New 15-22 Owner Checking In

[Reaper.22]

After recently moving back to this area, I found out there's a private range about a 5 minute drive from the house. I'd like to get in to target shooting, so after looking around for a bit I decided on getting a .22LR rifle to start out with. Lurked this forum for a while while trying to figure out which rifle to get, and I decided on a 15-22 A1 comp with DVP serial number.

Haven't had a chance to take it out shooting yet, but I've already picked up a couple extra mags($17 each wasn't too bad) and a case. Also picked up a few different types of ammo to try; CCI Stingers and Velociraptors, Federal(blue box), and Winchester T22s.

I also had a question about storing the rifle. My family has another rifle already, and there are a few older ones at my relatives which may be finding a new home with us soon. I know I want something secure to store them in, but getting a safe into the house might be fairly difficult. Thankfully the basement has a door that goes right outside, but I'm not sure how well a safe would fit through the frame. Maybe I should just make a Home Depot trip and build myself a small vault in the basement?

 

[Bat Guano]

My son has a small safe that is about 2'x2'x5' with a combo lock. I forget the brand name but he found it at Scheels or Cabelas not long ago. He and I just moved it without a dolly, just carrying it. I'd guess it weighed about 170 pounds empty. It's not super heavy duty but sufficient to keep people out and with some guns in it heavy enough to resist being carried off easily.

Not everyone needs or wants a monster safe.

 

[Reaper.22]

I'll have to look around for one like that. I was looking online on Gander Mountain's site at those Stack-On security cabinets as a cheaper solution. I know they wouldn't stand up as well as a real safe would, but we plan on remodeling part of the house eventually and having to move a large safe all the time would be a hassle.

 

[Jav]

I decided to skip on the gun cabinets by Stack-on(check those out, if you'd like) and am going with a Liberty- Centurion 12. It's a 14 gauge, 260 lb. safe that holds up to 14 guns(of course it'll be a tight squeeze if you don't only own 14 bolt actions with no optics) and can keep your firearms/ammo safe from a fire for 20-30 minutes. The interior is configurable to different set ups. I'm 23 and don't want to live with my parents forever haha and I also only work parttime so I can't spend a ton on a safe right now. I don't want a 500lb safe right now because moving it to a condo would be very difficult.

Best deal on these(Usually go for $600 at safe shops) is at Lowes. Everyday price is $397 and from what I hear, they go for $297 near the holidays. I absolutely need to lock up my 3 firearms so I probably won't wait that long. Hoping to get it in 2-3 weeks.

 

[Dead eye 22]

If at all possible I would suggest bolting the safe to the floor. I know of someone who had the safe with contents stolen. Guess the crooks thought that would be easier and they could work on breaking into the safe at their leisure.

 

[Reaper.22]

That safe doesn't look too bad for that price. Their site lists them at around $600 but I suppose it might be worth checking out some local shops to see what they have available. As long as it keeps my grandfather's old Garand and Carbine safe, I'll be happy with it. Cabinet or safe though, it'll be bolted securely to the floor and whatever wall is behind it.

 

[tacticool22]

Check out Gimmicks About Safes : Gun Safes : Sturdy Safe
They explain the differences between good safes and the inexpensive ones you can buy at a hardware store.
Any safe is better than no safe. Get what you can afford and keep in mind what you need.
The education they provide for free is priceless. You really know what is inside. Watch all the videos if you have time.

 

[Reaper.22]

Nice link tacticool, thanks. Not sure if I'll really need anything that expensive out here where I live, but the information on what to watch out for when buying is certainly useful.

 

[Jav]

Nice link! I trust Liberty safes but I know that the Centurion models(except for the "deluxe") is made over seas and that one that I like is only 14g but I believe it's soooo much better than a Stack-on gun cabinet. I'm going to have a much better peace of mind with this safe here in my garage. It has a nice, glossy finish and it feels very sturdy. Unfortunatly, they had..rope or something wrapped around the door so I couldn't open her up but I know what it looks like inside. I'm sure it can still be broken into but it should take much more time than a gun cabinet. Mine will be bolted to the ground, up against a wall(and maybe in a corner so that the left side is touching a wall as well, depends if there's room) and I'm going to have a tarp or something covering it when I'm not using it so no one knows it's there.

 

[Jav]

If at all possible I would suggest bolting the safe to the floor. I know of someone who had the safe with contents stolen. Guess the crooks thought that would be easier and they could work on breaking into the safe at their leisure.

Definitely. Even with much heavier safes, you can get an appliance dolly which would make it pretty damn easy to just roll it out of the home.

 

[tbury]

I'm sure it can still be broken into but it should take much more time than a gun cabinet. Mine will be bolted to the ground, up against a wall(and maybe in a corner so that the left side is touching a wall as well, depends if there's room) and I'm going to have a tarp or something covering it when I'm not using it so no one knows it's there.

I built shelves and a cupboard around mine in the garage. Out of easy sight when the garage door is open. Also it just looks like homemade storage; but the frame around it is bolted to the floor and wall studs. It still will not keep pros out but disguise should keep common thieves confused or deterred.

 

[Reaper.22]

Mine will be bolted to the ground, up against a wall(and maybe in a corner so that the left side is touching a wall as well, depends if there's room) and I'm going to have a tarp or something covering it when I'm not using it so no one knows it's there.

That's close to what I was thinking as well. Having it in a corner and bolted down would make it a lot more difficult for them to go at it, and they'd have fewer sides to try at. I'd probably even go the extra step and build a small "work room" around the safe so they have to go through that before they can even get to it.

 

[Jav]

I built shelves and a cupboard around mine in the garage. Out of easy sight when the garage door is open. Also it just looks like homemade storage; but the frame around it is bolted to the floor and wall studs. It still will not keep pros out but disguise should keep common thieves confused or deterred.

That's close to what I was thinking as well. Having it in a corner and bolted down would make it a lot more difficult for them to go at it, and they'd have fewer sides to try at. I'd probably even go the extra step and build a small "work room" around the safe so they have to go through that before they can even get to it.

Nice! I noticed here and at another gun forum: It seems a lot of gun owners are SO much more craftier and hands-on. Unfortunately, I'm not part of that demographic haha.

The corner I'm thinking about in the garage is in front of our 2nd, smaller garage door which isn't in use because there's a ton of junk in the way and of course, we have no opener there. You wouldn't be able to see the safe just walking/driving by unless your almost inside our garage on the driveway so I should be good. Hell, I think if we just push out the endless amount of junk away from the wall, I can use that to hide it

 

[dbeach8253]

Stack-On Not bad for the price

Got mine at menards Stack-on Total defense nice safe has a backup on the combo that i realy like an you can change the ## to what every you want think it was around $700.00 on sale

 

[tacticool22]

I doesn't hurt to have a second safe for your ammo.
You can use the first safe you bought for that when you buy the replacement safe.

 

[Jav]

Wonder how good the Stack-On safes are. I'm just familiar with their cabinets and the pistol "safe" I own.

 

[Reaper.22]

I doesn't hurt to have a second safe for your ammo.
You can use the first safe you bought for that when you buy the replacement safe.

That's what I had in mind actually. Just a temporary security cabinet(if they can even call it that) while the house is being worked on. Then once a safe is put in place, the rifles can be moved to that while the cabinet can just keep the ammo.

Speaking of ammo, know of any decent places online to order from? The local shop sells all CCI at $5.99 per 50 rounds, and Federal/Winchester at $2.69 per 50. From a quick search I did, it looks like the CCI at my local shop is cheaper, but I haven't checked that many places yet.

 

[dbeach8253]

Wonder how good the Stack-On safes are. I'm just familiar with their cabinets and the pistol "safe" I own.

Here's there link Stack-On | Products | Stack-On Safes i att a file of mine hope it helps

 

[Jav]

That's what I had in mind actually. Just a temporary security cabinet(if they can even call it that) while the house is being worked on. Then once a safe is put in place, the rifles can be moved to that while the cabinet can just keep the ammo.

Speaking of ammo, know of any decent places online to order from? The local shop sells all CCI at $5.99 per 50 rounds, and Federal/Winchester at $2.69 per 50. From a quick search I did, it looks like the CCI at my local shop is cheaper, but I haven't checked that many places yet.

What kind of CCI and Federal? I thought any normal(not match grade) thing of .22lr is 100 rounds. I haven't bought those packages in a while but normally here it would be $8-9 for 100

 

[Jav]

What type of anchors do you guys use in your safes? Think there's 3 common types but not sure which one to get. Would prefer that the bolt not stick up high along the floor of my safe.