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Posted: 5/12/2021 9:36:33 AM EDT
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What does everyone think of a pelican type case, a well oiled rifle with 5 mags and bag of desiccant for long term storage? Long term for me would be at least a year. Pros / cons? Other options? Anything I would need to worry about or consider when doing this? (Would have extra fresh battery for optic as well) Im fairly confident this would be great but wouldn't mind getting others opinions in case I'm overlooking something. Thanks |
| I would be worried about moisture in the foam and there are warnings about it in some of the cases I have bought with foam in them. Not sure the desiccant would would work very well if the foam isolated it to the section it was placed in and I would worry the oil would degrade the foam to some degree and spot the finish on the firearm. I would probably bag or double bag the firearm in Zerust bags and seal them. Then if stored in a unconditioned space I would scatter some smaller desiccant packs around the case. But honestly I would not store anything in a foam filled case. I would probably take the foam out and oil the gun with something like Breakfree Collector and store it. |
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The surest long term storage method is what the military and industry now use..... the special "hard" plastic bag with the VPCI vapor barrier chemical. This forces all the oxygen out and surrounds the gun with the vapor that prevents rust for up to 20 years. A major advantage is you don't have to slather the gun with a grease or heavy lube, and you can take it out of the bag, wipe out the bore and shoot it. This is about the most fool proof long term storage method there is.......... https://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-tools-supplies/shop-accessories-supplies/gun-storage-materials/gun-storage-bags/vacuum-seal-storage-bags-prod42749.aspx A word of warning....... you can also buy just the VPCI paper from Brownell's, but DON'T use it with any kind of regular plastic bag. Standard plastic bags will pass moisture and allow the vapor to escape. The special bags are made of a dense "hard" plastic that's vapor proof and won't pass moisture. As one man I knew who worked for a major manufacturer of plastics told me, standard plastic bag film actually contains a percentage of moisture. During manufacture they have to remove as much as they can but not all. This is one place you don't want to go cheap. If properly sealed in the VPCI bag you can store the gun and bag in a hard case, with or without the foam, but I'd probably remove the foam just in case chemicals in the foam might attack the bag. |
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a year, coat the metal with clp and lean the rifle against a corner. I use a golden rod in a safe have not oiled some in a decade no signs of rust. oil depending on gun can be but is not limited to: break free clp rev d, rev e, weapons shield, firepower, motor oil syn, dino, type f trans, rigg grease, cosmoline, eezox, tw25b. pl-10 power lift grease, and g96 gun treatment. finishes are stainless, blued, park and bare. |
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VCI bags, nothing else will compare as far as protection. Put it in the bag, then put it in whatever you want like a padded case. You don't even have to worry about it being oiled up, VCI works better with no oil actually. I've switched everything (mostly from desiccant) over to VCI emitters and bags, it's much more superior. |
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Awsome.... I have never heard of these vci bags before! I knew there was a reason I should ask suggestions! Learn something everyday. And I can vacuum seal it and still use hard case. Is there a difference between the different types of vci bags? I looked at a blue semi see through bag and what looks like a foil covered bag 3 mil thick. Puncture resistant but big difference in price. Is one better than other or is it just ones foil so it's 3 times the price? |
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Quoted: Awsome.... I have never heard of these vci bags before! Â I knew there was a reason I should ask suggestions! Learn something everyday. Â And I can vacuum seal it and still use hard case. Â Is there a difference between the different types of vci bags? I looked at a blue semi see through bag and what looks like a foil covered bag 3 mil thick. Â Puncture resistant but big difference in price. Is one better than other or is it just ones foil so it's 3 times the price? I'm not sure. I have always used the 8 mil bags. I get mine from here, it's a small family owned business but unfortunately you have to call to order. http://www.polygunbag.com/ |
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Quoted:
a year, coat the metal with clp and lean the rifle against a corner. I use a golden rod in a safe have not oiled some in a decade no signs of rust. oil depending on gun can be but is not limited to: break free clp rev d, rev e, weapons shield, firepower, motor oil syn, dino, type f trans, rigg grease, cosmoline, eezox, tw25b. pl-10 power lift grease, and g96 gun treatment. finishes are stainless, blued, park and bare. Goldenrod: 
CLP and a bag that won't break down, in a Pelican would be fine, even on a boat. |
| Last I bought was from here. https://www.zerustproducts.com/products/firearms-ammo-weapons/vci-gun-storage-bags/ |
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I got this huge pelican case that acts as both a gun safe and cleaning bench. It's a huge, huge box that I can tie down. I've been using it for about the last 5 years, and before that I would use a Pelican case that is really long to store everything. Very easy to lock onto a very sturdy object. I never had any sort of rust issue or anything. I keep all my firearms in a gun sock and they are cleaned. I do use a Evadry pack but even when I'm really not charging them for a while, I don't see any issue. I think the gunsock saves more so than anything else. Get a nice gun sock, like the one from midwayusa that is nice and fluffy and just oil it, put your rifle in there, put some evadry in there, and you're safe to go. I did go on a trip once with my firearms. I was able to roll it to a secure storage location and was gone for about 2 months. Thought for sure it would be rusted but it looked brand spanking new and I didn't even clean it to go shooting as soon as I got back. |
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How do these VCI bags seal? ... do you, for a lack of a better term, "fold" or "zip-lock" them close? Is there some type of adhesive that sticks together and makes them airtight? Do you also have to "vaccum" out the air with something? Or do you press the bad and just try to get as much air out as possible? These bags look "cheap" enough to buy quite a few.... I have an AR i only shoot once or twice a year... I am interested in using these bags, and then possibly putting into a hard plastic case - Plano case- after sealed in the bad? Would that be a good option for mid-term storage? Currently, I have this AR in a gun sock, and that says it "helps" to reduce mositure, but I just have in leaning upright in a safe - obviously not air tight. Would it be better to use the gun sock and put in the Plano case? The gun sock would obviously prevent the firearm from actually touching the foam. |
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Quoted: How do these VCI bags seal? ... do you, for a lack of a better term, "fold" or "zip-lock" them close? Is there some type of adhesive that sticks together and makes them airtight? The ones I linked above comes with reusable ty-wraps. Do you also have to "vaccum" out the air with something? Or do you press the bad and just try to get as much air out as possible? That's up to you. I've used a vacuum cleaner attachment to vaccum the air out so it's not bulky but you can also just get the bulk of the air out and close em up with the ty wraps. These bags look "cheap" enough to buy quite a few.... Yeah, they last 5+ years even if you open them here and there. I prefer using the ones that are at least 6 mil. The thicker the better to keep the VCI inside. I have an AR i only shoot once or twice a year... I am interested in using these bags, and then possibly putting into a hard plastic case - Plano case- after sealed in the bad? Would that be a good option for mid-term storage? That's what I did for years with some rifles before I bought an even bigger safe. I had some rifles and pistols in bags that I then put into soft and hard cases. Opening them occasionally is fine. Currently, I have this AR in a gun sock, and that says it "helps" to reduce mositure, but I just have in leaning upright in a safe - obviously not air tight. Would it be better to use the gun sock and put in the Plano case? The gun sock would obviously prevent the firearm from actually touching the foam. Ditch the gun sock. Put the firearm in the bag, vacuum or purge the excess air, tie it off, then put it into the case. No worries about moisture, VCI actually activates more with higher humidity. You won't have a problem with rust or corrosion, even if it's not oiled at all. |
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Quoted: The ones I linked above comes with reusable ty-wraps. That's up to you. I've used a vacuum cleaner attachment to vaccum the air out so it's not bulky but you can also just get the bulk of the air out and close em up with the ty wraps. Yeah, they last 5+ years even if you open them here and there. I prefer using the ones that are at least 6 mil. The thicker the better to keep the VCI inside. That's what I did for years with some rifles before I bought an even bigger safe. I had some rifles and pistols in bags that I then put into soft and hard cases. Opening them occasionally is fine. Ditch the gun sock. Put the firearm in the bag, vacuum or purge the excess air, tie it off, then put it into the case. No worries about moisture, VCI actually activates more with higher humidity. You won't have a problem with rust or corrosion, even if it's not oiled at all. THanks for the great info! Would you say the bags you posted above, and some of the "better" VCI bags? ... the zipper is "airtight" I suppose? Are these safe for scopes/optics, all the polymer furniture - stocks, grips, etc? Leave the BCG in it? Would there be any reason to short "short term" firearms in these bags and take them in and our, just to prevent rust? I have some firearms (AR, shotgun) that I shoot maybe once every 3 months or so. I typically just oil them and throw them in the safe... but would it "help" to say, put them in the VCI bag even to store them a few months? Might seem excessive, but i absolutely HATE rust and what to prevent it at all cost. Thanks. |
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Quoted: THanks for the great info! Would you say the bags you posted above, and some of the "better" VCI bags? ... the zipper is "airtight" I suppose? Are these safe for scopes/optics, all the polymer furniture - stocks, grips, etc? Leave the BCG in it? Would there be any reason to short "short term" firearms in these bags and take them in and our, just to prevent rust? I have some firearms (AR, shotgun) that I shoot maybe once every 3 months or so. I typically just oil them and throw them in the safe... but would it "help" to say, put them in the VCI bag even to store them a few months? Might seem excessive, but i absolutely HATE rust and what to prevent it at all cost. Thanks. No problem. I haven't used the kind that has zippers, in the past I just used the ones that are open on the end and ty wrap them shut. VCI is absolutely safe for all furniture and optics, also great for electronics to keep them free from corrosion. Only downside is sometimes the VCI dust gets on the firearms, but it wipes and blows right off. Obviously the VCI only reacts and protects just the metals. You can store them in the bags but the VCI gets expelled and used up the more you open the enclosure or bag. But if you are storing them in a safe, I wouldn't even use bags. I'd just recommend using VCI emitters such as the ones that Zerust makes. I have a few of them in my safes and larger ammo cans. I've done away with Goldenrods and desiccant altogether and have been using VCI exclusively for years. Zero worries about rust and you don't have to worry that the metals are oiled up. |
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