My new bargain gun safe

[Double-O-Dave]

Good afternoon:

I used one of the $25.00 car gun safes that you can buy from Academys or Cabelas for a few years, but I was never happy with it. The thin cable used to attach the gun safe to the car looked as if it could be cut pretty easily, and the lock that secured the gun safe looked kind of wimpy as well. One day, I decided to test the security of the gun safe and was surprised and disappointed to learn I could pry it open with a big screwdriver.

Exhaustive medical testing has proven conclusively that I'm not made of money. I looked at better gun safes, but found that they either weren't much of an improvement over the old gun safe, or they wouldn't fit under any of the car seats. I drive a hatchback, so under one of the seats is essential for keeping valuables out of sight. My plan was to use something affordable, and strong enough that even a well equipped smash and grab thief would take one look at, and decide that it would be too much trouble to try and defeat.

I settled on the following to build my car gun safe:

surplus Army 7.62mm ammo can (200 round capacity): $7.50
3 ft. of heavy steel chain: $5.00 (approx.)
Master Lock Hardened Steel Hasp: $7.00
Master Magnum Padlock (package of 3 @ $23.00): $7.00 (approx.)
Welding the hasp to the ammo box: $45.00 for 2 boxes: $22.50

Total: $49.00 each

One of these gun safes will easily accommodate a full sized handgun like a CZ-75, as well as spare magazines, a holster, and even a J-frame as a back-up. I use an old towel sprayed with silicone oil to wrap the handguns up with, and to act as padding to keep them from bouncing around and getting dinged up.

I wrap the chain around the seat rails before locking it to the hasp, and the gun safe fits easily under the front seat. If need be, I can easily unlock the chain, and take the gun safe with me inside a house or hotel room. The disadvantages? Well, it's not pretty, and you can't get into it very quickly, but I think the advantages far outweigh the downsides.

Here are a couple of photos of my gun safe - what do you guys think?

Regards,

Dave

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e.../20140809_152048_zps56f60a39.jpg?t=1407617673

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e.../20140809_152030_zpsc60b53de.jpg?t=1407617629

 

[diamonback68]

I think if it works for you, who cares what it looks like, it's utilitarian.

 

[feralmerril]

What kind of car do you have and where do you work?

 

[billwill]

If they get that you probably won't have a seat to sit in to drive home! Works for me. Never understood people buying the cheap deals, you can pop most with a screwdriver.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Looks like a sturdy rig to me! Way stronger than store bought, especially the chain vs. The Cable.

 

[Double-O-Dave]

What kind of car do you have and where do you work?

Feral:

I drive one of these - a Ford C-max Hybrid:

2013 Ford C-MAX Hybrid SEL | The 2013 Ford C-MAX Hybrid SEL | Ford.com

I actually live and work in nice areas, but I am in fear of someone stealing one of my firearms and hurting or killing innocent people. I'm a federal employee and management has made it very clear that possessing firearms on the premises (in your car in the garage doesn't count) will lead to termination. A good lock box is the best compromise I could come up with. The Ford is a nice car, but storage space in a hybrid car is a rare thing. I would prefer to stow it under the front passenger seat, but can't as that space is taken by the "Tire Inflation Kit" (an air compressor and a can of Fix-A-Flat). I haven't owned a car with a trunk in over 40 years, so the easy answer of locking things in a trunk is not available.

Regards,

Dave

 

[Bat Guano]

That'll work. A little OD paint and she'll look factory. That size chain is probably overkill but psychologically discouraging.

Beats me why car manufacturers can give us endless options we don't want or need but can't/won't offer a really good armored, built-in safe. Duh.

 

[Farmer17]

I built a safe out of a 7.62 ammo can but I didn't do any welding. I took the eyelet from a locking hasp and bolted it from the inside with pan head small bolts so the eyelet extended through the "flip down" lid lock. Then I put on a large Master 4 tumbler combination lock. I can set two of the tumblers where it just takes a quick twist and its unlocked.

 

[Double-O-Dave]

I built a safe out of a 7.62 ammo can but I didn't do any welding. I took the eyelet from a locking hasp and bolted it from the inside with pan head small bolts so the eyelet extended through the "flip down" lid lock. Then I put on a large Master 4 tumbler combination lock. I can set two of the tumblers where it just takes a quick twist and its unlocked.

Farmer17:

I actually made a version similar to the one you described, but decided I really wanted to make the thing as secure as possible by using the hardened steel hasp. Welding the hasp to the ammo box was the most expensive part of the construction. The welding shop actually misquoted the price of the job - when I went to pick it up, he told me the job was supposed to be $35.00 per box, plus tax (total about $38.00), rather than $40.00 for both ammo boxes. When he saw I was prepared to pay cash, he said $45.00 for both would suffice.

Though expensive, I'm glad I went the welding route as there aren't any obstructions to worry about in the interior of the box. Early on, I consigned myself to the fact that getting anything out of the box was not going to be quiet, or quick, but that is also what I'm counting on to deter thieves.

Regards,

Dave

 

[Jim1392]

Feral:

I drive one of these - a Ford C-max Hybrid:

2013 Ford C-MAX Hybrid SEL | The 2013 Ford C-MAX Hybrid SEL | Ford.com

I actually live and work in nice areas, but I am in fear of someone stealing one of my firearms and hurting or killing innocent people. I'm a federal employee and management has made it very clear that possessing firearms on the premises (in your car in the garage doesn't count) will lead to termination. A good lock box is the best compromise I could come up with. The Ford is a nice car, but storage space in a hybrid car is a rare thing. I would prefer to stow it under the front passenger seat, but can't as that space is taken by the "Tire Inflation Kit" (an air compressor and a can of Fix-A-Flat). I haven't owned a car with a trunk in over 40 years, so the easy answer of locking things in a trunk is not available.

Regards,

Dave

I was going to ask the same question about what kind of car you own. It looks like a great idea and I have to measure the space under my seat to see if something like that will work. I don't often go places where I have to leave my gun in my car but when I go to my doctors office it's posted so I have to leave it in my glove compartment. The whole time inside I'm worrying about it.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Genius!!! Now that's 5 level thinking. Congrats.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

I think that anything that slows a thief down is a good idea. They do not want to be there long and do not want to make a lot of noise. Sounds like a good job for the funds at hand!

 

[Road Rat]

What kind of car do you have and where do you work?

Now, you see, I took that to be a joke!! Feril wants to know where to find your car!

 

[Shooting Padre]

Very nice re use of an item. Great idea. I'm going to do just that. Got a couple of cans like that and a son that welds!! Thanks