That's all I've ever done, Franc. No matter sentimental or dollar values, they're all used the same, hunted without concern for wet, snow, mud, fresh or salt water, to be shot and maintained for future hands. As a child, a youngster, I did the same thing. There's no rust on any of them. My .22 Mossberg 46B looks as good today as when my father bought it in 1941 at the Eaton store in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, before going overseas. Cleaning isn't a chore.