Optimal Humidity for Gun Room?

[M-61]

What would be the ideal humidity for a room (space) where both rifles and pistols are left. Meaning for periods of time to be either worked on or cleaned? ( month or two) This would not be a safe and includes firearms with wood stocks or grips.

 

[Mark W]

I maintain my loading / gun room at fairly constant 45%.

 

[std7mag]

I'm in central PA.
The dehumidifier is set at 45%.
Hasn't stopped running yet.....

 

[eric32]

70deg and 55% for me

 

[snert]

I am at 32 percent. Small room, big dehumidifier, constant full on

 

[Intheshop]

70 degrees and hovering around 50% works well here. Mnts of Virginia. Start to see minor wood issues if it gets much below 50%..... very minor. 45-55% is fine.

 

[eric32]

I am not making my number up I based it on VV powder suggestions.

Storage of smokeless powders | How to store gunpowder | Reloading safety | Reload your own ammunition | Gun powder - Vihtavuori

Storage of smokeless powders for shooters who reload their own ammunition. Read here how to store your gunpowders safely.

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[CharlieNC]

52.623%

 

[cjames]

50% humidity is the rule of thumb for almost all environments from "comfort cooling", most industrial and medical applications. If you shoot for 50% your covered.

 

[jonbearman]

Personally anything under 40 percent and above 30 percent is optimum.

 

[Pawnee Bill]

The humidity in my loading room is mostly whatever it is outside, because I usually have the garage door open, especially in the summertime.

 

[Wpgk]

What would be the ideal humidity for a room (space) where both rifles and pistols are left. Meaning for periods of time to be either worked on or cleaned? ( month or two) This would not be a safe and includes firearms with wood stocks or grips.

I keep both reloading rooms at 45-55% humidity and temp between 55-80.
Humidifier and minisplit (future shortly) to control environment.

 

[J.d. Popkes]

15% max. If it were 50% I’d be in full panic mode. I don’t think it’s that high around here at the bottom of the lake. Does aluminum rust at that level? My goodness how do ya function in that climate? Do ya just walk around soaking all day? Nope, no way!!

 

[SweaterDood]

FWIW:
I have been so lucky as to work in a variety of fields where humidity regulation is of critical importance. Here are a few general ranges for varying applications.

Electronics manufacturing: 35-55%. ANSI S20.20 standard. Electrostatic sensitivity below, silicon moisture sensitivity above.

Textile manufacturing: Target of 30-60%. High electrostatic generation, can cause fires below 30%. Have witnessed fires in Nonwoven lines on a couple occasions.

Musical Instrument Factories: 40-45% to limit expansion coefficient deltas for different types of thin wood layers and adhesives. Once built, most instruments can tolerate 40-60% without trouble, after the adhesives have permanently set

VV Powder states that their facilities are regulated between 55-60%, and recommend the same for optimal performance.

I personally have my area set to dehumidify to 50% in “Turbo!” mode. But I try to reload at 55% for an arbitrary consistency number.

For intermediate periods such as a month, you probably won’t have much of an issue until above 80% humidity. I would try to clean any carbon out of barrels and wipe down blued surfaces immediately upon return from the range / field / etc. though. Oiled drop cloths can also be placed over anything left out too.