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How would you crate and store guns for travel by container
How would you crate and store guns for travel by container
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13 April 2011, 04:32
J_ZolaInteresting problem. I like the idea of the gun case but worry about the case its self-holding moisture. I think maybe a good waxing and vacuum packing. Purge with nitrogen before sealing? I was once at a military surplus dealer who had truck engine storage crates. Think large ammo cans with a good gasket. If I remember correctly they had a partial pressure of nitrogen.
13 April 2011, 05:41
J_Zolaquote:
Cover all the metal work in thin grease, oil the bore and chambers and then vacuum pack ?
Yes thats how I would start out. The hard case is a great idea. Maybe band them togather before putting the sides on the crate. After the crate was finished I would use metal banding on the outside. If the crate gets tampered with during shipping you will know.
quote:
Originally posted by ALF:
Thanks for that tip, now to find long plastic bags and then i can seal them with a commercial food vacuum packer, it will suck the air out and do a seal, just like when we vacuum pack salmon for the deep freeze !. Cover all the metal work in thin grease, oil the bore and chambers and then vacuum pack ?
I'm thinking that would work, then into a Plano single gun case and a number of them into a constructed wood crate?
Is customs or someone else going to have to inspect these guns?
I'd be tempted to vacuum bag like you suggest, then make cradles to hold several rifles side by side and then use a liberal application of spray foam on the inside of the crate to protect the guns from both shock as well as pilferage.
It'll be a little tedious to remove the rifles at the destination but if you only need to do this once spray foam is great stuff to physically support and protect irregular items.
for every hour in front of the computer you should have 3 hours outside
Alf,
Are these guns going from SA to Canuckistan? It is probably a good time to start talking to your shipping agent to find out what needs to be addressed.
In regards to moisture, I suspect you can get your hands on a few rolls of "Tubular Support Bandage", that you could put over the guns before the vacuum bagging which if you are concerned about moisture you might want to consider doing in addition to all the other rigamarole that you are going to have to do.
for every hour in front of the computer you should have 3 hours outside
14 April 2011, 08:24
ForrestBHere's my method for long term storage in humid Houston:
Pull the metal from the stock and wipe all the metal surfaces (inside and out, including the bore) with heavy duty Corrosion-X spray. When the Corrosion-X has dried to a hard coating, reassemble the guns and put them in a Z-Corr Storage Bag.
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewP...productNumber=812618Place each gun individually inside a cheap Plano plastic hard case and you can stack them or place then upright in a closet or container.
So long as the Z-Corr bag is not breached, this set-up will give you years of worry free protection.
One other thought for consideration: If I were shipping that many valuable firearms, I'd consider making two or three smaller shipments instead of just big one.
______________________________
"Truth is the daughter of time."
Francis Bacon
14 April 2011, 21:27
Nomo4meBeware "container rain". Make sure your shipper employs plenty of dessicant packs.
http://www.google.com/webhp?ta...&fp=aa5be9038599c29d14 April 2011, 21:37
RaySenderoDon't know if this will work for you with the plastic vacuum packing?
But, I like to put rifle(s) in a gun sock first and then put it in a hard case.
________
Ray
15 April 2011, 05:34
J_ZolaAlf, not to make your life anymore difficult but I just had a thought about the container material. If you use wood it may have to be heat treated for export shipping. The heat- treating is for killing all wood born insects.
17 April 2011, 05:52
405wcfPelican-Hardigg makes mobile armory crates for the military:
http://www.pelican.com/cases_d...hp?Case=472-M4-M16-818 April 2011, 06:39
Rusty MarlinIf you don't mind the cleaning, LPS#3 is one of the ultimate metal preservative sprays. I packed a pile of guns 5 years ago and they are stored in a wooden crate. I inspect the ones that I don't get out and use, so they still have the LPS#3 on them, and there is ZERO sign of corrosion.
LPS#3 is a spay on wax, its gooey and messy but self healing if wiped, and it works!
18 April 2011, 07:45
Monkeyhunterquote:
Originally posted by ForrestB:
Here's my method for long term storage in humid Houston:
Pull the metal from the stock and wipe all the metal surfaces (inside and out, including the bore) with heavy duty Corrosion-X spray. When the Corrosion-X has dried to a hard coating, reassemble the guns and put them in a Z-Corr Storage Bag.
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewP...productNumber=812618Place each gun individually inside a cheap Plano plastic hard case and you can stack them or place then upright in a closet or container.
So long as the Z-Corr bag is not breached, this set-up will give you years of worry free protection.
One other thought for consideration: If I were shipping that many valuable firearms, I'd consider making two or three smaller shipments instead of just big one.
When you want to remove the rifles from storage, what do you use to take out the Corrosion-X spray?
18 April 2011, 09:21
ForrestBBrake Cleaner and elbow grease will take off the Corrosion-X.
______________________________
"Truth is the daughter of time."
Francis Bacon
18 April 2011, 19:50
Mike SmithWhy not go old school? A 5 gallon bucket of cosmoline is about 240 to 250 us. Spray or dip them then crate them up. I know the stuff is a bit of a pain to get off but it will sure prevent sea water/salt air causing problems.
Happiness is a warm gun
18 April 2011, 19:55
low_techSteam at around 30 psi works very well on every cosmoline coated gun I have ever bought. It would likely work well with just about every protective coating on steel. Have to use some common sense when using it on wood obviously.
Alf,
The bags that you use to seal the food comes as a long tube. Seal one side and then put in the rifle and vacuum pack. I know they fit because I've had a friend with a mchine make me waterproof slips for hunting. It will probably require you to remove the scopes.
I was hunting with an unscoped rifle in Zim, so it worked at the time.
Post some pictures!