doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Long term storage in felt lined case, bad idea ?

Felt can be hygroscopic (absorbs water). I have several shotguns stored indoors in felt lined cases but am concerned after recently seeing some fine doubles with pitted barrels on the outside where they rested in cases.

Yes, that is a bad idea.

I store mine assembled. Some are in a gun safe. Some are on gun racks. None are in the felt lined cases.

Joe Wood, my shooting student and double gun mentor, argues that they should be stored vertically, muzzle down. He believes that the oil from the barrels seeps and wicks into the action and then the wood and that eventually the stock head will become oil soaked. I store mine muzzle down where possible.

I live in a low humidity climate.

Best,

Mike

Ditto.

I was convinced the first time I read about that that, several years ago.

Regards
Ken

Does anyone think it is important for air to be able to circulate in the barrels? I seems to me that it could casue an issue with moisture from any residue staying trapped in a barrel with a gun stored with the muzzles down. Apparently it isn't a problem if so many people store their guns that way.

Thanks for the replies, I store my other long guns in socks in safe muzzle down, think I will do the same with cased doubles.

Interesting comments. I have a trap gun I bought in 1982 and it has always been stored in its case. I have Win 101 in a retrofinished Browning case I've stored for 10 years. I see no signs of rust or any other damage from storing them this way. I also keep most of my guns in silicon impregnated socks muzzle down in my safe. That is more so to prevent damage from rubs, knocking together, etc. than to keep humidity off. All my guns are cleaned immediately after use and rubbed down with some type of rust inhibitor. I do live in a low humidity climate and never store my guns away if they have been in any type of rain, snow, mist, condensation. From my experience I think it depends on your climate conditions and how you look after and clean your guns.

I recently passed on an otherwise nice "shooter-grade" Damascus-barreled Parker GH. This, because of the barrels' exterior had beautiful, clear impressions of the weave from the blanket lining of its old gun case.

the only gun I have bought in its original fitted case, and who knows how long it sat in there before I got it, was dirty, but basically fine. Brought it home cleaned it and put it upstairs. Got it out a couple months later and there was a little rust where the fabric and barrels touched. Cleaned it - lightly oiled and put it back. A while later, the rust was back. so I cleaned it down and refinished the twist barrels. after I was done, back in the case, more very light rust.

So I cleaned it, wiped it with oil and stored it next to but not in its case, no rust since. the non cased guns have had no issues

since it came in the case, and the issue started here - I have to assume it was triggered by the climate in the house.

so- it may just be as much a matter of the location as much as it is the case.

muzzle down. In safe. I use cotton gym socks slid over the stocks and as high as they will go to guard against safe rash. No rust problems.