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Author Topic: Handies and Humidity  (Read 676 times)

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Offline nova71

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Handies and Humidity
« on: May 05, 2011, 07:58:34 PM »
What kind of humidity level do you guys keep where your guns are stored ? With all the rain we have had lately my basement flooded for the first time in 20+ years, my gun room had water standing on the floor, I got the water dried up but the humidity is now between 55-65%. how low should it be to keep the guns from rusting?
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: Handies and Humidity
« Reply #1 on: May 05, 2011, 08:01:44 PM »
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Offline cwlongshot

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Re: Handies and Humidity
« Reply #2 on: May 06, 2011, 02:34:07 AM »
I run dehumidifiers year round!!   One in my loading room and one in the safe room.

My basement also has always been dry.... Until this year. I lost all furniture, wall to wall carpets, walls them selves and my bar isn't looking too good. Its solid wood so I'm hoping to be able to refinish  Completely Finished and furnished 16'x25' family room. All Lost to 4" of water. I also have a curtain drain surrounding the basement!! LOTSA water here too early spring.

It's dry now.
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Offline gcrank1

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Re: Handies and Humidity
« Reply #3 on: May 06, 2011, 04:10:04 AM »
20ish years ago I got a 'Golden Rod' for the safe. I got tired of the Wisconsin high summer humidity taking me by surprise. I also got in the habit of ALWAYS wiping a firearm down with my 'preservative cloth' after handling.
No problems since. I think regular light bulb would do the same but beware of too high a wattage bulb 'melting' stock finishes, etc.
IIRC the recommended winter hum. level is around 45% and a gun in the corner never seemed to rust during the 'heating season'.
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Offline bigvarmnt

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Re: Handies and Humidity
« Reply #4 on: May 06, 2011, 09:27:09 AM »
Thanks! I just pulled the dehumidifier out of the storage room and turned it on. Haven't noticed any rust yet but why wait ???
Last eve. I needed a litle relaxing so found 6 357 hollow points I loaded up at least two years ago. I just bought a S&W 686 a couple weeks ago and never shot it yet :o Put six in and went out back BANG then click and faint pop. First time ever sticking bullet in barrel >:( Powder looked like it was a ML pellet. Grabbed my old S&W 66 to get rid of the other 4. BANG then pop bullet stuck in that one a little farther ::) same pellet looking powder. Does this mean I'm sposed to stick with single shots ::) Anybody know how to fix Stupid ;D I'm pulling the other two ;) Finally got a rod and hammered them out. So I'm wondering why after 30 years of reloading and 23 in this basement, WHY! All I can figure is the powder moisterized :( Don't have any more loaded carts. in that closet just plastic boxes of cleaned empties :)
Now I'm thinking about trying to shoot the other two :o
Stupid still needs fixed. Got them both all cleaned again.
 
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Offline bikerbeans

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Re: Handies and Humidity
« Reply #5 on: May 06, 2011, 09:58:48 AM »
nova,

best way to dry out those Handi is to heat them up a bit.  I would say about 25 rounds each at your gun range ought to do it. ::)

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Offline gcrank1

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Re: Handies and Humidity
« Reply #6 on: May 06, 2011, 03:07:00 PM »
BV, that is  a sad tale.....
About all I can suggest is that the powder may have just aged too long, I cant see how humidity could creep in a tight fitting bullet to case. Powder has a shelf life, and we dont know how long it has sat before we buy it and use it up. We do know that when we are reloading and open a can if it looks goofy then something has gone bad, cant do that with reloads.
At least you didnt pop another behind a stuck one (hey, it sounded funny and I dont see a hole in the target. Guess Ill just try again.....). Lots of used guns out there with bulged barrels because of that.
The trouble with too many toys is taking care of them all, and/or giving them the attention they deserve. The wipe after any handling can solve a lot of wailing and gnashing of teeth.
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"Halt while I adjust my accoutrements!"
      ><   ->
We are only temporary caretakers of the past heading toward an uncertain future
22Mag UV / 22LR  Sportster
357Mag Schuetzen Special
45-70  SS Ultra Hunter with UV cin.lam. wood
12ga. 'Ol' Ugly OverKill', Buck barrel c/w  SpeedStock  and swap 28" x Full bird barrel, 1974

Offline bikerbeans

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Re: Handies and Humidity
« Reply #7 on: May 07, 2011, 02:09:49 PM »
Quote from: bigvarmnt on May 06, 2011, 09:27:09 AM
Now I'm thinking about trying to shoot the other two :o

BV,

Why not pull the other 2 and inspect the powder, cartridge, primer etc.?   FWIW, I would probably shoot the last 2 also. ::)

BB
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RIP Tom: Tom Nolan, ( bikerbeans) passed away this afternoon (02-04-2021).

Why be difficult, when with a little extra effort you can be impossible?

Wife's Handis;  300 BLKOUT

MINE:  270W, 308x444, 44 Bodeen, 410 shorty rifled slug gun, 445 SuperMag Shikari, 45 ACP shorty,  45-70 Shikari, 45 Cal Smokeless MZ, 50cal 24" SS Sidekick, 50 cal 24" Huntsman, 50 cal 26" Huntsman, 50 cal 26" Sidekick, 50-70 Govt Shikari, Tracker II 20 ga shorty, 20 ga VR Pardner, 20ga USH, 12ga VR NWTF, 12ga Tracker II shorty WITHOUT scope, 12ga USH, 10 ga  Pardner Smoothbore slug gun & 24ga Profino Custom rifled slug gun.

Offline bigvarmnt

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Re: Handies and Humidity
« Reply #8 on: May 07, 2011, 03:51:01 PM »
I still might pull them. Glad I only loaded those six to try some new bullets I bought. Forgot about them until I picked up this revolver and didn't want to shoot any of my factory loads. Loaded bullets are usually in my bench and will stay there now. Not that far from the closet though ??? Also running out of room in the bench. Now I'm wondering about the ones in the bench ::)
I am really surprised my Handis haven't rusted yet as they sit out all the time. I usually wipe them down with Browning oil. Got in the habit of wiping down my shotguns when I used to shoot clays.
I only ran this dehumidifier once yesterday and once today for a couple hours each and got pretty much water each time. I tried to find a nice temp and humidity guage at G.M. today but they don't carry them. One in the family room is coming down here right now.
Glad I didn't go rapid fire with them ;) I just thought I had a bad primer so I waited a min. and opened it up. Was suprised the bullet wasn't in the case and powder was in the cylinder. Then saw the bullet sticking in the barrel >:(
cw, sorry to hear about your flood. I had a little one about 15 yrs. ago. Odd how a little bit of water goes so far and makes such a mess.
Gonna be sure to keep some oil on my tomato stakes ;D
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