Advice on Hiding Guns Around the House

[M1911]

I hide it on my hip in a holster

 

[krs]

Those "Gun vault" boxes are made out of 16 guage steel. That's THIN steel and it can be cut through with one swing of a hatchet or ax.

There are portable self contained plasma cutters, or for poorer burglars plenty of 110 volt plasma cutters that can easily slice through the typical 12 guage steel sides of most of the gun safes that are sold.

I realize that this thread is about hiding guns to have access while at home, but there's been much talk of burglary and security here as well.

 

[M1911]

There are portable self contained plasma cutters, or for poorer burglars plenty of 110 volt plasma cutters that can easily slice through the typical 12 guage steel sides of most of the gun safes that are sold.

Your average GunVault or similar can be opened with a reciprocating saw. Most burglars are smash-and-grab addicts. They don't know what a plasma cutter is, let alone how to use one. They wouldn't keep a reciprocating saw if they had one -- they'd pawn it for drugs.

I have a heavy gun safe with an S&G Type II lock. I realize that a pro will get through the safe. But 999/1000, the person breaking into your home is a smash-and-grab addict, not a pro.

A lock box is not a large, heavy safe. But lock box may fit in your bedroom closet, whereas your safe may not. Some security is better than none.

 

[j1133s]

I take it you don't get many visitors at your house? If that's the case, then maybe hiding guns (and I assume loaded since you're talking of home invasions) is ok. Otherwise, it'll be way too dangerous for a house guest to AD.

Also, instead of hiding guns/pistols around the house; perhaps you may want to consider carrying (concealed if you wish) it on you.

 

[RevDerb]

IMO, your SD/HD weapon belongs on your person or by your side. All others should be locked in an easy access safe that only you can open.

 

[3KillerBs]

Your average GunVault or similar can be opened with a reciprocating saw.

There's not much you can't open with the right blade on a reciprocating saw -- including the walls of the house (brick veneer might require a grinder with a masonry blade).

Its a good thing thieves aren't addicted to hard work.

 

[M1911]

Its a good thing thieves aren't addicted to hard work.

Exactly right. Most security involves not making it impossible for someone to take something, but instead making it require more time, effort, and noise. Most burglaries are not Ocean's Eleven. They are the local meth addict breaking a window, grabbing the valuables he can easily find, tossing it into a pillow case, and heading for the door.

 

[texastony]

I hide one .38 in a common area, out of sight. My wife carries her's religiously. If she is not at home, neither is her weapon.

I take my weapon to every room. or at least it is never more than 10 feet away.

All others are locked up.

 

[ChCx2744]

I'm also for carrying it on you and locking the others up.

However, to answer the person's question who was curious about not wearing holsters and such around the house...I just keep it next to my thigh mag facing down barrel pointing the same direction my eyes are looking, next to my mouse pad in the same manner, next to the napkin my silverware is on, etc...and if i am in the bathroom i put a towel on the counter/toilet top and fold it over the gun. There is not a SINGLE spot in my home my gun isn't LITERALLY next to me or at least in a holster.

 

[AJ Dual]

My best advice for hiding guns?

Get one of those $100 sheet-metal Stack-On/Homak gun cabinets. Fill it with inexpensive U-Fix-Em specials from Century, yard-sales, or gunshows, throw in some nasty old air-rifles. Make sure to put some cheaper/older ammo and accessories in with it to make it believeable.

Make that cabinet the door to where the real safe is.

For the handgun, wear it as much as possible. Otherwise get a Gun-Vault electronic box for one or more conveinient places.

For a long-gun, go with a Mossberg or Rem 870 pump shotgun and one of the locking wall brackets. For that, IMO, the best place is horizontally above a door-frame on the inside wall of a closet. Unless it's a walk-in closet where you can turn around and face the door, most people stare in and up at the contents of the closet, not at the front inside wall of it.

 

[Maximum1]

I've read many a blog where folks talk about hiding guns around the house and I still shake my head in amazement that anyone would consider such a thing. First off leaving guns around the house doesn't make you any safer. Second, anyone ever heard of maintaining positive "CONTROL" of your firearms???

I'm armed at home but the gun is also on my person or lying next to me so if I need it I have IMMEDIATE access to it...

 

[LongRider]

I keep a gun on me most any time I am up but I have always had guns strategically placed around my home. Just in case, I get up in the middle of the night to the john and someone enters my home or whatever may come up that a gun is not on my hip. Or maybe an AR or shottie is needed rather than a handgun. I like the concepts at Hidden Safes a little thought and you can come up with your own idea that will will work just fine. Using wall cut outs are not as extreme as it may seem at first. As they say if they can't find them they cant steal them. Still I think strategically placed and ease of access should take priority over hidden. The whole point it to be able to get that gun when you need it.
An aside I have raised two girls and one boy with loaded guns around their whole lives. Not one has ever touched a gun they should not have, ever. If you raise decent respectful kids I do not see a problem. I suppose it is an issue if you raise unruly disobedient disrespectful little animals. If that is the case, than IMO their shooting themselves is not your biggest concern. For some it may even be the solution to the problem. Sure beats them shooting someone else. I know very un PC for me to say but than the truth rarely cares about being PC. JMO