Storing long guns in a hard case with desiccant packets

[Kevinq6]

I store some guns in a job box and if I could put them in a light hard case that would be preferred but I want to make sure they do not rust. I have had issues with a rifle rusting in a soft case once but I believe I had some rain/sweat on the sling when I put it in.

If I put a few new desiccant packets in a hard case and oil the guns before storing them will that be safe to prevent any rust?

 

[edwardware]

Desiccant packs have a finite capacity, after which they're pointless. For a short time in a low-humidity environment I'm sure that'd be fine.

For indeterminate time. . . you need to either dehumidify, or coat the metal with something. Militaries have been doing this with hot-dip cosmoline for over a century.

So: where, what humidity, and for how long?

 

[Kevinq6]

I'd be storing them without using them for up to a few months only. This is indoors in central Texas so not exceptionally humid.

 

[Varminterror]

Don’t. Period.

Dessicant packs rely upon air movement to transport moisture around an internal space. Inside a hardcase, put simply, air ain’t movin’.

What do you see manufacturers doing? They pack new firearms coated in oil inside plastic bags to avoid moisture ingress or oil egress, and using desiccant PAPER to sequester the incidental moisture present within the case when it’s originally sealed.

Long term storage in hard cases is an invitation to damage. Whether it’s a reaction between plasticizers in the foam and the firearm finish (wood, plastic, metal, buttpad rubber), contact with moisture, wicking of gun oil (even absorbed oil within the metal surface) by the foam... it’s just dumb.

Around 20yrs ago, I stored an 870 in a hard case for 6months once when I was working and living in DFW, upon arrival home, I realized it would forever onward be dappled because of the contact with the hard case padding... I knew better at the time, but thought I had taken appropriate measures... nope...

 

[Blue68f100]

You could put the gun in a silicone treated gun sock. I use these for storage. Not sure how the foam in the case will react to it though. All I do to the gun is clean & oil before putting it in the sock. These are normally pretty cheap. I use them in my safe to protect the guns from hitting each other.

 

[toivo]

Soft cases made of natural materials -- canvas outside, cotton inside -- are pretty benign. Add a silicone sock into the mix, and you should be good for long-term storage. I've kept rifles that way for years with no rust.

 

[Kevinq6]

Thanks for the good info guys. Seems like I will need to figure out a better way to store my guns in my job box without putting them in cases. I was doubting myself but hoping I could put them in cases and be lazy haha. I am sure I can build something, and I'll be giving them a cleaning every now and then so it doesn't have to be something extreme.

 

[wiscoaster]

My long term storage consists of clean rags very lightly oiled and wrapped around the firearm; the resulting "mummy" is sealed in a plastic bag with a couple large dessicant packs; the bagged firearm is boxed in a cardboard box, and the box sealed with packing tape. I've stored firearms like that for periods in excess of a year through all four seasons in a non-climate-controlled environment in Wisconsin with no degradation of the firearm at all. Though I must say that the dessicant might be superfluous, as it seems to last at most about six months. The main caution is taking a firearm out of storage in the winter because its metal is going to be really cold. Don't remove it from its "mummification" until it's room temperature otherwise you'll get a nice coating of moisture condensed on it both inside and out.

 

[natman]

Gun cases are for transporting guns, not storing them. Coat the metal inside and out with an anti-rust agent. There are several good ones, the question is how much work do you want to put in to applying and especially removing it? Cosmoline is very effective at preventing rust, but it's a pain to remove and I wouldn't recommend it unless you have access to the unlimited supply of cheap labor the military enjoys.

I have had excellent results with Breakfree COLLECTOR oil and VCI plastic bags. Breakfree COLLECTOR is an oil and applies easily and doesn't even have to be removed. LPS3 and Rig grease are also excellent, but are more difficult to remove.

 

[MI2600]

Silicone socks and Zrust bags,

 

[sparkyv]

I've used silicone spray on the foam/lining of the case for decades and have never had an issue. WD40 makes a silicone spray.

You could put the gun in a silicone treated gun sock

Add a silicone sock into the mix

Silicone socks and