How to Convert Cheap Gun Safe for just Handguns????

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alnukem

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Hi, I know that this is not the correct forum, but I need your ingenuity. Somehow, I ended up "collecting" duty guns. I have all types of S&W's, Glocks, Sigs, Walthers, HiPowers & 1911's from working at the gun shop. Of course, I also have between 5 & 11 Mags for each. I was just given one of the $700 Rifle Safes without a combination, I think I can handle that. How can I convert this to be a pure handgun safe with easy veiwing & selection? I originally thought about "pigeon Holes", but dismissed that due to contact with wood @ 2 or 3 places. I am kinda thinking Nylon rods spaced evenly in rows........? I have also thought about the plastic industrial bins for fasteners for the mags. You guys have any input.............?
 
alnukem said:
Hi, I know that this is not the correct forum, but I need your ingenuity.
Click to expand...

To start with, maybe post in the correct forum.

It would help if you could add a photograph of the inside of the safe so people would have an idea of what they were looking at.

Having said that oh, my first safe was a simple locking gun cabinet and I put plastic shelving in it and settle my hand guns on the shelves
 
Trunk Monkey said:
To start with, maybe post in the correct forum.

It would help if you could add a photograph of the inside of the safe so people would have an idea of what they were looking at.

Having said that oh, my first safe was a simple locking gun cabinet and I put plastic shelving in it and settle my hand guns on the shelves
Click to expand...

Thank you, I will tommorrow.....I am computer stupid!
 
Easy to put shelves in it yourself, may be best so you can make them fit you needs. I would also think about a Golden Rod for humidity while doing that and maybe some lights. Doesn't have to be $$$ to work well.

I like shelves as you can then put the pistol racks above on them. Maybe a tote or 2 of mags in a larger space on the bottom. I have created issues for myself by just stacking things up and so what I wanted always was on the bottom.

With some good planning you can make the shelves just right for the racks you use to max the space out while keeping it organized and useable.
 
I reworked a 12 gun safe into a jewelry safe for my wife. If you add shelf bracket tracks you will need to use plastic screw anchors, usually what is behind the carpet or fabric on the inside is gypsum board (drywall). MTM just came out with some neat plastic handgun boxes that stack and take up less room than factory cases.
 
I converted an industrial safe (2,200 pounds) to a handgun and ammo safe. For handguns I carry or shoot fairly often, I use a Hyscore pistol rack and a few one-pistol magnetic racks that I attached to the inside of the safe doors (magnet to steel, doors not lined). The magnetic racks are a bit pricey but satisfied my desire for more quick access handguns. I've got a fully loaded heavy barrel (three inches) SW Model 10 in one, but a Government size 1911 (loaded) was a bit too much weight and wanted to slide down a bit. I also ended up storing a number of handguns in silicone-coated gun socks.
 
I get my best ideas for stuff like this looking at what others have come up with. There are quite a few companies making various racks and hangers that might fit the bill for you. I did a search on DuckDuckGo and Google and copied the links to the images pages.

If you see something you like in these photos, click the link associated with the photo and research it.

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=gun safe pistol storage&iax=images&ia=images

https://www.google.com/search?q=gun safe pistol storage&tbm=isch

Good luck. :thumbup:
 
I would do a setup with plywood along the back wall, shelves or plastic bins spaced out to hold holsters, mags, etc. shelves for sure if your going to put ammo in the safe because the plastic bins don’t hold up well under that kind of weight unless they are supported really well. At least a foot between rows, preferably more like 16 inches. As far as pistol storage specifically, once you get your layout for your shelves Or bins you can do a nylon or a coated steel peg down the barrel. If you really want to make it fancy you can stain and seal the wood or cover it with material before you install it. I like lumberjack plaid for manly stuff.
 
If it were me I'd build a small mdf "frame" around the perimeter and add in laminated mdf shelves. I'd skip dimensional lumber and plywood because of the moisture content it has. I also wouldn't use drywall anchors for 2 reasons; lack of strength and the inability to rearrange the heights without adding more and more holes.

I've used some of the handgun racks shown and they certainly do the job. My favorite are the hangers, but this is largely a personal preference.
s-l640.jpg


If you insist on using drywall anchors, don't use those cheap plastic sleeve anchors. They are prone to pulling out and don't have much strength to begin with. Go with these in either plastic or metal:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/E-Z-Anc...l-Anchors-with-Screws-25-Pack-25200/100133106
 
Build shelves with plywood, and then either use the wire racks some folks have posted (they save room) or get some of that thin foam stuff mechanics put in their tool chests.
 
If the safe already has shelf standards, then you have an easier task as they generally use off-the-shelf standard supports (hugely common to see K&V #256 clips used, whic hare available everywhere).

MDF is your friend here (just remember to seal it with a good latex paint once it's cut to fit). I really like using light colored paint as it helps "bounce" light around. MDF can also be fabric wrapped if that is desired, just remember you need a serious staple driver to tack the fabric on on the bottom (unless you'd rather use a batten and screws).

If there are no existing supports, the simple answer is to use side/back panels cut to the height you want the shelves reside, and put the shelf over those, and stack more sides & back at each shelf height desired.

If more than a couple feet wids, you probably want a support coming up from the floor.

The melamine covered pre-made shelves are tempting, but they are seldom as deep as a safe wants them to be; and they are not well suited for splicing together.

Also, not a bad idea, while at the big-box store to go look at various shelf-edge and motion-sensing lighting solutions while you are there.
 
I'm getting ready to make personal modifications to my safe. I ordered some strong magnet discs with a hole in the middle where you can screw it. These magnets are strong rated at 25 pounds. So I'm going to take the rifle racks off and put this magnets in this way I can fit more rifles. Great job.
 
alnukem said:
Here is what I came up with. I used driveway markers cut down & sharpened in a old school pencil sharpener.View attachment 935845
Click to expand...

A friend of mine took a cheap gun cabinet, and cut brass rods he got someplace to size, coated them with spray on bedliner, and soldered them all to a brass plate which was bolted pretty much permanently inside the cabinet. It looks a lot like your set up. I had plans to duplicate it with a safe I found for sale locally. It was from a closed up bank, and other than the unfortunate flesh tone color, it was in great shape and cheap. I went a different way with a cabinet from https://www.secureitgunstorage.com/product/gun-cabinet-ultralight-gun-safe/ The model 52 has worked out great.
 
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