How do you store your handguns in the safe?

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Peter M. Eick

New member
I posted a similar question in the rifle page, so this may sound a bit simple but hear me out.

I tend to hop from gun to gun for different range sessions, so some guns may not get shot for over a year or so. (I have bought 3 new pistols in less then 2 months, so some of the old standby will probably not get shot till autumn). So to combat rust and just to remember what I have I take every gun out and clean and relube them every quarter. I store every gun in a nylon type zippered case with the magazines. So during this extended cleaning session (it took a day and a half to complete) several ideas came up.

Do you store your guns vertical (as in vertical plane, not like vertical as in barrel aiming at the ground) or horizontal (ie: flat on its side)?

Sights up or sights down (assuming you store them vertical?

Mags in our out of the gun?

If mags in, engaged in the pistol or loose?

Greased and oiled or "dry"?

Hammer down, slides closed or slides open?

See the theme developing? I store mine vertical, on the sights, mags in but loose, slides closed, hammer down and "damp" meaning oiled and greased enough to glissen.

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P229 Sport and 357 SIG, H&K P7PSP and 9MM, Dual Perfection!!
 
Well, I keep mine mag out, cleaned, lightly oiled. (any more can attract stuff, and adds no protective value). I use a goldenrod dehumidifier as well. low energy device. works great, even in my humid basement.
otherwise, slide closed, hammer down, or in some rifles, fire on a snap cap to take the load off the spring. the cnc milled ones take a light oiling better than the plastic.
 
Do you store your guns vertical (as in vertical plane, not like vertical as in barrel aiming at the ground) or horizontal (ie: flat on its side)?
A) Mine are stored horizontal, sights up and butt down in pistol racks. I do not store in cases, however before I owned a gunsafe I used zippered pistol rugs hid in various places around the house with no problems, such as rusting.

Sights up or sights down (assuming you store them vertical?
A) see above

Mags in our out of the gun?
A) In

If mags in, engaged in the pistol or loose?
A) engaged

Greased and oiled or "dry"?
A) Wiped down with CLP. Lightly oiled patch thru barrel.

Hammer down, slides closed or slides open?
A) Hammer down, slide closed.

Some of my guns don't get any attention for 6 months to a year at times. I use a dehumidifier in my safe and have no problems. I recently picked up a handgun that was stored in the above fashion for over 5 years untouched and it's condition was as good as when it was originally put in long term storage.

I have been rethinking my storage methods as I reside in earthquake terrritory and a major quake would shake things up pretty good in the safe. Those pistols stored in racks on the top shelf would most likely wind up crashing to the bottom of the safe as things stand now. Something to think about.


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Just one of the Good Guys
 
I store my in the original factory carton. It's much easier now that most guns come in a plastic case. I make sure they have a light coat of oil before storing. Works great because I have dedicated safes for rifles, shotguns, class 3, and handguns. You can get a lot of handguns in a safe by using the factory boxes.
 
I have just redesigned my safe storage system because I now have fourteen handguns to store.I used to keep them in their factory boxes(lined with felt)and that was OK except my S&W Revolvers tended to get slight rust on the front sights(not oiled of course)--Now I have three shelves giving four levels of storage at three guns per shelf--and two little ones in the top drawer.
Each is inside a woollen sock---I have used the sock storage for my Model 36 for years and it is excellent--more guns tho' and I'll be looking at a bigger safe---mine is a Japanese EIKO 2ft High and 1ft6in wide and deep.
 
I use a bunch of those handgun "socks". They have a heavy drawstring, which I loop over a set of hooks I installed on one wall of my safe. Every time I buy more handguns, I just install more hooks. It's amazing how many handguns can be sacked and hung on just one safe wall.

I make sure they are clean and lightly oiled with BreakFree CLP before dropping them in the gun sock. I haven't had any problem with rust, even with those that have been "hanging" around for years.

Joe


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Go NRA
 
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