

As for HHG storage, I don't recommend it. Mold has been an issue many times for many people.

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