Posted on 12/13/2020 10:48:54 AM PST by Blueflag
From a friend via a copy-pasted email thread
Many of you you have asked how safely store what we'll call "the modern sporting rifle" for the long term. Particularly let's focus on storage in what we'll euphemistically call "environmentally exposed" locations.
The typical answer has been to liberally coat the firearm in some sort of viscous grease (last generally sold in the Korean War era) that can take an hour to get off if the firearm is needed/desired for use, and place all the parts in various bags inside a large diameter PVC Schedule 40 or better pipe, with threaded caps.
Well, that'll certainly do the trick.
But let me suggest a simpler method, one that works for pistols as well: The 11" wide roll of Food Saver bags (ON THE 14' ROLL) and some silica gel packs. Clean and oil your firearm, place them in a proper length of Food Saver roll (having already sealed one end) add a liberal supply of silica gel packs and O2 absorbent if you have it, and then vacuum seal the bag. Then vacuum seal THAT gun-bag inside a second custom-length Food Saver bag. Be careful to not over-vacuum the bag or sharpish edges of your firearm can puncture the bag.
For an AR-platform rifle, you need to separate the upper and lower, and create two sealed bag-units. Double bag the upper, and separately double-bag the lower. Your bagged and protected firearm (long or short gun) is now ready for storage 'wherever'. Sure it'd be better to place the bagged unit in a PVC tube if you planned to bury it, but you may not be able to or need to bury items for your storage needs.
The upside of this method is that (a) it's cheap if you already have a vacuum sealer food storage system (like Food Saver) (b) you can store any modern sporting firearm or pistol - often dissembled, (c) ammo boxes (not the cans - be reasonable- also handle this really well, and (d) your firearm is ready to use in a couple minutes from removing it out of the bags - versus MANY minutes to get all that grease off a firearm.
It's especially easy to store a grab-and-go pistol kit: the pistol, extra mags 80% loaded for spring durability, and a box of 50 or 100 rounds.
Note well, the bags are not designed to handle friction from rubbing/moving. They're pretty tough, but if you have a bagged unit bouncing around in the bottom our your pick-up's tool box, it'll be torn in a month. Wrap it appropriately if you HAVE to store the unit where friction may come into play, and inspect frequently.
This may help you if you are considering ways to safely store 'items' for a while.
Many of you you have asked how safely store what we'll call "the modern sporting rifle" for the long term. Particularly let's focus on storage in what we'll euphemistically call "environmentally exposed" locations.
The typical answer has been to liberally coat the firearm in some sort of viscous grease (last generally sold in the Korean War era) that can take an hour to get off if the firearm is needed/desired for use, and place all the parts in various bags inside a large diameter PVC Schedule 40 or better pipe, with threaded caps.
Well, that'll certainly do the trick.
But let me suggest a simpler method, one that works for pistols as well: The 11" wide roll of Food Saver bags (ON THE 14' ROLL) and some silica gel packs. Clean and oil your firearm, place them in a proper length of Food Saver roll (having already sealed one end) add a liberal supply of silica gel packs and O2 absorbent if you have it, and then vacuum seal the bag. Then vacuum seal THAT gun-bag inside a second custom-length Food Saver bag. Be careful to not over-vacuum the bag or sharpish edges of your firearm can puncture the bag.
For an AR-platform rifle, you need to separate the upper and lower, and create two sealed bag-units. Double bag the upper, and separately double-bag the lower. Your bagged and protected firearm (long or short gun) is now ready for storage 'wherever'. Sure it'd be better to place the bagged unit in a PVC tube if you planned to bury it, but you may not be able to or need to bury items for your storage needs.
The upside of this method is that (a) it's cheap if you already have a vacuum sealer food storage system (like Food Saver) (b) you can store any modern sporting firearm or pistol - often dissembled, (c) ammo boxes (not the cans - be reasonable- also handle this really well, and (d) your firearm is ready to use in a couple minutes from removing it out of the bags - versus MANY minutes to get all that grease off a firearm.
It's especially easy to store a grab-and-go pistol kit: the pistol, extra mags 80% loaded for spring durability, and a box of 50 or 100 rounds.
Note well, the bags are not designed to handle friction from rubbing/moving. They're pretty tough, but if you have a bagged unit bouncing around in the bottom our your pick-up's tool box, it'll be torn in a month. Wrap it appropriately if you HAVE to store the unit where friction may come into play, and inspect frequently.
This may help you if you are considering ways to safely store 'items' for a while.
That should work.
Great Idea and they do sell ground vaults that would add protection to the process.
When Beta comes to collect your firearms with an inventory list provided by the BATFE, how do you explain the missing inventory?
Serious question.
You mean the ones I inherited from relatives years ago, or the ones I’ve bought from individuals years ago?
Remember that “No Questions Asked” gun buyback? That’s where they went.
“It Fell off the boat during a Trump Boat Parade in 2020”.
Give them a map of the approximate spot.
I’ve used foodsaver bags in this manner. Had some stored for about 8 years now and they are doing fine. They are stored above ground. I have had a couple over the years lose their seal. Those foodsaver rolls are not the most robust thing in the world. But if they hold for a week, they usually hold forever if the plastic isn’t damaged.
Very few “modern sporting rifles” would fall into that category.
Unfortunately.
Gave it to some guy named Corn Pop.
**The typical answer has been to liberally coat the firearm in some sort of viscous grease (last generally sold in the Korean War era)***
Vaseline Petroleum Jelly, or equivalent will work just fine.
Must have been sold to a private individual, cash sale. Met the guy once, at a gun range, car show, gun show, boat show, festival, etc.
I sold in private transactions a few firearms. Legal in Wisconsin.
I am not required to keep a record. I do only sell to people who have a Concealed Carry license though. No 4473 form.
True - now, get it all off, including your optics/sights.
Vaseline is horrible about ‘attracting’ and holding dust and grit.
Just sayin’
Bill of Sale from November, 2020. Day after the election.
Well, depending on IF all your guns were 4473’d. Did you buy them in a different state than you now live? If from private sale and the original owner points you out, then the boating accident comes into play. I guess those would be OR guns. Off record?
I smell a perjury trap.
If you think you need to bury your weapons it’s time to use them.
If Beta comes to my house, I give him Mom’s old 6-shot .25 tiny pistol and check the box on the form that I complied. Everything else that they might know about was lost in a boating accident and will not be stored on premise.
I purchased a number of them from gun show FFL dealers in the ‘nineties when I lived in a different state.
How would that matter?
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