Storing firearms in hard case?

rustrash

rustrash

Member
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Location
Saskatchewan
I Wonder if you guys could help me with this.
Before I go ahead and buy my first rifle I am going to buy storage. What I was looking at getting was a big Plano case that will do me for my first and maybe second firearm however the more I look into it I see alot of people saying that storing them in locked foam case is not a good idea.
has anyone had any problems in doing this?
if so, am I better spending the same money on a cheap can-tire stack on for the time being?

any help would be much appreciated

Rustrash
 
It depends on the type of foam and the amount of moisture that will be inside the case. I'd find a way to get a gun cabinet.
 
I've seen quite a few guns start getting rust spots from being stored in cases and one or two actually destroyed by severe rust.
Mind you the extreme was a very fine BPCR that was fired in the rain and then forgotten about in the case for months. The rust and foam were bonded together so it had been cut from the foam and scraped off just to see what it was. That being a $5000 gun totally trashed... Not sure if he ever got it rebuilt or not.

That said, I do sometimes store a few guns in there cases for a month or so at a time. Don't like doing it and live in a generally very dry area. Should really stop because I fear it's just a matter of time before I regret it.
 
Not a good idea, unless the gun is stored in packing grease/oil and in plastic, (like they come in the factory). Cases with foam are meant for transport, not storage. I've seen the same as above, a Remington ruined from being stored in a hard case with foam.
 
Times are different - and some of the new hard-case products are excellent for longer-term storage, especially for 1 to 2 firearms.

You will want to purchase the Midway USA hydrosorbent silica gel dessicant dehimidifier ($5.99 US) to put in the case - some cases come with a cutout in the foam for that exact purpose.
Keep your guns clean and well oiled; I used to put a layer of butcher paper over the foam to prevent the oil from being wicked off the rifle.

Never had a rust issue, never had "safe dings" and saved big $$ on not needing a safe until I had a larger number of firearms.
 
Weapontech said:
Times are different - and some of the new hard-case products are excellent for longer-term storage, especially for 1 to 2 firearms.

You will want to purchase the Midway USA hydrosorbent silica gel dessicant dehimidifier ($5.99 US) to put in the case - some cases come with a cutout in the foam for that exact purpose.
Keep your guns clean and well oiled; I used to put a layer of butcher paper over the foam to prevent the oil from being wicked off the rifle.

Never had a rust issue, never had "safe dings" and saved big $$ on not needing a safe until I had a larger number of firearms.
Click to expand...

Times might be different but RUST sure has not changed. One is looking for problems storing firearms in any model of hard case especially if the OP has the room for even a cheap storage safe. Wish I had pics of some I had purchased from guys storing them in hard cases under the bed over the years. Just not the best combination when there is other options
To each their own I guess
Cheers
 
Last edited:
Weapontech said:
Times are different - and some of the new hard-case products are excellent for longer-term storage, especially for 1 to 2 firearms.

You will want to purchase the Midway USA hydrosorbent silica gel dessicant dehimidifier ($5.99 US) to put in the case - some cases come with a cutout in the foam for that exact purpose.
Keep your guns clean and well oiled; I used to put a layer of butcher paper over the foam to prevent the oil from being wicked off the rifle.

Never had a rust issue, never had "safe dings" and saved big $$ on not needing a safe until I had a larger number of firearms.
Click to expand...

X2 on desiccant packs. I have three in my 1750 pelican, I have shot in really windy/rainy conditions without any rust forming on my Remington 700. The Savage in a soft case different story, little rain nothing inside shooting line and next morning surface rust all over barrel. Quick wipe down good to go.

I've recently switched it to store my c8iur, so it still stays in the pelican 24/7 not a single issue.

I also kept my Schmidt and Bender PMII inside the pelican since I mounted it on my rifle. No issues with it or the tangent Theta being stored long term inside the pelican.

Pelican can be had for under 300$ shipped for the biggest carry handled model 1750 from productioncase.com they drop ship directly from pelican. Smaller rifle sized ones are between 200-300 shipped
 
Of course, for a non-restricted rifle, you don't need a case. Just a trigger lock and then tuck it away in a closet. But a cheap Stack On is a good
thing to get for starting out. I tried the hard plastic with foam case thing and it is bad for the rifle for all the reasons mentioned above.:(
 
I wouldn't do it for long term or permanent storage, plus I wouldn't buy a case until you have the rifle first. That way you know what length it should be.
 
Magellann said:
I wouldn't do it for long term or permanent storage, plus I wouldn't buy a case until you have the rifle first. That way you know what length it should be.
Click to expand...

+1. I see so many rusted rifles at the range come hunting season, I estimate 90% of the time they were stored all year in the hard case.
 
The 8 gun stack-on cabinet at CT goes on sale every now and then, but that may not last long before you're upgrading to a bigger cabinet or safe (They say 8 but they're really small!). It can be expensive starting out in this hobby, and I'd rather spend my money on ammo. Do you have an old fridge lying around? could also check Kijiji or GCsurplus.ca for school lockers / lockable storage cabinets for cheap.

8952b1399fb19cbdd0696ba608293e65.jpg
 
jevan23 said:
The 8 gun stack-on cabinet at CT goes on sale every now and then, but that may not last long before you're upgrading to a bigger cabinet or safe (They say 8 but they're really small!). It can be expensive starting out in this hobby, and I'd rather spend my money on ammo. Do you have an old fridge lying around? could also check Kijiji or GCsurplus.ca for school lockers / lockable storage cabinets for cheap.

Can honestly say in my many years I have never seen an old fridge used. Looks some cool no pun intended
Cheers
Click to expand...
 
Weapontech said:
A friend of mine converted an old water heater to a gun safe after they installed a tank-less system in the house. It looked totally legit - along with fake piping, wires, valves, etc - It was very well done.....
Click to expand...

Wow! What a great idea! Having your gun collection locked up in a place that thieves would never think of looking at. Much better than a Stack On.:d
 
Hey guys thank you for all the great replies.
without going to much into my life stories, I am currently here renting for around the next year then looking to buy my own place at that point i will be buying myself a good safe for both guns (hoping i will have a couple if not more by then) and other things like documents and passports.
you have really helped and i think the best thing now is to get myself one of the can-tire 8 gun stack on, i did see it before for under $100. it wont go to waste at the end of it it will become ammo storage. that and a range carry case will work out the same as a hard case.

i do understand that i could lock it and put it under my pillow if i wanted however i do aim to pratice the most security i can as its never a bad thing.

i will also look into hydrosorbent silica gel that was good info.

thanks again
 
Weapontech said:
Times are different - and some of the new hard-case products are excellent for longer-term storage, especially for 1 to 2 firearms.

You will want to purchase the Midway USA hydrosorbent silica gel dessicant dehimidifier ($5.99 US) to put in the case - some cases come with a cutout in the foam for that exact purpose.
Keep your guns clean and well oiled; I used to put a layer of butcher paper over the foam to prevent the oil from being wicked off the rifle.

Never had a rust issue, never had "safe dings" and saved big $$ on not needing a safe until I had a larger number of firearms.
Click to expand...

I pretty much do the same but keep the whole area as dry as possible 35-45 % humidity and gun socks
 
All my long guns live in hardcases, in an unfinished basement. None of them, including an 870 "rustomatic" show even a spec of rust. I'm in a high-humidity area to boot. The modern grey-black foam is good for not absorbing moisture. Gun cases are not deal for storage in many ways, but a safe isn't always practical for some people.
 
GBG said:
All my long guns live in hardcases, in an unfinished basement. None of them, including an 870 "rustomatic" show even a spec of rust. I'm in a high-humidity area to boot. The modern grey-black foam is good for not absorbing moisture. Gun cases are not deal for storage in many ways, but a safe isn't always practical for some people.
Click to expand...

so ones that are having problems with storage in a case, would that be a human error i.e not cleaning well, not cleaning enough, taking case to damp areas
or would it be down to quality of the case.
when it came to the case i was going to buy a plano, that i understand is a poor man pelican case and i was under the impression it was just as good at most things.

my thing was i didnt see the point buying a cheap stack on when its going to be upgraded to a safe at one point in the future
having a good case means when i upgrade i would still have a good case for carrying.

but i dont want to go with the case and end up shooting myself in the foot (pun intended) and regret it latter when my barrel rusts and i do not know what to do
 
I store some pistols in a Canadian Tire tool case (foam lined) and rifles in gun sock and/or gun case. I live in a fairly humid area and I haven't had a spot of rust. This includes pistols from WW2 and "cheapie" modern Marlin rifles, which people say don't have "good" finishes.

Clean guns, oil, wipe oil off outside to nearly dry condition, put in case. Not hard, not complex. If you don't have some fancy gun oil, then Vaseline, baby oil, unused motor oil all work.

As an aside, I have summer and winter tires, on rims. I swap them myself to save time and reduce the damage that otherwise occurs when you let "professionals" do certain things. My car is hub-centric, meaning the hub and hole in the rim center the wheel, rather than the lug nut holes. My hubs (and summer rims) are aluminum. In the distant past they once rusted together, making it incredibly hard to remove those rims that spring. It reminded me I should use anti-seize on there, which I did until I misplaced the can. I didn't want to buy a new one, so I grabbed the generic vaseline (petroleum jelly) and applied very generously. Have done it since and the wheels slide on and off like...well, like they are on greased rails, which they are.

Just saying that people underestimate the effectiveness of cheap, simple stuff like petroleum jelly, motor oil or simple wax for keeping stuff lubed and rust-free, even in harsh conditions. Remember it isn't like you are burying these guns for decades or something - then reach for that cosmoline - you will use the gun again in a few weeks/months, won't you? I have one pistol that has been in the Canadian Tire toolbox for 1.5 years now - I look at it every once in a while, and the oil I put on way back when is still protecting it perfectly.

Just my thoughts.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom