Just a quick question for those with experience: do gun socks (i.e. silicone-treated sock-like wraps) work? More importantly, do they trap any moisture near the rifle if it’s put in a safe? Or are they good to go?
I’m planning on putting them on my long guns and some of my AR’s primarily to keep them dinging wood stocks if they should bump into each other, but I want to be sure that the sock won’t act as a moisture wick.
Thanks!
I’ve used them successfully, BUT you should have a dehumidifier or desiccant in their to make sure. Run out of silicone, add moisture and bingo…rust. I used some crappy cheap ones and they would rust…the good ones seem to have enough that I haven’t noticed, yet. I check them once every month or two in the safe to be sure and do a preventative wipe down so it is a bit moot. Anything with VCI emitters will work even better. If you use silicon spray ever do not get the cheap kind at auto stores and whatnot, but find the pure, plumber stuff, that does not have petroleum in it - won’t attack anything that isn’t steel. If you scuba at all you probably have the good stuff already.
I use them on almost all of my rifles. Been a few years and no problems. I run a dehumidifier side my man cave is in the basement.
I too have used them for several years now work great I really like the way I can stack the guns up against one other in the safe without getting dinged up.
I use the ones that are grey and quite thick. The inside looks like wool. Not sure of mfg now. Anyway, been using them for over 15 yrs. I use them to prevent dings and scratches on my wood rifles. Safe is tight so if I put them on my black rifles too I won’t be able to get all rifles in there.
As far as moisture and the whole silicone thing, not sure how effective they are. I know they never made any of my rifles rust. I do have an m1 Garand in one that for a while was getting small white dots on the old original sling. I then decided to get a golden rod, and the dots went away. I think the dots were some kind of mold.
My point is, I wouldn’t depend on them to keep moisture out. Use desicant or a golden rod for rust prevention. Use the socks to protect from dings and scratches.
I hate anything that puts silicone on my guns. I have found it to be a real pain in the ass to get off a surface once it is on ( so a contaminant that lasts a long time) and it is slippery, so getting it on working surfaces of the gun sucks.
I would rather surface coat the gun (with what Im using for oil/lube) and use other methods of absorbing ambient moisture like dessicant inside whatever I put it in for long term storage.
I use’em on everything. You should still lube periodically but they don’t need as much attention with the socks on.
I never noticed a slippery feel from the silicon.
I’ve used them for years in my safe, for wood stocked long guns, and most of my handguns. I use them simply to prevent dings. Can get a lot of handguns in a small space by using them.
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i use them on my O/U and SxS shotguns. so they dont get dinged up. i like to keep them lookin pretty for when im shootin clays
I too have used them. Best $5 storage protection plan for long guns you can buy IMO.
Bore Stores. They are the best in my experience.
I used them a couple different times on deployments with no issues. I would put the guns in there knowning they wouldn’t be touched for a year. For the pistols, I would drop a pistol down into the sock then tie a knot then drop another pistol down. I can get four 1911’s into one sock with no issues.
I moved to a place thatw as essentially a basment in a high humidity area once. I’ve always run a dehumidifier in my safe, so I wasn’t worried. Afer two weeks I found rust on a couple of my blued guns. I hadn’t touched them so I know it wasn’t that. I cleaned them extensively, and then went in search of an answer. Guy at the store who sold me my safe recomended the socks after I told him my story. I thought he was nuts, but it was worth a shot and was a cheap solution so why not gve it a try. Worked liked a charm and I’ve never looked back.
They also protect your guns from banging into each other when you’re trying to get one one out of the back of your safe, if you kow what I mean. For the $3 each tehy cost, they are worth it, and I always use them now.
They work great for what they are. They are not made for serious long term storage of anything and should never be used in that role. They are outstanding for stopping the day to day bruises and bumps firearms get from being stored in safes.