Effects of prolonged storage on aeg

[macdrian]

Two years ago I bought a new ares scar L. I was unable to get a battery for it and simply stored it as it was under my bed until now.

I fired the gun when I bought it to ensure that it worked (it worked great).

I am going to buy a battery asap in order to begin using my scar L.

If anyone has stored a gun for years without firing it, could you tell me of any problems to expect? I will do a regular maintenance check as best I can, but I have no experience doing so.

[Madrigal]

If the spring was compressed the entire time, you can expect a possible FPS loss, or maybe even need to buy a new spring entirely. Also, you might want to give your hopup rubber some silicone oil before running it through it's paces.

[macdrian]

I read that firing a couple times on semi decompresses the spring. I don't specifically remember doing it, but I know it now, I must have known it then.

I am really hoping someone with a either a success or catastrophic failure story will speak up.

Not the failure one actually, but I would still rather hear the truth of the matter.

Thanks for the quick response.

[ccyg8774]

I have several AEGs and some are not fired for maybe 7-8 monthes. I shot in semi before store them. There is no problem at all. But be sure you keep them dry to prevent rust and mold.

I also have a "new" AEG, which I brought in 2013, but I believe that gun was out in 2007 and discontinued in 2008-2009, which means 4-6 years of storage (the amount of dust collecting inside the receiver can support me). Still no problem.

However, I found that AEGs that have been stored for long tend to have lower FPS on first few shots. After 2-3 shots then it just come back to normal.

[ThunderCactus]

Most prominent issue would be the piston head O-ring drying up and shrinking
Depending on your spring, some of them do lose FPS (not much), and some you can leave fully compressed for a year and not lose more than 3fps

[macdrian]

Thanks for the great feedback all. I will bump this thread once I get my gun fired up.

[K3vX]

Only thing I'd worry, IF the rifle was stored under a bed, and not in box: Dust, in the barrel, hop-up, gearbox (less likely). I would at least clean the barrel before firing a round.

[kalnaren]

I play so infrequently now it's not uncommon for some of mine to go 2 years without being shot. No problem as long as the spring wasn't compressed.. assuming you did some GB maintenance at some point [mainly, re-greased].

The bigger problem is your batteries. If you let them sit for a very long time without any maintenance you may have issues.

[ThunderCactus]

^right
nimh batteries discharge almost 10%/month
my brother killed his batteries letting them sit as well.
lipo discharges significantly less, maybe 1%/month

[kalnaren]

^ exactly. I try to soft-cycle my NiHm batteries every 3 months or so. A lipo you should be able to put into storage charge and leave it for a year without too much fuss. Assuming you have a VERY good balancer.