Gun Safety 101: What You Need to Know About Gun Safe Humidity

Learn how to keep your firearms in top condition with our essential guide to gun-safe humidity. Discover the importance of humidity control and the effects of high and low humidity on firearms. Protect your investment and ensure your firearms are always ready for use.

When it comes to gun storage, humidity control is an important factor to consider. Gun-safe humidity refers to the amount of moisture in the air inside a gun safe. Keeping guns in a low-humidity environment is essential for preserving their condition and preventing damage.

In this blog, we’ll take a look at why humidity matters when it comes to keeping your guns safe and how you can ensure your guns are stored safely and securely.

The Impact of Humidity on Firearms

When it comes to gun storage, the standard recommendation is that guns should be stored in a temperature-controlled environment with adequate humidity levels. This is because both high and low humidity levels can damage guns.

Effects of High Humidity on Firearms:

Effects of High Humidity on Firearms
A moisture-damaged gun

High humidity levels can have serious consequences for firearms. Excess moisture in the air can cause corrosion and rust to form on metal surfaces, leading to degradation and potentially making the firearm unsafe to use.

Additionally, high humidity levels can cause ammunition to deform, impacting its performance and reliability.

Effects of Low Humidity on Firearms:

Damaged Wood Stock of Guns
Damaged Wood Stock of Guns

On the other hand, low humidity levels can also have negative impacts on firearms. Dry air can cause wooden stocks to crack and warp, as well as leather holsters and cases to dry out and become brittle.

Low humidity levels can also impact the performance of gunpowder and primers, potentially affecting the accuracy and reliability of the firearm.

The Ideal Humidity Level for Gun Safes

Generally speaking, firearms should be kept stored in a controlled environment, and a tolerable gun-safe humidity level is between 45% and 55%. Anything outside this range could potentially start causing corrosion or deformation depending on whether it’s too high or too low from that range.

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According to the National Rifle Association, "50% humidity and 70 degrees are deemed ideal conditions in which firearms should be stored. With any dryer or cooler climate than that, gunstocks may become brittle and shrink."

To help achieve this range, many people opt for using dehumidifiers inside their gun safes along with desiccant packs which help absorb any excess moisture in the air. It’s also important to note that extreme changes in relative humidity (RH) are worse than sustained RH values so having a consistent level is ideal if possible.


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Tips for Maintaining the Ideal Gun Safe Humidity

Avoid Moisture Condensation inside your gun safes at all cost.
Avoid Moisture Condensation inside your gun safes at all costs.
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Use Desiccant Packs:

Desiccant packs are small bags filled with either silica gel or activated charcoal which absorb moisture in the air within enclosed spaces like gun safes. They are relatively inexpensive and easy to find online or at most hardware stores.

Simply toss one into your gun safe and replace it every few months as needed depending on how often you open your safe door.

Install a Dehumidifier:

If you want more control over the level of humidity inside your safe then installing a dehumidifier may be worth considering. Gun-safe dehumidifiers allow you to set an exact target RH value which will then automatically adjust itself accordingly by either adding more moisture or removing it as needed via its fan system.

Use a Hygrometer To Monitor Humidity:

Sometimes, advice for absorbing moisture might not be enough, and if you want precise humidity control inside your gun safe (or anywhere else), a hygrometer can be a helpful device.

It’s important not only during setup but also to regularly check throughout its usage so that you get a better understanding of what's happening inside, as well as track any changes that may be occurring over time due to wear & tear, etc.


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Best Practices for Gun Safe Humidity Maintenance

With the right rules and maintenance practices in place, humidity inside gun safes can be kept at optimal levels all year round. Here are some of the best practices to keep your firearms in perfect condition:

Regular Monitoring

Checking the moisture levels inside your gun safe is a practice that should be done on a regular basis. Be sure to monitor how much moisture is present around your valuable firearms and make adjustments accordingly.

Depending on where you live, fluctuations in humidity can occur, so stay alert! It is also a good idea to open your safes every few weeks to air them out and check for any moisture which may have accumulated.

Proper Sealing of Gun Safe

It's important to ensure that your gun safe is properly sealed from external elements such as dust, dirt, and moisture. Make sure that all seals and gaskets are intact and that there are no signs of wear or tear. Also, make sure that no air leaks have developed over time which may cause condensation of the gun-safe moisture or lead to rusting.

Proper Storage of Firearms

Keeping your firearms properly stored inside the gun safe is paramount for preventing deterioration from humidity. It's important to store them separately from one another as contact between them could result in scratch marks or other damage.

Additionally, it's a good idea to purchase a dehumidifier or use desiccants if necessary as even small amounts of moisture can cause serious damage over time.


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Conclusion

Gun safes provide an ideal environment for storing firearms because they protect them from theft and unauthorized access while also providing protection against environmental factors such as high temperatures and excessive moisture.

These factors can wreak havoc over time if not properly managed through regular monitoring and maintenance practices such as using dehumidifiers, desiccant packs, climate control systems, etc.

Thus, maintaining optimal moisture inside the gun safe is vital for gun owners when it comes to preserving firearms over long periods of time without any significant damage due to rusting or warping.

And if you want to maintain the humidity levels inside your gun safe properly, check out our article on the best gun safe dehumidifiers that you should buy to protect your investments. Whether you need electric dehumidifiers or something simple that absorbs moisture without any fuss we have got you covered.

Check Out The Best Gun safe Dehumidifier

If you love your guns and want to invest in the best ways to keep them safe, also check out some of our other articles for protecting your guns:

keep your gun safe humidity levels under control to keep your guns safe
You need to keep your gun safe humidity levels under control to keep your guns safe.