Humidity level for safe gun storage?

[Lead Freak]

What humidity level is recommended for safe gun storage? I have a large dehumidifier in a room that I keep most of my firearms in and normally I keep it at 45-50% humidity. In my reloading room, which is a large walk-in closet, I use one of those very small dehumidifiers that does not have a compressor. It will keep that room at 50%.

[Randy Bohannon]

I think you’re about perfect if you drop the humidity down to low it’s not good for wood. I’ve had a highly figured rifle stock that cracked because I live in dry ass Wyoming and put a Golden Rod in my safe. It lowered the humidity to barely double digits. I alway thought ‘good nice and dry” until I discovered the crack on a very expensive Gibbs rifle and one of my guitars. I now humidify to your ranges all of my guns and guitars are waxed and happy .

[Rapier]

I keep my vault at 40-45% for storage. That level of humidity prevents white mold, does not crack stocks, etc. I also store all guns muzzle down, prevents roach drop down onto bolt face or recoil shield.

[starnbar]

Well here in Fl you got humidity all the time right now my safe is showing 68% with a rod and that is about normal around here in the morning it is about 98% on the back porch.

[John Boy]

Gun manufacturers recommend … 70 degrees and 50% humidity

[Targa]

Like mentioned, to little humidity is rough on wood. My safe is around 50-53% humidity, no problems so far.

[JSnover]

Mine are stored at 68-70*f and with a small humidifier the gun room is 50-53% in the summer, 44-47% in the winter. I wipe them down and punch the bores every spring and every fall.

[Greg S]

I've moved to rust preventative water displacing oil as used post bluing or parkerizing on parkerized guns and rifles but have slowly moving to renisance wax on blued guns. No problems in Oregon.