Need help convincing someone NOT to store guns in foam lined case.

oneounceload said:
I have had my 700BDL stored in a Doskocil foam rifle case for the last 8 years since I moved to Florida. While under heat and air, I have many months where the windows are open to all of the weather and humidity - once a year I open the case, wipe it down quickly with a rag and Remoil - no issues

When I lived out West in dry NV, guns were stored in the safe in the garage - over 20+ years, not ONE issue with rust or anything similar

Way too much hype - check your guns, if you see issues, stop and correct; otherwise sleep tight tonight
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Same here, I kept all my guns stored in foam lined plastic cases for more than 15 years in FL and NC, with no problems. I did take them all out once or tice a year and oil everything.

Now I loaned a buddy a shotgun, he had it in a padded cloth case, the cheepie kind, and went and left it locked in his truck for four months when he was in Iraq. I ended up with some watermarks on the stock (white looking areas) from that little incident.

So it depends on how much care you take.
 
Since my dad passed away (about 14 years ago), I've had his Sako in the same foam lined case that he stored it in. I'd say the rifle has lived in that case for around 30 years. Only damage to the gun that I've seen is that the brass fittings of the leather sling have developed some green deposit (pretty normal for brass, I believe). The gun itself, the finish of the stock and of the metal, seems to be fine, as beautiful today as it was years and years ago.

As for the foam itself, the only sign it shows of deterioration is that its green color seems slightly faded, and the foam has taken the impression of the gun stored in it.
 
I don't store my guns in cases or boxes. I put silicone gun socks on all guns & they go in the safe. The NIB unfired guns are not stored in their original wrapping & boxes either, they're oiled put in gun socks & in the safe. Never had a problem and don't want one.
 
I haven't experienced any problems with pistols or long guns being stored in foam lined transport cases or in soft gun cases.
Some of my long gun hard cases are lined with a thin plastic sheet and a couple of the pistols are in a plastic bag which many folks frown upon.
But I believe that the container actually seals out the humidity, and have found that using plastic lining hasn't been detrimental.
I have experienced some problems with guns that are stored in a metal cabinet.
But not in any of my foamed lined gun cases of which most all were purchased at big box stores.
 
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When I was a kid just joining the military, I stored a gun in a foam lined case. Ten years later my father asked me about the gun (I hid it in the basement so my brothers would not use it.) and I retrieved it from the crawl space.

Rust pitting in and on the barrel and stock plate. The foam in the case seemed alright, except for a little discoloration. Speculation by us was the foam may have been treated to repel moisture, but the moisture had to go someplace and the steel of the gun was really the only place for it to go.

I know it was dumb of me to leave it in such a moist place, but I thought it would be safe in a carrying case and I did not know anything about greases and oils at the time.

When I put a gun in to storage, it is greased inside and out and I put a desiccant pack in the container before sealing it.

For guns that are not used all the time, they are put in a safe, on a rack.
 
Open cell foam

Closed cell foam.

Open cell foam is a no-no. It will hold moisture for a very long time.

Closed cell foam is not so bad, although not perfect. It is much much more expensive though. Pelican uses closed cell. Plano open cell.
 
That's a fair consideration, but the simpler solution is to not rely on a foam lined case. I don't doubt that there are suitable plastics, it's just that most people aren't qualified to evaluate the nature of the material.
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That's fair enough, but investigating the properties of the cases and materials is easier than that: you don't have to conduct your own evaluations, the testing has already been done. :)
 
I used to store several of mine in foam lined cases, the brown Doskocil ones. I always put several dessicant packs in each one and therefore never had problems, but I wouldn't recommend it unless nothing else was available. Times were tough when I didn't have a safe. And I always checked on them quite often to make sure nothing was amiss.
 
If you're that worried about ambient humidity and your guns, the solution is simple: Got to your local Ace Hardware and get a can of LPS 3. Spray your gun liberally (bore, too) then put in a plastic bag or sleeeve. Squeeze the air out, then seal. Your gun will remain safe for years.
 
Gun Rug

I once had a High Standard Victor
A target grade .22 pistol in Exellent condition - a really good looking gun.

I put away in a gun rug for several days - when I took it out to put in the safe -it was rusted and pitted :(
When this happens you fell like puking, honest.

Take the gun out of any case and oil it up and put it in your safe.
 
I did'nt believe the posts about not doing it and almost ruined two 22 rifles in foam lined gun cases.

They are leaning against a wall covered in gun oil as we speak now.

I even stored them in an attic but I guess that did'nt help either.

Blued guns don't like it,I can't speak for stainless as I don't own any.

Long term storage in a foam lined gun case where the foam contacts the metal finished areas is a no-no.
 
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