It is of great importance to properly store a firearm when the hunting season is over. If you do it correctly, you do not have to worry about any unpleasant surprises when you reopen the gun closet before the next hunting season.
For a clear overview of how to do it, this article is organized in points:
- First, make sure that the space for storage is safe. Store the firearm in a lockable safe or a closet. You should keep it locked so that unauthorized persons such as burglars and, above all, children can’t access the firearm. The storing space should be dry to prevent corrosion. I suggest the use of a silica gel or something similar. Storing the firearm in a gun case is inadvisable because such cases are usually made of materials that absorb moisture from the air.
- Thoroughly wipe the firearm with a cloth to remove fingerprints, dirt, and other impurities. Clean the interior of the barrel as well.
- Make sure that the firing pin and the springs are not at tension. This helps prolong the lifespan of the materials.
- Apply a thin layer of an appropriate lubricant (or oil) on the metal parts of the firearm to prevent corrosion. Do this on both the external parts and the interior of the barrel. Do not use too much of the lubricant as it might flow from the barrel into the bolt while the firearm is in an upright position. If you intend to store the rifle for a long time, it is advisable to apply a special preservative with a high level of endurance (usually also with a high level of viscosity).
- Apply appropriate wood oil on the wooden surfaces of the firearm (if there are any).
- It is advisable to disassemble the firearm every now and then (not often, but you should consider doing this occasionally if you wish to maintain your firearm in great condition). Once it is disassembled, apply grease to all the metal parts that are in contact with the wooden parts. This is especially important when cleaning hunting firearms which are often used in all weather conditions. It is almost impossible to thoroughly protect a hunting firearm from moisture even with frequent care since some of the parts are extremely hard to reach. Unfortunately, the ‘contact’ parts are the ones where corrosion occurs most commonly.
- Wait for the winter boredom to come to its end by diverting your attention to hobbies. Before you know it, the new hunting season will come knocking at the door.
Author: Renato BRODAR