When it comes to storing a 9mm handgun in your storage unit, there are several safety precautions you must heed as a gun owner. Not only is your 9mm a weapon that, if stolen, can cause more problems for you beyond just replacing it, but it\u2019s also an investment that you want to protect from damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When putting a gun in storage, it\u2019s also important to note that you can only store weapons in an armory-specific storage unit. Many self-storage facilities don\u2019t offer this service. Others, like Elmwood Self Storage<\/a>, do allow gun storage and have special vault storage<\/a> dedicated to protecting firearms. So, before you prepare your gun for storage, make sure to check with the facilities in your area to see if you\u2019re allowed to store a gun or if they have special gun storage vaults.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you\u2019ve found a suitable storage facility for your 9mm, there are several steps you must take to prep it for storage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first and most critical aspect of responsible firearm ownership and gun storage is to clean your weapon thoroughly. According to Fredy Riehl, editor and co-founder of the website Ammoland Shooting Sports News<\/a>, \u201cIt is important to put your firearms away clean, as some gun powders can be corrosive. And if left unchecked, corrosion and rust can ruin your firearm investment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Important things to remember when storing your handgun:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Use a gun case, a cable padlock, or a lockbox for your 9mm while it\u2019s in storage\u2014the more advanced the lock, the better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using a lock box is a great choice for firearm owners because it has two primary advantages. For one, it lessens the\u202fchance of your firearm being stolen.\u202fBut a lockbox also protects the handgun from the elements. Dust is a natural adherent for moisture, which\u202fcan\u202fresult in corrosion\u202fin both the ammunition and the gun itself.\u202fSignificant damage\u202fto either\u202fcould\u202fresult in a dangerous malfunction the next time the gun is fired.\u202fMake sure your\u202fstorage unit\u202fis dry and doesn\u2019t have any damp items.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don’t forget: ammo storage is just as important as firearm storage. You\u2019ll want to take the same care and caution to ensure proper ammunition storage and avoid loose rounds in your storage space. To keep your ammunition from damage, store your expensive ammunition in an ammo box, ammo storage containers, plastic ammo cans, or plastic ammo boxes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can also invest in P-100 ammo boxes or ammo crates to keep your ammunition from moisture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For more information about gun safety, maintenance, and storage, check out the official website for the NRA (National Rifle Association)<\/a>\u202f.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But remember:\u202f<\/strong>Never store\u202fyour 9mm and your ammunition in the same storage container.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHeat and humid environments can cause [rust to form] on your firearms, so it is important for your gun safe to be in a location with a stable temperature and that you take steps to control humidity within your [storage environment],\u201d adds Riehl. For this reason, you\u2019ll want to make sure your firearm storage space is an indoor unit equipped with climate control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The\u202fNRA\u202frecommends\u202fa steady temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) with a humidity level of 50%<\/a>. At too high a concentration, your handgun\u2019s metal chassis will corrode.\u202fConversely, if\u202fyour 9mm has a wooden grip, a lower-than-normal concentration of humidity will\u202fresult in the grip\u202fbreaking\u202fapart, and you’ll no longer have a comfortable handle. You’ll have to replace it if it starts to split and crack. Wooden components can crack if subjected to a sudden change in temperature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you must\u202fsignificantly\u202fadjust the temperature of your storage unit because of other items in your unit, just make the transitions as gradual as possible.\u202fThe\u202fNRA\u202falso recommends humidifiers for\u202fstorage during the winter months\u202fand dehumidifiers during the\u202fsummer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When selecting a storage facility, you should consider the possibility of a power outage as well. Ask your storage facility if they have an auxiliary source of power. \u201cA backup generator ensures conditions are kept stable during a power failure,\u201d says Al Gardes, Director of Operations at Elmwood Self Storage in Harahan, La.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thieves and unauthorized people are less likely to steal your handgun if it\u2019s stored properly in an armory-specific storage unit with up-to-date security. Storage facilities\u202fwith\u202fa sliding gate<\/a> are the preferred barrier method.\u202fUnlike a swinging gate, which is hinged and can be\u202fpried open, a sliding entrance\u202fis constructed\u202fas part of a larger, more complicated entity\u202fand is, therefore, more difficult to force open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your storage facility possesses\u202fa video surveillance system, that\u2019s even better. The cameras continue to roll even when\u202fthere isn\u2019t anyone around to watch the facility. Some facilities even\u202fenable\u202flive viewing<\/a>.\u202fThere are a few\u202fmobile apps that allow users to\u202fconnect with\u202fthe storage facility cameras and monitor their unit via\u202fsmartphone or tablet\u202fat any point during the day, too.\u202fEven if unauthorized people succeed in breaking into your storage unit and manages to open\u202fboth \u202fyour gun and your ammo lockboxes (assuming they take both the gun and ammunition), you\u2019ll be able to report the\u202fstolen gun as soon as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The most secure armory-specific self-storage facilities make use of multiple technologies. According to Gardes, ample protection includes \u201ca biometrics access panel, a climate-controlled environment, and a state-of-the-art security system with motion detectors and digital cameras.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just because you can\u2019t store your 9mm in a standard storage unit, doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t keep your other hunting or shooting accessories<\/a> in storage! SelfStorage lets you search for cheap storage near you with fast filtering. Check us out today for the top storage deals<\/a> in your area – you don\u2019t even need a credit card to reserve your unit. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When it comes to storing a 9mm handgun in your storage unit, there are several safety precautions you must heed as a gun owner.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":108,"featured_media":3137,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3136","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-storage"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nKeep Guns Clean and Locked Up<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Using Climate-Controlled Storage for Guns<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Protecting Guns with Storage Security Features<\/h3>\n\n\n\n