How to Store a Pistol Long-Term Without Rusting

A pistol coming out of daily carry can need cleaning before storage even if it hasn’t been fired. Perspiration reaches metal during use, and GLOCK specifically calls for cleaning and lubrication after that exposure. Preparing a carry pistol for several months unused starts with removing that contamination. [1]

Completely unload the pistol and verify that the chamber is empty before cleaning.

Finish the cleaning before putting it away

Clean the pistol using its normal field-stripping procedure, paying attention to exposed metal that has been handled during carry. Salts from perspiration and fingerprints can promote localized corrosion, so removing those deposits matters even when the surface looks dry. [2]

Preserve the exterior after cleaning, then minimize direct handling of the prepared metal. GLOCK’s current G17–G48 manual describes wiping the slide’s exterior with a clean patch slightly dampened with oil. It also keeps oil out of the firing-pin channel and calls for the magazine and breech face to be wiped dry. [3]

Let a damp holster or case padding dry separately while the pistol remains securely stored. Browning advises removing firearms from their cases after hunting or shooting. [4] For checking moisture beneath padding, see Can Guns Rust in Foam-Lined Cases?.

A longer storage period can change the preparation

SIG’s P365 manual, revision 05, specifies a different preparation for storage lasting 90 days or longer. After thorough cleaning, it calls for a heavy CLP coating on metal surfaces, including the bore and chamber. The same manual excludes the striker and its channel from lubrication. CLP is a multipurpose gun-maintenance product that includes a preservative. [5]

SIG then specifies waterproof wrapping followed by a corrosion-resistant barrier bag, using the stated materials or their equivalents. The wrapping and bag are part of the P365’s long-term preservation procedure alongside the heavier CLP application. [5]

Keep the storage space dry

For a stable mixed collection at ordinary indoor temperatures, 40–50% RH is a useful working target, unless the firearm requires different conditions. [6] For the P365, use SIG’s more specific guidance of no greater than 40% RH at 80°F. [5]

Put a temperature-and-humidity monitor with saved readings near the pistol, away from direct heat from a heating rod. Review the readings recorded while the enclosure was closed. What Humidity Should a Gun Safe Be? explains monitor selection and the target in more detail.

If humidity stays above target, service the desiccant and check for damp contents. Keep the enclosure well sealed to reduce incoming moisture. [7]

Inspect during storage and before use

For a newly prepared storage arrangement, we recommend checking the pistol after one week, followed by monthly inspections while it remains unused. Check sooner if humidity stays above target. Look at the metal that was exposed during carry and inspect contact points with storage materials.

Compare the humidity history with the earlier readings. Photograph a suspect spot so you can tell whether it changes. After handling prepared metal during an inspection, renew any disturbed protective coating before returning the pistol to storage.

Before firing again, remove any storage insert and preservation packaging. GLOCK calls for clean patches through the barrel until no oil remains; SIG’s P365 manual specifies removing lubricant from the bore and chamber before firing. Apply operating lubrication at the pistol’s specified points. [3, 5]

Have corrosion in the bore or chamber assessed by a qualified gunsmith before firing.

Choose XeroMag for the particular pistol

XeroMag is designed to take the place of a compatible firearm’s magazine during unloaded storage. It contains activated alumina desiccant to take up water vapor, alongside a separate Cortec VpCI-170 corrosion-inhibitor element. Its compact format stays with the stored pistol and works without electricity or batteries.

Select by the listed pistol model: the GLOCK 19 uses the Glock Double-Stack 9mm/.40 configuration, while listed P365 models use the separate PDP, P365, + More configuration. Check the current fitment list for your exact pistol. The removable baseplate gives access to both consumables for replacement, letting you renew the materials during extended storage without replacing the insert.