Metal Magazine Storage?

[JCooperfan1911]

Well hi yall!

I’ve got over 30 original M1 carbine magazines from WW2 that are in unissued condition. I know since I cleaned all the dried cosmoline off them LOL but honestly since the ammo crunch, I’m shooting less .30 carbine than ever,

Anybody have any tips on storing metal magazines? I know Smith & Wesson used to use special high tech corrosion preventing paper to wrap their revolvers in during shipping. Would that work? Maybe wrap them up and stick them in a small ammo can?

Look for any and all ideas on how to store steel magazines and prevent them from rusting and getting scratched up. Thanks!

 

[starling]

wrap in anti rust paper (you can get it by the roll) and vacume seal them with your food saver.

 

[DoubleMag]

Is the finish Ok?
I would say, just treat them as any other finished metal? Treat meaning, act upon or towards them.

Perhaps a light coating of heavy oil on the surface 1st. Yes your rust vapor paper would be an excellent idea. Past that, I would use a desiccant packet and store them in an ammo box. I M liking the newer plastic boxes these days. Depending on your climate , could even store them in a small tote I suppose.

 

[JDeere]

I have a bunch and I just keep them in an ammo can no special prep and no issues. I do keep them in the house where it's climate controlled. I have a box full I bought several years ago stashed still coated in cosmoline. I bought a couple of those ammo boxes with the foam already cut for 1911 mag storage...

 

[trackskippy]

I wipe any of the mags I might be worried about rust, with a rag sprayed with Eezox and throw them in a large ziplock. I use the same ziplocks to carry the mags to where ever I shoot as I load them before I go and usually take a bunch. Just keeps things simple.

I keep the mags in one of the lockable multi drawer tool boxes. Mags alone are worth a good chunk of change anymore.

 

[dh1633pm]

I thought you lived in LV? Isn't the humidity about 1% there and nothing rusts. A good first step. I use a long lasting rust preventative. WD-40 Corrosion Inhibitor. Seems to work and the humidity here is much higher.

 

[FL-NC]

motor oil applied with a small paint brush and saran wrap. Then place in a rubber made container.

 

[bearcreek]

I'd probably soak them down with Fluid Film and store in a dry location. Honestly though, I've got metal mags that have been stored for years with no treatment at all and they're fine. Dryness is key.

 

[Riomouse911]

For ages I would wipe them with gun oil and store in .50 cal ammo cans. Some I left wrapped in their original oil/wrapping if I didn’t use them.

At some point back I bought a bunch of .223 and needed some of the magazine cans for ammo storage, so I moved the short carbine mags and 10-round AR mags to a clear plastic snap-top bin that stacks. (The ones that are 9x12, usually used for storing documents.) Now all but my AR mags are separated and stored in these bins, it makes finding the right magazine I want easier… and best yet there is still zero rust on any of them.



The stack is on the bottom of my rolling cart with my armorers tool box, etc.

Stay safe.

 

[Ranger Rog]

Years ago I was given a 1911 from the great War by an old neighbors widow.......It came with four mags all in a shoe box wrapped in what looked like pieces old bed sheets ........was probably in that box for over 60yrs......never had a trace of rust or any oxidation...I eventually had a safe and did oil down the whole rig..I had accumulated a few newer weapons and since the 1911 gauge was pegged in the green. ...sold it in 2015 for a ridiculous price

 

[Skinny Pete]

Just get yourself some VCI (vapor corrosion inhibitor) zip-lock bags
They are relatively inexpensive and do not require doing anything other than placing the item inside
It's what our military uses right along with industry like firearms, machine, tooling, etc

Whenever you buy a new firearm and you see that seemingly random paper or colored bag, that's VCI
If you do any machining and buy new cutters, bits, etc, that wrap they come in is VCI
Which is why they remain corrosion free even in the white

I should note, do not buy them from gun retailers as the mark-ups are often huge
Buy directly from the manufacturer or packing supply companies

 

[Skinny Pete]

And since we're talking unissued M1 Carbine mag love....

 

[dh1633pm]

Just get yourself some VCI (vapor corrosion inhibitor) zip-lock bags

Where does one on the consumer side get these VCI Bags?

 

[Skinny Pete]

Where does one on the consumer side get these VCI Bags?

Just do an online search for them
There are tons of sellers with tons of styles and options
I use Zerust simply because I was familiar with their products from the military
But there are many manufacturers

https://www.zerustproducts.com/products/product-category/firearms-ammo-weapons/

 

[BobABQ]

How about Tupperware containers filled with motor oil? Just leave the box magazines submerged in the motor oil. Messy but it should keep corrosion at bay.

 

[trackskippy]

How about Tupperware containers filled with motor oil? Just leave the box magazines submerged in the motor oil. Messy but it should keep corrosion at bay.

Unless there is no other way to do it, I wouldn't.

My buddy put a couple of guns up like that back in the early 90's and when we pulled them out in the early 2000's, they were fine, but it is a MAJOR PITA to deal with after the fact. Things dont just wipe down and clean up like you might think.

Its not something you want to deal with every time you want to go shooting and need a mag.

 

[hso]

Zerust anticorrosion film and capsules are amazingly effective.

https://www.zerustproducts.com/

 

[rbernie]

VCI bags, FTW. I have pistols and magazines that have been stored in VCI bags since before DubYa was president, and an inspection last year showed that they were still in exactly the same condition as when they went into storage.

 

[jmorris]

I’ve got over 30 original M1 carbine magazines from WW2 that are in unissued condition. I know since I cleaned all the dried cosmoline off them…

Look for any and all ideas on how to store steel magazines and prevent them from rusting and getting scratched up. Thanks!

If I really, really didn’t want them to rust, I would drop them in a bucket of diesel or oil.

That said, the condition they are in right now is what cosmoline can do for what, 77 years? That’s pretty darn good.

 

[Ramone]

I lived on a boat for several years, and picked up a few of these at Cabela's ( or Bass Pro ), and they worked great.

https://www.flambeauoutdoors.com/Fishing/Hard-Storage/Dry-Boxes/11-marine-dry-box-with-zerust-blue

 

[JCooperfan1911]

Thanks, all. Using your tips this is what I did:



Plano dry box with VCI paper and desiccant packets. Placed a light coat of oil on each magazine prior to wrapping Going to check on them from time to time. .30 carbine is just too expensive to shoot right now so these mags (all USGI, including 5 SEY hardback 30 rounders) haven’t been put to much use lately and they’ve just been sitting loose in a bin. Trying to preserve them for histories sake.

Thanks guys!

 

[Darth-Vang]

Well hi yall!

I’ve got over 30 original M1 carbine magazines from WW2 that are in unissued condition. I know since I cleaned all the dried cosmoline off them LOL but honestly since the ammo crunch, I’m shooting less .30 carbine than ever,

Anybody have any tips on storing metal magazines? I know Smith & Wesson used to use special high tech corrosion preventing paper to wrap their revolvers in during shipping. Would that work? Maybe wrap them up and stick them in a small ammo can?

Look for any and all ideas on how to store steel magazines and prevent them from rusting and getting scratched up. Thanks!

How about oiling them up, then use those food sealer machines, seal’em up and put them away in a ammo can?

 

[hso]

WD-40 Corrosion Inhibitor

That stuff is magic at preventing rust.

 

[starnbar]

One thing if you use ammo cans for storage put em where the temp stays around the same all year no attic/backyard shed.