Gun socks

Armored farmer

Armored farmer

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Joined
Mar 28, 2010
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12,131
Location
South Eastern Illinois
I just bought a dozen socks for my mancave(shed) gunsafe. It is a cheap steel locker type that I keep my frequently used, less expensive hunting guns in.
I have noticed some mold forming on the wood. Not so much rust....but I'm definitely worried about it. The shed has heat....but not climate controlled.
My question is, what product would best preserve my guns in the gunsock....inside the safe. ?

My thought was to turn the sock inside out and spray with a protective oil or silicone....then turn it back and place the gun inside.

Ballistol is my go-to.
Who has experience with gunsocks?
What products do you think would work best?
 

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I honestly never put any guns inside gun socks in my safe for more than a day or two. I would be constantly taking them out of the socks to see if they're OK, and wondering if anything was happening that I couldn't see?
I have one old metal locker also for my run of the mill guns, and 3 safes for my collector guns. I went and bought inexpensive carpeting and glued it all over the inside of the steel cabinet to keep my guns from sitting against the steel. Better to be able to see what might be happening.
If you have mold issues you need to add a golden rod heater that will keep the cabinet dry.
 
I recently have started using gun socks for most of the guns in my safe. Just cheap ones off of Amazon. I have not had any issues in the past two years that I have noticed. I also do have a dehumidifer running 24/7 in the room as well though.
 
Chevelle SS said:
I recently have started using gun socks for most of the guns in my safe. Just cheap ones off of Amazon. I have not had any issues in the past two years that I have noticed. I also do have a dehumidifer running 24/7 in the room as well though.
Click to expand...
That's what I bought. It came with small pistol socks too.

You guys down spray any oil or anything on the socks?
 
mm93 said:
I honestly never put any guns inside gun socks in my safe for more than a day or two. I would be constantly taking them out of the socks to see if they're OK, and wondering if anything was happening that I couldn't see?
I have one old metal locker also for my run of the mill guns, and 3 safes for my collector guns. I went and bought inexpensive carpeting and glued it all over the inside of the steel cabinet to keep my guns from sitting against the steel. Better to be able to see what might be happening.
If you have mold issues you need to add a golden rod heater that will keep the cabinet dry.
Click to expand...
Dehumidifier ordered.
Thanks
 
Armored farmer said:
I just bought a dozen socks for my mancave(shed) gunsafe. It is a cheap steel locker type that I keep my frequently used, less expensive hunting guns in.
I have noticed some mold forming on the wood. Not so much rust....but I'm definitely worried about it. The shed has heat....but not climate controlled.
My question is, what product would best preserve my guns in the gunsock....inside the safe. ?

My thought was to turn the sock inside out and spray with a protective oil or silicone....then turn it back and place the gun inside.

Ballistol is my go-to.
Who has experience with gunsocks?
What products do you think would work best?
Click to expand...


Some of the gun socks used to come silicone impregnated. Ballistol won't hurt wood, but it will darken it. I think you made the best choice, AF.
 
I haven't noticed issues with my rifles. I use them to protect them from getting scratched in the safe. What ever you do when it comes to the mold do not use bleach. Bleach does not kill mold. People think it does but it just turns it white and discolors it. You have to use an anti-microbial to kill the mold as it will spread throughout the safe.
I have not sprayed any of my socks, but I don't see how that could hurt. My socks are treated with silicone already. The dehumidifier will help a lot.

There is an article on the post of "Rem Oil" that @hps1 posted where this guy does extensive testing on gun oils and rust protection. You will be surprised that wd- 40 and frog lube did the best job for rust protection. I use Corrosion X-HD, not the one in the article, the one I use is a blue can for marine use and good for saltwater protection. I wipe a little bit on a rag and coat all metal parts with it. I use Ballistol on the wood. Here is the link to that article:

Here's an excellent comparison of qualities of many different gun oils
 
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My ballistol is mixed with 75% h20 and 25% ballistol.
I'm a bit leary to spray the inside of the sock with my ballistol mix. And then stick a gun in the damp sock. It seems counter intuitive. (Dumb)
 
If you're keeping anything like guns in a shed that isn't on HVAC you're inviting damage.

Gun socks aren't the best solution. If you won't move your guns to a conditioned space then put in an enclosure in the "shed" with a dehumidifier inside where you keep your guns. Run the drain out so you don't have to be emptying the dehumidifier reservoir all the time. Put zrust capsules in with the guns. You want dry air to circulate around the guns and you want the anti-corrosion vapor from the capsules to circulate around them. Absent that, use these https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...kQFnoECBUQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0tHmgJywNCZcNuviZb5dCq

I live in an Appalachian temperate rain-forrest and you already know something about the number of carbon steel forged blades I have. How do you think I keep them preserved? ;)
 
Armored farmer said:
My ballistol is mixed with 75% h20 and 25% ballistol.
I'm a bit leary to spray the inside of the sock with my ballistol mix. And then stick a gun in the damp sock. It seems counter intuitive. (Dumb)
Click to expand...
Consider using a carnauba wax or Renaissance wax for the stock. I use full strength ballistol on the stock. I just use a microfiber towel and pour a small amount to the towel.
 
I used to keep my safe out in the unheated garage in Texas. Always wiped guns down with rem oil spray and put socks on them. That part of Texas had high humidity pretty much year round and during the winter temps could swing into the low 30’s. Opening the gun safe occasionally the socks helped protect the guns from rapid temp swings until I got the door closed again.

When I moved the safe went back in the garage in our new climate that had low humidity but temps could get into low single digits in winter. The garage wouldn’t be that for prolonged periods but would get swings when opening the bay to go in and out. Same routine. Guns were in socks but wiped down with rem oil spray. A few socks were impregnated with stuff but not all. I couldn’t tell the difference. No problems with rust ever.

One thing about mold/mildew. Do you have any leather slings in there with or without brass parts. Leather will mold under certain conditions. Just want to make sure that the mold you described on wood isn’t related to leather sling in contact with stock for prolonged period in humid conditions.
 
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So, you didn’t get the silicone impregnated ones….

Ballistol as proposed (a light spray) or Barricade on the metal, not a bad idea.
 
The shed doesn't ever freeze inside my mancave part. It is insulated and has two infrared LP heaters. I have been considering a wall unit with a better thermostat for next winter. "Our" exercise equipment is in there now. "We" would like it to be more of a constant temperature :scrutiny:.

Frulk said:
leather slings in there with or without brass parts.
Click to expand...

I have slings on almost every gun in the safe. That's another reason I wanted the gun socks. Slings everywhere in there.
 
Armored farmer said:
The shed doesn't ever freeze inside my mancave part. It is insulated and has two infrared LP heaters. I have been considering a wall unit with a better thermostat for next winter. "Our" exercise equipment is in there now. "We" would like it to be more of a constant temperature :scrutiny:.



I have slings on almost every gun in the safe. That's another reason I wanted the gun socks. Slings everywhere in there.
Click to expand...
I would remove the leather from the safe. Leather can retain moisture.

I use large desiccant packs…they help.

 
Every one of my firearms,pistols and rifles is in a Bore-Store,whether in the safe or not. I have been using them since the last century and never had any rust problems. On the Oregon coast,when it rains,it pours and does so very often. I occasionally spray them with silicon in a can.
 
My safe is in an a no climate control shop/garage. It's had a golden rod in it since day when it lived in the house. No corrosion, mold, rust or other issues. They work.
 
Armored farmer said:
.
Mrs doesn't care much for my rummaging through the house looking for my hunting equipment at 3am.
It's all in the cave.
Click to expand...

LOL! You sound like my friend who throws all his hunting and camping gear together when I’d pull up to his house to get him. Drove me nuts.

If 28 years in the military only taught me one thing, it’s pack a week before and tweak the packs over the days with the stuff you forgot or were on the fence about. Even for an IDPA match, my gear is ready the day before. Otherwise, I always forget some critical thingamajob….
 
Ok, I put guns in the new socks.:thumbup:
I should have done this years ago!
It's muuuch neater in my safe now.


All my slings are controlled inside the sock. Guns are protected from scratches and dust. 20240504_134819.jpg
I only had one problem...
20240504_135759.jpg
.....not enough socks!
I decided to wipe everything down with my ballistol premix.
Thanks for all the advice.
Next is installation of the new Goldenrod.
 

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