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.
Having said that, Vaseline is a byproduct of extracting oil from the ground, and is essentially just grease with no additives.
What a good idea...
Clever idea.
Make out a bunch of forms indicating they were sold. Years ago.
Not to be incindiary, but when Beta comes to collect your weapons, that’s your *final* opportunity to determine whether you’re simply a weapons hoarder forever, or if you actually own them for the defense of liberty, yours and others’.
Meanwhile, millions of other Americans will be simultaneously asked to make that same decision. Don’t expect them to make a decision that you won’t.
Why even answer?
If you decide to use cosmoline to preserve your metal sporting object, wrap it with gunny sacks soaked in more cosmoline before burying.
The VC used that same technique to cache their gifts from the Waraw Pact along the river banks and when we did find them, we’d wash them in half-55 gallon drums with gasoline (outdoors), using brushes to scrub the sticky stuff off and voila - like new!
Then we’d casually carry them one at a time when we went to the Danang PX and be “persuaded” to part with our souvenir for big bucks from some rear-area commando. I’m sure some of those guys have some really heroic war stories to go with them now!
My belief is that anyone who keeps a rifle (or gun) for any reason other than display should be staying proficient in its use and their ability and keep it sighted in by getting out and practicing from time to time.
“If you think you need to bury your weapons it’s time to use them.”
I heard it as, “if it’s time to bury ‘em, it’s time to dig ‘em up.”
A good gun safe with a dehumidifier or two I get no issues.
You should clean them up annually anyway. Just some play time.
Don’t forget to vacuum seal a few boxes of corresponding ammo as well. Same with extra matching mags...
If it unsafe to have them then it is time to use them.
Because if this election is stolen we will live in a post-Constitutional world.
With lead
Ether in open air environment— lot’s of it will remove the petrolatum. Acetone not a good idea— affect on plastic.
We’ve been doing food storage bags for years but, we don’t break down AR’s.
I have my M1A kitted up.
10 mags, 10 stripper clips
AR’s same setup
We folded the ends of the bags after first seal, then sealed again and for extra secure seal duct taped them
No leaks
The dingo ate my firearms
When Beta comes for mine it will be taken from my cold dead hands and I will be knee deep is Modern Sporting Rifle Brass.
“Serious question.”
I hate that we are now living in a time where these discussions are even necessary.
But i thank you for clarity, purpose, and great ideas.
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