Swollen stock

[Lowbands]

Hi,

Need a bit of advice.
I have a 2021/22 Beretta silver pigeon I bought in the summer (uk).
It’s been fine but last month the barrel release lever seemed to be sticking.
Today I pulled it out of my safe and the lever was hitting the stock and wouldn’t function at all.
It seems the stock has swollen, the fore end seems tight and looks to have done the same.
There’s no rust on any of my guns so not sure why this has happened. It doesn’t look like humidity but the room they’re in does get cold. Potentially freezing over the winter.
Any advice on why this is happening and on how to cure.
Any help us really appreciated

 

[kudu]

Not sure what would cause something like this except actually being in water. Stocks should be dried and sealed enough to not take on excess moisture from humidity. Got many days here that humidity gets in high 90% and wood gun stocks have not visible effects. I would call or ask Beretta if they have had any problems with any other guns given how new your gun is and they may take it back and put new wood on it.

 

[Bill M.]

I think the stock has swelled from high humidity. Maybe the grain direction in that stock is such that the swelling is high. Flat sawn wood has high swelling and shrinking in the vertical direction in a gun stock. Getting the stock gradually dried down and keep it there is probably the best solution. Maybe take it out of the safe and store it in a lightly heated room in the house for a month or so. Not real near a heat source.

 

[jmr40]

Wood is an organic substance. Even when kiln dried there is about 10% moisture content by weight sealed inside the stock. If they go below about 10% the wood becomes brittle and will break easily. As temperature, humidity, and altitude change that moisture inside swells and contracts, And you don't have to be hunting in the rain, it will do it in your safe. Sometimes enough for the wood to crack and split.

FWIW, wood with a lot of figure to it is affected more than straight grained plain looking wood. I've not known of it causing an issue with a shotgun, but am not surprised.

This is a bigger issue with rifles, especially those used in a wide range of conditions. If I leave GA with 80% humidity, 45-degree temps and 900' altitude and drive to Colorado and hunt in 15% humidity, 15-degree temps and 9000' elevation there is almost zero chance that my wood stocked rifles zero will be the same.

 

[Lowbands]

Thanks for the replies.
Checked the humidity and it’s high so put in some silica he’ll. the temp in there is hovering around the 11c mark.
Can anyone advise on a heater ?
I’ve read of people putting bulbs in but not met anyone who’s tried it.
I moved the safe last year as I needed to use the bedroom it was in.
Sorry I did now

 

[rdnktrkr]

Do you have access to a Golden rod? I installed 2 in each of my safes and added led lights with a magnetic switch, I like that better than the dissatant packs

 

[Lowbands]

I’ve added some gel packs but they hardly moved the RH%.
I don’t think a golden rod would raise the temp enough to make a lot of difference to be honest. Iv read there only about 8w.
A 60w bulb lifted the temp from 9c to 16c in less than an hour. I’m thinking of trying a heat bulb and temp switch to try and maintain a minimum of 12c. That should drop my RH to below 50.
Anyone tried that approach?

 

[paul harm]

I use a 100 watt light bulb - the old style so it puts off heat, a Golden Rod, and a rechargeable gel pack in my small " gun room " that's 3'x6'x7' and in my basement. I still have to check all my guns [ about 30 in there ] monthly.

 

[entropy]

I run a dehumidifier in my reloading/cleaning area, it's even on right now, in the winter, though the RH% is @ 25%. It has a minimum setting button I can adjust that will shut it off at. Set at 35% right now.
In the summertime, I have to dump it 2-3 times daily. I do have a large silicon dessicant pac iny main safe also.

 

[PapaG]

I have a 686 Essential and the inside of the forend was not sealed. I had to sand a goodly amount of wood out of each side before it would easily snap on and off. It is now sealed. Berettas are wonderful guns but I think some don't get the same attention as others. Relieve and seal. I used wipe on poly urethane.

 

[Odd Job]

Goldenrod or similar will be better than gel packs. I have gel packs in my safe at the range but I have to recharge them every week just to keep humidity at 50%. If that safe was in my house I would get a goldenrod and call it done.