I searched the forum and did not find any threads on this subject, just a kind of similar one on ammo.  If anyone is aware of a thread out there that I did not find, direction is appreciated.  Otherwise, I want people's opinions on this.

Live in Wisconsin.  We can get a fair amount of humidity here.  I have been storing my handguns in their cases, most of which have foam; some open cell, some closed cell, in a safe with desiccant containers in the safe and a dehumidifier in the room.  

Someone recently commented to me he would not do that because the open cell foam inside closed containers can hold moisture that the desiccant containers and dehumidifiers won't suck out, and you can get surface rust over time on the guns you are not pulling out and using/cleaning/oiling on a regular basis.  

Well we have a lot of handguns in this house and that is too much value to lose for not taking the proper precautions if it really is an issue.

Google search and sure enough the general consensus seems to be that one should not store guns in containers with open cell foam for sure and closed cell foam might be OK, but why risk it.  Rust isn't the only issue though.  There are those horror stories about oil from the guns congealing with the foam and adhering to the gun and stripping finish off.  Then others say they store theirs in the cases and haven't had problems in 30 years.

What I cannot find is how people are storing their handguns if not using the cases.  

What's best? Pistol racks in the safe so the air can circulate?  Gun socks?  Other? I use gun socks on my long guns, but I feel like if I do that with my handguns I will have a big unmanageable, unorganized pile of guns and will never be able to find what I am looking for (unless I am looking for the Desert Eagle, which sticks out from all the others all the time anyways).

Any thoughts appreciated.

I have not had any issues with rust or congealing yet, but to avoid possible issues, started looking at options.  For the number of guns we have, pistol racks, socks or whatever else will be quite an investment.  ETA: Which we are not opposed to doing, just don't want to spend money only to do it over again for the "right way".

On the shelf in my safe.

Pistol rack in the safe works fine. I have adjustable shelving in my safe so I have a couple shelves just for handgun racks. I wouldn't store them in their cases for multiple reasons, space being an obvious one.

This.  Before I had a safe I'd oil them up and put them in those silicon type gun socks.

$2 Wal Mart rubber coated wire plate racks

I use a combination of these Gun Hangers .. They will eventually rust in a foam case. Ask me how I know.



and Pistol Cradle Holder

we have exceptionally high humidity .... my blue steel pistols and shotguns are liberally wiped down with Birchwood Casey Barricade (formerly called Sheath) for surface protection and laid on their side on side in the safe ... there are several moisture absorbing packs in the gun safe... the house is air conditioned when the temp gets over 78F

I don't think it much matters as long as you store them in a climate controlled environment that stays between 68-78.

That said, I wouldn't store them in a closet right next to a bathroom door where you shower frequently.

I have never stored guns in cases as I was told the cases can hold moisture and cause rust even when I was a kid. Laying on shelves in my various lock boxes and cabinets at this point. Even when I lived in a high humidity region of the country never had trouble with rust.

This, and my new safe has 6 " holsters " attached to the front door for pistols.

Metal shelf in safe.

There is a 7.5 W 130 V bulb in the safe.

I check it around the first of each month.

I put them in Bore Stores and place them on a shelf in my safe.

Humid South Florida; no rust ever.

For long term storage I've been using G96 aerosol spray for over 50 years.

No rust ever.

Threads like this show how people can truly overcomplicate anything.

I live in East TN where its fairly humid, and all my pistols are laying on shelves in my safe.  No racks, no socks, no desiccant, and no fancy preservative lubricants.  Just a ~$30 dehumidifying rod in the safe.  No rust problems whatsoever in the past ten years that I have had this safe, and five of those years were in my last house with the safe in the basement.

Keep it simple.

I live in MI and my safe is in my basement, but the basement is temp. controlled.  The safe has one of those Peet safe dryer things in it.
Some handguns are in those velcro holsters on the door safe, some are on shelf hooks, some are just sitting on the shelf.

You should be fine with some reasonable precautions, whether its temp. controlled rooms or proper oiling and stuff.  I have guns sitting in my bedroom in the open that have never had problems, and Ive left guns sitting in a cottage up north that gets humid as hell and it hasnt been a problem.  You really dont have to worry TOO much about it.

I've never taken any care either way and haven't pulled out a gun that was rusty.  Mine are in my basement too.  But it's fairly dry down there.  We have a Radon mitigation system that pulls the moisture from underneath the slab out.  When we moved in it was pretty humid down there.  So I could see how it might be a problem.  We do have a dehumidifier to run down there too, in the summer.  

A couple of my pistols are in cases with the foam, but most aren't.  I guess this will be a good reminder to check on them.  But I did not that long ago and they were fine.  Thankfully I've been able to shoot most of them now and then.

I use plastic coated wire dish racks on a shelf in the safe and then put the pistols, grip facing up, in the dish racks.  I'm in Arizona, so humidity is rarely a problem, even with an evap cooler running for a couple of months.

On a rack in my safe. Foam can cause rust, I've seen it.

Lots of good comments so far.  Keep them coming.

I immediately thought of using gun socks or pistol racks because I cannot lay the guns on the shelves (which it seems is what most people commenting do so far) without laying them on top of each other because there are so many.  If I am removing the cases though, maybe I can add shelves and put them closer together.  I will have to look into how much it would cost to add shelving to the unit I have in my safe.  Might still cost more than pistol racks or socks.

I like the people who are thinking outside the norm.  Wouldn't have thought of dish racks, makes sense though as a pistol rack alternative.

Appreciate the comments on the oils people are using too.  I typically only use CLP but was thinking there might be better stuff out there for the guns that do not make it out that often and/or are collectible.  Hopefully our firearm collection will still be around for generations to come.

Lets hear from some more people.  

I use the bamboo plate rack from amazon in mine.  I need another one now though and need to do some reorganizing in safe to make more room.  I am one who prefers shooting handguns to rifles any day of the week so I have far more of those types of guns I need to store.  I keep the cases on a shelf nearby and I store the mags in a rubbermaid tub.

Some cool ideas. I do not want to steal the thread but thought it would be great to have some ideas on how to store the mags also.  Mine are a mess.  Could not figure out a good way to store them in an organized way.  Together with the pistols in the safe or somewhere else?

I took all the shelving and stuff out of my safe to make more room for rifles.  I took the old brackets that were used to adjust shelf height, took some small high powered magnets and put them along the metal bracket, then wrapped it all in silicone tape.  I screwed the brackets on the walls and door of the safe and I stick my magazines on those.

It wouldnt work with all polymer magazines obviously, but all my pistol magazines are metal, or reinforced with metal.  I only keep a small amount of rifle magazines in the safe for select rifles, but they are all either metal or reinforced with metal as well, so they stick to the magnets too.

This. I used to just store them on a shelf but these racks save space and are very sturdy.

If you shop at Harbor Freight just pick one of these up for free everytime you're there: magnetic tool holder.  Secure it to your door or underside of shelves (doesn't work if you use rifle rods obviously.  

Store as in Store:  A gun wrapped in a silicone cloth wrapped in VIP paper put in a Zip lock storage bag.

Store as in use in a month:  Lightly oil with a NEW UNUSED horsehair shoe brush that is permanently loaded with oil (lightly).  Buff for a second, and its oiled.

Then hang or put so it touches the least stuff possible.  A Browning safe or Liberty with peg board door cover lets you hang them upside down by the trigger guard over a U inserted into the door.  Hook behind the trigger in an array than accommodates various sizes guns.  Doesn't waste any shelf or long gun space.

I keep my handguns in gun socks and use the wood dish racks you can buy in a kitchen supply store.

Magazine storage in an organized manner is easy.  Drawer or box in a safe.

Get some of Mom's tin food cans opened carefully with no metal torn and sticking out at the rim.  Remove the labels and clean the cans.  Then run them through the dishwasher on pots and pans hot.  The cans will come out perfectly sterile.

Depending on the size of the can:
-a bean/soup/vegetable can size holds three Glock magazines inserted lips down.
-smaller holds three LCP magazines.
-FN HiPower mags go three in a bean can.

You get the idea.  Vary the size of the can for the mags to sit upright.  Don't mix them in a can.

Side by side on the shelf.  Slide down/grips up.  Safe is too full (don't dare so too many guns ) to spread them out with racks or hangers.

In safe with a rack for max storage.
Also have the door hanger thing that has multiple velcro mounted soft holsters.

I took a bunch of welding rods, knocked off the coating (forget what it's called) so it's just the rod, then I bent them to clamp onto the shelf in my safe and coated them in plastidip. I don't have any really long long guns, so there is a dead space where the hanging pistols fit perfectly.

Armory Racks in the safe

Never too many!

I'm kinda surprised there haven't been more comments about just using a ziplock instead of gun socks.  I was kinda thinking a good oily wipe down and zip locks might be the best for the more collectible stuff like my Colt 1908s.

I like the pegboard idea too.  Someday, when I am better looking, wealthy and building a new home, I always envisioned having a climate controlled safe room with peg board to hold and display the various pieces.  Maybe there is a way to do that now on a smaller scale with my safe.  I don't think the manufacturer offers anything for mine, but maybe I could cobble something...

More great comments.  I really appreciate the pictures people have provided, really helps me visualize what can be.

Keep 'em coming!

The ones that aren't out and about within reach are stored in the cabinet and the safe. I don't do anything special to store them. House temperature doesn't have extreme changes to affect humidity which can cause rusting.

If I have the original boxes (I know it takes up space) in the safe in the box.

If no box, I store them on Wal-Mart plate racks in my safe.

Come on people, we are approaching 900 views with only 35 responses.  Trying to take a poll here and polls are only as good as the number of responses you get.  If you stop in to check the thread out, leave a response so we know what you do.  Even if somebody already said it it will add up for that style!

I store mine upside down.  The slide on the self and grips up.  But I do not have many.  

My problem are the magazines piling up over one another.  I saw a couple suggestions and will try them.  Was thinking about buying some hard foam and cutting holes in it and sticky the mags there.

I store my Korths, Colts, S&W and most Lugers upside down on a steel shelf covered with leather, they rest stable on the rear sights. Others are in mostly wooden boxes and littering the other shelves. Magazines and speedloaders are in pouches, wooden boxes and in ammo cans in closets and the attic. The Swiss P210 mags and Hämmerli 208 mags are in one of the smaller safes.
Despite the humidity in Southern Florida I only had a rust problem in the week-long power outage after Kathrina on my K98k's.

For the DIY guys.
Some of these with a few coats of Plasti Dip.
I can get 4 on each of the upper shelves of my safe.

For mags these stored on top of safe.

I just found this and thought it was a good idea.

Attached File


http://hyskore.com/products/30053-9-gun-pistol-carousel/

Of course it is discontinued.  Can't find anything similar so far.

that will take up a huge amount of room in a safe......diameter from butt to butt and height is more than i would be willing to give up.......thus, why i use the amoury racks....

it is pretty though.....

I run these on the door of my safe.


They can be found here.
https://store.chipleymachine.com/door-gunner-500-s-w/

I know...and I am not opposed to the armory rack idea per se. My FFL showed me how he was storing pistols in his safe and it was a kind of built in armory rack.  The issue became you couldn't see the guns in the back and you had to move a few in front to pull them from the back ranks.

And I am a fool for pretty...

Interesting.  Saw something kind of similar on Amazon.  This is cheaper.  Still thinking about how the pegboard would work in our safes.  No easy way to do it. But I like it cause you can see everything.

I simply hang them on dowels within the gun compartments. Most compartments have corresponding rifles like matching levers and six shooters. I don't have the humidity issues of yourself and the southern states so in each compartment is a small wooden box with a hinged screen top filled with silica cat litter. Works for me. I said compartments as I don't use a safe. I build things for firearm storage weather within the walls with hidden panels or as furniture pieces.

Here's one furniture items interior:


One of a wall panel:


As for ammunition, I do keep some of the mags, speed loaders/strips loaded with the firearms or boxes there of say for pumps, levers, S/A and bolts. Beyond that I have a go to pile of factories I keep in compartments on the side of my reloading bench along with a similar separate set-up for more factories, powder and reloads:

Bench side:

WOW!   Awesome job!  

Damn.  That is nice.

I don't have a collection. I only have three Glocks and they are in constant rotation depending on my mood and dress. If I had several, I would probably have them in a rack of sorts.

I don't like the idea of something that holds them by inserting something and putting pressure on the inside of the barrel wall.

Armory Racks

On the door of my safe except for my nightstand gun.