Storing your rifle

[Majorlk]

I used to live in Texas and Arizona. I miss the dry climates!

As for the safes, most companies build to order. I have a Ft. Knox that I bought in the mid 80s. I paid $500 for it then. It's a little smaller than the one you ordered, and it's now full, including the shelves. Not having any more room keeps the new gun buying urges in check.

BTW, our house isn't central air, just two window units. The basement, however almost never gets above 65. Most of the time it stays in the mid-50s.

 

[Ramlock]

I used to live in Texas and Arizona. I miss the dry climates!

As for the safes, most companies build to order. I have a Ft. Knox that I bought in the mid 80s. I paid $500 for it then. It's a little smaller than the one you ordered, and it's now full, including the shelves. Not having any more room keeps the new gun buying urges in check.

BTW, our house isn't central air, just two window units. The basement, however almost never gets above 65. Most of the time it stays in the mid-50s.

There are a few in showrooms in TX / OK with some in stock but, I was dead set on corner bolts and redundant locks so....yea no go must be ordered

Sounds strange to my family and friends in Texas but, our current home built in 2001 has NO AC rarely reaches 90 at this elevation maybe twice a year (not at all last year) thens cools down quick after sundown.

 

[Razer1]

My thoughts on it is to get a safe anyway. Not just to keep any possible children away from t hem, but to keep them from being stolen if your home is ever broken into.

Maryland just passed a law last week that if your firearm is stolen and used in a crime where someone is killed you get 10 yrs in Prison.

 

[Majorlk]

My thoughts on it is to get a safe anyway. Not just to keep any possible children away from t hem, but to keep them from being stolen if your home is ever broken into.

Maryland just passed a law last week that if your firearm is stolen and used in a crime where someone is killed you get 10 yrs in Prison.

You know this last statement for a fact?

 

[Casshooter]

You might consider starting with a Stack On wall unit. They will hold two long guns and come with several shelves to allow flexibility. You cut a hole in the sheet rock of a wall and screw it in place. They are approved for firearm storage here in the Republik, so they must be OK!!!!! I have two and for my purpose they are fine. Look on Amazon for a good price.

 

[Ramlock]

My thoughts on it is to get a safe anyway. Not just to keep any possible children away from t hem, but to keep them from being stolen if your home is ever broken into.

Maryland just passed a law last week that if your firearm is stolen and used in a crime where someone is killed you get 10 yrs in Prison.

I saw a headline about gun laws in Maryland today but didn't realize that was in it.
I did tell my wife today I expect some states to pass such laws and then, wait times will be unreal though, I guess you could obtain one of the big box store containers and say hey....it's called a safe

 

[Ramlock]

You know this last statement for a fact?

Yea, I think I would have heard about it by now, Link please

 

[Col. Plink]

Living in Colorado, it is dry, so no worries about rust. At least one thing we do not have to worry about ...

 

[grb]

I'm pretty new to the hobby myself and couldn't see forking out big $ for a true safe at this time.
I went with this $75 Stack-On cabinet from Wally World. It locks and hides away very nicely as long as your willing to cut out some sheet rock between studs.
I personally think its a fantastic value @ $75. Other than fire, I think it's as good as a safe. Kids can't get in it and a thief would have to spend way too much time to get in it.
It looks so much like an electrical box, I slapped some high voltage decals on it to fool the fools .
Depending on how you configure the 3 supplied shelves, It'll hold 2 long guns and a pistol or two. Although I don't seem to need it, I also threw a $15 rechargeable dehumidifier in it.

 

[Jyezahn]

Maryland just passed a law last week that if your firearm is stolen and used in a crime where someone is killed you get 10 yrs in Prison.

Sounds quite fishy to me... Maybe you're referring to the "stringent penalties" that one might face if they fail to report a stolen firearm? Even then, some people might not know their gun is stolen for quite a while, days, weeks, even months.

 

[Col. Plink]

You might consider starting with a Stack On wall unit. They will hold two long guns and come with several shelves to allow flexibility. You cut a hole in the sheet rock of a wall and screw it in place. They are approved for firearm storage here in the Republik, so they must be OK!!!!! I have two and for my purpose they are fine. Look on Amazon for a good price.

You don't need to cut the drywall. I just used an electronic stud finder and used lag screws to fasten to the studs. I think the Stack On is OK for a quick "goto" case for a bedroom closet. I am not sure my wife would give up shoe storage space for a big Liberty safe in the walk-in closet.

Update: Didn't realize there are between-stud safes from Stack On (or others). I just have one of the ugly green "surface-mount" ones ...

 

[fyimo]

One thing you should do with rifles or metal handguns is after you clean them and get ready to store them is to wax them with a wax like Renaissance wax. It is the wax that museums use on the guns in their collection. It seals the surface and stops oxidation and it has a neutral PH. A 200 ml can sells on EBay for around $20 and it will last you years. I have a very large gun collection and I clean and wax mine twice a year and I live in the south with high humidity and never have I had rust on a gun.

 

[pmbspyder]

My thoughts on it is to get a safe anyway. Not just to keep any possible children away from t hem, but to keep them from being stolen if your home is ever broken into.

Maryland just passed a law last week that if your firearm is stolen and used in a crime where someone is killed you get 10 yrs in Prison.

I live in MD and have been heavily involved in testifying and rallying in Annopolis to defeat SB281. Unfortunately, it passed yesterday afternoon and is now only awaiting the governors signature.

The provision you're speaking of is that you have 72 hrs after you find out a gun has gone missing. Failure to report is a crime but I don't believe the penalty is anything close to 10yrs. As for the rest of the bill, well, lets just say that it's about as left leaning and draconian as you can get.

Back on topic, get the safe now, you won't regret it as your collection grows.

 

[DelFuego]

Thank you guys for all the advises. This is my first rifle and I do not have a large safe to store it. And I heard leaving it in a case is a big no-no. But I also have infants. So I can't just have it laying around. I don't plan on buying anymore rifles, so to invest in a large safe may just be a waste. Do you guys use the lock that it comes with? Sorry for all the stupid questions but you all seem to be pretty knowledgeable in here.

Hee, hee...he said he wasn't buying anymore rifles. Yeah right!!!!! I can see into the future and you will be buying another one within 8-10 months, I just don't know which one.

 

[DelFuego]

... its a fantastic value @ $75. Other than fire, I think it's as good as a safe. Kids can't get in it and a thief would have to spend way too much time to get in it.
It looks so much like an electrical box, I slapped some high voltage decals on it to fool the fools .
....

You beat me to the High-Voltage warning decals!

 

[CharlesWA]

I'm glad to see some positive real world feedback on the in-wall Stack On. I see one of them in my future.

I'll add that I picked up silicone impregnated gun socks from Midway (about $10/gun or less, available in assorted sizes) for when things aren't going to get shot for a while.

 

[Majorlk]

Just a warning about the Stack-on units - ALL OF THEM ...

They use the same locking mechanism that is used by metal office storage cabinets - two sheet metal bars fitting behind a sheet metal lip (look at the photos!). They will keep out curious kids, but anyone with a 12" crowbar can pop them open in less than two minutes.

They will NOT keep your firearms safe from theft. To think otherwise is foolish.

If you simply must use these things, at least put them in a closet or other location where they are not readily visible.

 

[mssandy713]

I love the in the wall idea w/ high voltage decal.

 

[Jyezahn]

Take a look at this. It's concealed, looks like just a wall mirror, has a magnetic lock, and lots of space.

Series 1450 Lockable Concealment Cover & Insert Bundle | Tactical Walls

 

[Majorlk]

Take a look at this. It's concealed, looks like just a wall mirror, has a magnetic lock, and lots of space.

Series 1450 Lockable Concealment Cover & Insert Bundle | Tactical Walls

Interesting, but a magnetic lock is only useful for keeping the kids out. And it's a single-point lock, from the looks of it. I think I'd take a Stack-On first.