When you have firearms, you want to keep them protected. That typically means using a good gun safe, but there are other factors to consider as well, such as humidity and temperature — both of which can cause damage to guns and other items if they’re not addressed. How can you know what temperatures your guns are being exposed to or what the humidity level is inside your safe? Use a hygrometer. The Hornady Security Digital Hygrometer is designed for this specific purpose, and we’re going to tell you why you need one.
Are moisture and heat bad for guns?
Yes, excessive exposure to a humid or hot environment can damage your guns. Extreme cold is also a problem. If you stop and think about the interior of a safe, it’s possible that the humidity and temperature could vary wildly and you might never know. You might think that the gun safe sitting in your backroom by the water heater is fine, but is it really? How do you know if you’re not actively measuring it?
When firearms sit at length in a humid or extreme environment, they can rust, corrode, and otherwise go through degradation of parts. That means when you go to use that gun you might discover it needs repairs before it can be fired. In worst-case scenarios, those repairs can become extreme. That depends on several factors like the materials used on the gun and how long it sat in what type of environment. The good news is that there are ways to control the environment, at least to a point. First, though, you have to know what you’re dealing with. That’s where the use of a good hygrometer comes in.
What is the Hornady Security Digital Hygrometer?
The Hornady Security Digital Hygrometer is a device intended for indoor use to measure temperature and humidity. It’s a compact sensor system specifically meant for gun safes and vault rooms. This device operates using two AAA batteries. It comes with a quick connect bracket so it can be hung on the wall or door of the safe. It also has a plastic kickstand support so it can be placed upright within the safe or vault. Readings can be listed in either Fahrenheit or Celsius.
How does it work?
To use the hygrometer, you put two AAA batteries in it and place it inside your safe. It can simply be leaned in a corner or you can use the attached stand to prop it up. And if you’d like to use the bracket to hang it, that works, too. The bracket can be removed from the hygrometer by rotating it, at which point you can use the two included screws to mount the bracket to the safe or vault interior. Just make sure it’s facing the direction it needs to be to lock the hygrometer in place upright rather than at an angle or upside down.
The screen of the hygrometer is digital, which makes it easy to read. The temperature is shown in large numbers at the center top of the display with the humidity below it. In addition, there’s a high and low readout for both temperature and humidity so you can see what temps and moisture levels the interior of the safe has been reaching. And thanks to the touch screen you can easily choose between the various display options.
What humidity and temperatures are bad for guns?
According to safe manufacturers, 50% is considered a good humidity level for your gun safe with the ideal range being between 30% and 50%. If the humidity goes above that, your guns can rust. Fortunately, it can be dealt with by putting something like the Hornady Security Canister Dehumidifier in the safe. The great thing about that specific canister is that it’s rechargeable, so it will last you for a long time. That means there’s a straightforward solution if you discover your safe contains too much humidity.
The temperature inside the safe shouldn’t exceed 70° F with the approximate range being between 50° and 70° F. No, that doesn’t mean guns can’t be carried or used in other temperatures. This is about ideal storage. When you’re putting your gun or guns inside a giant metal box for a length of time, the climate matters.
How well does the hygrometer work?
The Digital Hygrometer works well, and it’s certainly worth having in your safe. You could potentially sidestep humidity concerns by putting a dehumidifier in your safe, but you’re not going to know if it’s getting too cold or hot without a thermostat (which this hygrometer has). And even if you do put a dehumidifier in your safe, the only way you’re going to know it’s sufficient is if you have a hygrometer in place.
What’s great about the Hornady Security Digital Hygrometer is that it doesn’t require much to power it, it doesn’t take up much space, and it’s easy to use. Its dimensions are 5 1/8″ X by 3¼” X 1″. It only weighs 1.68 lbs empty, and even with batteries that weight doesn’t increase by much. Hornady says to keep it dust-free because a buildup of dust can cause inaccuracies in readouts. Also, it should not be exposed to water (remember, this is only for indoor use, in a confined space).
The hygrometer reads relatively quickly and works reliably. The temperature and humidity range of highs and lows starts over every 24 hours, but you can always reset it yourself using the touch screen. That’s especially handy if you’re trying a safe in different locations or attempting things to control the climate.
This is a good way to keep an eye on the climate inside your safe or vault. That becomes even more important when you have multiple firearms in a safe or if you have a special collection that doesn’t leave the safe often. It’s worth a small investment of time and money to have an added layer of protection for your guns. After all, you want them to last forever. The best way to do that is to take care of them and their storage space.
