A gun is supposed to have just two opponents rust and legislators. While you can take steps to safeguard your firearms against bad laws on Capitol Hill, avoiding rust is far simpler and more in your hands. Rust is one of the most common ways to destroy a new rifle, and it builds up rapidly and readily.
Fortunately, the ideal place to store weapons to avoid corrosion on the guns is rather simple. There are various ways and solutions available to assist in keeping your weapons cleaned, rust-free, and operational.
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Are you a gun lover who wishes to preserve your collection in top shape? To keep weapons in excellent working order, they must be protected against corrosion and rust. Then, this is the right place for you.
What Is Rust?
Before we can talk about how to avoid rust, we need to know what it is and what causes it.
When the metal parts of the gun come into contact with oxygen, rust occurs, turning iron to iron oxide. Iron oxide is a bad and harmful powder that builds upon the metallic surfaces of gun parts. A wide range of chemicals can act as catalysts and cause rust to appear very quickly, even when only oxygen is present.
Best Way to Store Guns to Prevent Rust
Contact With Water
Exposure to water is the most typical way for rust to occur. While most of us wouldn’t leave our guns in a puddle, there appear to be a number of ways they could get wet. Cleaning with water is a huge one. If you are using an aqueous solution in the ultrasonic cleaning solution, this can be a major issue. Ultrasonic cleaners are great for removing dirt particles from hard-to-reach places, but ensure your components are clean and dry before starting the washing and rust-prevention process. As a result, you try to use as little water as possible in your cleaning process.
Ideal Storage Conditions
To avoid rust, keep your gun in a cold, dry location to be the most successful. The National Rifle Association (NRA) keeps its exhibit at a constant temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit and 50 to 55 percent humidity. Most people will struggle to achieve this degree of precision, so it should be fine as long as you keep it in the cleanest possible environment and properly store your gun. Crawl spaces, basements, and the back of your car are all places that you should avoid.
Use of Oil
A little oil application will be the first and simplest line of protection against rust. Because we all know that oil and water cannot mix, covering all of your metal parts with oil can keep moisture away from the metal’s surface. Aside from corrosion protection, oil is an excellent lubricant. Thus, applying it to your handgun has several advantages.
Save Your Gun Out of Case
Even if you are out in the field within a few hours, pull your rifle from the container as quickly as possible. It’s also worth noting that bringing a cold pistol into such a warm setting as a deer camp lodge may result in moisture. Decide to throw a tiny package of silica desiccant into your gun case for further humidity prevention.
Climate-Control System
The lock on your gun cabinet keeps criminals out better than it is damp. Although basements are typically damp, a safe’s hefty weight frequently necessitates its placement in the basement. You’ll need some extra protection to keep guns rust-free when they’re stored.
To maintain its artifacts of history as pure as possible, the National Rifle Association keeps them at 50 to 55 % moisture and 70 ° Fahrenheit. You may create those circumstances in your safety by utilizing a dehumidifier like a Goldenrod, which warms up and circulate warmer, dry weather all through it. You can use silica gel instead of an electrical outlet if you don’t have enough access to one.
Silica gel
Silica gel captures humidity from the air, maintaining the region dry and clear of dampness. This is an awesome weapon for tiny areas because it is a passive product that does not require energy to operate. Many of the more expensive silica gel packs will be reusable.
Simply throw them in the oven for a few minutes to dry them out once they’ve absorbed all of the liquid they can. I like to stuff a few of these packets inside my rifle bags and ammunition containers to keep them dry. These specific packets contain a color indication that indicates when they need to be recharged. Silica gel is inexpensive, practical, and simple to use. However, it is ineffective in controlling humidity in bigger gun vaults.
Put Your Guns in the Proper Box and Secure
Humidity is by far the most important component that promotes rusting. As a result, after purchasing a gun, you must select an appropriate gun safe. Using a gun safe with a dehumidifier prevents the firearms from being ruined by extreme moisture in the air.
A gun safe is made of materials that repel moisture. As a result, they prevent dampness from reaching your firearms. It maintains them as gleaming as new.
Choose a pistol bag with cushioned foam on the inside when shopping. The froth collects moisture in the air and maintains the firearms dry at all times.
Some Bad Habits That Can Harm Your Gun
Gun’s Worst Enemy Water
Never clean your weapons with water or a water-based solvent. Numerous ultrasonic treatments can be found online to make your pistol sparkle like new. The typical cleaning procedure of removing dirt and grime with damp towels and detergents should not be used on firearms.
Don’t Use the Gun in The Rain
While it may appear like taking your rifle is a smart idea whenever the weather gets bad, it is not. Rain, snow, and humid air are your gun’s deadliest enemies. If you must take your firearms out in the rain and snow, make sure they are well wrapped, ideally in zippered bags.
When you finally get home, don’t forget to clean them thoroughly.
Careful of Corrosive Ammunition
Destructive chemicals, such as those employed in military hardware primers, operate as corrosive triggers. It’s because these build up salts on the surface of your gun, making it more prone to deterioration. The best approach to keep your weapons safe for longer is to use hand-loaded ammunition.
According to the package recommendations, if using corrosive ammunition is unavoidable, clean the firearms thoroughly after each use.
Remove The Cardboard
Many gun owners make the mistake of storing their firearms in cardboard boxes. Cardboard draws moisture, which can collect on your gun, which is safely stored in that box. Never consider keeping firearms in cardboard boxes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is gun oil effective in preventing rust?
Ans: It is ideal for all firearms, handguns, and shotguns and protects them from corrosion and damage.
What can I use to prevent my firearms from rusting?
Ans: Place the Zerust VCI vapor capsule for guns and ammo in the container.
Do contemporary firearms corrode?
Ans: Even a new rifle stored in its original packaging can rust if not properly lubricated and preserved.
Conclusion
Guns are a precious property for any gun lover, but they are normal to rust deterioration because they are constructed of metal. If you truly want to keep your firearms from rusting, keep them tidy, well-oiled, and maintained in a cold, dry area. If you can do all of these activities, you should be able to keep your weapons in outstanding shape for many coming years!