{"id":174,"date":"2017-02-11T07:16:11","date_gmt":"2017-02-11T07:16:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tma65.com\/blog\/?p=174"},"modified":"2026-05-21T11:38:21","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T11:38:21","slug":"how-to-store-guns-long-term","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/how-to-store-guns-long-term\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Store Guns Long Term"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_83 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\"><div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\"><p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p><span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/how-to-store-guns-long-term\/#How_to_Store_Guns_Long_Term\" >How to Store Guns Long Term<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/how-to-store-guns-long-term\/#Give_%E2%80%98Em_a_Good_Cleaning\" >Give \u2018Em a Good Cleaning<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/how-to-store-guns-long-term\/#Where_to_Store\" >Where to Store<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/how-to-store-guns-long-term\/#Before_You_Shoot\" >Before You Shoot<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div><h2 style=\"text-align: justify\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Store_Guns_Long_Term\"><\/span>How to Store Guns Long Term<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/videosview\/illuminated-reticle-battery-installation-2\/\" title=\"Illuminated Reticle battery installation on your TRACT TORIC 34MM 4-25X50\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"495\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How to<\/a> Store Guns Long Term. Despite the ever-growing popularity of wielding a bow in the deer woods, the majority of hunters, especially the older generations, still carry a gun. And many of those same gun toters vary what they carry throughout the season: muzzleloader, slug gun or <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/rifle-scope-accessories-you-might-consider\/\" title=\"Rifle Scope Accessories You Might Consider\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"842\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rifle<\/a>. Then there\u2019s the good chance that most spend at least a day or two in the duck blind, the pheasant fields and at the base of a giant oak sniping squirrels with a .22. Needless to say, that\u2019s several long firearms to care for, and knowing how to store guns long term is a sound practice once the <a title=\"How to Maximize Deer Hunting Season\" href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/blog\/how-to-maximize-deer-hunting-season\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hunting season<\/a> ends.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Give_%E2%80%98Em_a_Good_Cleaning\"><\/span>Give \u2018Em a Good Cleaning<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify\">It\u2019s not imperative that you <a title=\"At-Home Gun Cleaning Tips\" href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/blog\/at-home-gun-cleaning-tips\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">clean your deer gun<\/a> after each time you hunt. In fact, you may have noticed over the years that deer don\u2019t particularly love the smells of powder solvent and breech plug grease. If you drop it in the mud or get caught in a steady downpour, that\u2019s another story &#8211; wipe it down with an oily rag. Most of the <a title=\"30mm vs 1 Inch Rifle Scope\" href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/blog\/30mm-vs-1-inch-rifle-scope\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rifle<\/a> gurus even suggest leaving your rifle outside on very cold days rather than taking them in a warm cabin where they\u2019ll \u201csweat,\u201d the moisture of the cabin speeding up the onslaught of rust, which also leads to inaccuracy.<\/p><p>&nbsp;<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify\">When the season closes, however, it\u2019s <a title=\"Elk Roam West Virginia for First Time in 141 Years\" href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/blog\/elk-roam-west-virginia-for-first-time-in-141-years\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">time to get particular about these very important tools in order to keep meat in the freezer year<\/a> in and year out. Break down the gun as best you can without needing gunsmith training to put it back together. Remove the bolt from a <a title=\"TRACT TORIC 2.5-15\u00d744 Review\" href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/blog\/tract-toric-2-5-15x44-review1\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rifle<\/a>, the breech plug from a muzzleloader and break down a slug gun to access the places you wouldn\u2019t normally take the time to clean. You can purchase gun\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.otistec.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">cleaning kits<\/a>\u00a0online that carry the components to fit any firearm. Hoppe\u2019s #9 is our go-to powder solvent. Nothing beats the smell!<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Where_to_Store\"><\/span>Where to Store<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify\">As <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/videosview\/how-to-properly-mount-a-rifle-scope-a-step-by-step-guide\/\">firearm safety<\/a> becomes increasingly important, many hunters have moved to storing their guns in a safe. Plus, should a fire break out in your home, your most prized assets will be protected. Modern day safe manufacturers have done a great job of building humidity regulated storage units to protect not only guns but also jewelry, paper documents and other important items from moisture damage. Long term storage like this can be fine, just make sure to check in every so often to make sure nothing is amiss.\u00a0<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify\">Then there\u2019s the old-fashioned gun cabinet that so many of us still relish. How long guns can be stored in this way will depend on how often you are willing to check in on them. A gun cabinet doesn&#8217;t protect your firearm from the environment as well as other methods might. Still, how else can you show off the wood grains and hand engravings of that <a title=\"Building a Custom Rifle\" href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/blog\/building-a-custom-rifle\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">custom rifle<\/a> you saved to buy 30 years ago? If the gun cabinet is your means of storage, we\u2019d suggest running an oilcloth over each firearm once a month. It\u2019ll help the wood keep its sheen and the metal from rusting.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Before_You_Shoot\"><\/span>Before You Shoot<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify\">Before you know it, another spring and summer have passed. Deer season is just weeks away and it\u2019s time to make sure your gun-and-scope combination remains true to its nature. Before you start running rounds through it, be sure to give it another thorough <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/my-first-rifle\/\">cleaning<\/a> to remove any excess oil or grease that may linger in the barrel, breech or action. This will help avoid misfires and errant shots, and remove lingering smells that wave danger flags in the faces of all big game animals.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-177\" src=\"https:\/\/tma65.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/inner23.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\"><figcaption><em>Always ready.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify\">Right now we\u2019re dealing with the lull. The <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/why-turkey-hunting-with-binoculars-works-for-me\/\" title=\"Why Turkey Hunting with Binoculars Works for Me\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"786\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">turkey<\/a> opener is weeks away, and with its approach, the same rules apply: get that tight-patterned, hard-kicking shotgun out of the safe and run it through a preseason inspection. We know that guns are built with durability in mind while also remembering that everything has a life. The more tender, love and care, the longer it\u2019ll perform when you need it.<\/p><p><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How to Store Guns Long Term | TRACT design and engineer performance-grade optics without the added retail costs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":12266,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2257],"tags":[2688,2768,2769,2770,2771,2772,2773,2774,2775,2776,2777,2778,2779,2780,2781,2782,2783,2784,2785,2786,2787,2788,2789,2791],"class_list":["post-174","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-how-to-fix-adjust","tag-how-to","tag-how-to-properly-mount-a-scope","tag-how-to-read-a-rifle-scope-reticle","tag-how-to-read-a-scope","tag-how-to-read-a-scope-reticle","tag-how-to-read-moa-reticle","tag-how-to-read-scope-reticle","tag-how-to-reset-scope-turrets","tag-how-to-ship-deer-meat-home","tag-how-to-ship-elk-meat-home","tag-how-to-ship-meat-after-a-hunt","tag-how-to-shoot-a-moving-target","tag-how-to-shoot-moving-targets","tag-how-to-sight-in-a-scope-with-turrets","tag-how-to-store-guns","tag-how-to-test-a-rifle-scope","tag-how-to-transport-deer-meat","tag-how-to-transport-meat-long-distance","tag-how-to-use-a-rifle-scope-reticle","tag-how-to-use-a-spotting-scope","tag-how-to-use-moa-reticle","tag-how-to-use-rifle-scope-turrets","tag-how-to-use-scope-turrets","tag-how-to-use-turrets-on-a-scope"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/174","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=174"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/174\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11552,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/174\/revisions\/11552"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12266"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=174"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=174"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=174"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}