How to Store Your Airsoft Guns

Co-authored by Eric McClure

Last Updated: May 25, 2021 References

When it comes to airsoft sports, a lot of the fun comes from acquiring all of the different guns and building your collection. There are plenty of ways to store your guns, so choose a storage method based on how deeply you care about displaying your weapons. If you only want an efficient storage system that makes it easy to transport your guns, opt for gun bags. If you want to show your guns off to visitors and use your collection as a showpiece, there’s no replacement for a beautiful peg-style gun rack. Remember to always unload the magazine, turn the safety on, and empty the canister or disconnect the battery before storing your airsoft guns.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Using a Gun Bag or Case

1
Opt for a soft bag to make carrying your guns easier. Soft gun bags are typically made of nylon and they’re an easy way to store and transport your guns. Get a soft bag big enough to store all of the guns that you typically use. They don’t offer a ton of protection, but they’re extremely cheap and make it easy to organize your guns. Choose a style and color that matches your personality and looks appealing to you.^{[1]
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- The sizes of these bags are fairly universal and basically any gun will fit in a standard bag. You can get a smaller version specifically for handguns if you prefer, though!
- The cheaper bags cost around $5 but you can get a a nicer bag with separate compartments and padding for $20-50. These bags are only sold at specialty shops or online. You won’t find them at a regular big box store.
- You can use any case designed for normal guns, but these will be much more expensive.
Tip: Gun bags and cases are a great way to store your guns since you don’t need to pack and unpack your guns every time you head off to a shooting range or tournament. This makes gun bags the best option if you don’t really care about showing your guns off.
2
Choose a hardcover case to protect your guns in style. A hardcover gun case is more expensive, but it’ll protect your guns if you drop the case or it slides around in a vehicle. Get a hardcover case big enough to store the number of guns you plan on carrying around. This style of case will also look better than a soft bag when it’s sitting at home.^{[2]
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- Like the softer bags, these cases are basically universal and any rifle or handgun should fit inside if you get a standard case. The only difference between different cases is how many guns you can fit inside.
- These cases are almost always black, gray, or silver. You can cover them in stickers or paint them, though! A lot of airsoft enthusiasts collect stickers from the different courses they play on and cover their gun cases in them over time.
- These cases will cost $40-150 depending on how big you want the case to be and how many additional compartments you want.
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3
Place your guns in the bag and use the straps to hold them in place. Every gun bag has a set of 2 straps for each gun. To put a gun in your bag, lay it down unloaded with the safety on. Hold it flat and lift one strap over the middle of the barrel. Wrap the other strap around the handle or butt of the gun. This will keep the gun from sliding around inside of the bag.^{[3]
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- These straps aren’t adjustable, but they’re extremely flexible. Your gun won’t break the straps or anything.
4
Put your ammunition and other gear in the smaller compartments. Unless you have a really low-end soft bag, there are additional compartments inside and outside of the bag. Place your silencers, ammunition, additional mags, scopes, lights, and straps inside of these smaller compartments. This way, you won’t need to lug around multiple bags when you take your guns out.^{[4]
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Warning: These smaller compartments are great for gas canisters and batteries as well, but don’t leave the bag in your vehicle if store the gas or batteries inside. The batteries may die if it gets too hot or cold and the canisters may explode.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Creating a Peg Board Gun Rack

1
Set your guns out on the ground to measure the size of the board you need. To display your guns like a pro, choose a wall in your home or garage to build your gun rack out of peg boards. These boards come in a variety of different sizes, so set your guns out on the ground to get a sense for how much room you need. Measure around your weapons in a rectangle to determine the size of the board you need to buy.^{[5]
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- You can place multiple smaller boards together to make a larger board, or cut a peg board down to a custom size with a circular saw if you’d like.
- Leave at least 6 inches (15 cm) of space between rifles and shotguns. Give each handgun at least 3 inches (7.6 cm) of space. This way, you won’t accidentally knock anything off when you put it on or take it off the board.
- Buy a peg board online or stop by your local hardware store to find one.
Tip: This is the best option if you want to show your guns off when people come over. You’ll need to package them in a gun bag if you want to take them to a tournament or shooting range, though.
2
Install a peg board in your garage or home to display your guns. Use a stud finder to locate the studs in your wall and mark them off with a carpentry pencil. Line your furring strips up horizontally with the studs and drill them into the studs using ³⁄₄ in (1.9 cm) wood screws. Then, hold the peg board over the strips and use the mounting hardware that comes with your board to install it. Drill 1 wood screw through the peg board to attach it to each furring strip where they overlap.^{[6]
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- Use a spirit level to make sure your peg board is even and level before drilling it into place.
- Furring strips are thin pieces of wood that reinforce building materials and keep objects lifted off of the wall. If you mount the peg board directly into the wall, you won’t be able to slide the hangers in. In addition, the peg board may rip the drywall out when you hang it.
3
Get plastic-tipped peg hangers to avoid damaging your guns. Peg hangers are small hooks that slide into the slots on your peg board to hang objects on the wall. Get peg hangers with plastic on the tips to hang your guns. If you use the regular metal hangers, they may scratch your guns up when you hang them up or take them down.^{[7]
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- If you can’t find plastic-tipped hangers, get some plastidip. Take each hanger and dip it in the plastidip. Then, let them air dry for 2-3 hours. This will coat your hangers in a protective plastic coating.
- You can use wood pegs if you prefer, but only if they have that little lip on the front to keep things from falling off.
4
Hang your rifles horizontally using 2 pegs for each gun. To hang a rifle or shotgun, hold it horizontally on the board. Slide 1 hanger in the peg just behind the gun’s handle. Then, hang another peg under the barrel on the same row of pegs. Rest the gun on top of the pegs and let it sit horizontally on your peg board. Leave at least 6 inches (15 cm) of space between each rifle and shotgun you hang.^{[8]
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- You can display your rifles and shotguns on one portion of the board and put your handguns on another portion of the board or mix them up to create some variety. The peg board is customizable, so it’s really entirely up to you!
- You can’t hang rifles or shotguns from the finger loops on the triggers. They’re too heavy for a single peg and you may rip the hanger out of the peg board.
5
Store your pistols horizontally with 2 pegs or vertically with 1 peg. You can hang pistols the same way you hang rifles with 1 peg just behind the handle and another under the barrel if you want to keep all of your guns horizontal. You can also hang the pistols vertically at an angle by sliding 1 peg in the middle of the finger loop for the trigger. This is a great choice if you want a lot of variety with your gun rack.^{[9]
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- If you hang your pistols from the finger loops, be sure to double-check your safety to make sure it’s on when you hang your handguns.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Stowing Your Guns Safely

1
Empty the magazine and unload the chamber before storing your weapon. Whether you’re hanging a gun on the peg board or packing it in your bag, you need to store your gun safely. Unlock the magazine and empty it out before putting it back in the gun. Pull the chamber back and empty out any airsoft pellets that are still in the gun.^{[10]
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Warning: Airsoft guns aren’t as dangerous as a regular weapon, but the pellets can certainly take an eye out or damage your skin. Always handle your guns safely and empty the rounds out before storing them.
2
Disconnect the battery on electric guns to keep them from draining. If your gun is battery-operated and the battery comes out, undo the latch and take the battery out. If you have a hardwired battery, locate the battery and disconnect the wires to keep it from draining.^{[11]
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- Every gun is different. In many guns, the battery is located inside the handle. Your battery may be on the side of the gun, though. Consult your instruction manual if you rely on a battery but can’t find where it’s located on your gun.
- Your battery will drain slowly over time if you don’t disconnect it when you aren’t using the gun.
3
Fire empty gas-powered guns into a pillow to remove the air before storage. If you have a gas-powered gun, double-check your magazine and chamber to make sure they’re empty. Take the gas canister out. Then, point your gun towards a pillow or soft surface. Pull the trigger repeatedly until the gas trapped in the gun is gone. This will remove the excess gas and make it safe to store your gun.^{[12]
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4
Flip the safety on before storing your weapon to prevent misfires. Before you store your gun, locate the safety on the side of the gun. Flip it to the “on” position to keep the gun from firing. Then, set it inside your case or place it up on your peg board to finish storing it.^{[13]
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Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Organizing Your Airsoft Gear

1
Keep your gear in a small chest for a simple storage solution. Get a small wood or metal chest. Set it in a corner of your room or garage. Fill it with the ammunition, uniforms, protective gear, magazines, and other airsoft equipment. This is the easiest way to keep all of your gear in one place and you won’t need to worry about looking all over the place for your things.^{[14]
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- This is the most basic solution, but there’s nothing wrong with keeping it simple! It’s much easier to find something you need if everything is in one place.
2
Use a cube organizer to separate and organize lots of gear. If you have a ton of gear, buy a cube organizer at a big box or furniture store. Get cloth boxes or baskets to slide into the individual shelves and separate your gear in a way that makes sense to you. Label each cube with a label maker or permanent marker. This is the best option if you have different types of ammunition, clothing, and safety equipment.^{[15]
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- You can dedicate one row of cubes for ammunition, one row for batters or canisters, and one row for clothing and peripherals. It’s really up to you!
- There are cloth boxes designed specifically to fit in these cube organizers. Pick some of these up if you want a cleaner look!
3
Maintain a dedicated ammo shelf to find what you need quickly. If you find yourself struggling to find all of your ammo, keep the pellets in their original packaging. Set each package out on a single shelf to make it easier to find them. This may not be the prettiest way to organize your ammo, but the pellets all look basically the same so you need to keep the original packaging if you want to experiment with different brands.^{[16]
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Tip: If you only use one brand of ammunition, get an airtight, see-through container and combine all of your ammo in one place.

Warnings

Never store your gun with the safety off. Always unload your weapon and disconnect the battery or canister to stay safe.^{[17]
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