New safe - looking for organizational tips

[KalamazooKid]

Forgive my novice questions , but I just purchased a new Liberty Fatboy like this one .....



I’m planning to store roughly 10 rifles and 20-25 revolvers in it and am looking for ideas. Pics would be awesome. And btw, I’m also looking to keep some accessories, ammo, etc in here too. Looking for help, thanks in advance.


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[g-dad]

I out grew mine sometime ago so I had to get creative with the space. I mounted magnets and hung some of my mags.

[Ivan the Butcher]

I find "Loose Stuff" eats up lots of space! My safe is the size of a small refrigerator (24"Dx30"Wx62"T), so I use brief case sized gun cases on the shelves. Tool boxes also organize accessories well.

On long guns, Scopes and bolt handles take up space and mark up other guns. I put the bolt in a cloth bag that hangs from the front sling swivel. I use a tag to match the loose stored scopes to the rifles and have notes about what ammo and distance the scope is zeroed to.

My safe is supposed to hold 14 long guns, I usually get 20 in there (once I got 23). Also, alternate tall and short guns and skinny and fat guns. For organization start with the bulkiest guns and do a row, Then you'll see a space for a small/skinny gun. They say put the tallest in the back; It may look good for your 3rd grade class picture, but is not the most efficient! Don't be afraid to put one in at an angle or sideways!

After the long guns are arranged, soft cased handguns will fit in between the barrels, leaving shelf space for guns still in the factory box.

Last and maybe most important. Leave a space for the wife's/girl friends jewelry, or get her a $135 wall safe. Her stuff is as important to her as yours is to you! When we go on vacation all her non costume jewel gets locked up! I also have a brief case for important papers (most likely won't get stolen, but really helps to find/protect them!)

This should give you some ideas.

Ivan

[Muss Muggins]

That one in the picture you posted looks pretty well organized . . .

[tlawler]

Originally Posted by g-dad

I out grew mine sometime ago so I had to get creative with the space. I mounted magnets and hung some of my mags.

Wow, that’s a great idea. I think I might steal it! Hope you don’t mind.

I recently bought a pistol rack after one of my revolvers mounted on the door got knocked off by my wife while she was looking for some paperwork. The rack I bought is the 14 gun horizontal with storage from Custom Pistol Racks and Handgun Racks- ManAbout Racks LLC He has different configurations that are multi-tier and different sizes and finishes. Great quality in build and construction material. He will even build to your specs. Check him out!

[Protected One]

Nice choice for your safe.

I agree with MUSS. The photo is a great place to start, but don't be surprised as, over time, you find yourself "re-arranging it" into a MORE suitable configuration. That's life.

[KalamazooKid]

Originally Posted by Ivan the Butcher

I find "Loose Stuff" eats up lots of space! My safe is the size of a small refrigerator (24"Dx30"Wx62"T), so I use brief case sized gun cases on the shelves. Tool boxes also organize accessories well.

On long guns, Scopes and bolt handles take up space and mark up other guns. I put the bolt in a cloth bag that hangs from the front sling swivel. I use a tag to match the loose stored scopes to the rifles and have notes about what ammo and distance the scope is zeroed to.

My safe is supposed to hold 14 long guns, I usually get 20 in there (once I got 23). Also, alternate tall and short guns and skinny and fat guns. For organization start with the bulkiest guns and do a row, Then you'll see a space for a small/skinny gun. They say put the tallest in the back; It may look good for your 3rd grade class picture, but is not the most efficient! Don't be afraid to put one in at an angle or sideways!

After the long guns are arranged, soft cased handguns will fit in between the barrels, leaving shelf space for guns still in the factory box.

Last and maybe most important. Leave a space for the wife's/girl friends jewelry, or get her a $135 wall safe. Her stuff is as important to her as yours is to you! When we go on vacation all her non costume jewel gets locked up! I also have a brief case for important papers (most likely won't get stolen, but really helps to find/protect them!)

This should give you some ideas.

Ivan

Great info, and yes, I've discussed with my wife relative to her needs and she's good with that bottom left space for jewelry, photos, papers, etc.

[KalamazooKid]

Originally Posted by tlawler

Wow, that’s a great idea. I think I might steal it! Hope you don’t mind.

I recently bought a pistol rack after one of my revolvers mounted on the door got knocked off by my wife while she was looking for some paperwork. The rack I bought is the 14 gun horizontal with storage from Custom Pistol Racks and Handgun Racks- ManAbout Racks LLC He has different configurations that are multi-tier and different sizes and finishes. Great quality in build and construction material. He will even build to your specs. Check him out!

Love that pistol rack and will look into one for the top shelf. This is one of my ongoing concerns - how to store my priceless (to me) old revolvers. Most of them have boxes and I've always stored them in soft cases separate from the boxes (in a much smaller safe). Is it better to have them openly stored like in the pictured rack? Moisture shouldn't be a problem, but want to know from you experts what's best.

Also, I don't like the idea of anything of high value going in those pockets on the door - just asking for issues. Maybe plastic semi autos .... oh wait, I don't own any!

Keep the ideas coming and thanks!

[two-bit cowboy]

I'm sure no expert, but I know what works for me. I use Liberty vinyl coated over/under handgun hangers for my 5" and shorter-barreled revolvers. Too easy, and none of the guns' surfaces are touching cloth or wood.

Boxes: I store the old ones in the safe (they fit easily between the back wall and the hangers). The modern plastic cases sit atop the safe with nothing more than the paperwork and "goodies" inside.

Here's Liberty's link for the hangers:

Handgun Hangers | Gun Storage Solutions Handgun Hangers

Hope this helps. Have fun with your decisions.

[PPS1980]

Probably want a golden rod for humidity control if you haven't thought of one yet. I, too, find magnets in the odd spaces a great way to store various odds and ends that otherwise would crowd precious floor/counter space. I use inexpensive disk magnets but I have seen good strong strip magnets intended for kitchen knives that hold well that are often on sale.

[g-dad]

Originally Posted by tlawler

Wow, that’s a great idea. I think I might steal it! Hope you don’t mind.

Go for it, I got the idea from someone else. I bought mine off Amazon called Master Magnets. They have several different lengths.

Pics when it's done.

[JH1951]

My long guns go in alternating right-side-up, and up-side-down, easing the consumption of room created by stacking a bunch of receivers side by side. (Picture one butt down, next muzzle down, etc.) This has dramatically increased my storage space, and prevents bumping and scratching.
Also, consider adding some lighting if you haven't done so already. Light comes in handy, as a safe is pretty dark.
Prior to positioning I drilled a hole to provide a power inlet point. That comes in handy for the Golden Rod and lighting....
Just some thoughts....

[Fishinfool]

I used to use storage racks for my handguns, but eventually ran out of room. Now, I use one rack for the handguns I frequently use, the rest I "layer". A layer of handguns on the shelves, cover with an oil treated microfiber cloth, another layer, and so on. I know its not ideal, but I can fit a lot of handguns that way, and I avoid having to buy a third safe. I haven't had any issues with rusting or damage. I segregate my long guns by barrel length so as to maximize overhead shelve space.

Larry

[URIT]

YouTube has a host of videos on "organizing gun safe" that should give you a good look at your options.

[KalamazooKid]

Thanks everybody - this will be fun over the long cold Michigan winter!

[squidsix]

Harbor Freight sells 18" magnet strips. Three of those will hold 45 loaded pistol mags or so. (Mine start to fall off at 16 mags per)
total cost: $18.

[THEMULE]

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I don’t know how to fix my pictures. You’ll have to stand on your head to see them......

Here is something I started doing.......
I went to the local hardware store, picked up some round stock of various diameters (for what ever caliber I needed to hang), heated with a torch and bent them around to fit/clamp on the back side of the shelf. I covered them with heat shrink/shrink tube (whatever you wanna call it) so the guns won’t get scratched.

I tried the ones Liberty sells, they work fine for my 22’s but you hang a M29 or 57 on it and they sag. Even the K38’s and K32 will sag. For 2 reasons, bore diameter and weight (obviously).

I also started bending them to go across the front of the shelf because I ran outta room across the back. The Wife said “it’s a sign, you have to many guns”, pfft..... she don’t what she’s talking about. I don’t have any pics of those, it ain’t hard to figure out.

If you come up with some good ideas, please let us know.
Bob

[KalamazooKid]

Originally Posted by THEMULE

The Wife said “it’s a sign, you have to many guns”, pfft..... she don’t what she’s talking about.

It's a sign that you need another safe!

[joe44va]

I'm on my third safe. The guns absolutely multiply like rabbits when the door is closed. Buy a safe that's too big.

[Amp]

Really good post. Thanks
Bought a safe and doing the same..

[Golddollar]

As the owner of 5 safes, my best organizational tip is to start saving for the next safe.

[mrchick]

Originally Posted by THEMULE

Attachment 317289



Attachment 317290



I don’t know how to fix my pictures. You’ll have to stand on your head to see them......

I like your idea and will give it a try. Thanks!
(Fixed the pic for you)