Storing Guns In The Elements?

[FISHINGURU]

Any of you guys keep your guns in a storage unit, shed, garage, ect, without any temp/moisture control?

If so what precautions do you take to make sure they get damaged or rust?

Is it as simple as put them in a gun safe with some kind of moisture absorbers?

[NAMASafetyDirector]

As long as you have a bed to sleep on you have a nice temperature controlled place to keep your guns, right below you if nothing else. Wouldn't think of or reccomend storing any guns outside or somewhere they are not kept at a reasonably stable temperature.

[Ballyhoo]

I agree with NAMA, also spray them down good before you put them in the case. I knew a guy that sprayed the inside of the gun case with WD-40 so every time the gun went in and out of it, it got a little oil on it. Also keeps it from rusting if you leave it in the case longer than expected

[Ufatz]

You might want to carefully consider spraying your guns with WD-40 and then storing them. Examine the properties of WD-40 as compared to various gun oils and lubricants.

I will let others tell you more.

[Gordie]

Do Not use WD-40 when it dries it leaves residue much like leaving gas in a carburetor (shellac).

[Ballyhoo]

Thanks guys, that is something I did not know and I thought I knew everything When I put my guns away, I usually do use a gun oil but when I get back from duck hunting or other when they are damp I do spray them down with WD-40. I will now just make sure I use something else.

[SkunkedAgain]

I am a low-level gun owner, but will merely testify that I leave my .22 winmag rifle in its case at my cabin year-round. It's had all of the temperature swings for a decade and still looks brand new. For reference, I clean and oil it once a year and shoot it probably 4-5 times per year.

Maybe problems will present themselves farther down the line if the posts above are correct, but I'm not seeing it so far.

[FISHINGURU]

As far as I know temperature has nothing to do with it. A gun can handle any temp. It's the moisture you have to be concerned about. I seen a thread on some gun forum once where a bunch of people store their guns in storage units or out in the shed/garage. So I don't think it's unheard of.

[fishuhalik]

The guns will be fine. I keep an ar at our cabin at all times since we have a lot of coons, yotes, skunks etc that need dispatching. Having excess oil on any ar is strictly taboo, so I bought a nice Pelican-type case for it and keep a few of those moisture absorbent packets in there & it still looks like new. I also keep the ammo in the same case.

I think where you'll run into an issue is with optics. When it gets to -40 or worse, the glass in the scope could crack. All I have on the ar is a reflex sight so I'm not too worried about it. Just my .02, I could be wrong. It's happened before