THE BEST PLACE TO HIDE SALT IS ON THE TABLE   (PART 1)

(A MUST READ FOR EVERY GUN OWNER)

            This article is long overdue.  I was hesitant to write it because of the content, because of the weight of the content and it's encompassing exposure to "BIG BROTHER."

            The title of this article is true, in that very often the most obvious place(s) of gun concealment are overlooked and it would be nice to keep it that way.   I have stored many guns over the course of the past 35 years, many with great success and yes, some failures too..  The more that I do it, the better the end result.  The purpose of this entire article is to expose the reader to the things that have worked and not put the failures into print.

            In the long term storage of guns there are some obvious things to consider.  Some of the locations and methods that I will discuss will cause your long storage weapon to be exposed not necessarily to the elements, although moisture due to temperature change certainly does have its own reason for concern. 

            Let's first select the firearm that you desire to store.  While I love the look of a beautiful, richly blued weapon, I tend to shy away from them when I consider their long term storage, due to the finish.  By any means, I am not saying that a blue gun cannot be successfully stored for long periods.  Advancements in name brand gun oils (Rem oil, Break Free), and of course the use of "old faithful Kosmoline," can make the storage of a blued weapon completely possible.  Also, on the market, are several styles of silicone impregnated sleeves that can accommodate any size weapon, and act as a barrier between your selected weapon and the elements.  Frankly, no matter what the gun and it's components are made of,  I like using one of those impregnated sleeves in any situation of long term stored  weaponry. While the use of a penetrating oils, such as WD40, are okay for cleaning a weapon; you will be gravely disappointed if you make the mistake of using it to wipe the gun down as a barrier against the long term elements………that's one of the failures that I spoke of.  While a warmed solution of Kosmoline and a small paint brush will certainly do the job, it may compromise the integrity of the guns action, until you clean it with a solvent before its use.  Depending on how quick you need to fire this weapon upon retrieving it from your personal "hiding place,"  it could equate to the difference between life and death.  For long term storage, I personally prefer a weapon that meets my own private standards; that being a stainless, polymer, hard chrome, and even Parkerized finishes.

            Before storing the weapon, a thorough cleaning should be your next concern. I prefer to "field strip" the weapon, making sure that all the moving elements are free of any residue.  In semiautomatics, every part that moves when the gun "cycles," needs to be free of old lubricants, gunshot residue (GSR), and small metal/brass shell case shavings, especially those around the firing pin, can be your enemy. NOTE: During the cleaning of the weapon, I am careful to always use latex or nitrile cloves.  Not only does this protect your hands from cleaning and lubricating agents , but the most important part is not to leave any fingerprints.  Depending on to intrusion of our Second Amendment rights, it is important not to leave any evidence of your personal connection to that weapon.  Mistakes, such as leaving fingerprints on the weapon or the ammunition casings or the firearm, is a "signature" mistake that ties you personally to that firearm.  I have made it a practice to never consider a registered weapon in the case for long term storage.  As I put this article to print, there are many opportunities to purchase a weapon "off paper" from private collections, gun shows, and flea markets.  I would imagine that in the near future, gun laws may change and prohibit their purchase except through dealers.  This article is not meant in any way to deceive the law or to circumvent it's power, but simply to protect you as the legal owner from prosecution that may result from your long term storage of such weaponry.  The true matter of the fact is, that you might consider the facts of storage for the concealment of dry food goods (grain) and precious metals.

            When concealing a weapon for long term storage, all too often there is a tendency to keep "checking up" on the weapon and in doing so, the integrity of the storage container's long term seal is compromised.  If you plan on needing to use that gun in the very near future, then I suggest that you leave it inside your home in a very reliable, fireproof if possible, security safe.  The safes in my home are over 700lbs a piece empty and are in fact over 1000lbs when you consider the contents.  Safes of this weight will not be carried out by your average window breaking thief, and would require a skilled locksmith to open them.  Safes of this size need to be places on a concrete slab, or an outer wall that is supported by the foundation of your home in order to eliminate an overload situation that will compromise the structure of your dwelling.  I have some registered guns in handy places in every room of my home, always out of the reach of children (on top of a clock, a hutch, a curio cabinet), you get the picture.  Personally I believe we soon will need to be well armed.