Securing a HD shotgun with side saddle for quick access.

[B yond]

I've made an offer To purchase a home that is much bigger than my current residence, and in my doing my due diligence have begun to think about protecting my family in said larger home.

I own a wide variety of weapons, as collecting them is a hobby of mine. I even compete with some of the firearms. My plan for HD Firearms is a slight modification of my current strategy:

-NAA .22 mag minirevolver on my person when at home
-Ruger P345 with light and Bersa 380 in a quick access keypad safe mounted to my headboard in the master bedroom. 100 lumen Flashlight next to that safe.

Here is where it changes from my current strategy:

If I get the home I'm trying to purchase, I'll have a man cave where I'll keep my tools, reloading bench, and firearms locker. With the long guns so far from the rest of the home And the home being so much larger than my current residence, I've decided to purchase an additional home defense shotgun, nearly identical to my current HD shotgun (currently a 5-rd Mossberg 500 with 18 inch barrel and light, the new one is a 9-rd Mossberg 590 with a light) both will be wearing 6-rd side saddles very soon.

I want to keep one shotgun in or near the master bedroom and the other in the closet near the front door (closer to the children's bedrooms). Obviously, with children in the home these weapons MUST be secure. They must also be accessible at a moment's notice.

How can I secure them for quick access by myself and my wife, witout the children or an intruder being able to get to them? I've seen wall mount locking brackets for shotguns, but they required keys and wouldn't work with a shotgun wearing a side saddle. It's important to me that the weapon be accessible without keys, as people tend to fumble under stress and I don't want to risk the kids finding the keys. Also it's important that the side saddle remain on the weapons as the layout of the house and the property could require a change in ammunition to deal with specific threats (indoor vs. outdoor, human or animal, near or far).

I'd appreciate your suggestions for how to secure these shotguns.

 

[withdrawn34]

Mossberg used to make something called the "Loc-Box" or "Lok-Box" or something like that. I thought it was a wonderful solution. It mounts your shotgun to the wall, but also blocks the action so that the shotgun cannot fire.

However, it does require a key. As such, combined with the fact it is difficult to find now, the Loc-Box does not match your requirements.

The newest thing is the "ShotLock Shotgun Vault":

http://www.shotlock.com/

At $130, this device is not at all cheap. However, it seems to fit your requirement. As far as the side saddle situation, have you considered getting a buttsock shell holder?

There's also this:

http://www.gunsafestore.com/rifle-case.htm

I am not sure if the depth of this "case" would be sufficient to contain the side saddle. It would also require additional mounting (but so would everything else, eh?).

You could also put this between the studs, depending on the spacing, and keep it flush with a wall in your closet.

http://www.vlineind.com/html/closet_vault.html

You could even conceivably cover it with a piece of hinged artwork.

Good luck, and congratulations on your to-be new home.

 

[B yond]

Thanks Paul, I really like those suggestions. They'd be great long-term solutions, but I'm hoping for something a little less expensive short-term as I'll probably be house-poor for a while.

Definitely some options worth saving up for.

The shot lock is about what I'm after, but then there's the side saddle problem. Maybe I'll give them a call and see if they have a solution for this. It has to be a question that's come up before.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Homak has an in-wall cabinet that might be more bearable price wise- see http://www.amazon.com/HOMAK-Homak®-Wall-Gun-Safe/dp/B0017KL254 . We gave one to our next door neighbor when they built their new house, and it should work well enough to keep your shotgun out of the hands of kids and smash-and-grab thieves. They installed theirs in a walk-in closet in their bedroom.

It does use keyed locks however.

A suggestion... put the key on your keyring, and leave the key in a lock overnight while you're in bed. You can't go anywhere in the morning without your keys, and you'll therefore be reminded to lock the cabinet when you leave.

Do let us know what you decide on...

lpl

 

[darkwaterkid]

The ShotLock looks very interesting, but I'm curious about one point as it would apply to my Mossberg 500: It appears to suspend the 500 and other pump guns with an oval-shaped hanger that fits into the ejection port with the action open. Given that, what would the best method be for chambering the first round? Would I close, open (manipulating the action release button), and re-close the action to feed from the tube? Drop a conveniently-located round into the ejection port before closing the action? Is it possible to leave a round in the open action while hanging, and would that be advisable?

 

[btg3]

It appears to suspend the 500 and other pump guns with an oval-shaped hanger that fits into the ejection port with the action open.

Why not use the hanger instructions for a semi-auto? In other words, hang your pump using the blocks for the trigger guard, and not use the pump action hanger.

 

[Uteridge]

If the closet is wide enough I would just get a couple of those C shaped hangers that you can put into the wall in your garage to hang a bike on. I would mount them inside the closet on the wall directly above the door. This way you will only see it if you are inside the closet and looking directly up. It is easy to get to if you need it quickley and is hard for a child to access. I would only load/fiddle with the gun while the kids are at friend's houses so they never know that there is a gun in that closet. If you keep the closet full of coats on the hanger and shoes on the floor and don't put a lightbulb in the closet itself you will probably be the only one who knows there is a gun in the closet. My dad did this for years with a pistol in his bedroom closet and I never knew it was there until we started shooting together and he would have to go to the closet to get his pistol.

 

[jdrink]

Another solution is to get a blocking lock for the action and use one of those inline combination locks that you set the combination yourself. You can line the numbers up so that only one of the 4 is not the open number so when you need it you only have to turn one dial one click for it to open. Only you and the Mrs will know which number and which way to turn it. These locks are great for quick access and only around $10.00 at Walmart. This will keep the gun safe from the children and easily accessable for you.

 

[riceboy72]

Another thumbs up for the bike hooks above the closet door. I just did this to hang my 870 and it works well. No one is the wiser, and it's pretty quick for me to get down after doing it a few times. I just always make sure I bring it down the same way every single time, and have done it with eyes closed and in the dark to make sure I can do it without turning on any lights.

 

[Shawn Dodson]

I keep my HD 870 in Cruiser Ready condition (magazine loaded, chamber empty) in a V-Line ClosetVault (it's fitted with a SideSaddle, which isn't visible in the photo):

 

[Al Thompson]

For spare ammo, I've moved away from side saddles. I find that a bandoleer of half slugs and half buckshot works better.

 

[B yond]

a abndoleer separate from the weapon or used as a sling? How is it better?

 

[txhoghunter]

It appears to suspend the 500 and other pump guns with an oval-shaped hanger that fits into the ejection port with the action open. Given that, what would the best method be for chambering the first round?

From pictures I see on the website, the gun can be kept loaded while in the shotlock...

Another option instead of a side saddle in case you go with the shotlock eventually would be this...

 

[FAS1]

I have been asked several times to consider making a quick access mount for HD shotguns and also for AR's. Have a couple designs in the works and would welcome any input. It would use a Simplex lock and be able to work with most accessories. Part of the problem is keeping it affordable. Probably would end up being close to $200.00
Any interest? Suggestions welcome.

 

[Al Thompson]

a bandoleer separate from the weapon or used as a sling? How is it better?

The sling bandoleers suck as the weight moves back and forth when you hold the gun making aiming pretty tough. A proper bandoleer can be hung on the magazine tube so that when you reach for the shotgun with your weak hand, the hand goes through the bandoleer and grasps the SG. Your strong hand then grasps the bandoleer and seats it over your head.

With just a couple of movements, you now have a shotgun and twenty odd rounds of ammo on your body or in your possession.

I found that reloading from a bandoleer was about as fast as using a sidesaddle, put more ammo on-board and the shotgun is easier to run slick sided.

Butt cuffs work, but if for some reason you have to shoot from the weak shoulder, they make cheek weld difficult and sometimes painful.

 

[Deaf Smith]

How about in your closet , at the back, get a stud-o-meter and find the 2x4s.

Then with a skill saw cut between a couple of them a long area in the sheetrock for a shotgun to fit.

Then put a full length mirror over it to conceal it from view.

Just slip the mirror off it's hangers and there's your gun!

Deaf

 

[B yond]

When I was a kid I got into everything. I mean everything. INCLUDING guns that were "hidden."

Now that I have two rugrats running around with my DNA coarsing through their veins, I REALLY want to keep my guns under lock and key(pad) until I'm sure they're old enough to handle the responsibility of unsupervised access to them.

I'm really liking the hidden wall safes. I may just have to sell my body for extra cash to afford a couple of them.

If I wasn't so sold on the side saddle a shotlock would be perfect. Dang.

 

[B yond]

Just saw a stack-on in-wall locker for $78 on amazon. Anyone know if these can be retrofitted with a keypad instead of key lock?

 

[Fred Fuller]

Anyone know if these can be retrofitted with a keypad instead of key lock?

That would sure seem to be worth investigating. I don't know if it's possible but a local locksmith might be able to tell you more...

lpl

 

[Stevie-Ray]

Here's something just revealed at SHOT.

Safe

 

[bababooey32]

That Sentry Safe "Home Defense Center" linked above is a great idea. It is exactly what I need. I can't wait to examine one when they arrive at stores this summer....

 

[B yond]

That is nice. Any idea the price?