Long term barrel storage

[Kevin1990]

I have 3 barrel blanks coming, two of which are for a 30BR. (Got a great deal on them all). By the time I get to the second 30BR barrel, God only knows how long that will be. I'd imagine 2-3+ years. Plus I have a newborn, so I'm not shooting as much these days and won't be for a little bit.

The problem is, I'm in Upstate NY and the climate and humidity swings here are insane. Rust is a problem in my reloading room.

I was thinking about maybe grease in the bore and vacuum seal the bags? Probably over kill, but I'd rather be safe than sorry and spend a day cleaning a barrel blank than have it covered in rust.

Any ideas on what to use or a better method?

Thanks fellas!

 

[Clancy]

I’d just wipe it down with oil and run a few patches of oil down the bore. Store it indoors.

 

[ISS]

wipe the barrel inside and out with a rag wet with Kroil; and stand them on end as straight as possible. I made a rack about a foot long by 36" high (I have two 34" long barrels) and drilled 2" holes every 2". I ran the bit thru the top 2x4" and halfway thru the bottom one. You can also use 2" PVC pipe and cap the bottom one.

 

[Syncrowave]

Here on the SE coast, where it's real humid and sometimes salty, I run a patch through (and wipe the outside) with Kroil first, then Rig grease, then put the neoprene caps on both ends, then stand them in a corner of a closet. (We get zillions of cellar spiders here and nothing seems to get rid of them, and their poop eats into SS like Alien blood, but the Rig grease seems to resist it.)

 

[pdog06]

Why is the rust such an issue in your reloading room? Guessing it’s in a basement or garage?
Adding a dehumidifier to the room may help some, both with barrels and everything else. It atleast can’t hurt.

For the barrels, oiling them inside and out is probably the best bet. I do like the kroil idea though. That’s great stuff.i mean if you do that and then vacuum seal I don’t see how it could rust after that.

 

[alf]

I hose mine down, new & used, with Rem Oil inside & out, & wrap them up in Saran Wrap.

I've kept them several years & they still look like new through the Hawkeye.

 

[Tesoro]

I used to live in an environment where plastic rusted. You can buy these special bags for rifles and handguns that seal on the end by rolling up like a water proof bag. They come with anti-humidity packs. They are designed for people stashing/burying guns etc and the material is thick and guaranteed for many years. Worked well and not expensive. I am sure they are still avail.

 

[Kevin1990]

Why is the rust such an issue in your reloading room? Guessing it’s in a basement or garage?
Adding a dehumidifier to the room may help some, both with barrels and everything else. It atleast can’t hurt.

For the barrels, oiling them inside and out is probably the best bet. I do like the kroil idea though. That’s great stuff.i mean if you do that and then vacuum seal I don’t see how it could rust after that.

I have a dehumidifier in my basement but I don't think it's enough. I plan on getting a commercial unit this summer. However, in the winters when I'm burning wood my humidity gauge can sometimes read 16% so even with a good dehumidifier I still get pretty steep swings.

 

[Murray Brook]

In the bore of my rifles I use a small film of Rig gun grease. I don't want anything running back in the bolt or trigger. On the outside metal I use Birchwood Casey Gun stock wax. JMY

 

[Tesoro]

The one thing I learned after living for a few decades in a super salty humid coastal environment is that greases and reg oils down work. They trap moisture which is already present on the metals before the oils go on. Result is rust under the protectant.
The only thing that 'worked' was ACF-50, which I got from local aircraft maintenance place, and later corrosion-x ( same stuff pretty much). These oils bond to the metal and displace any water on top of the oils.

 

[jimmymac]

Interesting side by side DIY test for a bunch of products.

https://dayattherange.com/gun-care-product-evaluation/

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

The above study is why I have One shot in the gun room, specialist is in the garage. I keep the humidity about 45% , no rust issues. Final step in cleaning is wet patch of One shot cleaner. I can drop humidity to 30% but requires constant running. 50% and under good to go as temp is stable.

 

[Thauglor]

I have a dehumidifier in my basement but I don't think it's enough. I plan on getting a commercial unit this summer. However, in the winters when I'm burning wood my humidity gauge can sometimes read 16% so even with a good dehumidifier I still get pretty steep swings.

You shouldn't have any rust issues at 16% RH

 

[Kevin1990]

You shouldn't have any rust issues at 16% RH

Undoubtedly, but when summer comes and I'm not burning wood it'll get much higher. I should have explained that better. In the summer I can get up past 60 %

 

[Kevin1990]

You shouldn't have any rust issues at 16% RH

Undoubtedly, but when summer comes and I'm not burning wood it'll get much higher. I should have explained that better. In the summer I can get up past 60 percent. My basement is not an open floor plan and has several rooms so it's hard for 1 dehumidifier to work as it should.

 

[Kevin1990]

Interesting side by side DIY test for a bunch of products.

https://dayattherange.com/gun-care-product-evaluation/

That was definitely the most comprehensive test I've ever seen for such a thing, thanks for posting it. What I found most surprising is that the control has less rust on it than many of the rust preventatives.