Storage Sacks for Firearms in Your Safe
Our take on Bore-Store Gun sleeves is simple: They work great, so buy them and use them — for ALL your valuable firearms.
These thick, synthetic-fleece sacks cushion your guns, preventing nicks and scratches. The breathable fabric wicks away moisture, and the fibers are coating with corrosion inhibitors. I personally use Bore-Stores for in-safe storage with all my guns, and I have never had one of my guns rust inside a Bore-Store, even when I lived a stone’s throw from the ocean.
Bore-Stores are offered in a wide range of sizes, so you can find something to fit everything from a Snub-nosed revolver to a 32″-barrelled 50 BMG. Rifle-size Bore Stores can be purchased for $12.00 – $21.00 from Brownells. For long F-Class or tactical rifles, we recommend the 10″x52″ Scoped Shotgun Bag, Brownells item 132-000-003. You can also order direct from the Bore-Store manufacturer, Big Spring Enterprises, www.BoreStores.com. Big Spring will also craft custom sizes on request.
Consider Military-Style, Triple-Layer Bags for Long-Term Storage
While we prefer Bore-Stores for regularly-used guns, if you have heirloom firearms that will be kept in storage for very long periods without seeing any use, you may want to grease them up and place them in the thin, but rugged three-layer storage bags sold by Brownells. The bags are made from a three-layer laminate of polyester, aluminum, and polyethylene film, with a shiny silver exterior. Though the laminate is thin, the Brownells storage bags are puncture-resistant, and have a 0% moisture transmission rating so moisture can’t get inside. These bags are also resistant to petroleum-based chemicals and they won’t break down even in contact with soil or moisture.
Here’s one VITAL bit of advice for using these bags. Be absolutely sure, before you seal up the bags, that your guns are DRY and that all metal surfaces have been coated with an effective anti-corrosive, such as BoeShield T9 or Eezox. Brownells’ storage bags are inexpensive. A three-pak of 12″x 60″ rifle sacks (item 083-055-003WB) costs just $22.99 — under eight bucks a gun. That’s cheap insurance for rifles and shotguns that may cost thousands of dollars.
Get Your Guns Out of Foam-lined Cases — They Are Rust Magnets
Just about the worst thing you can do in the winter (short of leaving your rifle outside in the rain) is to store firearms in tight, foam-padded cases. The foam in these cases actually collects and retains moisture from the air, acting as the perfect breeding ground for rust.
Remember, those plastic-shelled cases with foam interiors are for transport, not for long-term storage. Don’t repeat the mistake of a wealthy gun collector I know. He stored four valuable Colt Single Action Army (SAA) revolvers in individual foam-padded cases, and locked these away in his gun safe. A year later, every one of his precious SAAs had rusted, some badly.
If it’s truly precious, purchase a Boyt hard sided case.
For the foam-lined hard cases as the one shown in this article, I have used a quality silicone spray such as 3M Silicone Lubricant to treat the foam. Never had a problem with rust starting.
Editor: James — Glad that procedure worked for you! However the foam can still trap moisture. Also the use of some chemical sprays can cause the foam to break down with time. Our recommendation still stands — avoid the foam-lined cases for long-term storage.
I have used them for years, they do a great job of protecting rifles.
HINT – I staple a small tag to the corner of the flap with a description of which firearm is inside, it saves having to look for a firearm since the Bore-Sacks look alike.
drover
A word of warning:
If you need to re-finish an oiled and/or waxed wooden stock that has been in contact with silicone, it has to be sanded down. It can become a real nightmare if you want a good finish.
Editor: This may be good advice. However I should say that I have stored Mauser, Pedersoli, Kimber, and H&R rifles with oil-finished wood stocks in bore stores for years and the finish has remained flawless. I haven’t attempted to refinish the wood because the stocks did not become discolored or “greasy to the touch” in any way.
Noticed you recommended Boeshield T9 and Eezox. Would Breakfree CLP be as good as the others…or Slip2000 EWL? I’ve used Boeshield for Marine watercraft applications, but didn’t think it would be as useful in firearms?
I like the Plano vertical gun cases, as there is nothing contacting gun metal.
I believe they’ve received pretty good reviews here.
Another good rust preventative is Birchwood-Casey Barricade (formerly Sheath). I switched to using this in the bores of my black powder rifles and it works better than anything else I’ve tried. For general purposes I use Ballistol, but it’s not as good at taming rust in that case.
I have a bit of a moisture problem where my safe is, and am getting by using a dehumidifier, but will look into one of these for a bit of extra protection
thanks!
10″ x 52″ are 21.00 each. Ordered a couple for summer use. Along with the goldenrod should do the trick.
Got several S-Auto’s, couple revolvers & even a 14″ Contender. They all get a Bore Store ASAP. Don’t mess with those stupid socks. Drop a little extra coin on these and you won’t regret it. Plus, the folks at Bore Stores are a family owned All- American, made in the USA place of business. Time to help our own, stop financing those that hate us.