F class rifle storage.

[shona]

Can I ask how you guy's provide long term storage for your'e rifles. By long term I'm thinking periods of inactivity, anything from wks to months.
Are you storing them open in the safe or clothed in a sock etc.

I presume it's probably Not a good idea to store them long term in a Pelican case is it ????
Your'e opinions would be much appreciated as I would like to start out right!
Thanx
shona

 

[catnthehatt]

I store my rifles in a horizontal rack but slightly muzzle down.
Cat

 

[Maple57]

When you think of long term storage you need to think about oxidization inside the barrel.

Oxidization requires oxygen.... right... temperature changes cause air to expand and contract which moves air into and out of the barrel, so in this sense the barrel is breathing. With every breath comes more oxygen and it reacts with the dissimilar (copper and iron) metals inside the barrel.

If you look down the barrel of a rifle that was cleaned and stored for 6 months, you will see the oxidization light at the back of the barrel and getting heavier toward the muzzle.

The trick is, don't let the barrel breath.

What I do is make cotton barrel swabs that fill the entire barrel. I either cut some soft cotton into one long strip that is longer than the entire barrel, soak it in barrel friendly oil, tie it to a length of plastic fishing line and pull it into the barrel.

Another method is to wind cotton butcher string around 2 nails until the desired diameter is obtained. Then pull that into the barrel.

Here's a video how to do it.

 

[shona]

Thanks Maple,

Interesting video. Looks like a good idea & certainly makes sense so, I think I'll give it shot.
The majority of my rifles barrels are stainless so they should fare a little better than non-stainless barrels but I just don't want to risk corrosion!

shona

 

[Maple57]

Thanks Maple,

The majority of my rifles barrels are stainless so they should fare a little better than non-stainless barrels but I just don't want to risk corrosion!

shona

Oxidization occurs when any 2 dissimilar metals come in contact with each other (including stainless) in the presence of oxygen... The barrel in the video is stainless and it's reacting to microscopic particles of copper.

I'm not sure how much "damage" actually occurs, but any amount can't be good.