Shotgun storage question

[Joe T]

As you guys know, I am new to this sport and find myself owning 2 shotguns!  I have been researching the best way to store them- in case or not? Vertical or horizontal?

Any recommendations on gun safe?

[Mike103]

Vertical in a gun sock. Do not over oil your guns. Gun wipes do the job. A small fireproof gun safe is fine.

Ok so here’s the deal two shotguns are rookie numbers. Shotguns are like golf clubs. You need a bag full. 
 

You seem like you are enjoying your new sporting life. The world of shotguns and wingshooting is the most fun anyone can have legally. 

Edited December 28, 2023 by Mike103

[ATbuckhunter]

I prefer horizontal when possible so the oil doesn't migrate into the stock if you have a wooden one. For my synthetic one, I really don't care and tend to keep it vertical. Probably doesnt even matter tbh. 

[Joe T]

@Mike103 I have learned what you mean- I have the bug!  I have a Beretta Silver Pigeon 20 gauge over/under configured for sport which I use for clays and upland, and a Beretta A400 extreme 12 gauge which I use for waterfowl.  I am eyeing a Remington 870 pump since the HRC hunt test uses that or a similar gun and when I am in a test environment I want to be comfortable with the gun.

@ATbuckhunter and @Mike103 thanks for helping me sort out whether to store vertical or horizontal!  LOL

i guess if I get a gun safe the answer is vertical, but not over oiled!

[Splitear]

If you are talking about home storage, please get a safe or at least a security cabinet. I don't know what traffic is like in your home, but keeping your guns away from anyone who shouldn't have access to them is important. There are too many stories of people (especially kids) who came across an unsecured or easily accessible firearm in a home and shot themselves or someone else. Keep the keys or combination where they won't be found, and lock ammunition separate from the guns. 

I know it sounds like a "high-horse" suggestion, but unfortunately I have plenty of recent and even local stories to pull from when I do my gun safety classes. https://everytownresearch.org/maps/notanaccident/

If you are worried about rust, an in-safe dehumidier is a pretty cheap addtion to your safe or cabinet. I store all of mine vertically, my cartridge guns and shotguns are on thier butts, muzzleloaders are muzzle down. I wipe all of my guns with a cloth that has been lightly sprayed with Ballistol.

Edited December 28, 2023 by Splitear

[grampy]

I've always stored my long guns vertical and lightly oiled. X2 on all the great advice from the members above!

[Joe T]

I am definitely going out and getting a safe and based on @Mike103 suggestion, will get one large enough for a full bag!  Uh- how many is enough? lol 

thanks for the insights @Splitear

[Splitear]

20 minutes ago, Joe T said:

I am definitely going out and getting a safe and based on @Mike103 suggestion, will get one large enough for a full bag!  Uh- how many is enough? lol 

thanks for the insights @Splitear

Check out Facebook Marketplace for deals on small safes/cabinets. I've gotten a few good deals on there. Folks will typically buy a safe/cabinet to fit their current needs and then end up with more guns a few years down the road and need to buy bigger storage. A lot of guys will sell their old/smaller storage. I have a few small safes for my muzzleloaders and a larger one for the other guns, the progression was just as outlined, the smaller safes worked for my current needs, and I just kept adding as needed

[Moho81]

22 minutes ago, Joe T said:

  Uh- how many is enough? lol 

 

No such thing LOL

Also just a heads up when a safe says it's 6 guns its more like 3. 8 guns is more like 4-5. 12 guns actually hold 7-8 you get the picture. It's kinda like buying a tent. A 4 person tent is really only good for 2 people. 

[Mike103]

Yes your guns should be locked up when outside your control. 
 

With gun wipes now no reason to over oil. You should be wiping unused guns every three months. 
 

Shotguns are very personal. Fit, feel, pride in ownership, all come into play along with utility. 
 

Modern shotguns are offered in 10,12,16,20,28 and 410 bore. 24’s and 32’s are even still out there. And in automatic, pump, SxS, O/U, single shot and even lever and bolt actions. So there is almost an infinite amount of combinations available. 
 

Shoot more and shoot more often. No one ever said I shoot too much. 
 

 

 

[ATbuckhunter]

2 hours ago, Joe T said:

@Mike103 I have learned what you mean- I have the bug!  I have a Beretta Silver Pigeon 20 gauge over/under configured for sport which I use for clays and upland, and a Beretta A400 extreme 12 gauge which I use for waterfowl.  I am eyeing a Remington 870 pump since the HRC hunt test uses that or a similar gun and when I am in a test environment I want to be comfortable with the gun.

@ATbuckhunter and @Mike103 thanks for helping me sort out whether to store vertical or horizontal!  LOL

i guess if I get a gun safe the answer is vertical, but not over oiled!

If the stock is wood, then lightly oil and check it every few months to add more if need. If the stock is synthetic, I always went a little on the heavier side. No matter how I store them, I always wipe off and re-oil each gun at the beginning of the season. 

[Breaking Point]

Get a minimum 24 gun safe. It will fill up quickly. You can store all your electronics for the dog in it as well so everything is in one place when you're ready to go afield..

I store my shotguns vertically, barrels down so oil doesn't seep into the stock and the recoil pads don't deform. It Looks unconventional storing them this way but it works. Some safes won't let you store the guns this way depending on the internal makeup.

[Joe T]

1 hour ago, Breaking Point said:

Get a minimum 24 gun safe. It will fill up quickly. You can store all your electronics for the dog in it as well so everything is in one place when you're ready to go afield..

I store my shotguns vertically, barrels down so oil doesn't seep into the stock and the recoil pads don't deform. It Looks unconventional storing them this way but it works. Some safes won't let you store the guns this way depending on the internal makeup.

This makes sense- I will start looking into safes.

[mowin]

33 minutes ago, Joe T said:

This makes sense- I will start looking into safes.

I only needed a 12 gun safe, others convinced me to get a 18+ gun safe, so I did.  

I now have a 64 gun safe and use the smaller one for a ammo locker. 

Unfortunately, I lost all my guns in a boating accident.. oh ammo too.  All gone. 

[Buckmaster7600]

 Get twice maybe 3X’s the safe you think you may need. My father and I split a safe that was lowered in with a trackhoe before the house went on the foundation because it is too large to go through a standard door and it’s long since been outgrown and has safes surrounding it.