doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Shotgun Storage and Racking

I am wondering how most of you currently store or rack your shotguns? One of the early double gun mavens Elmer Keith always was adamant that they should be racked muzzle down to prevent oil from running into the stock head and softening the wood. As much as I respected Mr. Keith I've always racked mine butt down and have never had an oil seepage problem: but then I'm stingy with the oil.
Jim

Store all of mine muzzle down in the rack.

I am not sure that it matters as much as some have stated, but I have no doubt it does not hurt anything.

When I took hunter safety when I was 12, the instructor said guns should be stored horizontal, but that took up too much space so then muzzle down was the next best.

Muzzle down...for the reasons stated. It is not like you will see oil dripping down but over long periods I am told it can also seep down though the pins and start building up inside the receiver as well. Gravity.

Such bullsh*t. Anyone who leaves a gun sopping with oil that can run down into the wood is an idiot anyway. Store them muzzle down if you don't know better than to squirt or spray oil into the action and solvent in the bores.

This ain't rocket surgery.
JR

I recently sprayed some Rem Oil (not a ton) into the action of a Pre-64 Model 12 that is practically new and it really smoothed up the action. Was this a stupid thing to do JR? I did put the gun in my safe with the barrel down though.

No, it was brilliant. Spray some more in it.
JR

Off topic perhaps, but just out of curiosity Researcher, WHAT do you keep in the safe???

If the oil runs down, then there is too much oil

The truth of the matter for me is I would prefer to store them muzzle up. I have a thick rug but think about possible crown issues and the most danger to me is that the safes are not made for barrels down and the guns are not balanced and could tip over out the safe trying to remove a back placed gun....then there is banging , even slightly , the barrels as you remove them..I do not like it but I do not over oil and if you shoot your guns often then it seems like a non issue. If I were to store a gun for years even with very thin lubrication could it still leak some down into a receiver? With box locks instead of side locks it is harder to clean or check....I just got into the habit and may change since I do not over oil but more importantly shoot all 12 of my old guns all the time by rotation. Are there any other points In favor of muzzles down besides oil dripping ( or minimal seeping), and will the laws of gravity not apply on even a small minimal oil application for long term storage? Please let me know as I want to switch back to muzzles up.