building inside a closet to store our gun stuff??

I have shelves in the room but do keep this roll top cabinet in the closet for storage too.

I actually built my reloading bench in a closet. No plans, I just drew it up on a piece of paper and built it from scratch. If something like a roller toolbox, or a storage unit like Container Store's Elfa system (which is expensive...) doesn't work, I'd just think about what you want... and build it.

BKS said:

Closet is 8' long and about 23" deep.

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Thinking about your dimensions... I have a closet that is nearly it's clone. I call it the AV closet... because back in the day it held all of our VHS and DVD's, etc. Because it's so shallow, it's hard to do anything with it, but it just has 4 long shelves in it... and it works well enough.



One other thing to consider is weight. If you are stacking reloading components or loaded ammos, then you will need something robust. I have this shelf unit in the Cave, it's about 5' x 18" so it would fit in a space such as yours. The metal racks can handle quite a bit of weight, and the unit as a whole can hold 600#... although I have much more than that on it. Obviously, the shelves adjust, so you can set them wherever you want.

I installed some cheap Home Depot cabinets and shelving, but like above, you'll want to account for the weight. I rested the bottom of the cabinets on 1 x 4s installed into the studs. I also reinforced the top mounting similarly. The shelving has several points of contact with studs and plenty of those diagonal support beams. The cabinets should give you a nice clean look and help keep your equipment and supplies organized and easily accessible. But, I tend to extremes in those regards. YMMV.

emb said:

But, I tend to extremes in those regards. YMMV.

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Nothing exceeds like excess!

My gun safe is a large walk in closet that I hardened. Doubles as a safe room. I replaced the door and frame with metal ones. The door is a solid core. I lined all the walls with fire board then 1/2" plywood. Built racks and shelving attached to that after painting it.

Of course you have to own the property.

Charlie98 said:

Thinking about your dimensions... I have a closet that is nearly it's clone. I call it the AV closet... because back in the day it held all of our VHS and DVD's, etc. Because it's so shallow, it's hard to do anything with it, but it just has 4 long shelves in it... and it works well enough.

One other thing to consider is weight. If you are stacking reloading components or loaded ammos, then you will need something robust. I have this shelf unit in the Cave, it's about 5' x 18" so it would fit in a space such as yours. The metal racks can handle quite a bit of weight, and the unit as a whole can hold 600#... although I have much more than that on it. Obviously, the shelves adjust, so you can set them wherever you want.

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Something like either of these should work well. Look at a company called Uline and check out the wire shelving. It comes in many sizes, Height, width, depth, ect.
Whatever you do, remember that components can get heavy, especially bullets!

For heavy duty shelving, I generally use double slot track:

There are a number of possible brackets to hang off that track. Which can include open wire shelving (which is handy for letting light permeate a closet).
A person can set short lengths in if you need to "stagger" the shelf stacking. The space between the slats can get materials like slatboard or pegboard for even more utility. Or, corkboard or the like can be installed.
Best part is that if the spacing wants adjusting vertically, the slots are in (typically) 32mm (about 1.25") increments.

Which sort of shelf gets complicated.

Plain wood boards can be cut to any shape or need, drilled for clamps or tools, and painted any color desired. Down sides being that they can be spendy in load-carrying thickness and/or widths. They are opaque to light, and also want painting to look neat.

The wire shelving options do allow some flexibility for depth, and are generally available cut to exact length. Being open they let light through, and provide little support for vermin to nest up in. They are prefinished, so you are ahead that concern. Downsides are that the wire spacing can allow small things to slip through. Also, you are limited to what is locally available to you, too. And the vendor typically has the specific cutter to precisely fir the material.

CapnMac said:

For heavy duty shelving, I generally use double slot track:

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I used this for the kitchen pantry closet and these hold A LOT of weight and ammo can add up fast. So does canned food and full ball jars.

A friend of mine built a false wall to stash a crap load of rifles. I didn’t even know it for almost twenty years.