Storage

[Clark McCombe]

Now that my Parker collection is growing, wondering what the proper way to store the guns.
Break them down and lay flat in a case?
Upright in a safe? With a sock?
I imagine humidity is the enemy, I have a dehumidifier running.
Wipe them down? With what oil?
Eventual dream would be to have a small gun room😊
Thanks
Clark

[Daryl Corona]

Muzzle down in the safe in a sock after you wipe them down.

[Dean Romig]

Dk NOT store guns in cases.






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[Bill Murphy]

Build your gun vault now, not later. Don't worry about the rust.

[Craig Larter]

I dislike the whole idea of "storage", I would much rather display my guns, pay the insurance costs for loss rather than locking them away in a supposedly fire proof/theft resistant safe. If I had small children or lived in an high crime area I'm sure my attitude would be different.

[Russ Jackson]

I always store my guns in a Lockable Safe wiped down with Gun Oil , Muzzle down and Keep two out for displaying on the top of two different cabinets in my Little Gun Room and those guns are In their Leather Cases with the Lid Open for display ! Then switch them out every week or so , Our Daughter is grown so no Children here to be concerned about the two out of the safe ! When she was younger and we seemed to have kids around all the time I locked up every gun and even had a safe for all the ammo !!!!!!

[Phil Yearout]

The Old Pine Cabinet. Can't imagine not having 'em out where I can see 'em.

[David Livesay]

Muzzle down in the safe in a sock after you wipe them down.

Can you explain why it's best to store muzzle down please?

[Ken Descovich]

There is a couple of reasons I store my shotguns muzzle down, one is to stop from crushing the rubber recoil pad and the other is gravity keeps the oil from going into the stock.

[Russ Jackson]

[QUOTE=David Livesay;424594]Can you explain why it's best to store muzzle down please?[/QUOT

Most of our older Guns already have oil soaking in the heads of their stocks from standing upright in a corner or gun cabinet for years so the reason I store them muzzle down is to prevent it from getting worse !

[Stan Hillis]

Dk NOT store guns in cases.

I've stored numerous fine doubles in leather, lined leg of mutton cases for many years. I use Beretta brand gun socks in them and have never had one iota of a problem with any of them.

I feel like they are safer in the LOM cases than they are being banged around going in and out of a gun safe. I have some guns in a safe but the nicest ones are stored year 'round in nice LOM cases.

The Beretta socks are treated with Vapor Corrosion Inhibitor. This technology has been around for decades. Brownells sells, or used to sell, VPI paper that was great for bore protection and wrapping small parts for storage. If I was going to have any problem with rust or corrosion I would have had it many years ago. JMO, OMMV.

https://www.beretta.com/en-us/product/beretta-gun-sock-vci-SFOU65001

[Clark McCombe]

Makes sense now to store muzzle down.
Of course the relatively expensive safe and another older gun cabinet I have are configured to store muzzle up.
Fortunately there is no end to this Parker addiction.
Next project would be to configure a proper gun room for storage and admiration!

[Dean Romig]

I've stored numerous fine doubles in leather, lined leg of mutton cases for many years. I use Beretta brand gun socks in them and have never had one iota of a problem with any of them.

I feel like they are safer in the LOM cases than they are being banged around going in and out of a gun safe. I have some guns in a safe but the nicest ones are stored year 'round in nice LOM cases.

The Beretta socks are treated with Vapor Corrosion Inhibitor. This technology has been around for decades. Brownells sells, or used to sell, VPI paper that was great for bore protection and wrapping small parts for storage. If I was going to have any problem with rust or corrosion I would have had it many years ago. JMO, OMMV.

https://www.beretta.com/en-us/product/beretta-gun-sock-vci-SFOU65001

That’s all well and good Stan but we have all heard or read of horror stories of guns that were stored in lined cases WITHOUT the extra protection you provide to your guns. Anyone who stores guns in cases without extra protection (which is the norm) in my opinion, is just asking for trouble.





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[David Safris]

Interesting thread and have learned a few things already so thank you to everyone sharing their experiences. Dean I’m going to ask for a follow up - I have a field gun and competition type gun I store in their cases - is the worry moisture accumulation in the case ? Or is there something else going on in the closed case - they are in the molded plastic clamshell type case with fabric interior that the guns were purchased with.

[Stan Hillis]

The foam rubber linings in molded plastic cases are subject to deterioration. When that happens the foam sticks itself to the gun, both wood and metal. It can be cleaned off but it is a pain in the rear, and you are subject to damaging the finishes on the gun in so doing.

I will never use these type cases for storage, only for transport, etc.

[edgarspencer]

Irrespective of your storage method, a quality, automatic dehumidifier is the first line of defense. Phil C may not have a humidity issue in sunny Arizona, but if you live in the northeast you probably do.
Basements, while the logical location for many, are usually more damp than the upper floors.
Having said all that, we have been seeing single digits on the hygrometer this winter, when the humidifier runs out of water.

[Dean Romig]

Interesting thread and have learned a few things already so thank you to everyone sharing their experiences. Dean I’m going to ask for a follow up - I have a field gun and competition type gun I store in their cases - is the worry moisture accumulation in the case ? Or is there something else going on in the closed case - they are in the molded plastic clamshell type case with fabric interior that the guns were purchased with.


The problem arises because of the metal parts of the gun being in contact with a fabric or foam liner where there is no air circulation coupled with humid conditions. This a problem in long-term storage under these conditions. Certainly not a problem for short-term storage of just a few months between inspection, use and subsequent cleaning and oiling before being stored again.





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[Brian Dudley]

The guns also seem to just fit in there better with the muzzle down.

[David Safris]

Thank you Dean for the explanation. ok - new fears unlocked ! both are in socks inside the case and are fairly new so hopefully that takes some risk out of it - but I can see where this could happen over time. I like the cases as I know the gun is safe from handling and transportation damage - hadnt thought of the long term storage risk.

So am I the only person who has gotten a gun out of the safe and turned a bit too quick and whacked the end of the barrel on the top of the gun safe. I have also been putting my gun together standing in the back of my 4 Runner and banged the barrel on the lifted back door that is high enough to stand under ..but not high enough for you to throw a shot gun up on your shoulder. So many ways to make mistakes.

[Dean Romig]

The night before departing for two weeks of fly-fishing in Alaska in the last week of June I had my new 10-wt Winston rod out and was flexing and feeling its action when I collided the tip with the ceiling fan which was on medium speed… thank God there was no damage except to my pride.





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[Daryl Corona]

Thank you Dean for the explanation. ok - new fears unlocked ! both are in socks inside the case and are fairly new so hopefully that takes some risk out of it - but I can see where this could happen over time. I like the cases as I know the gun is safe from handling and transportation damage - hadnt thought of the long term storage risk.

So am I the only person who has gotten a gun out of the safe and turned a bit too quick and whacked the end of the barrel on the top of the gun safe. I have also been putting my gun together standing in the back of my 4 Runner and banged the barrel on the lifted back door that is high enough to stand under ..but not high enough for you to throw a shot gun up on your shoulder. So many ways to make mistakes.

The man who many years ago introduced me to Parkers, and knew more about firearms in his little finger than I would ever know, sold me my first Parker complete with LOM case. He said lube it and leave it together not taking it apart every time you transport it. Buy a good quality full length case. He said sooner or later you will be at your tailgate or in your gun room attempting to assemble your gun and the barrels or forend will slip out of your hands and be damaged. He was right about that. Ask me how I know.

Plus, gun socks are cheap. Buy a bunch and use them when storing your gun and when transporting them in your full length case.

[John Dallas]

About 35 years ago, my bestie was going on a 3 year assignment in Japan, so tried carefully to store his guns in his safe, with the guns in treated socks. When he came home, many of the stocks were screwed up by some chemical that was in the socks. A melluvahess.

I assume things have changed in the last 35 years.

[Phil Yearout]

While LOM cases are very cool (and I have several) they mostly stay on the shelf and I transport my guns in long cases for the very reasons Daryl noted above. And I also know from experience as I once watched a set of barrels slide across the pavement :crying:. Some scratches but no major damage fortunately.

And I may be wrong, but IMO if you're worried about oil soaking into the wood you're using too much oil :whistle:.

[Garry L Gordon]

I use long cases for the reasons mentioned also. I once had the forearm slip from my hand and really do a number on a nice stock.

[Daryl Corona]

Not to mentioned lubing the critical areas of your guns action. If you take them apart to fit into a takedown case you really should wipe that lube off then reapply it when reassembling it. Not something I'm willing to do between coverts or fields in the cold or rain. Just my routine...do what floats your boat.

[Larry Stauch]

And there is no reason for those cute little cut outs that separate guns in the gun safes. You can get a lot more guns in them without all that interior gingerbread. West of the Rockies we don't have to worry about rusting humidity, until you get west of the Cascades.
X
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[Ryan Brege]

The balance of a gun on its nose would freak me out. Waiting for them to topple. If you use a quality product that seems to "dry" such as G96 and don't lube it like a leaking Drott and I don't see where there should be any concern. There have been guns stored for hundreds of year on their butt that don't exhibit any issues from oil in the stock head. I have shotguns I have owned for over 40 years that were bought new that have zero signs of oil soaking in the stock head and not rust or corrosion whatsoever....

[Stan Hillis]

The balance of a gun on its nose would freak me out. Waiting for them to topple. If you use a quality product that seems to "dry" such as G96 and don't lube it like a leaking Drott and I don't see where there should be any concern. There have been guns stored for hundreds of year on their butt that don't exhibit any issues from oil in the stock head. I have shotguns I have owned for over 40 years that were bought new that have zero signs of oil soaking in the stock head and not rust or corrosion whatsoever....

Then you obviously haven't tried it, muzzle down. And, you didn't address the absolute problem of the degradation of vintage recoil pads due mostly to muzzle up storage. And, since a majority of doubles are balanced why would you think that they would be top heavy when sitting muzzle down?

[Bill Murphy]

Yeah, I have had hundreds of guns that have been butt down for fifty years or more with no soaking in the wood. I have also had guns stored butt down without any flattening of the recoil pads. I have no idea how long guns have been stored on their butts resulting in flat pads. It has to be more than 50 years, because some of mine have been stored longer than that without damage to the pads. My guns that are not in trunk cases are stored butt down without any apparent damage. My guns that are cased are in cases with lids closed, all without damage.

[Chuck Bishop]

I store my guns butt down in the safe. If you're worried about oil soaking into the wood, don't squirt it into the firing pin holes! A lightly oiled rag is all you need on the metal. I also don't like the butt above the barrels. Too easy to tip over. JMHO. Everyone has their preferred way, which in their mind is the correct way, so keep on doing as you wish.

[Larry Stauch]

You can get a lot more guns in the safes barrel down and they’re easier to stack in there.

[Craig Larter]

I hang them by the trigger guard, no weight on the butt. LOL

[Phil Yearout]

And, since a majority of doubles are balanced why would you think that they would be top heavy when sitting muzzle down?

Um, butt, 4-5 square inches, muzzle, 1-2 square inches...I think that's physics...or Newton's Law...or something...:rolleyes:

[Gary Kephart]

Seems like a good time to ask although i am sure this has been addressed before - what are your thoughts on clenzoil?? Or is there another oil you prefer?

Thanks

[Ryan Brege]

Then you obviously haven't tried it, muzzle down. And, you didn't address the absolute problem of the degradation of vintage recoil pads due mostly to muzzle up storage. And, since a majority of doubles are balanced why would you think that they would be top heavy when sitting muzzle down?

Personal preference, I have an aversion to pads so that's a non starter. Balance? Most Parker's are described as balancing on the hinge pin. This means that when upside down typically 1/3 of the weight would be up and spread over 5x the width of the barrels.

[Brian Dudley]

I hang them by the trigger guard, no weight on the butt. LOL


Just dont hang them in a sunny window or you will end up with a pad like jolly bill.

[Daryl Corona]

Seems like a good time to ask although i am sure this has been addressed before - what are your thoughts on clenzoil?? Or is there another oil you prefer?

Thanks

They're all good. Just use sparingly. I prefer Ballistol. I think Parker Bros. back in the day recommended 3in1 oil.

[Phil Yearout]

You can get a lot more guns in the safes barrel down and they’re easier to stack in there.

If I did that the one I want would be on the back row :rotf:.

[Jeremy Toeper]

New member and new to the forum. I've been using Hornady One Shot Cleaner and Lube. It goes wet and flashes off leaving a light dry film. I then lightly wipe any excess. I've never seen it migrate or run. I use it on all my firearms and reloading equipment. The other thing I use is Zerust VCI bags and barrel tubes. I have young kids so everything resides in safes in a basement. I have bluetooth hydrometers and a dehumidifier keeping things at 60-70 degrees and 40-50% humidity. I've used Zerust bags and tubes with no problems for 10 years on guns and anything metal. The bags and tubes have a 5 year life.

https://www.zerustproducts.com/

[Ryan Brege]

New member and new to the forum. I've been using Hornady One Shot Cleaner and Lube. It goes wet and flashes off leaving a light dry film. I then lightly wipe any excess. I've never seen it migrate or run. I use it on all my firearms and reloading equipment. The other thing I use is Zerust VCI bags and barrel tubes. I have young kids so everything resides in safes in a basement. I have bluetooth hydrometers and a dehumidifier keeping things at 60-70 degrees and 40-50% humidity. I've used Zerust bags and tubes with no problems for 10 years on guns and anything metal. The bags and tubes have a 5 year life.

https://www.zerustproducts.com/

New? You joined 5 years ago? Welcome! You should become a member!

[David Safris]

Here is a candidate for dried up and sat leaned up against a wall for 50 years or so without use or moving much if at all. Not saying it would be much better if it had sat on the barrel or any other way .. but .. here it is

[Jeremy Toeper]

New? You joined 5 years ago? Welcome! You should become a member!

I just became a member. I guess it hasn't shown yet on my post badge. I joined the forum awhile ago, mostly because I spend most of my time learning.

[Phillip Carr]

I use a number of lubricant's, that has been mentioned here. The trick is use what ever you use sparingly.
Many times I use Ballistol but don't like the smell. Ezzox is what I am currently using. It works great and has a very pleasant odor. I like to use socks to protect the guns as I don't like metal to metal contact.

[Bill Jolliff]

Just dont hang them in a sunny window or you will end up with a pad like jolly bill.

Not exactly. This is the original pad on my Fox XE20 gauge. Note that it has a cheek piece and it was ordered and built that way.

The gun has been stored horizontally, and dark, for the last 38 years and this is what the pad ended up looking like. There was no weight on the pad.

Jolly, aka Bill Jolliff

https://i.imgur.com/hiGphz6.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/7eJLImJ.jpg

[Daryl Corona]

Not exactly. This is the original pad on my Fox XE20 gauge. Note that it has a cheek piece and it was ordered and built that way.

The gun has been stored horizontally, and dark, for the last 38 years and this is what the pad ended up looking like. There was no weight on the pad.

Jolly, aka Bill Jolliff

https://i.imgur.com/hiGphz6.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/7eJLImJ.jpg

If it bothers you that much Bill, old buddy, old pal, I'll take it off your hands and see what I can do with it.:):whistle:

[Garry L Gordon]

I just became a member. I guess it hasn't shown yet on my post badge. I joined the forum awhile ago, mostly because I spend most of my time learning.

Good for you, Jeremy — welcome!

[Chris Pope]

New member and new to the forum. I've been using Hornady One Shot Cleaner and Lube. It goes wet and flashes off leaving a light dry film. I then lightly wipe any excess. I've never seen it migrate or run. I use it on all my firearms and reloading equipment. The other thing I use is Zerust VCI bags and barrel tubes. I have young kids so everything resides in safes in a basement. I have bluetooth hydrometers and a dehumidifier keeping things at 60-70 degrees and 40-50% humidity. I've used Zerust bags and tubes with no problems for 10 years on guns and anything metal. The bags and tubes have a 5 year life.

https://www.zerustproducts.com/

Would you share what brand bluetooth hydrometer and dehumidifier you are using? Thanks.

[Stan Hillis]

I've had the doubles, and rifles, that are in my safe muzzle down for roughly 25 years.The safe is carpet lined on floor and all interior walls. I've never opened the safe and seen where one has fallen over on another. It just doesn't happen.

Newton's First Law of Motion states that an object in motion tends to stay in motion unless an external force acts upon it. Similarly, if the object is at rest, it will remain unless an unbalanced force acts upon it. Newton's First Law of Motion is also known as the Law of Inertia. What Newton's First Law is saying is that objects behave predictably.

Pretty sure guns are not exempt from this. If the gun is in a balanced state when you close the safe it will be in a balanced state when you open it. Nothing nefarious will be going on in there just because you can't see them, and I'm pretty sure the safe isn't going to be acted upon by any outside force sufficient to cause guns to fall over.

[Reggie Bishop]

Where is Albert E when you need him!

[Daryl Corona]

Where is Albert E when you need him!

It's all relative Reggie.

[Bill Murphy]

Jollif is right. A deteriorated or flattened pad has nothing to do with the gun standing butt down in a safe. No, I have no idea what causes it but it must have something to do with temperature or humidity.

[Bill Jolliff]

Jolliff is right. A deteriorated or flattened pad has nothing to do with the gun standing butt down in a safe. No, I have no idea what causes it but it must have something to do with temperature or humidity.

I don't have any idea or clue why that pad did what it did. Pads on other guns did not change, ie, get worse.

Here's what it looks like:

1st picture is the west end of my root cellar (gun room). 4 concrete block walls and a cement floor and ceiling under our back porch. Nice and dry but I do run a dehumidifier in warmer months. You'll notice the 2 gun rack I made in wood shop when I was a freshman in high school back in 1950.

2nd picture a little closer showing my vertical gun chest and the horizontal one that looks more like a settee.

3rd and 4th picture with my horizontal gun chest open. Note that it is a Treadlock. It will accommodate 24 double guns nicely in the three racks that I made that hold 8 guns each. Those are all Fox's in there.

And Daryl good buddy, thanks for your offer. But dam, I lost your phone number.

https://i.imgur.com/spi496s.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/xEM9fOL.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/XrZQ32n.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/uFinuyj.jpg

[Phil Yearout]

OK; I'll say it: they look funny standing on the muzzle :biglaugh:

[John Albano]

Bill, I showed your guns to my wife. She now knows there are husbands with worse afflictions than mine. Thanks. John

[Craig Larter]

Not exactly. This is the original pad on my Fox XE20 gauge. Note that it has a cheek piece and it was ordered and built that way.

The gun has been stored horizontally, and dark, for the last 38 years and this is what the pad ended up looking like. There was no weight on the pad.

Jolly, aka Bill Jolliff

https://i.imgur.com/hiGphz6.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/7eJLImJ.jpg

I started my career working for Garlock a rubber products company. I believe the reason Bill's Fox pad deteriorated was the rubber was not properly vulcanized when made. I believe rock hard pads results from the loss of the lubricates originally compounded with the rubber. Same reason vinyl gets hard and cracks with age.

[Bill Jolliff]

Bill, I showed your guns to my wife. She now knows there are husbands with worse afflictions than mine. Thanks. John

There are many husbands on this forum that are worse John. And don't show her the picture below.

https://i.imgur.com/HuQAluP.jpg

[Clark McCombe]

When I first asked my question I envisioned something like Bill Joliff posted. Never occurred to me to have muzzle down.
I became conflicted. I want to do the “right” thing for the small collection I have. But certainly see the joy in looking at the display Bill has. Joy is important as we get older and face health issues.
My short term solution is muzzle down in a dry closet. The more precious one or two Parkers I have will be in the safe.
Really though, I want to hook up the old table saw in the barn and build a display rack.
My wife even approves of something small in the living room. She shares my joy.

[John Dallas]

I've always been a muzzle up kinda guy. Have any of you muzzle-downers ever had a rust problem on the muzzle?

[Stan Hillis]

Not in 25 years, nosir.

[Craig Budgeon]

I have always thought that original pads were made of natural rubber and post WWII pads were composed of synthetic rubber.