Thinking about retro fitting my gun safe

[cgrutt]

When I first bought a gun safe I had the presence of mind to buy the largest I could afford but I had it configured to hold only 12 long guns, which at the time was more than I ever possibly imagined I'd ever have. Lol rookie mistake...

So I bought a great safe that should last a lifetime (and hopefully my son's lifetime and his kids when he has them) but what to do about the interior? I enjoy woodworking and can build something nice to eliminate some shelving and turn it into gun racks. But are there better options available? Would like to add some lighting too.

I'll have to come up with a solution for the ammo that's currently occupying the shelves. Maybe a new safe is in order, afterall, lol...

 

[CapnMac]

I rearranged the way the intermediate--barrel rest--shelf was configured.

Now, I had a leg up on this, for having my own copy of AutoCAD to model the interior safe volume. And, I was working vor a casework company that had CNC routers, to mill my concoction. I used 5/8" MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) with a 1/4" roundover edge, which largely negated the need for padding (the shop guys broke the first one, so I got to test how it fit & whether it needed padding--like I said, I was lucky).

The only 'key' design element I really used was to divy up the long arms by over all length, then using some cardboard boxes to mock up what sorts of clearance spaces for bolts, and the like would be needed.

What I wound up with was a slightly lopsided "E" shape, with a smaller space for the shorter LOA arms. But, where the middle part of the "E" was still over the centerline vertical divider (meaning I could use the pre-existing shelves under the shorter arms).

I went from 4 4 | 4 to 6 6 | 6 6 configuration.

Only change I would make, given both opportunity and inclination would be to have some dedicated slots to fit AR geometry. The short side would benefit from slots to fit M-1 Carbine or M4gery.

You could get some cardboard to mock up a shelf. Use that to refine a pattern, and then it's your choice on whether to find a shop to make the piece, or to jigsaw this your self.

That, at least, is my 2¢; you'll need another $4 to get coffee at s'bucks.