Most people who own guns like to take them out and use them often, but that’s not always the case. Sometimes, a person has a firearm specifically for protection, or they simply leave their extras in storage. If either of these cases applies to you, you’ll want to keep reading our list of essential tips for long-term gun storage.
Buy a Good Safe
The purpose you intend to use your firearm for will determine which type of safe is best for storage. If you have a few guns that you don’t plan on using for a while, a large multi-gun safe will be your best bet. That way, you’ll have room for more if your collection grows.
If your firearm is going to sit around until you need it for home defense, you’ll want a safe that’s more readily accessible. Quick access gun safes with mechanical locks from Shot Lock are an excellent choice for such a purpose.
Clean It Thoroughly
Regardless of which safe you pick, you’ll want to make sure to clean your gun meticulously before storing it. This means you’ll need to break it down into parts in order to get into every nook and cranny. A clean firearm will be less likely to misfire in the event you ever do need to defend your home. Once the firearm is spotless, you’ll want to oil up the metal parts to better protect it from the damaging effects of moisture.
Store It in a Dry Location
Even though the main purpose of cleaning and oiling the firearm is to protect it from moisture, that doesn’t mean it’s completely safe. That’s why it’s a good idea to store your guns in a moisture-free area. That means no humid basements or places where a pipe might leak. Of course, the safe you store in which you store your firearm will do a good job of keeping water out, but not all safes are made to be waterproof, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Get Insurance
In the end, no matter how many precautions you take, your gun can still sustain damage from water or fire, or it could be stolen. That’s why our final essential tip for long-term gun storage is to get good insurance for your firearm. Homeowners’ or renters’ insurance might be able to cover any losses or damages. However, if you want to be extra sure that your insurance company will cover incidents related to your firearm, you can specifically get firearm insurance. This insurance will cover the threats mentioned above and can usually get bundled with your other insurances to help save you money.