Long Gun Storage: Security + Ease of Access

[pax]

Hi all ~

Please read carefully before you answer ... I don't want this thread to get derailed into any of the half-dozen directions I could see it going.

Given:

Family with very little money.

Small Children.

And one gun, a long gun, which they want to use for home defense.

They don't have the money for a safe, and one of the children is autistic/hyperactive so telling them to "educate the kids," while a good first step, is NOT going to be a good complete plan for this family. Please don't derail the thread by lecturing about that point!

Saving up for a safe is a good long term goal, but it's not helpful for the short term. The money just isn't there. Please don't derail the thread in that direction, either.

The family does need a defense gun, because they live in a bad neighborhood. Again, telling them to move would not be helpful: they're broke, they're working hard to fix that, but in the meantime they are doing the best they can with what they have. Please don't derail the thread by telling them to move. They can't.

So here is the question: How do you suggest they store the long gun?

pax

 

[Euclidean]

There are those racks which hold a single long gun which are meant to be mounted in a closet.

http://www.mossberg.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=97

I've seen other variants, could that work?

 

[P97]

My first thoughts given the situation, is if they have a closet capable of locking, use it.

 

[SigfanUSAF]

I keep a 12 ga in my closet mounted on the inside of the wall above the door. You can't see it at all with the door open, as it's about 14" above the top of the doorframe. I never touch it when the kids are about, and at that they'd need a ladder of sorts to reach it. I don't keep one in the chamber, and of course the safety is on.

 

[Barbara]

Why not just a lock?

What kind of long gun? And how old are the children?

If you can't secure the gun, you can sure secure the ammunition and if the kids are small enough not to be able to acquire any elsewhere, it would work.

Or, secure only the barrel, if its easily assembled/disassembled. Probably easier for them to lock up a small part.

Nothing they do is going to provide fast access, but should prevent little ones from firing it.

 

[Euclidean]

That's true, knowing the manual of operations of the gun in question would make things easier.

 

[Barbara]

I used to take the barrels off my shotguns and store only those in the gun safe since it wasn't very big.

 

[Huddog]

I think SigFan has a great idea depending on the kids age and sizes. With the gun out of sight and hopefully out of mind and the safety on, especially on a pump gun, it makes it difficult for the children to figure out how to operate same.

 

[Jeff White]

I don't know how much money they have to spend so this suggestion may be beyond their budget. An electronic lock like we use in our squad cars, securely bolted into a closet with a concealed switch. Secure, fast access, and the switch can be concealed and placed out of reach of the children. A long gun stored cruiser ready would solve the problem of having weapon and ammunition ready to go, let safe from unauthorized access.

Jeff

 

[CB900F]

Pax;

This sounds like a situation where the police cruiser type security rack would seem to be the best bet. You used to see a lot of them in the front of cruisers. They held the shotgun, but it was also retained against a grab by a BG. The officer(s) had a quick release method for their use. Most of the ones these days use either a magnetic type lock, or a prox release. I don't do L.E. equipment & don't know the sources & cost of this type of unit. Shouldn't be too hard to find out though.

900F

 

[loumarch]

I would use one of the new locks that goes down the barrel. It offers fast removal for ready access. Another option is the pressure released trigger locks.

If they can't afford one PM me and I will buy one for them.

EVERYBODY deserves to be able to defend themselves.

 

[LkWinnipesaukee]

perhaps just:

-locking it (standard trigger block)
-never telling the child(ren) about the gun
-storing it in a hidden place,
-out of reach
-lock the bedroom door as much as possible


my 2 cents

 

[Base_Trip]

Euclidean's Idea seems good to me, if they ever plan on buying any more guns though, there's this. Its the same idea and holds 6.


http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=242225

 

[Chris Rhines]

If the gun is clip- or magazine-fed, or break-action, take the ammo and place it in a lockable bedside drawer. One key to each responsible adult. The gun could be placed in a rack in the closet, under a bed, or behind a headboard. Put a deadbolt on the bedroom door, and the bedroom becomes the safe area. Practice loading the gun quickly - this is not something you want to fumble with when some jerk is trying to kick your door down.

- Chris

 

[Trebor]

What kind of gun? It makes a difference as to what suggestions might work.

If it's a pump shotgun keep the magazine loaded, the chamber empty, and then run a cable lock through the action. To use, remove the lock and chamber a round. Btw, I'm assuming they want a solution that allows for quick access to the gun if it is needed. If greater security from the children is desired, the gun could be left unloaded and have the lock run through the action.

 

[LaEscopeta]

There are those racks which hold a single long gun which are meant to be mounted in a closet.

I keep a 12 ga in my closet mounted on the inside of the wall above the door. You can't see it at all with the door open, as it's about 14" above the top of the doorframe. I never touch it when the kids are about, and at that they'd need a ladder of sorts to reach it. I don't keep one in the chamber, and of course the safety is on.

+1. I use this lock:

http://www.smartlock.com/triggerlock-r.htm

$19.50 + $5.50 shipping & handling. The base plate is mounted on the closet wall:



I use it with a shotgun not a pistol, and use a couple of vinyl coated screw hooks to support either end. Company claims it you can unlock in 1 second and with practice I’ve found that to be the case. Weakness is a smart, motivated 12 year old can figure out the combination.

(Note I’m not saying anything about the other products the company from the above link makes.)

 

[sm]

Mom&Pop Locksmith's have some very affordable ideas

 

[loki.fish]

I can't help on the storage part, but I do have an idea.

I would use one of the new locks that goes down the barrel. It offers fast removal for ready access. Another option is the pressure released trigger locks.

If they can't afford one PM me and I will buy one for them.

EVERYBODY deserves to be able to defend themselves.

I agree, Everybody deserves to be able to defend themselves. So maybe once a good suggestion is tossed out, if the family can't afford, maybe we could all chip in some money to help out? If they only have 1 long gun, a safe is kind of pointless. Way too big, way too expensive just to store 1 gun.

 

[Silver Bullet]

Trigger lock is the first thing I thought of.

Going a step up might be a gun cabinet, as opposed to a gun safe.

The cabinet is not as heavy duty (that is, less secure against a physical attack, but plenty sufficient to keep out kids) and is much cheaper than a safe. I have one I bought for my excess ammo for about $50. One big enough for a long gun would of course be more expensive, but still cheaper than a safe.

Mine is a Homak:

http://www.homaksecurity.com/GunCabinets.htm

One caveat: the lock on it is one of the circular key types. That might be the type that gained some notoriety a year or so ago for being easily opened with a plastic ball point pen barrel.

 

[vynx]

Mossberg sells this for $35

http://www.mossberg.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=97

They used to sell a corener wall mount bracket for use in a closet - held 3 or 4 longguns.

padlock behind the trigger sometimes works too.

 

[skers69]

I would not suggest using a long gun for HD. Pistol or Shotgun are much better choices for several reasons. That being said...if a long gun is all they have for HD then so be it....better than nothing.

1+ on the gun rack to hang in the closet....However, I would also suggest either locking the closet somehow or a trigger lock. I would not suggest just unsing the gun rack alone. Combine it with a locked closet or trigger lock.

 

[redneck2]

I have a cable/padlock thing that I got with a Ruger. Put a threaded eyelet into a wall stud and thread this thru the trigger guard. Solid, secure and opens with a key.

Give me your address and I'll send it to you (assuming I can still find it). It's yours free. HTH

 

[Correia]

I'm not a fan of anything that requires a key to operate.

Get a pair of bike hooks from Home Depot. Screw them into the ceiling inside a closet. Hang the gun from the two hooks. (barrel/stock) Total cost, about $7. (you can do this in every closet in your house)

Put something heavy and uneven on the closet floor to keep the autistic child from being able to just move a chair or something on top of it to stand on to reach the weapon. Adult should just be able to stretch and grab it.

You didn't say what type of weapon it was, but if it is detachable magazine fed, I would have the gun empty, with a loaded magazine sitting on a different shelf in the closet. If it is a pump shotgun, I would go loaded tube, empty chamber. Safety on.

 

[loki.fish]

I would not suggest using a long gun for HD. Pistol or Shotgun are much better choices for several reasons. That being said...if a long gun is all they have for HD then so be it....better than nothing.

A shotgun is a long gun. And since it was a gun they already own, and they don't have much money, I'd say the long gun they own will work just fine.

 

[pax]

If they can't afford one PM me and I will buy one for them.

So maybe once a good suggestion is tossed out, if the family can't afford, maybe we could all chip in some money to help out?

Give me your address and I'll send it to you (assuming I can still find it). It's yours free. HTH

I love gun nuts. I really do. You guys are the greatest ...

But such offers aren't necessary in this case. A safe was out of the question, but a minimal cost wasn't. Coming up with good ideas for securing the gun at minimal cost was the only remaining issue.

Thanks!

pax