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’s also an investment that you want to protect from damage.
When putting a gun in storage, it’s also important to note that you can only store weapons in an armory-specific storage unit. Many self-storage facilities don’t offer this service. Others, like Elmwood Self Storage, do allow gun storage and have special vault storage 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’re allowed to store a gun or if they have special gun storage vaults.
Once you’ve found a suitable storage facility for your 9mm, there are several steps you must take to prep it for storage.
Keep Guns Clean and Locked Up
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, “It 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.”
Important things to remember when storing your handgun:
- Don’t leave your handgun out in the open in case of unwanted entry
- Don’t leave your firearm loaded to deter accidental discharge
- Don’t set your 9mm handgun on a shelf or store it in cardboard or paper boxes
Use a gun case, a cable padlock, or a lockbox for your 9mm while it’s in storage—the more advanced the lock, the better.
Using a lock box is a great choice for firearm owners because it has two primary advantages. For one, it lessens the chance of your firearm being stolen. But a lockbox also protects the handgun from the elements. Dust is a natural adherent for moisture, which can result in corrosion in both the ammunition and the gun itself. Significant damage to either could result in a dangerous malfunction the next time the gun is fired. Make sure your storage unit is dry and doesn’t have any damp items.
Don’t forget: ammo storage is just as important as firearm storage. You’ll 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.
You can also invest in P-100 ammo boxes or ammo crates to keep your ammunition from moisture.
For more information about gun safety, maintenance, and storage, check out the official website for the NRA (National Rifle Association) .
But remember: Never store your 9mm and your ammunition in the same storage container.
Using Climate-Controlled Storage for Guns
“Heat 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],” adds Riehl. For this reason, you’ll want to make sure your firearm storage space is an indoor unit equipped with climate control.
The NRA recommends a steady temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) with a humidity level of 50%. At too high a concentration, your handgun’s metal chassis will corrode. Conversely, if your 9mm has a wooden grip, a lower-than-normal concentration of humidity will result in the grip breaking apart, 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.
If you must significantly adjust the temperature of your storage unit because of other items in your unit, just make the transitions as gradual as possible. The NRA also recommends humidifiers for storage during the winter months and dehumidifiers during the summer.
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. “A backup generator ensures conditions are kept stable during a power failure,” says Al Gardes, Director of Operations at Elmwood Self Storage in Harahan, La.
Protecting Guns with Storage Security Features
Thieves and unauthorized people are less likely to steal your handgun if it’s stored properly in an armory-specific storage unit with up-to-date security. Storage facilities with a sliding gate are the preferred barrier method. Unlike a swinging gate, which is hinged and can be pried open, a sliding entrance is constructed as part of a larger, more complicated entity and is, therefore, more difficult to force open.
If your storage facility possesses a video surveillance system, that’s even better. The cameras continue to roll even when there isn’t anyone around to watch the facility. Some facilities even enable live viewing. There are a few mobile apps that allow users to connect with the storage facility cameras and monitor their unit via smartphone or tablet at any point during the day, too. Even if unauthorized people succeed in breaking into your storage unit and manages to open both your gun and your ammo lockboxes (assuming they take both the gun and ammunition), you’ll be able to report the stolen gun as soon as possible.
The most secure armory-specific self-storage facilities make use of multiple technologies. According to Gardes, ample protection includes “a biometrics access panel, a climate-controlled environment, and a state-of-the-art security system with motion detectors and digital cameras.”
Just because you can’t store your 9mm in a standard storage unit, doesn’t mean you can’t keep your other hunting or shooting accessories in storage! SelfStorage lets you search for cheap storage near you with fast filtering. Check us out today for the top storage deals in your area – you don’t even need a credit card to reserve your unit.
