storage ?

[Kensal Rise]

Mr. Romig has voiced the general consensus of decades of practical experience. A properly tempered compressed spring will not lose its power if left compressed. For years. Or decades.

And storage of a gun with the muzzle down to obviate oil seepage into the stock head is of doubtful value. And puts the muzzles at risk of damage.

From my personal standpoint, leave things cocked and don't fret. It will work next time. Oil has already soaked into most Parker stock heads. And unless you're hosing it with WD-40, not much further damage will be done.

All the above is my individual perspective. Others may have their own wisdom.

However, I've recently encountered this opinion from Maj. Gerald Burrard:

"It is no more necessary to release the main or tumbler springs or the ejector springs of a gun [in storage] than it is to release the springs of a watch."

[Pa SxS]

If you have that much oil in the receiver that it leaches down into the wood, your using the oil improperly.