Best way to secure guns short of a safe

[canesfan33068]

I have a dilema. For many years [13] I owned no firearms. After the tragedy in Connecticut and what was immediately discussed throughout the media by Politicians regarding new bans and legislation I went out and spent some of my hard earned money to get a few things.

1. Glock 19
2. Benelli SuperNova Tactical w/ Pistol Grip
3. S&W 340 No Internal Lock SKU 103072 (On Layaway)

Since I have no safe I had to be creative in stashing the guns where someone just wouldn't happen upon them. This was very hard to do with a Shotgun. I bought a few trigger locks but I see all the YouTube videos of how trivial it is to remove these.

A Gun safe is out of the Question. I live in an apartment on the 4th Floor no elevator. If all I had was Handguns then I would be fine with a smaller safe. However, I do have a Shotgun and so I cannot make due with a small safe.

A year ago my house was Burglarized and I thank God I didn't own any firearms. I moved shortly after but the thought of someone stealing my Guns and either selling them or worse hurting someone with them is a big concern.

Can anyone provide some advice on the best way to secure the guns or at least make them difficult to use or sell if they get out of my possesion?

 

[jgh4445]

Perhaps a false wall in the rear of one of your closets? would be easy to construct using a couple of 1x4's turned so that you could lay in a sheet (probably less than a sheet) of wall board or cheap ply wood painted to match the rear of your closet. It could be kept there while you were away from home. A thief would probably look over it in the haste to get out before he was caught.

 

[pownal55]

First reply is a good idea.

 

[Maddog 521]

First of all welcome back to the world of firearms. Look around and figure out where a thief would not look. Usually they are in a hurry and will look in the most convenient places. Hide them the best way you can. The one you take with you when you go out should be close at all times. I believe a nice big gun safe is in your near future. Good luck and be safe.

 

[Oldiron]

canesfan, There are many ways to secure firearms and or hide them. I have heard of at least one person that pulled the trigger groups out of all of the guns in his gun rack and stored them separately in a secure location. Years ago while I attended classes at night I would throw my pistol in a Mac Ds bag with several wrappers in it and just leave it in the floorboard. Of course I also carried some high value parts sometimes and I would just open the box and then fold the flaps back down and leave it in the back of the truck.Sometimes plain sight is the best hiding places. JMHO
Larry

 

[kamloops67]

heavy chain and lock? or a steel construction style lock box lagged to floor from inside box?
ive had people try to steal my tools from one of those boxes, they dented it up pretty good but they couldnt get into it . this was in a deserted parcade at night ,i would imagine they would make a pretty big racket in an apartment building.
get them locked up, as you said "what if..." .it might not be the law where you live , but it should be.

 

[sipowicz]

Good to take precautions. But 4th floor with no elevator? Criminals are lazy....odds are they will hit the non-stair apts. Still, you should hide your guns best you can. And for added security, I would order subscriptions to "Gem and Diamond owners Digest" to everyone in the building except you...

 

[diamonback68]

They also make shallow cabinet safes the thickness of your wall that are bolted between the 2X4s in the wall in the back of your closet.

 

[Farmer17]

Check out youtube for ways to hide handguns. Cereal boxes, wall clocks and books with a false compartment, etc. The shotgun is a bit harder, maybe hanging it on a nail behind a window curtain or if you can't hide it... a heavy chain and padlock to the bedframe or iron headboard.

 

[chud333]

Good idea by jgh4445,
A false wall in the back of a closet would work well i believe.
Like others have said most criminals are lazy and wanting to
"get out quick".

Chuck

 

[rwsmith]

Dang creative

There are some dang creative ideas here. I'd never think of some of this stuff.

 

[jimmyj]

Hi:
In my "limited" experience, Thieves will trash a home or apartment looking for valuables.
Consider inside a closet, placing a shelf or wall pegs to hold your firearms high over the inside of the closet door.. Chances are a Thief will not look up back over his head but only be interested in what is in front of him.
I knew a lady that would place her wrapped S&W M10 revolver in the bottom of the kitchen trash container and then place trash over it when she went out of town. Unfortunely once she forgot and emptied the kitchen trash when she returned home. Somewhere in a land fill there is a wrapped S&W M10.

 

[canesfan33068]

Good to take precautions. But 4th floor with no elevator? Criminals are lazy....odds are they will hit the non-stair apts. Still, you should hide your guns best you can. And for added security, I would order subscriptions to "Gem and Diamond owners Digest" to everyone in the building except you...

I almost spit my drink onto the laptop when I read the magazine subscription idea.

 

[canesfan33068]

canesfan, There are many ways to secure firearms and or hide them. I have heard of at least one person that pulled the trigger groups out of all of the guns in his gun rack and stored them separately in a secure location. Years ago while I attended classes at night I would throw my pistol in a Mac Ds bag with several wrappers in it and just leave it in the floorboard. Of course I also carried some high value parts sometimes and I would just open the box and then fold the flaps back down and leave it in the back of the truck.Sometimes plain sight is the best hiding places. JMHO
Larry

I agree. Hidden in plain site is a neat idea.

 

[canesfan33068]

Check out youtube for ways to hide handguns. Cereal boxes, wall clocks and books with a false compartment, etc. The shotgun is a bit harder, maybe hanging it on a nail behind a window curtain or if you can't hide it... a heavy chain and padlock to the bedframe or iron headboard.

The behind the curtain idea sounds interesting. I will let you know for sure if I can make it work at least for the Shotgun.

 

[Papa32129]

If u have drop ceilings ,place the shotgun up there with zip ties. How about inside the ducts for the AC. Or fix the shotgun behind the range or refrigerator. Those appliances never move. Just a few crazy thoughts.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[C.S.63]

2cents?
If you have a washer & dryer in the washer in ziplocks in a small cloth/canvas bag at the bottom with laundry on top of it.
Either with or with out water?
just do not run the cycle after it fills with water/or unplug/throw breaker-just in case.

Inside air intake for heat and air preferably on an overhead intake.

 

[Ray Vaughn]

Since my bedroom has a bath right next to it, I found that for a pistol a Maxi-pad box is perfect. Most guys won't touch it no matter what.

 

[kamloops67]

the problem with a false back on your closet is your shirts wont hang properly you will have stuff in stored in front of it as well. most of these non lock methods would take more time to retrieve the gun than simply locking up the guns with a combination lock in a steel box

 

[beemerphile]

Try a locking wall rack for the long gun and a secured pistol safe for one of the handguns. The other should be on your person.

Ridgeback Racks - Locking Gun Racks