Storage of T/C Contender Barrels

[Ben]

I guess that " Projects " is a good place to put this one.


I've had a bit of a problem for many months.
I have many ( probably too many ) T/C Contender barrels.
If you've ever lived in the SE United States, you know that we have a nasty humidity problem in the summer time. In the winter, I also have a small moisture problem in my basement. I have moisture control in my gun safe, but really just didn't have the needed room for all my T/C Barrels in my gun safe. I really needed a place to store my barrels, but it had to be capable of
being a " rust free " storage environment.

Then, I got the idea to buy an IGLOO cooler and transform it into a storage area for my barrels. I put a 7 1/2 Watt light bulb in the bottom of the cooler, I talked my good friend Kenneth ( who is an excellent wood worker ) into helping me cut, drill, & saw the pieces of wood that I'd need for my project. He also helped me fit and assemble the parts into what you see below. It was made to accommodate 10" , 12", and Super 14" barrels, both metallic sights and scoped alike. It is designed to allow the warm air from the light bulb to freely circulate throughout the cooler.

The design has a rack in the bottom and the top to hold my T/C barrels. I've used red felt to line the " barrel racks ". This has worked out well. It is finished now, very time consuming to make , but I'm happy with the end result.

I built it large enough that I can store a few more barrels than I have right now if needed. There is also room in the bottom for my frame.

It is made such that I could transport the entire thing to the range if I wanted to.
Tell me what you think ? ?

Ben

 

[Dale53]

Ben;
That looks like a great idea. However, bulbs burn out. I would be happier with TWO bulbs (light both of them, but it is unlikely that both would burn out at the same time). Just a bit of insurance.

Just a thought or two...

Dale53

 

[JWFilips]

Ben,
That is a slick idea! Very well thought out and executed.
The only thing is I think you will be needing another soon.
Jim

 

[Brad]

Would a metal locker of some sort work? I would think that having some heat would still work

 

[Ben]

Would a metal locker of some sort work? I would think that having some heat would still work

Brad,

I thought about metal and then I thought that the walls of the metal cabinet warming and cooling in my basement might not be my friend.

My goal was to keep the temp and humidity level constant.
The seal on the lid of my IGLOO cooler is air tight , that was another positive factor for me that helped to sell me on this idea.

Ben

 

[Ben]

Ben;
That looks like a great idea. However, bulbs burn out. I would be happier with TWO bulbs (light both of them, but it is unlikely that both would burn out at the same time). Just a bit of insurance.

Just a thought or two...

Dale53

The bulb is " supposed to be " good for 1,700 hours.
Burning 24 hrs. a day / that should be good for about 70 or so days.
I'll just have to keep a good check on the bulb.

 

[quicksylver]

Ben .....You always bring a smile to my face.

I am not going to comment on your set up, which BTW looks good ,
but rather after looking at the pictures it dawned on me that the manufactures of the Contenders must in in
cahoots with the scope manufactures.

So the real cost of a Contender barrel is, barrel plus scope....right!

Or is that just a way to store scopes ?

 

[Ben]

Ben .....You always bring a smile to my face.

I am not going to comment on your set up, which BTW looks good ,
but rather after looking at the pictures it dawned on me that the manufactures of the Contenders must in in
cahoots with the scope manufactures.

So the real cost of a Contender barrel is, barrel plus scope....right!

Or is that just a way to store scopes ?

quicksylver :

I think you've got this game figured out !

Ben

 

[Ben]

Ben,
That is a slick idea! Very well thought out and executed.
The only thing is I think you will be needing another soon.
Jim

Jim,

You sound like my wife.........

 

[JWFilips]

Jim,

You sound like my wife.........

Well maybe, but I wouldn't take a rolling pin to you!

 

[Missionary]

Greetings
Been in and out of ILLinois more than 30 years now. All my firearms not at the museum get a coat of motor oil then wrapped tightly with wax paper, masking tape shut then placed in a large wood box that is lined with heavy construction plastic. When storage time comes the plastic is folded over the top and a wood lid screwed on. It sits in a basement. So far no rust ever. It is on wheels so owner can move it as necessary.
I realize this is a long storage arrangement but it works. Molds get the same treatment.
Mike in Peru

 

[Ben]

Greetings
Been in and out of ILLinois more than 30 years now. All my firearms not at the museum get a coat of motor oil then wrapped tightly with wax paper, masking tape shut then placed in a large wood box that is lined with heavy construction plastic. When storage time comes the plastic is folded over the top and a wood lid screwed on. It sits in a basement. So far no rust ever. It is on wheels so owner can move it as necessary.
I realize this is a long storage arrangement but it works. Molds get the same treatment.
Mike in Peru

Mike,

That isn't very far away for what the US Military has used for MANY years.

Ben

 

[KHornet]

Slicker than goose grease Ben! Super job!

 

[Pistolero]

Great idea. That should keep it good and dry inside and protect those bbls.

When I was a kid, I lived in a non-air conditioned house in central Florida on
a lake....... pretty much the definition of 90+% humidity all the time. Had to keep an oily
rag by the gun rack and carefully wipe them down EVERY time you touch them (with inevitably
sweating fingers) or they would rust up very quickly. Even then, some of my early guns have more
finish damage than I would like. My old Ruger Std auto had no finish whatsoever on the grip
frame, too many hours in my sweaty hands learning to shoot pistols.

At least today, we MOSTLY live in air conditioned spaces, which helps a lot, but surely does
not solve it. Of course, still a lot of folks (have relatives, for instance) who do not live in
AC homes, only in BR for night in summer. Hard on blued guns, for sure.

Bill

 

[Ben]

Bill,

Exactly,............. I wanted a constant temp, dry air environment for my barrels.
I spent about $30 and pumped in several hours of labor, but this thing is pretty much indestructible and is doing exactly what I want right now.

Thanks,
Ben

 

[Pistolero]

Money and effort well spent. You will have no rust on those bbls.

Bill

 

[Ben]

Thanks Bill !

 

[Rally Hess]

Nice idea Ben, BUT. My insurance man mentioned to me that it's not a good idea to store either tools or guns the same place you store coolers. It seems the coolers are quite often used to haul away heavy loot from homes, because they are often present, have large handles, and often wheels on them. He even suggested that if the coolers are where the tools are, to store the coolers on plywood located across the rafters of the garage, so the thief has to go to some trouble and make more noise to acquire them.