Long term storage in plastic cases OK? - The Firearms Forum

RAJBCPA · 10-05-2012, 04:56 PM

I have accumulated several plastic rifle/shotgun storage cases recently. Some are single and others are double. These are the ones that are under $50 with the foam cusion inside.

Are these OK for long term storage and will they impede rust formation or is it better to let air circulate around guns for rust prevention?

Thx

Shooter45 · 10-05-2012, 06:00 PM

Never store in a case.

RAJBCPA · 10-05-2012, 06:09 PM

Thx ...why? do plastic cases cause rust?

gvw3 · 10-05-2012, 06:16 PM

Don't do it. I did it and my gun rusted. Also don't leave a revolver in a holster for a long time. It will rust. Did that also.

Bindernut · 10-05-2012, 08:08 PM

Never store in a plastic hard case (with or without a foam liner) unless you also have a dessicant packet in to absorb the moisture. Actually, the same applies to a gun safe too...be sure you've got something to absorb the moisture out of the air.
They don't allow airflow around the metal and any moisture that's inside when you close it up will stick around.

Same applies to the foam liner (or even the synthetic gun rugs). These will hold moisture right against the metal and it'll rust even faster. Evn if you oiled the metal before storage, the foam will rub some of it off and you'll get a mottled rust finish that matches the pattern of the foam. Not pretty!

And unless you're in a really dry environment, I would also use a thicker grease/oil or cosmoline type product to seal moisture away from the firearm if it's truly long-term storage. Short-term, like a few months or less, you can use pretty much any gun oil.

Personally, I've got several hunting rifles that regularly get a coat of automotive paste wax. Helps keep the moisture from snow/rain out in the field from starting rust. Also helps with off-season storage rust prevention too.

CJ_56 · 10-06-2012, 03:36 AM

That foam holds moisture. It's like a rust machine for firearms. I've seen reports of guns rusting totally within a month of being stored in a foam lined case.

There are specially designed cases where you can store guns without worrying about rust but the cheap ones are not in that category. They generally use cloth instead of foam and they have some sort of silicone treatment to prevent them from retaining moisture and holding it against the firearm. I don't even know where to buy those cases but I know my friend has several of them. You can bet they aren't cheap though.

markfh · 10-09-2012, 12:11 PM

Ditto on the plastic and foam. I use silicon treated knit gun socks for rifles and pistols in my safe. They also help to keep from scratching the firearms when moving them around.

Those that I don't plan on shooting for long periods I use renaissance wax on instead of car wax. It's the wax that most museums use and it has no contents hazardous to the firearms.

Albtraum · 10-09-2012, 06:58 PM

Wow I did not know this, and always wondered how our guns got a tiny layer of powdery rust even after oiling everything... So where can I get dessicant packets to absorb moisture?

ozo · 10-09-2012, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shooter45

Never store in a case.

As Sam says.....
never store in any gun case !!!!!!
A gun safe is bad enough, if you don't take the
proper precautions.
AND........
ALWAYS coat your firearms with SBGO......
[never seen anything that comes close]
No matter how/where you store them !
GET YOU SOME......you will not regret.
www.silverbulletgunoil.net

76Highboy · 10-09-2012, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bindernut

Never store in a plastic hard case (with or without a foam liner) unless you also have a dessicant packet in to absorb the moisture. Actually, the same applies to a gun safe too...be sure you've got something to absorb the moisture out of the air.
They don't allow airflow around the metal and any moisture that's inside when you close it up will stick around.

Same applies to the foam liner (or even the synthetic gun rugs). These will hold moisture right against the metal and it'll rust even faster. Evn if you oiled the metal before storage, the foam will rub some of it off and you'll get a mottled rust finish that matches the pattern of the foam. Not pretty!

And unless you're in a really dry environment, I would also use a thicker grease/oil or cosmoline type product to seal moisture away from the firearm if it's truly long-term storage. Short-term, like a few months or less, you can use pretty much any gun oil.

Personally, I've got several hunting rifles that regularly get a coat of automotive paste wax. Helps keep the moisture from snow/rain out in the field from starting rust. Also helps with off-season storage rust prevention too.

About 7 years ago I had several guns sitting on a "Toolbox" liner, the liner was from craftsman. The handguns were sitting on the liner for about a week and I could not believe my eyes. Every one of the revolvers had rust forming on the front sights. I had to use steel wool and Rem Oil to get the rust off. Also, I have seen guns that were stored in plastic boxes that have rust on the hammer.

10-05-2012, 04:56 PM	#1
RAJBCPA V.I.P. Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 329	Long term storage in plastic cases OK? I have accumulated several plastic rifle/shotgun storage cases recently. Some are single and others are double. These are the ones that are under $50 with the foam cusion inside. Are these OK for long term storage and will they impede rust formation or is it better to let air circulate around guns for rust prevention? Thx -->

10-05-2012, 06:00 PM	#2
Shooter45 Administrator Join Date: Feb 2001 Contributor Posts: 8,789	Re: Long term storage in plastic cases OK? Never store in a case.

10-05-2012, 06:09 PM	#3
RAJBCPA V.I.P. Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 329	Re: Long term storage in plastic cases OK? Thx ...why? do plastic cases cause rust? Last edited by RAJBCPA; 10-05-2012 at 06:13 PM..

10-05-2012, 06:16 PM	#4
gvw3 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Chicago IL Area Contributor Posts: 3,463	Re: Long term storage in plastic cases OK? Don't do it. I did it and my gun rusted. Also don't leave a revolver in a holster for a long time. It will rust. Did that also. __________________ Criminals advocate stronger gun laws to foster a safer work environment. This limits their exposure to risk.

10-05-2012, 08:08 PM	#5
Bindernut Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: ND, USA Posts: 2,489	Re: Long term storage in plastic cases OK? Never store in a plastic hard case (with or without a foam liner) unless you also have a dessicant packet in to absorb the moisture. Actually, the same applies to a gun safe too...be sure you've got something to absorb the moisture out of the air. They don't allow airflow around the metal and any moisture that's inside when you close it up will stick around. Same applies to the foam liner (or even the synthetic gun rugs). These will hold moisture right against the metal and it'll rust even faster. Evn if you oiled the metal before storage, the foam will rub some of it off and you'll get a mottled rust finish that matches the pattern of the foam. Not pretty! And unless you're in a really dry environment, I would also use a thicker grease/oil or cosmoline type product to seal moisture away from the firearm if it's truly long-term storage. Short-term, like a few months or less, you can use pretty much any gun oil. Personally, I've got several hunting rifles that regularly get a coat of automotive paste wax. Helps keep the moisture from snow/rain out in the field from starting rust. Also helps with off-season storage rust prevention too.

10-06-2012, 03:36 AM	#6
CJ_56 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: SE Ohio Posts: 391	Re: Long term storage in plastic cases OK? That foam holds moisture. It's like a rust machine for firearms. I've seen reports of guns rusting totally within a month of being stored in a foam lined case. There are specially designed cases where you can store guns without worrying about rust but the cheap ones are not in that category. They generally use cloth instead of foam and they have some sort of silicone treatment to prevent them from retaining moisture and holding it against the firearm. I don't even know where to buy those cases but I know my friend has several of them. You can bet they aren't cheap though.

10-09-2012, 12:11 PM	#7
markfh V.I.P. Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 200	Re: Long term storage in plastic cases OK? Ditto on the plastic and foam. I use silicon treated knit gun socks for rifles and pistols in my safe. They also help to keep from scratching the firearms when moving them around. Those that I don't plan on shooting for long periods I use renaissance wax on instead of car wax. It's the wax that most museums use and it has no contents hazardous to the firearms.

10-09-2012, 06:58 PM	#8
Albtraum Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: California Posts: 686	Re: Long term storage in plastic cases OK? Wow I did not know this, and always wondered how our guns got a tiny layer of powdery rust even after oiling everything... So where can I get dessicant packets to absorb moisture? Last edited by Albtraum; 10-10-2012 at 01:27 AM..