New Shotgun

September 05, 2025, 08:27 AM

sourdough44

I have guns in various levels of storage. The worst for a gun is to put it in a case wet, then leave it sit in a closet.

As to a new gun, box or case, I think no less than once a year one should go over it with a lightly oiled clothe, bore also.

If sitting longer than that is planned, something like R.I.G. grease is an option, thicker coating.

The box it came in is fine.

September 05, 2025, 08:42 AM

joeputts

Thanks, Appreciate the advice

September 05, 2025, 08:53 AM

MNSIG

I suspect that many firearms sit in their original packing materials for many years in distributor's or retailer's inventories.

September 05, 2025, 08:53 AM

flesheatingvirus

Good advice from sourdough44. I would also add that the time between doing this would depend upon your location. If I was in FL, I would do it more often. Here in NM, it isn't as necessary.

________________________________________

-- Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past me I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain. --

September 05, 2025, 09:44 AM

alreadydead

I have a old Springfield rifle from the 1930's in its original shipping box, still covered with cosmoline and oil cloth. I take it out and look at it every year, no damage.

September 05, 2025, 11:26 AM

flesheatingvirus

I could probably coat a sandwich with cosmoline and it would be good for years.

September 05, 2025, 11:32 AM

Mark in Michigan

I stored an over/under skeet 12 gage in the original packing material for many many years until I bought a case for it. As others have advised, it always had a light coat of gun oil on it before it went into the plastic sleeves, styrofoam dividers, the 'display' box and then the cardboard shipping box.

September 05, 2025, 01:24 PM

Johnny 3eagles

Holy Carp. Member since 2017 posts first time today! Welcome to SIGFORUM

September 05, 2025, 01:31 PM

egregore

It depends. If just a cardboard box and kept clean, cool and dry, no problem. If foam-lined, absolutely not. There are plenty of pictures out there of foam lining disintegrated and permanent imprints left on the gun. I think it unlikely that a long gun would be so packaged, however.

September 05, 2025, 01:32 PM

David Lee

If not factory treated on its exterior, silicone cloth wipe down and a VCI bag which you can buy on line. Brownells...

September 05, 2025, 03:53 PM

Black92LX

I learned that foam and cardboard are not a good thing for long term storage if there is any amount of moisture in the air.

————————————————
The world's not perfect, but it's not that bad.
If we got each other, and that's all we have.
I will be your brother, and I'll hold your hand.
You should know I'll be there for you!

September 05, 2025, 06:59 PM

Nickelsig229

It really depends on climate control. If your in a humid home with no ac regulating humidity and condensation then having a gun sit in its foam packaging is bound to cause surface rust.

Also handling your guns and not wiping them down before storing them can lead to surface rust due to salt on your hands, made worse buy high humidity.

I have had guns in the past that I stored in a non climate control basement end up with surface rust on the side sitting on foam in their boxes and it is not fun. If it happens to you once, you will for sure not let it happen again.

September 05, 2025, 07:04 PM

mrvmax

quote:
Originally posted by Nickelsig229:
It really depends on climate control. If your in a humid home with no ac regulating humidity and condensation then having a gun sit in its foam packaging is bound to cause surface rust.

Also handling your guns and not wiping them down before storing them can lead to surface rust due to salt on your hands, made worse buy high humidity.

I have had guns in the past that I stored in a non climate control basement end up with surface rust on the side sitting on foam in their boxes and it is not fun. If it happens to you once, you will for sure not let it happen again.

This, I have had guns rust just sdue to the Texas humidity. The factory box will only help for so long in humid areas. If you are in a dry climate then I think it will be fine.

Long term I keep mine stored at under 40% humidity. I usually put a coat of oil on them or wipe them down with the silicone gun rags.

September 05, 2025, 09:21 PM

MikeinNC

When I went to bootcamp, I used spray grease on my guns knowing they would sit for a year or more. I completely coated the guns inside and out. A year later, they were fine.

When I was in service as a gunners’s mate I learned about “lay-up” (long term storage). You dip a firearm in warm grease and wrap it in foil lined paper then placing in a sealed bag with a desiccant. Works for years.

“You may beat me, but you will never win.” sigmonkey-2020

“ in my opinion, anything that we can do to trigger a potential aneurysm in a leftist is a good thing and worth doing” nhtagmember 2025

September 05, 2025, 11:11 PM

Schmelby

At least once a year I pull out all my firearms and wipe them with an oily rag, maybe a patch through the barrel. Any gun I touch gets wiped down before I put it away. I couldn't live with myself if I saw rust on beautiful blueing!