Hard cases good or bad for storage?

[PhillyGlock23]

Hi there!

I recently purchases a couple of hard plastic cases with foam inserts from MTM.

I love the cases...and when a pistol in them, the foam compresses quite a bit preventing the pistol from moving around at all. That's what I was searching for.

But then it got me to thinking....

...is it fine for the pistols to be stored this way? I mean, it would seem that being pressed by the foam on either side, that not a lot of air was going to get in? Should the pistols "breathe" either by being stored in the open space of a room....or in a soft case that allows for the movement of the pistol?

Thanks in advance.

I'd like to say also that I'm really impressed with these cases. They have little indents on them...so they're stackable. And the fact that they are hard plastic appeals to me because I wouldn't have to worry about banging the pistol against anything.

But again...maybe it's not good to keep the pistols in these cases as a storage unit?

[The Pontificator]

"Breathe"?????

They're handguns, not bottles of wine.

[OFFSHORE]

They don't need to breethe but they do need to be stored in a dry area. The problem with storing a gun in any kind of case is that the foam or padding can hold moisture. Keeping the firearm in direct contact with moist or humid foam can invite corrosion. I have also seen instances where the gun's protective coat of oil began to deteriorate the foam and caused it to breakdown and stick to the gun's finnish.

On the other hand, the firearms can sometimes sit in the factory cases for extended periods of time while they await their new home. Some probably sit idle in the case for up to a year with no harm done.

I don't store mine in the cases but rather in a safe with a
de-humidifying element (Golden Rod).

[dairycreek]

...is it fine for the pistols to be stored this way? I mean, it would seem that being pressed by the foam on either side, that not a lot of air was going to get in? Should the pistols "breathe" either by being stored in the open space of a room....or in a soft case that allows for the movement of the pistol?

To store guns in hard cases where they cannot "breathe" for a long term is to invite rust to accumulate on the metal parts of the gun. Store guns in a warm, dry place where air can circulate and, by all means, check them from time to time. I coat mine with Eezox and check them for rust once a week.

Rust never gives up so you shouldn't either.

[Ol' Dirty]

How about one of the silicone impregnated gun socks inside the case? You can still keep it lubed without having to worry about the foam sticking to the gun. Before getting my gun safe, that is how I stored my bird gun.

[PhillyGlock23]

Thanks everyone for the informative replies!

[RRTX2007]

I keep mine in my range bag most of the time. As much as I shoot, I need to just pick it up and go. My GF yells at me for not keeping it in the safe all the time ;-). I place a few dessicants in the bag with it for moisture control. Has worked like this for years.

I also keep it well coated with Eezox, which I think could keep any metal from rusting.

I don't think keeping it in the hard case would hurt, using good gun-care habits, but the case is made to protect during shipment not neccessarily for storage.

[poison7fl]

Get a humidor and store it with your cigars!

:banana: