How do you store your guns?
 

Now that I've got a couple of long guns I've been out looking at gun safes. I've also been kicking around the idea of buying or building a gun cabinet. Of course building my own gives me an excuse to buy more power tools with the money I'd save.

I'm wondering if anyone out there has any lessons learned on how they've chosen to store their guns. There are no "little hands" that I have to worry about, but I'd still like to have them in some kind of control.

RE: How do you store your guns?
 

i have a cabela's gun safe that fits 8 guns.gets too small real quick. now i have no room and i have to double them up .
so buy a gun safe that will hold all your toys.

RE: How do you store your guns?
 

CalNewbie there is all kinds of safes available, I would recommend a good security safe that also gives you protection from a fire. I have a Fort Know safe and feel that it was one of the best things I have ever bought. A gun cabinet looks nice and everything but they really don't give much protection from a thief or a fire. You can get them set-up to hold other things besides guns like important papers and jewelery, Just be sure a buy one thats going to be big enough for the future.

RE: How do you store your guns?
 

i have mine in cases under the bed and some on the wall on a gun rack....my shop teacher brought up a good point about standing them up...with wooden stocks all the oil and everything else in the barrel and the action runs down to the stock...it may not effect it much for a while but in time it will soften and rot the wood and thats not too good...he said he seen guns that would been beautiful collector guns worth tons but the stock rotted out because the guy passed away years ago and the wife or family is just selling them..never been touched for a while...i built myself a nice rack in his class this year...i like having them on the wall...i have mine behind a wall that goes back to where my dog sleeps and our deer freezer is so nobody really bothers them...i rather be safe then say i goto college for a few years and a few guns my dad has no intentions of ever using the stock rots out on them...he actually showed me a stock that was starting to soak up the oil...just something to think about...

RE: How do you store your guns?
 

I store my guns in a locking cabinet that is securely mounted to the wall from the inside of the cabinet. I have 2 silica gel canisters that get recharged every year and they get cleaned and a good coat of synthetic oil like break free or remoil on all the important parts at the end of the season. Like mauser 06 said excessive oil will find the wood, I prefer synthetic stocks myself but for my mausers and other wood stocked guns I usually disassemble before cleaning and oiling. Be sure to get a big enough cabinet or safe for future additions.

RE: How do you store your guns?
 

we just got a safe made by liberty. it is fire proof and weighs 550lbs. it holds 20+ guns. delivery is $150 and the safe cost $1200

RE: How do you store your guns?
 

Go with a good safe and you won't regret it. I for years used a gun cabinet, that was in plain site when vistors came over. Had about 40 or so guns in the cabinet and it was a matter of time that they could end up missing. Got a safe and bolted it down, now I feel that the guns are much more secure. Zeak

RE: How do you store your guns?
 

Back about 20 years ago my parents house was broken into. They went through everything, threw the matresses off all the beds, pulled out all the drawers and dumped them, and busted the glass out of my dad's gun cabinet and took every gun he had. He got real lucky and they caught the guys who did it. He got all of his guns back. Guess what I'm trying to say is go with a nice gun safe. I've got a Heritage that weighs around 500 pounds and is fireproof. Cost $1250 but has over $8000 worth of guns in it. If you do get a safe make sure you get a dehumidifier for it also.

RE: How do you store your guns?
 

Thanks for your feedback. One of the concerns I had with getting/making a gun cabinet was that if the house was robbed a cabinet wouldn't keep the guns from being stolen. Even if you couldn't see the guns, any thief coming across a locked cabinet would probably pry it open to see what it was protecting.

I guess its sort of like insurance, you keep paying your premiums but hope that you never need to file a claim.

RE: How do you store your guns?
 

The money you spend for a good gun safe or vault is money well spent.Years ago my home was broken into. If it wasn't for my Pro Steel safe all my toys would have vanished.The dial was broken and the sheer pin was sheered but thankfully the vault couldn't be entered.Now I have a 500 pound Go-rilla standing guard. LOL.In all seriousness buy a good safe and bolt it down.Chances are you'll thank yourself one day for doing so.
Bass Pro runs sales on their safes quite often.There are several to choose from.There are different sizes and weights. Fireproof and non-fireproof.Shop around,there are allot of good deals out there for those who take the time researching it.
Ruger Redhawk

Support the NRA...Protecting our Gun Rights and Freedoms is everybody's responsibility. Ruger Redhawk A proud NRA Life Member since 1977.

RE: How do you store your guns?
 

Double post !!!!!!!
Ruger Redhawk

Support the NRA...Protecting our Gun Rights and Freedoms is everybody's responsibility. Ruger Redhawk A proud NRA Life Member since 1977.

Edited by - ruger-redhawk on 01/06/2003 19:46:11

RE: How do you store your guns?
 

Gun safes are the way to go and some degree of fire protection is a plus. Here are few thoughts I didn't see addressed that may "weigh" in your decision:

(1) I'd recommend that you be discrete with your gunsafe and keep it out of sight rather than strutting it in your living room or den because there are at least four benefits of doing so:

(2) First benefit: if your home is robbed and they don't come prepared for a gun safe, then it is HIGHLY unlikely they will get it open. If they know its there (it is in your living room/den - word of mouth, friends, acquaintances, parties, etc.) and they come prepared with a Mikta grinder with a cutoff wheel, then you WILL loose your guns unless the neighbors hear them cutting.

On my brothers estate we had 3 safes and no combinations. Safecracker got two open using s stethoscope, but couldn't get the "best" one open. The cut off wheel went through it like a knife through butter!

(3) Second benefit: a "plain jane" safe will protect just fine against fire and theft and if its discrete you can save big bucks by getting the "ugly" econoline finish since no one is going to see it but you.

(4) Third benefit: you can buy two gun safes! Rather than getting the "grand daddy of them all" that will hold all the guns you might ever buy, you can take a more realistic and economical approach of getting a safe for your current needs and if you buy more guns latter, then buy another safe later - the main thing is to get something NOW, not someday. (Plus it harder to break into two safes than it is just one.)

(5) Fourth benefit: when you move to a new home, it will be easier to move two smaller ones than one huge one. The safe people have specialized motorized stair walking dollies, your moving van company won't.

(6) Basements: If you are putting your gun safe in the basement, then consider elevating it a foot or so off the floor on a heavy platform. Why? You safe can protect against fire but it can't protect against water and flooded basements happen. Fortunately most are a mess but not too deep (few inches), so give your guns a sporting chance that you will discover the flood before its too late.

(7) What is a safe? If they can pry open the door with a crowbar, possibly from your own garage, it isn't safe!

(8) For any safe over 300 pounds pay the money for delivery and stand back! You can get hurt easier than you think moving one of them into your home! For bigger safes, consult with the deliver man as to whether you need to do any reinforcing (like basement stairs).

(9) Its been mentioned but its a great tip so worth repeating, anchor the safe so they (or you or the kids) can't tip it over. The safes themselves involve an element of danger.

EKM

Good judgment comes from bad experience! Half of elk hunting is knowing what NOT to do!

RE: How do you store your guns?
 

EKM,
Sound advice!

RE: How do you store your guns?
 

And make sure the safe is heavy enough that someone can't take the whole thing back to thier place to work on it further.

"Hey ya'll, watch this"

RE: How do you store your guns?
 

Would someone that has recently done the research care to post their findings on which "plain jane" safe is the best value? I'm not looking for a shiny display model, just one to protect my stuff from fire and theft.
Thanks.

RE: How do you store your guns?
 

I have a Homak steel case with security locks. It is bolted to the wall and floor. It is not fire proof, but I am insured.

RE: How do you store your guns?
 

ostdc,If you have a Sam's Club close by check them out. My local Sam's had a Remington safe made by Granite(sp?)for under 900.00 if I remember right.It held about 20 rifles or more.I picked up a Liberty (model)Jefferson 23 for about the same as the one at Sam's Club.It was on sale when I got it. It's fireproof, it's not the top of their line but will do what it was designed to do.I do high recommend no matter how big or heavy the safe or vault you get is. Bolt it down.Safety is one reason so it doesn't topple over and so it can't be dragged away.Another thing is install a low wattage light bulb and or a heated rod for moisture. Once you get it setup you'll breathe a little easier.
Ruger Redhawk

..... A Proud NRA Life Member since 1977 .....Ruger Redhawk

RE: How do you store your guns?
 

Like so many others I store them under beds, behind doors, in corners , etc,etc., etc. When the grandkids come down ,my daughter in law is scared to lets the kids roam around....... So just last weekend I scalloped some boards and got some lumber from Lowes abd made a gun sotrage spot in my hall entrance closet, removed a couple topcoats and jackets and filled it up with guns. I also store my handguns on the top shelf. It is notfireproof, but has drywall interior and the door can be locked, it has the bed and bath lock, will keep the kids out and easier for me to reach in and find what I want, I just bought 2 more guns this month.

RE: How do you store your guns?
 

All good advice. I have a big, fireproof, American Security safe, and it is awesome! The majority of the good safe manufacturers build good safes...of course they all claim to be the best. Most are very similar. What I would recommend, get the biggest safe you can afford. A 20 gun safe really doesn't go very far. When they say 20 guns...they are basically talking about 20 guns...with nothing on them. No scopes, slings, bipods...etc. Trust me, you need more space when you start adding that stuff. I would also recommend an "easy out" interior if available, and a goldenrod(dehumidifier). If you get a nice size safe, you can store all your guns, and other important stuff also (jewelry, papers, etc.) Mine has a 38 gun interior, and 4 shelves also. Consider it an investment.
You might want to check some gun shows, for a safe. They usually bring them, and they definitely don't want to have to take them back. My dad got a great deal on a Liberty for this very reason. Another thing, Liberty makes a nice &quot;economy&quot; model now. Also look at places like MidSouth, Natchez, etc. I got my safe from Natchez a while back for about $1600 delivered. Getting it delivered is probably worth the money, especially on a big safe. I've moved mine twice, and at 1100lbs empty...it can be a little tricky <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

Last thing, Mauser....I've had some of my guns standing for 20 years with no problems. Those guns would have to have an awful lot of oil in them to cause damage like that.



Edited by - WV Hunter on 01/17/2003 21:08:38

RE: How do you store your guns?
 

Hey CalNewbie...I was just looking at my Scott's Outdoors catalog, and they have AMSEC safes in there....good prices. They have a website http://www.scottsoutdoors.com/ you might check it out. I have a top of the line safe...but you can save some $ with a lower model if you want.