Anyone stored guns on a military base?

[LooseGrouper]

The Air Force just moved me to San Antonio, and while I'm looking for a place to live I have to stay on base. While I'm looking I have to stay in base quarters (not base housing) and that means storing my guns at the SP armory (don't know anyone here, so it's my only option). I did this before about four years ago the last time I moved, but the collection was much smaller, and honestly I didn't care as much about the couple of guns I stored back then.

I have a couple of concerns that I'm hoping some of you military or ex-military folks can answer. First, they made me leave the case I brought my guns in unlocked. Apparently they are required to inventory everything, every day. Should I be concerned about them handling my guns? I've heard urban legends of folks storing nice guns and them coming back to find them in less than good shape. I never put much stock in these stories, but now that my guns are out of my control I'm getting paranoid (they seemed particularly enamored with my M1A).

Second, they recorded the serial numbers, makes, and models of all my guns. Am I just being paranoid, or should I ask the armory personnel what they do with those forms?

Finally, since I have to store my guns for a prolonged period (I'm not sure what the time limits are), I will have to get commander approval to permanently take my guns out of the armory. That really burns me.

Okay, that's my story. Comments?

 

[Aguila Blanca]

Yes, you should be concerned about the (lack of) care with which your guns will be handled.

Your mistake was in not arranging storage off-post before arriving. Too late now.

 

[LooseGrouper]

Hawkmoon, would you mind expanding on why you feel that way? Do you have any personal experience with having your guns mistreated?

LG

 

[FPrice]

I am not SF, but I think I know a little about how they operate their armories.

First, they made me leave the case I brought my guns in unlocked. Apparently they are required to inventory everything, every day.

I believe that they do have to do a daily or periodic inventory so they need access to everything in the armory. Their rules.

Should I be concerned about them handling my guns?

Yes, but are you of sufficient rank to articulate this to the SFS/CC? You might want to visit your weapons periodically to check them over. See if you can find other shooters on base and see what if anyone else has gone through this.

Second, they recorded the serial numbers, makes, and models of all my guns. Am I just being paranoid, or should I ask the armory personnel what they do with those forms?

Don't get paranoid, they have to account for everything stored there. Hopefully they gave you a copy of the form. If not, ask for one.

Finally, since I have to store my guns for a prolonged period (I'm not sure what the time limits are), I will have to get commander approval to permanently take my guns out of the armory. That really burns me.

See if you can find an off-base place to store them ASAP.

It's their bat and their ball...that means you play by their rules. I don't think the situation will be as bad as you have heard but your number one priority should be to get your own place and get your firearms back under your control.

Good luck.

 

[All-Around-Shooter]

I was an armorer in the Marine Corps. We had a few personal weapons stored in the armory. Everyone was worried we would take their guns out and shoot them.

I never witnessed anything like that. however, my guns were never stored there.

You were required to register them with the military police in order to store them in the armory, and then written permission from the CO was required to draw them out for any reason. If the armory was closed when you returned from shooting/hunting, you had to bring the gun(s) to the MP duty sergeant
and store them there until the armory opened.

I really resented the whole deal. I kept my guns illegally in the barracks for a while, then I kept them off base at a well trusted, married friends house.

Long story short your guns are safe in the armory, but you will hate the feeling that while you are defending the liberty of others, you have none of your own...

I did hear that officers were allowed to keep personal weapons in the bachelor officer's quarters, but i'm sure that even if that was true the registration requirement would be in effect.

By the way,In the Marine Corps even personal weapons are inventoried by sight count upon every opening and closing of the armory, And by serial # inventory once a month.

 

[FPrice]

I did hear that officers were allowed to keep personal weapons in the bachelor's officer's quarters, but i'm sure that even if that was true the registration requirement would be in effect.

I'd be interested if anyone can say that this was true and produce evidence such as a base/post reg or something similar. Way back when I was first commissioned such an act may have been "winked" at or just ignored by BOQ occupants but in recent times it just ain't so. At least in the AF.

 

[LooseGrouper]

First, thanks for the replies.

I don't think there are very many stateside bases with BOQs. I'm currently in the "visiting" quarters, and the briefings I have recieved didn't make it sound like there would be any winking whatsoever if I got caught with firearms.

I'd love to find somewhere off base to store them, but as I said before I don't know anyone here and I don't think I would be able to trust anyone in my new unit quickly enough for it to matter. I thought about renting a small storage space, but that seems like an even bigger gamble.

As far as having someone take my guns out and shoot them, I'm not worried about that (took the mags for the semiautos with me, plus there are strict proceedures for removing weapons). I was really just worried that my stuff would come out looking like some of the M-16s and M9s I've seen due to careless handling.

 

[Commissar Gribb]

I've gone through the same stuff. my AK and my friend's mosin were temporarily residing in the 49SFS armory for a brief while.

I eventually moved my rifle to my friend's house off base and we dont deal with the crap involved with keeping rifles in security forces.

My suggestion:

dont store weapons with security forces unless you have to. for some reason, the request to register a firearm on base requires you to route paperwork through your chain of command and in my case it ended up being more hassle than worth. If you live in the airman's dorms (like me), you dont have much of a choice.

I keep my weapons at a friend's house. I have far too much money invested in them and ammo to trust them to a lot of people who dont care about my posessions. Then again, being permanent party, I have that luxury.

I would say the worst part about storing weapons in a SFS armory is that they can't be stored in their storage cases. If you are travelling, that means you leave the weapon and bring the case back to billeting. Rather stupid IMO.

 

[UnknownSailor]

I have to preface my response with the fact that my situation can not be called typical.

I'm active duty Navy, and the only time I stored mine on base was last year, on deployment. However, I was friends with the Gunners Mates working in the station armory, having just transferred out of that command. So, even though they did the paperwork drill, just to cover their butts, I was really leaving them with friends. I even gave them permission to take them out and shoot them while I was gone.

That being said, I'll be leaving them in storage next time I deploy.

The rules at my base is that you declare them at the gate, and they allow you to go to the armory direct. There, they take inventory, log them in, give you a reciept for each one, and store them as they get them. They do an inventory monthly, by serial number, and daily by sight.

It's really kind of painless, but it's not instant access.

 

[Sam]

Personally I would get someplace off the yard to keep them, soon.
The AF1314 that you fill out and your 1st Sgt or CC signs isn't going anywhere so that isn't an issue. System does not work well enough to register anything yet

They are required to inventory every shift, hence no locking the cases. Usually they won't even let you leave the case. Makes it real difficult to get inventory done when you have to open and close a couple hundred cases every shift.
Ocassionally someone will manage to get one out for a try. Last one I saw
went from TSgt to AB in about 24 hrs. I wouldn't worry about that too much.
They generally do not mess with the private weapons but they don't get the TLC that you want them to have.

See if your boss will keep them for you. I used to keep a seperate safe for the troops. They appreciated it.

Sam

 

[Wags]

I would check my local gun range or club and see if they have secure storage for you. Granted, your firearms would be safer from theft at the base armory, but no telling who's fingering them.

25 years ago I was in the same boat as you at Camp Lejeune and chose the local gun club as my storage area.

 

[pwolfman]

+1 to getting the storage facility.

A small one should not cost more than 50 bucks and isn't that worth your peace of mind?

I personnaly will not register a weapon with any service.

pwolfman

 

[Navy joe]

I recently sold my house and moved aboard the big grey boat for a little while. I store some guns at my wife's home 300 miles away, some in a storage unit, and some in a locker at a range we have on base. It is operated by MWR(recreational services) and is quite a nice range. The premises are as secure as any gun shop and no one has a key to the locker except myself. Not near as good as having guns all over the coffee table, but good enough. I would never put guns in the base armory.

 

[Lennyjoe]

Yes, you should be concerned about the (lack of) care with which your guns will be handled

At that particular place I wouln't be.

Lackland AFB armory folks are very professional. When I went TDY there I stored a 10mm S&W, a .380 Kel-Tec and an AR-15 there. They do document the make, model, caliber and serial number of the firearm on the 1297. You get the 1297 when you leave to dispose of.

There are some stories out there of mishandling of firearms but I haven't experienced it. I usually have at least 2 firearms with me when I go TDY and on most occasions store them in the armory at the base I'm assigned to for the duration of the TDY. Of course, I check them out everytime I want to CCW.

Call me if you have any other questions. DSN 228-5165.

 

[atomchaser]

I wouldn't worry about mishandling and paperwork trail. I think most of the folks just open the case and don't even pick them up to inventory. Unless you have something really unusual, I don't think they even have an interest in your stuff. I'd move them elsewhere just to eliminate the hassle. Having them in your quaters is a definite no-no. One of my troops got an LOR for having a sword in his dorm room.

 

[roo_ster]

At my unit (US Army), the drill was as follows:
1. Coordinate with CO & unit armorer for paperwork & permission
2. Bring on base, inform MPs
3. Bring to armory

The drill was that your weapons were to be counted upon opening & closing, with a serial number inventory once a month. Permission required from CO to get them out.

When I got broke & became unit armorer, I would take good care of the POWs. If they needed some TLC, I would inform the owner & they were welcome to come on down & give their weapon some PM. If the owner was deployed for a time, I'd square them away inform them when they returned.

If it were my weapons, I'd get a storage unitil you have off-base housing squared away.