Inexpensive Gun Storage

[itsthelaw]

So...I ordered a safe from LGS about 8 weeks ago and really have no idea if I am ever going to get it. I have not paid for it, and the LGS owner isn't very responsive. The guy is great, but he is a bit ADD at times.

The safe I ordered is about $1650 and has a fire rating of 60 minutes. I got to thinking about my real needs. My needs are in this order with #1 being by far the most important.

#1 - keeping my toddler's hands off the guns that are loaded
#2 - keeping them from being stolen
#3 - keeping them from being destroyed in a fire
#4 - Keeping them organized

After #1, the others are not that critical in my mind. I do have some older guns that have great sentimental (little to no $) value. If all my guns were stolen or burned, it would not be the end of my life and I would be out about $10k including ammo. I live in a very nice neighborhood (next to Jocko) and work from home, so the house is probably not a target for most criminals. It is probably more likely that the guns will burn.

Has anyone seen or does anyone have any suggestions for a good, safe way to store them? I am planning to give up a portion of my walk-in closet for the safe and could build a cabinet in place of it. If a BG can cut through the side of a safe or a fire can melt my guns, am I better off just building a stronghold with a lock or burrying them under my house?

Just thinking out loud...:D

[Bawanna]

I'd get one of them portable hotel clothes hanger deals and hang your clothes on that in the bedroom or the garage.

Line the walls of the walk in closet (if it's big enough) with 1/2" plywood and sheetrock over that. (make sure you wire in good lights etc) Beef up the door jamb, or even go metal or best get a vault door installed on the walk in closet.

Safes are way cool but you can't see and enjoy your guns, most you can't take a gun out without moving 5 other guns and they get dinged and bumped in the process so one frequently forgoes enjoying them because it's too much work.

A large walk in closet would be ideal. No safe, pad the lower walls, and racks all the way around. Walk in (or roll in my case) fondle what you want, enjoy, put it back down, exit when you've had enough.

Clothes are just rags to cover the body, guns r forever.

[Tilos]

The non-gun owners never consider this responsability, keeping felons who cannot buy a gun legally from stealing yours.
Given another chance at a gun safe I'd buy 2 smaller ones because they are easier to move around before you bolt them down and store the frequently used guns in one, the rest in the other.
JMO

[Bawanna]

I've thought of that too except for the smaller part. I have a Browning, I think it says it holds 36 long guns and I put two upper shelves in it for handguns etc.
My mom has the identical safe configured differently inside but basically the same, I'd like to get it (she only has one or two handguns now) and put it side by side with mine. That way I could keep most of my stuff locked up secure.

The sad part is you can't look at it like its hanging on the wall.

If I don't end up moving to Wyoming or Missouri I might do the vault door deal on my man cave.

Another plus though for the safe in my case is it keeps the sawdust off the guns. But even dusty guns are fun to look at.

[muggsy]

Until you get your safe store your guns in the attic between the joists covered by insulation. That won't protect them from fire, but it will keep them from thieves and kids.

[ripley16]

My needs are in this order with #1 being by far the most important.

#1 - keeping my toddler's hands off the guns that are loaded
#2 - keeping them from being stolen
#3 - keeping them from being destroyed in a fire
#4 - Keeping them organized

After #1, the others are not that critical in my mind.

Has anyone seen or does anyone have any suggestions for a good, safe way to store them?

Just thinking out loud...:D

That is my basic order of needs as well. I'm cheap and I have to be aware of the weight, so I opted for a pretty inexpensive, yet safe way to store my guns using several Stack-On type safes.

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i186/ripley16/Pistols/035.jpg

One I put shelves in and use for pistols, two others I have long guns and a few more pistols. My ammo, about 10,000 rounds, is usually stored in ammo boxes or range bags. Since taking this photo, I moved the ammo out to make room gor other stuff.

It is good enough to keep curious hands away from the potential of a disaster and probably enough to keep a teen prowler off my stuff. I keep what I have secret from all but a few people.

If my house burns down, then the least of my worries will be my stuff. Insurance will cover the monetary loss. All total this cost me less than $300.

My carry gun goes in a small safe in my pantry, off the kitchen. Much more convenient for daily use.

[Tilos]

"fire proof" for xx minutes is just multiple layers of drywall with dirtbags getting my stuff and hurting someone my biggest worry, not fire.
For fire I can buy more insurance from the NRA

[yqtszhj]

I'd get one of them portable hotel clothes hanger deals and hang your clothes on that in the bedroom or the garage.

Line the walls of the walk in closet (if it's big enough) with 1/2" plywood and sheetrock over that. (make sure you wire in good lights etc) Beef up the door jamb, or even go metal or best get a vault door installed on the walk in closet.

Safes are way cool but you can't see and enjoy your guns, most you can't take a gun out without moving 5 other guns and they get dinged and bumped in the process so one frequently forgoes enjoying them because it's too much work.

A large walk in closet would be ideal. No safe, pad the lower walls, and racks all the way around. Walk in (or roll in my case) fondle what you want, enjoy, put it back down, exit when you've had enough.

Clothes are just rags to cover the body, guns r forever.

I really like this idea. Now if I can figure how to get the wife to move all her stuff out of her closet.

[wyntrout]

I finally installed my 3-gun locking rack in my closet today. I have my tactical Charles Daly Semi-Auto 12ga, my 10/22 and my Gamo .22 pellet/shotgun in it now. I installed a shelf so that all three kind of put most of their weight on it. I have to lift the shotgun a bit because it has a pistol grip, but I can lock those up now, with a big rubber coated bar that goes through steel "slots". Below that, I have the 3-cubic foot safe for my pistols. I have all guns, magazines, and holsters, etc. insured separately by USAA. I keep that updated as I add or sell stuff.

Wynn:)

[itsthelaw]

All good comments. I can't get my wife to give up the closet either.

[Popeye]

Guns you can't store in a safe. My advice would be take the barrels or slides off and store them in a hidden area or smaller safe. I know that sounds like a PITA but not to many people are going to steal a half a gun. If you really look around your home I'll bet you can find more great hidden places to store parts guns than you ever dreamed of.

[Barth]

http://terpsboy.com/blogger8/gunroom2.jpg

[itsthelaw]

I bet it smells good in there...

[RRP]

Barth, when did you visit Jocko's gun room?

[Bawanna]

That's just a cleaning and prep room. His gun room is actually much much larger.

[Nimrod]

There are a lot of good ideas expressed here. As the saying goes "There is more than one way to skin a cat". Personally, I consider my gun safe one of the best purchases that I have ever made. Many years ago, some lowlife broke into my house and stole a couple of my shotguns. Fortunately, he missed the bulk of my guns, as well as the most expensive. The two shotguns he stole were the least expensive of all my guns, but they had some of the most sentimental value. A few years later, another burgler broke into my apartment and made off with a pistol and rifle. Again, I was lucky in that the apartment was a temporary assignment and my best guns were not with me. Through the years, I have always feared another breakin and another lowlife making off with my guns. True, the guns can be replaced, but not the semintal attachments I have for some of these guns.

My gun safe with contents weighs over 800 pounds and is bolted to the foundation. The common thief will not be able to breakin or make off with it. I consider my guns safe from thiefs, fire, and just about anything else that comes alone. My guns are under my control. I don't have to worry about my little curious grandkids getting to them. The safe is also a good place for storing other valuables and important papers. Like I said, this is one of the best purchases that I have ever made.

[ebnub]

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i186/ripley16/Pistols/035.jpg

"and probably enough to keep a teen prowler off my stuff."

I'm really doubtful of that.