How to properly store a bolt action?

[tacotime]

I used to store them clean, coating of oil or light gun grease, bolt closed, empty chamber, trigger pulled to release the pressure on the firing pin spring. 
 
Now if the gun is frequently used, I use a snap cap in the chamber in addition to the other steps, to reduce the dry firing.
 
Later I thought, a closed bolt is under some significant mechanical pressure, and I wonder if the bolt is best not closed to eliminate the stress, but then that leaves the firing pin cocked and the spring under pressure.  They usually come from the factory not closed.
 
So what's the best way to store a bolt gun that is best mechanically for the gun itself?
 
Thanks.

[scootrd]

Depending on length of time of storage ,
I have always stored bolt removed, rifle cleaned and lightly oiled.

I do not own a safe and store in a hard case so I have always used a
few bags of silica to help Prevent moisture. 

Seems to have worked well for me over the years.

Others may have different process or further tips. 
 

[Buckskin]

I don't think it makes a hill of beans difference, unless maybe your storing it for future generations and not going to shoot it at all, in that case you should cover it in cosmoline... Otherwise make sure it's clean enough to prevent rust and keep it in a dry environment.
 
One of the biggest misconceptions is that you have to release pressure from a spring in order to extend it's life. Compression on a spring doesn't wear it, using it wears it.  That is, how many times it's compressed and released.  So in reality every time you dry fire it you use up a live round fire... Not that it's a big deal either way. Springs are cheap and last a long time if not abused.
 
Bolt closed, open, in or out I don't think would make any difference either.  Although I would at minimum leave it in the gun, that way it can never get misplaced...

[oleman]

FWIW
 You can relaese the firing pin without dry firing by simply pulling and holding the trigger while closing the bolt. Maybe I am old school, but I never put a weapon up with the firing spring compressed.

[Bugflipper]

I wouldn't worry about it much. Mil surplus rifles still fire 100 years later. There was no special care of relieving springs or reducing mechanical stress. Just stored in cosmoline to prevent rust. Bolt in rifle.


I am assuming that over the last hundred years the material used and process to create springs has yielded a better product then back then. If there was a bolt action that was finicky enough to need the bolt removed to reduce pressure on the locking lugs, bolt face or something similar, I surely wouldn't want to own it.

[ironglow]

FWIW
 You can relaese the firing pin without dry firing by simply pulling and holding the trigger while closing the bolt. Maybe I am old school, but I never put a weapon up with the firing spring compressed.

................................................................................
 
   DITTO Oleman.. ya beat me to it ..

[SHOOTALL]

FWIW
 You can relaese the firing pin without dry firing by simply pulling and holding the trigger while closing the bolt. Maybe I am old school, but I never put a weapon up with the firing spring compressed.

................................................................................
 
   DITTO Oleman.. ya beat me to it ..

Yep , as for springs depending on type spring you can get set if it is compressed for long periods of time resulting in less power . Muzzle down is a good way to store as oil will not migrate to the stock . Moisture control is important . If you grease or oil its important to be very clean as fouling or moisture trapped under the oil can ruin a gun.

[huntswithdogs]

Mine are store bolts in after being released as described by Oleman. I've not ever been a big oil fan, so mine are stored dry. No rust either! Oh and muzzle up in the gunsafe.

HWD

[charles p]

Oil migrating into the wood is a problem if you apply too much oil.  Doesn't happen on properly lubed rifles.
I've seen it more often on shotguns but over oiling is still the problem.

[cwlongshot]

I too remove the bolts, mostly because they are good for safe hickies!! 

On the long term storage guns, I also release the spring by rotating the bolts NOT in the guns.

Lastly muzzle down, and lightly oiled on the frequent users and greased on the long term storage guns, for all reasons listed.

CW

[fastchicken]

No matter where I have mine all are kept with the action open if possible. Even though It's usually me getting them out, I don't want anyone to have to handle anything more that necessary and it doesn't leave much question if it's unloaded.
   It just makes it that much easier and safer when one of my guns is taken out with the action open, not even an excuse for playing with it. I don't care about leaving springs compressed, that's what they're for. I'll put a drop or two of oil on a cloth and wipe the fingerprints off the metal but that's it

[ardeekay]

...Bolts out.... oiled... and rifle(oiled)  in a silicone 'gun sock'.... bolt separate, in some rust preventive paper... and rifle stored bore  DOWN...(you don't want stuff flowing into the stock..)  this is the best way to do it...  My 2 cents worth....  Ardeekay

[SHOOTALL]

I would guess rifles are shipped bolt out to save an extra inch of box thickness    I leave the bolt in and closed on a relaxed fireing pin spring. I would worry more about copper fouling in the bbl on stored guns ..

[Buckskin]

How long are you guys storing these guns for? Decades??? Are these family heirlooms or guns you regularly shoot? Because I've seen many extremely valuable gun collections with bolts always in/closed, and in horizontal position... They seem to be just fine.
 
My guns are all shooter's not safe queens so I take precautions to keep rust off and shooting well and of course a golden rod in safe. Don't recall ever having to have a spring replaced, aside from upgrades on Encore platforms.

[cwlongshot]

Speaking for myself, I have a few that are long term airloom type storage and rarely shot, yes. Still others that I want to shoot just don't have that much time. Point for me is I never know just how long one might sit before use again. (IMHO something everyone with more than a few should realize) these Are the ones that will bite ya when you pull it from the safe and it has begun to corrode.

Not everyone lives in a dry or firearm friendly environment. Personally I have a fairly dry environment. But I also run two de humidifiers thru the summer and one in the winter. Humidity runs around 40%. I have golden rods and dry bags in the safe. I have not had a problem with corrosion. (thankfully!)

As for the comments too much oil of coarse this is a problem but even a very light coating will migrate with time. It will seep into the butt stock and if long enough and if enough oil accumulates it will become a problem. Storing muzzle down is not pretty, extra precautions need to be made so they don't fall over. But your working with physics and oils cannot migrate into the actions or expensive wood.

The use of silicone socks is another thing I use. I like them for my leveractions especially. They are trim and flat and seem to be a natural for using the sock!  Good protection form the hickies!!

At one time the store I was working in had to take down and put away all firearms daily. We had a walk in safe and nightly we would fill the racks then gun cases until the displays where empty. Then again every AM remove, wipe down and set up displays.

I cannot say its right or wrong. It it's how I have done it for many years.

CW

[gunnut69]

For bolt action rifles and long term storage I use a product called RustPrevent. It contains wax and I have guns stored with it that have been in storage for over 10 years with no problems. cosmoline works very well also but the gun will be very messy and hard to handle.. For using guns an oil wipe down with an oiled cloth. Two notes be careful with oily clothes as they can spontaniously combust and two use a sybthetic oil that won't harden. I sometimes even use the RustPrevent on using guns. Otherwise if a gun is handled it should be wiped down again to remove fingerprints.. Also I would avoid cases of any kind like the plague!!  I've seen too many rust buckets stored in a case....