gun storage

1gun · Post by **1gun** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 8:04 pm

This is probably a dumb question, but is it ok to store your guns barrel down in your safe?

ursavus.elemensis · Post by **ursavus.elemensis** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 8:15 pm

This is a great question. Can anyone shed some light on this?

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 8:19 pm

1gun wrote:This is probably a dumb question, but is it ok to store your guns barrel down in your safe?

There are NO dumb questions; only dumb answers... Here's #1 - NO, it absolutely against the RULES.

1886 · Post by **1886** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 8:21 pm

I store my long guns muzzle down in a boar store sock. I do this because I read somewhere muzzle down is preferable so as to prevent oil/solvent from running back into the wood. Is this true? Who knows but the sock protects the muzzle so... It can not hurt is how I view it. 1886.

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 8:37 pm

Elmer Keith always recommended storing guns muzzle down so oils will run away from the wood. Gotta remember, that was at a time when slopping oil all over was accepted. Can't begin to tell you how many old rifles I have had with oil soaked wood. Those guys would scrub their barrels with lots of Hoppes #9 and did not bother to wipe out the excess.

In todays world, I don't use any more oil than is needed and even then I like E-Zox, which is synthetic. After scrubbing the bore with Hoppes #9, I always wipe out the excess out of the barrel AND chamber, also any that got in the action.

So......bottom line is this---as long as you pay attention to how much oil your using, (and leaving) store those shootin' irons any way you want.

JB · Post by JB » Mon Jan 28, 2008 8:53 pm

I believe muzzle down is the best way, but I've got to admit most of mine are muzzle up just because it often easier to store them that way.

brucew44guns · Post by **brucew44guns** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 9:15 pm

Griff wrote:
1gun wrote:This is probably a dumb question, but is it ok to store your guns barrel down in your safe?
There are NO dumb questions; only dumb answers... Here's #1 - NO, it absolutely against the RULES.

The way I heard that answer once was "around here we don't mind dumb questions, it's the dumb mistakes that we frown on".

I guess I can't see a rifle complaining about it either way, pointing up, or pointing down.

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 9:23 pm

I store mine muzzle sideways.

Ram Hammer · Post by **Ram Hammer** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 9:26 pm

Some go up and some go down. Thats how I fit them in the safe.

Shasta · Post by **Shasta** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 11:13 pm

I store most of mine muzzle down. The safe is carpeted so it doesn't harm the muzzles. I find it much easier to slip a rifle out without banging the stock on the other ones if I'm handling it by the stock.

SHASTA

Slick · Post by **Slick** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 11:39 pm

Not a "dumb" question at all... It's a "preference issue".

I store my guns muzzle UP (because I get more in my vault this way) AND there's NO penalty for doing so IF the gun is NOT over-lubed...

Once a barrel is clean, I swab it a few times with a lightly coated patch with Militech1 and there's NOTHING there to "run"... problem solved.

That said, I still run a "dry" patch through any bore come "shooting day" before I head to the shoot.

El Chivo · Post by **El Chivo** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 4:38 am

Some go up and some go down. Thats how I fit them in the safe.

Now that's smart - my safe's getting a little crowded. That should help them fit.

In my safe there are slots in the front and holes in the back. The Marlin stocks are the right angle to lean in the slots safely, but the Winchester stocks can't lean in the slots because the shape makes them fall over. Maybe I can keep a Winchester in the front if it's muzzle down.

Why didn't I think of that?

Gun Smith · Post by **Gun Smith** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 11:41 am

Muzzle down or horizontal. Although there is no reason now days to do either. With all the modern lubes on the market, there is no need to use any "oil". I know there are some who don't agree with the label on WD-40, as a "lubricant, but I've used it since it's been on the market, about 45 years, as the only thing I put in/on all my guns. Oil soaked stocks should be a thing of the past.

gamekeeper · Post by **gamekeeper** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 12:21 pm

When I worked in the gun trade I saw a lot of old guns with oil soaked stocks, the wood was soft and discolored. I always store my muzzle loaders muzzle down when I have just cleaned them, after a couple of days I swab the bores and return them muzzle up.

Rebel1972 · Post by **Rebel1972** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 12:27 pm

I always thought it was funny that when you put a gun in a case and close the lid you are carrying it upside down

Maddog521 · Post by **Maddog521** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 5:19 pm

Muzzle down. That's the way my dad taught me and I am still doing it. I guess I'm just "old school".

Jayhawker · Post by **Jayhawker** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 7:12 pm

Some are on their nose, but most are on their toes. You can fit more of them into the safe that way.

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