ZombiesAhead
Member
- Joined
- May 10, 2007
- Messages
- 460
I have a rapidly growing collection of firearms I have been purchasing as fun semi-investments (hey, at least they hold most of their value). I have been burglered (sp?) once (years ago, for just a .22lr rifle way back in college) but I'm now kind of paranoid.
My collection is quickly getting rather large and this last AR-15 and STG-58 FAL have told me it's time to do something.
Currently, I store my collection of rifles/pistols/shotguns/optics/magazines in a quite large but cheap-o rifle safe bolted to joists in the floor and studs in the wall. With a good crowbar or probably a plasma cutter I could have the door pried apart in 5 minutes.
There is also lot of unsecured ammunition stored in the same room with no security precautions The only thing protecting ammo and the safe is the hollow interior door with a handle lock (could be kicked down instantly).
The worst part is I'm not at this house very often. Due to apartment-dwelling and moving I've been storing the collection at my mom's house and while she is armed (when at home) and knows how to lock the doors, the house is not particularly secure (lots of downstairs windows, no security). Make it take 'em 30 minutes instead 5.
What should I do (on somewhat of a budget) to secure this stuff? A security system is kind of out of the question as I feel it would not be taken seriously by my gun-tolerating but naive mother and sister. I think better physical reinforcement is the key.
If I could take care of this for about $500 _at the most_ it would be really worth it. I'm fully confident doing somewhat normal labor myself.
Here are some things I'm considering...
1. Locking, steel door to replace hollow door. Some sort of reinforcement that extends beyond the frame into the studs. I don't see walls being busted down by the average criminal not expecting a fortified room. They don't have all night to do this and it's not like many people know what I have. Do they make interior steel doors? Could I install one for under $500 and what do you think about this?
2. Big, serious, safe. Probably not happening at $500 or less.
3. Fortify the closet storing both the gun safe (and document safe). Unfortunately, the door is roughly 5' x 6". I'm not sure what kind of door would fit...
I don't think I've accidentally invited attack considering I don't know anyone here. Any other solutions? I'm tempted to try to find a steel door and really reinforce it into the studs.
My collection is quickly getting rather large and this last AR-15 and STG-58 FAL have told me it's time to do something.
Currently, I store my collection of rifles/pistols/shotguns/optics/magazines in a quite large but cheap-o rifle safe bolted to joists in the floor and studs in the wall. With a good crowbar or probably a plasma cutter I could have the door pried apart in 5 minutes.
There is also lot of unsecured ammunition stored in the same room with no security precautions The only thing protecting ammo and the safe is the hollow interior door with a handle lock (could be kicked down instantly).
The worst part is I'm not at this house very often. Due to apartment-dwelling and moving I've been storing the collection at my mom's house and while she is armed (when at home) and knows how to lock the doors, the house is not particularly secure (lots of downstairs windows, no security). Make it take 'em 30 minutes instead 5.
What should I do (on somewhat of a budget) to secure this stuff? A security system is kind of out of the question as I feel it would not be taken seriously by my gun-tolerating but naive mother and sister. I think better physical reinforcement is the key.
If I could take care of this for about $500 _at the most_ it would be really worth it. I'm fully confident doing somewhat normal labor myself.
Here are some things I'm considering...
1. Locking, steel door to replace hollow door. Some sort of reinforcement that extends beyond the frame into the studs. I don't see walls being busted down by the average criminal not expecting a fortified room. They don't have all night to do this and it's not like many people know what I have. Do they make interior steel doors? Could I install one for under $500 and what do you think about this?
2. Big, serious, safe. Probably not happening at $500 or less.
3. Fortify the closet storing both the gun safe (and document safe). Unfortunately, the door is roughly 5' x 6". I'm not sure what kind of door would fit...
I don't think I've accidentally invited attack considering I don't know anyone here. Any other solutions? I'm tempted to try to find a steel door and really reinforce it into the studs.