How to hang a rifle at the back door?

1/2 or 3/4 dowels mounted at a slight upward angle on a pine board long enough to span two wall studs.

As plain or fancy edging and finish as you like

Shaker pegs would add a nice touch.

Or you could go a little more fancy like this.

I use a unique hanger made by a Georgia company. While they say vertical, you can as easily hang guns horizontal.

https://www.verticalgunracks.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html

Here's a picture of my pistol hanging above the door.

I'd want something quite a bit more secure. You'd be shocked and awed at just what a toddler can reach.

Hmm... the door (front or back) is probably your first line of defense. If this is breached in the early stages of an encounter, and you have a gun stored there, two things happen: (a) the gun becomes unavailable for your use, and (b) it becomes available to the assailant, and therefore likely to be used against you. This goes against the principle of "defense in depth." "Defense in depth" means that the gun should be in your last refuge (possibly a locked bedroom?).

Not to mention that the gun itself might be the target for theft (and therefore the motive for the break-in). Having the gun handy in this way, at the door, also means that it's not adequately secured.

If you are not worried about security, there are plenty of coated gun hooks on sights like Midway. Pick what you like best/matches and there you go. If you are looking for something more secure, I would recommend a Shotlock. Mounts to the wall and uses a mechanical combination and keyed backup.

fireman 9731 said:

Does anyone have some examples of how they "store" their go-to rifle at their door?

I used to keep my "Farm Gun" propped up in the corner by the back door, ready for quick access when needed to pop a raccoon or coyote at the chicken coop. It could be a semi-auto 22 or single shot 12 gauge. But, I have a toddler now, so I need to store it out of reach. I have space on the wall right above the back door to hang it horizontally. I just need ideas on the hardware used to hang it.

What did you use? Rubber coated hooks? Pegs? An actual gun rack? Pictures?

Click to expand...

Deer antlers and deer feet on double ended screws, drilled and screwed in to the wall.

AlexanderA said:

Hmm... the door (front or back) is probably your first line of defense. If this is breached in the early stages of an encounter, and you have a gun stored there, two things happen: (a) the gun becomes unavailable for your use, and (b) it becomes available to the assailant, and therefore likely to be used against you. This goes against the principle of "defense in depth." "Defense in depth" means that the gun should be in your last refuge (possibly a locked bedroom?).

Not to mention that the gun itself might be the target for theft (and therefore the motive for the break-in). Having the gun handy in this way, at the door, also means that it's not adequately secured.

Click to expand...

Ya them dang raccoons got hands like people , they can open anything.

Kidding of course, man is looking for quick access to pop a critter raiding the hen house, at the same time preventing the little guys from trying out dads gun.

Another thread would be just where does one keep a gun for home defense. Nightstand, side pouch on easy chair, kitchen cupboard. I got those covered but I don’t have little ones either.

This is in our storm shelter/safe room/closet under the stairs of out ancient farm house. My AR is on a sturdy hook. I hang a jacket over it on the hook, and it's pretty much hidden. 30rd mags on the shelf above. Officer's ACP and sp101 in the wall safe.
Just steps from the back door.

AlexanderA said:

Hmm... the door (front or back) is probably your first line of defense. If this is breached in the early stages of an encounter, and you have a gun stored there, two things happen: (a) the gun becomes unavailable for your use, and (b) it becomes available to the assailant, and therefore likely to be used against you. This goes against the principle of "defense in depth." "Defense in depth" means that the gun should be in your last refuge (possibly a locked bedroom?).

Not to mention that the gun itself might be the target for theft (and therefore the motive for the break-in). Having the gun handy in this way, at the door, also means that it's not adequately secured.

Click to expand...

If you live somewhere where at a moment's notice (or no notice!) you might have to engage any type of varmint (2- or 4-footed), wouldn't it be better to have your gun on you? Obviously not practical for a rifle, but maybe you have a handgun sufficient for a coyote or raccoon and could keep your rifles in a safe?

I also second the post that said you'd be surprised what a toddler can find a way to reach. Your toddler can easily pull over a chair and climb up on it in order to reach something as interesting-looking as a rifle.

alfsauve said:

I use a unique hanger made by a Georgia company. While they say vertical, you can as easily hang guns horizontal.

https://www.verticalgunracks.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html

Here's a picture of my pistol hanging above the door.

View attachment 879165

Click to expand...

Hanger or anything inside the trigger guard is going to be a no from me.

Raccoons actually are quite dexterous and can get into all kinds of things.

Having said that, we built layered defenses for our chicken.

She has a henhouse that we close up & latch up at night that we dug a trench around & filled with concrete for dig under protection. This is inside a dog kennel covered over completely by mesh wire. More wire mesh is extended completely around the enclosure about 2 feet out & staked down.


The tarps are a temporary wind block b/c it has been cold & windy.


Dogs are behind the bushes. Fenced in, but they get walked around & end up doing some of their business near the chicken's enclosure.

There are raccoons, opossums and coyotes all around us but we have not seen any evidence of such anywhere near our chicken fortress. Something determined enough probably could get in there, but more than likely will look for easier pickings elsewhere.

To us at least, fortifying our chicken was preferable - and easier in the long run - than worrying about having to shoot a predator and than keeping a gun handy to do so with.

A lot of times during hunting season I'll hang one that has a sling on a peg of the coat rack right beside the back door with the coats and hats but I'm using it most all day most days during the season.

I don't have any livestock to worry about on my property. But I have had a big enough problem with coyotes, pigs, and wild dogs that I have thought about hanging up a 22mag or other such long rifle up where I can grab it easily. One such problem for me is we have wild animal problems in the front and back of the house. And the missus is anxious about letting me hang up one rifle, let alone 2. So I have to be smarter than the average bear as well. For now, my "fast access rifle" for dealing with the wild dogs at least is a BB gun hanging up in my gun room.

Municipalities often have auctions. One of the things I saw on the block was the long gun rack from a Police car. It would securely lock the rifle or shotgun yet allow moderately easy access.

Kevin

Got these on Amazon. Hold Up brand. They’re sturdy. It’s 7.5 feet from the floor. I’m 6’2”. No small kids (or my wife) are reaching it, and my 12 year old knows to grab the beater AR in the corner if he needs it.

fireman 9731 said:

Does anyone have some examples of how they "store" their go-to rifle at their door?

I used to keep my "Farm Gun" propped up in the corner by the back door, ready for quick access when needed to pop a raccoon or coyote at the chicken coop. It could be a semi-auto 22 or single shot 12 gauge. But, I have a toddler now, so I need to store it out of reach. I have space on the wall right above the back door to hang it horizontally. I just need ideas on the hardware used to hang it.

What did you use? Rubber coated hooks? Pegs? An actual gun rack? Pictures?

Click to expand...

?...
Bicycle hooks and they are rubber coated too.........works good inside a closet too above the door where it's hidden out of sight and out of mind.....hope it helps....

coat some screws in caulk and screw them in the wall. hang the firearm up. the caulk is rubbery so it will not scratch or damage your firearm. its redneck and its practical and its cheap. works for me

Instead of coating the hooks simply go to a well stocked hardware store and have the clerk show you where they keep their clear plastic tubing... Buy a yard (or less) of the size needed to slip over the hooks you've chosen, cut the tubing to size and slip over those metal hooks before screwing into the wall. The clear tubing that I use in one or two spots on my guide skiff has lasted for years and years - and if and when you choose to use those hooks for something else - remove the tubing if not needed...

An alternative I've seen is to locate that long gun just inside the nearest closet to your rear door. Cut a piece of sched 40 PVC pipe with a big enough diameter to allow you to drop your shotgun or rifle muzzle down into it -then secure it just inside the closet door where it's not visible on the lock or doorknob side of the door. Once in place that weapon is completely out of view but readily accessible when needed. Just inside the door frame on the doorknob side of the closet should be sturdy enough to hold that improvised "holster". Make a point of adding a trigger lock to your weapon if and when you have kids around. Mine are long gone - but with seven grandkids I want to make sure to keep weapons secure...

A more secure idea: https://www.hornadysecurity.com/rapid-safes/shotgun-wall-lock#!/