Canadian Airgun Forum

I keep all my guns in gun cases with the foam lining. I'm not too worried about degradation as I use most of them regularly. I may change this practice up yet and get a gun safe and store them with a light coating of oil.

In the meantime I've got my Webley Tempest which came in the factory box with a styrofoam insert. I've been keeping it in there but now I'm thinking that this may not be the best option. Do you suppose over even a relatively short period of time the styrofoam may react with the finish and cause some issues? This gun isn't that old and I'll keep the box, but I may be better off getting yet another pistol case?

Thoughts?

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Highlights - Evanix Conquest
AA HFT 500, FX Dreamline, Diana Mod 70,
HW44, FAS6004, some other goodies.

I always stored my Model 2 FWB, properly oiled and in it's Styrofoam box inside the lockup - never a problem. If other foam like the soft stuff in gun cases, I'd change that out for Styrofoam.

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Best Wishes
Daryl

Things packed in the factory styrofoam box will sit for months/years on the shelf waiting to be sold without any problems from the packaging. It's made from styrene, which is not exactly harmless but pretty inert until reacted with something else or polymerized.
The foam in your gun case is most likely polyurethane, which is made out of polyol and isocyanate - both of which are quite nasty especially the isocyanate.
All of these things should have "out-gassed" after manufacture but of the two, the styrofoam is the least nasty (and they make drinking cups out of it after all).
I knew that PhD in chemistry would come in handy one day...
(Coincidentally, I also had a Tempest that I left in its original box for about 25 years before selling it on and it was fine...)

A good coat of preservative oil on the outside, wipe off the excess and it will be fine in the styrofoam case or padded pistol cases. I oil mine and store them in a safe with a dehumidifier running 24/7.

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-Rick

Brocock Concept .22
3 Crosman MK 1 pistol .22

Sounds like I'm ok using the styrofoam.
I do worry about the foam lining in the hard cases, but hope that not leaving then to sit for months at a time would prevent any issues.

Is there a specific oil recommended for exterior oiling? I often use liquid gun stock wax and apply to the metal as well as suggested. Is this good enough?

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Highlights - Evanix Conquest
AA HFT 500, FX Dreamline, Diana Mod 70,
HW44, FAS6004, some other goodies.

I use Ballistol; spray lightly on a clean, soft rag and wipe.

...I have a vintage Anschutz 250 in its' original (vintage) styrofoam box.....It's like new, but the styrofoam is a bit tarnished in places ....must be almost 50 years old now ... Thumper

These put a nice protective coating on my handguns and rifles before they get put away. ESPECIALLY handy for rainy or damp days and to remove your acidic fingerprints.

Very inexpensive and I've never seen a reaction on any of the foam in my gun cases, or Styrofoam for that matter.

Jut be careful with new ones, they have a LOT of silicone on them when new.

If you have an unsealed open grain stock, keep the silicone away. It can impregnate the wood and will cause shiny spots if you try and refinish the stock.

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When the 425-hp "street Hemi" version hit the street in 1965, it was akin to taking an M230 chain gun to an arcade shooting gallery
Peter

Regular old car wax works well on guns.

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"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." - Thomas Jefferson.

The hoppe's rags look interesting.

If car wax works to protect, then wouldn't the birchwood Casey gunstock wax I've used be similar?

_________________
Highlights - Evanix Conquest
AA HFT 500, FX Dreamline, Diana Mod 70,
HW44, FAS6004, some other goodies.