BELLEVUE, WA – Gun owners in the southeast, Texas and other areas where the summer is producing flooding and record storms can benefit from some timely advice on gun maintenance and restoration from flooding, and how to handle submerged ammunition, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms said today.
The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute (SAAMI) offers a very useful guide on the subject titled “Guidance on Firearms That Have Been Submerged or Exposed to Extensive Amounts of Water.” CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb advises anyone whose valuable firearms have been affected by flooding to get a copy.
Recovery from devastating environmental conditions involves time and attention to details. Proper gun care following a flood includes initial disassembly, cleaning with dry towels, and applying moisture-displacing lubricants to metal parts (barrel, action, etc.) without getting them on wood or synthetic materials. Optics should be cleaned and returned to the manufacturer for examination to determine whether seals have been damaged.
Such products as WD-40, Hoppes No. 9 MDL, Brownells LP-2 and similar products are recommended in the SAAMI bulletin. They are available at local gun shops, sporting goods stores and even hardware stores.
Always make sure firearms are unloaded prior to any maintenance or repair.
“Firearms can be damaged, but people shouldn’t simply write them off after a natural disaster like we’re seeing from this year’s hurricanes and tropical storms,” Gottlieb said. “We’re talking about valuable investments, and in some cases family heirlooms and guns can be saved.”
When it comes to ammunition, however, SAAMI’s advice is simple: “no attempt (should) be made to salvage or use previously submerged ammunition.” Rimfire ammunition is the most susceptible to damage by submersion, and even centerfire ammunition can be harmed. It is a good idea to contact a local law enforcement agency about ammunition disposal, SAAMI advises. Ammunition should not be shipped back to the manufacturer. Check SAAMI’s “Guidance on Ammunition That Has Been Submerged in Water.”