Smyth Busters: Is a Gun Case the Best Place to Store a Gun? 

The myth ain't busted 'till the coffee gets sipped.

I’ve stored blued handguns in cases for decades without issues. If they’re oiled up and stored at room temperature with an RH at 50% or less, no problem.

I always soak my guns in cosmoline after every range trip.

I throw a couple of silica packets in mine for that reason.

All my fírearms are in silicone socks to protect them in the safe. My dad taught me to never let the sun go down on a dirty firearm. Happy Safe Shooting 🇺🇸💪.

That's a fact I learned the hard way when I was a kid. I put my .22 single shot Marlin in a gun case and it kept coming back out with a little surface rust on it. I put it in the gun rack for a while, no rust. Hum……

I don't always keep my fired-once-in-november muzzleloader in a case, but when I do it sits behind the seat of my truck until next year.

Well, crap! Now I’m running to my gun safe!

Wherever my firearms are stored, I keep them 1) well lubricated and 2) stored with rechargeable desiccants. Whether it's a safe, an armory rack or a case makes no difference if it's not dehumidified.

I keep my Hi-Point in a shoebox.

Hey Steve - is that coffee mug permanently attached to your hand? Just kidding...Great videos guys - keep it up!

Never had one get any rust on it storing it this way

I use gun socks. Haven't had an issue yet.

From someone who lives in Arizona, what is moisture?

Someone I know keeps his entire collection of colt woodsman, huntsman, and match targets in the gun safe in socks. I have mentioned it was a bad idea on many occasion but 3ish rusted hulks later he is finally coming around....

In Wyoming here. When I shoot outdoors during winter, it is below zero at times. Always put the gun in the case, then bring it inside for a few hours before taking it out of the case. You want it to warm up slowly so condensation doesn't form all up inside the action. Leave them in the case placed on your bed so you don't forget them. No peeking either. A couple of hours will do it. Then clean and oil the gun and leave it out of the case, either on an open rack, or in a treated gun sock in a humidity controlled safe. NEVER store your guns in a case directly in contact with the floor. It's even a good idea to set your safe or cabinet up off the floor here, let there be an air space underneath. If the worst happens, and you soak the gun, take it completely apart and dry and oil everything. Compressed air, hair dryers etc won't get all the moisture out. You gotta get it out of the action manually. That is why you want to be careful to acclimate a gun to a warm moist environment slowly after it has been out in the cold.

I believe you but I stored a shotgun in a soft zip up case for ten years & it is in perfect condition. Not a single spot of rust.

I have wiped my handguns with Barricade (swiped bore as well) and kept them is soft cases for years without any issues whatsoever. I appreciate the information and will maintain regular maintenance.

Thanks for these short and to the point videos. Even with familiar topics there is still something to learn. Hello from Alberta Canada. 👍

Thanks for the video gentlemen. In an ever changing world, the two of you - along with the correct coffee cups of course - supply some welcome continuity. Thanks and stay well.

Excellent episode. This is why I line my cases with closed cell foam, no moisture and no reaction with the gun oils or cleaners.

I’ve stored my fairly substantial collection in cases for 45 years...the last 20 years in gun socks inside of cases, and have never had one rust. I’ve moved every 1 to 3 years, and have lived all over the country. I must just be lucky...but my Parker, Colt and S&W collection, and many dozens more all look as good as the day I acquired them.

Great advice. Love your videos.

Love these guys 👌

I store mine in a safe that is extremely over loaded, all guns have been treated with a quality gun oil then placed in a good quality gun socks to keep them from touching each other and getting scratched while being stored or moved to a gun case or range bag. over the years I have pulled each gun from to sock only to find that even the ones I have used the least still have the light coat of oil on them and no damage from being stored. I like to think the gun socks have been a very good investment to my gun collection.

Thanks guys!

in the safe, but with the safe open!

But let's be realistic, not every gun owner has a safe. My rifles are in hard cases until I can get a safe or something to that affect like a Tactical Wall.

This is so true, my glock 43 slide had rust spots when stored in a similar case like that.

It's not a problem in non-humid places like Montana.

Personally, I try to transport my firearms in a silicone treated bag (sometimes in a hard case for discretion). Especially true if I'm transporting a firearm with a finish more susceptible to oxidation. Thanks guys! Love the videos.

I assume a silicone-treated gun sock would not have the same problem as the silicone treatment is supposed to prevent the fabric from holding moisture? An appropriate layer of gun oil on the metal surfaces of the gun would certainly make a difference as well.

My grandfather’s 300 Savage was left in a soft case in the attic in Ohio for 20-30 years after his passing. Surprisingly only 12 inches of the outside barrel probably 300 degrees around the barrel was pitted.

The only thing good about living in Southern California: doesn't matter where I keep my gun, no rust ever...

Yeah, learned this the hard way. I stored several pistols and shotguns in cases and both got rusty where pistols stored elsewhere did not.

2:04 synchronized sip

I store all my guns at the bottom of the local lake, but when I did keep them at home. They were all stored in the safes in their original boxes. If I didn't have an original box, they were stored in soft cases. The case they went to the range in was not the same case they were kept in in the safe, as those never left the house. My guns were never put away dirty, or in cases not already kept in humidity controlled safes. I have never had a gun rust in 40 years.

For long term pistol storage, I often just take a gallon freezer bag from Walmart and spray some kind of oil inside it.I f the pistol is in a fabric case or surrounded by moisture absorbing foam, the bag will block moisture from getting inside and causing rust. This is a cheap and effective solution in my experience.

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 yezzzzzzzz! Too many times this happens to so many . Cases are the worst to store firearms in UNLESS it's an all plastic case

I spray the inside of my cases with a light coat of rem oil. Haven’t had any issues myself yet

Great video. Borestore cases are the exception though not really great for transporting guns.

Absolutely agree. My father stored a firearm for over 40 years in a leather case. It was black when I received it. Yet it was a chrome plated pistol. 👍🏼

I have stored in the case before, or on a longer trip. I try to avoid it. Generally I try to keep a silica gel tin (40g ish) in the cases to keep the moisture down, and put in a couple if I have to store it longer term.

A tip from long ago, after a light coat of oil, wrap the gun in plastic before putting in the case. This has worked for me for years. Thanks for the tips.

Eh. Sealed case like a pelican with some dessicant action going on is fine.

Great info

What about gun socks, I keep my old Winchester rifles in socks to prevent damage.

Room temp before storage. Hmm. Never wouldve guessed that. Thank You

Mine stay in the safe. Range bag to take it out then right back in the safe. Bags and cases are for transport. Unless you prep a gun for long storage, then a case is usually fine.

I got another one for ya...factory cardboard boxes tend to attract moisture too. Those factory boxes were meant for storage and shipping for short periods of time (under 1 year). If you keep your old prized firearm in the "factory box" (cardboard) for many years without inspecting it and oiling it, you are going to be disappointed if you live in a humid environment.

If you can't afford a safe and must store it in a cast al least take it out and check it over every month or so. Make sure it has a good coating of CLP on it inside and out.

10:40 great advice !!

Never store my guns lol

Also when coming back from a hunting trip make sure you clean off any blood you may have gotten on the gun. (say by handiling the gun after retreiving shot birds) Blood is very salty and will rust a gun fast.

Thanks again

So I left my shotgun in a soft case when i went to basic training when i got back it was rusty. How i fixed this no crap was a soft bristle brush shaving cream and hot water then dried it then oiled it no more rust. Learned that trick in basic training

I learned this the hard way. Years ago. Storing a beautiful Browning rifle in a soft case. Thankfully , I know better now..

Always use a quality silicon permeated gun sock.

Great video

As long as you upkeep your guns I think cases are just fine.

I’ve never stored a firearm in a case, mostly dumb luck, not because I had any kind of great knowledge on the topic, but I did take a gunsmith class one summer and when I came home I left my files in a roll up carrier. I live in Tennessee, not a place known for low humidity. The short version is that I ruined a bunch of files. Lesson learned.

THANKS

I've used Bore Store bags for years with 0 issues. 🐗. That special fabric has ventilated designs treated with silicone. I've kept Cerakoted guns, stainless guns in my bags for extended periods with no problems. I may re-think keeping my Glock 26 9mm gen 5 in a pistol rug: 🤔.

Huh, wow I actually never thought about the fact that the material will absorb humidity and could lead to your gun rusting. Good advice. I mean the guns I do have that are in cases are in my safe I just keep them in the case cuz that's what they came in usually when I get em off Gunbroker. No chance they'll rust in the temperature controlled environment I have them in, but still an interesting thing I hadn't considered.

I use 50 cal metal ammo can when come to handguns. Each metal can FOR ME is for each different handgun. I buy those small eva dry renewal mini dehumidifier and put one in each can with the handgun.

How bout an episode on magnetic gun holders? I've heard conflicting stories on them magnetizing the gun. Just curious.

If you properly clean and lube your firearm, you can safely use gun cases for long - term storage. I throw in some silica gel packs in mine and recharge them in the oven every few months.

50 years and never a problem

A relative stored a shotgun in its case for 20+ years in his attic. It not only rusted the barrel and internals, but the case melted onto the stock. I am trying to restore it as much as I can...

I have stored guns in soft cases for as long as i Can remember, mostly because i currently dont want to buy a Big gun safe, and i dont want the guns to just sit somewhere without any "protection" around it. I agree 100% that cases like this Can attract moisture and water. My guns are Very oiled and/or greased at all time, silicon threated gun sock on them and then i put them inside the cases. I also have a normal sock with a ton off silica gel balls in it. I have never had any rust on my guns by doing this. Try it, it works for short and long term storage. If a gun is wet/has water on it, then PLEASE dont put in in the case. No silica products will take away that water before it starts to rust. Silica is used to prevent rust caused by humidity in the Air and condensation that builds up inside a sealed container/case. Thank you.

Silica gel packs will help with moisture too.

years ago when I worked in a gun store I had a customer bring in a 1911 that he kept in one of those small plastic travel humidors, UNDER a handful of cigars! Needless to say, but the gun was severely rusted and the cigars were molding. He thought he was being clever by hiding the steel framed gun under the foam the cigars sat on top of, but those are two items that REQUIRE two very different, and incompatible, humidity levels.

I’m not buying an entire safe or cabinet for a single AR. I put mine inside an anti-moisture sock with desiccant packs inside a locked case.

Also never leave them in a basement or attic where there is high humidity. Not even in a safe. You can purchase those big anti-moisture blocks to slap inside of a safe but even then I wouldn’t trust it

Any thoughts on use of wax paper for guns. I have seen shotguns come in boxes with styrofoam and have been told instead of keeping it in contact with styrofoam to wrap with wax paper.

Can you discuss silicone gun socks for long term storage?

Store it with a fresh slick of oil and a sock...bags are for transporting, not storing...

This is correct information

My safe is outdoors. All my handguns, roughly thirty, are in cases. Because of the environment, they must be wiped down 2 or 3 times a year. I use Break Free long term storage protectant. Never had a problem.

Never considered this. I have quite a few Glocks in their original plastic cases then set in my safe. I'm going to address this strait away. Thank you.

What about rust-inhibitor, or silicone treated gun socks?

Does that apply to the factory cases the gun comes with as well? Some of them have foam cut outs for the gun idk if that helps or not 🤷‍♂️

Down with case laws.

I keep my gun in a deep container of rice. If there's ever an intruder, and I have to fire on them, the rice in the gun barrel isually gets in their eyes. Man, does that sting!

What about the silicon gun socks? Does this apply to them too?

True

My grandad kept a shotgun,he gave me in a case thankfully it was mostly crome only trigger and hammer rusted and not to bad

1:03 what about having a gun sock in a case? Would that be a bad idea to keep guns in gun socks? Thanks

Them what about hard shell cases with the foam inserts

Can desiccant packs in cases mitigate the moisture problems?

Store it in the case. I never heard that this was something people did until I went online. Boggles my mind to this day.

seen a few firearms at auction estate sales where the bluing was absorbed into the gun case material. Of course they likely hadn't been taken out in decades until the owner passed away, and the heirs didn't want that awful thing in the house. its not a bad thing, makes for great rebluing projects.

I’ve kept an AR15 in a zip up case for 2 years and I have zero rust so idk, I guess it depends how humid it is where you live

Man on the left reminds me of Patrick Wilson, underrated actor in my opinion.

1:03 what about having a gun sock in a case? Would that be a bad idea to keep guns in gun socks?

Nylon holster are a bad idea also!

I keep mine within arms reach, can’t protect you in a safe.

I learned this lesson the hard way but it wasn't a case, it was an Uncle M!/2$ holster stored in a gun cabinet. Ruger MK III, never been fired but kept in a holster for several years. Took it out one day to check it out and found rust on the barrel. Was sick at my stomach at being so careless but glad I found it when I did. Have purchased silicone gun cases and gun socks and being a lot more careful. I assumed being in a gun cabinet in my bedroom would be fine. We all know what ASSUME means. Lesson learned.

What about soft cases with silicone in the material ?

What if the case is in a safe with a dehumidifier in it? (Such as golden rod)