Duckster
First thing first. If your girls are small and the gun doesn't fit them real well get some Winchester Featherlites. Heck, get them even if they aren't all that small they will enjoy the lite loads a lot more.
Secondly, while I know I risk being chastised by CNY, I have a variation on Dons idea. I long ago found a great deal on a rugged double gun case from Wal-mart. I think I paid $15 each and they were something like $40 regularly. I bought 4 at the time even though I only had 2 or 3 rifles. I bought more over the years. Back then I had a penchant for heavy barreled Rugers and Leupold Scopes. Still love the Leupolds but have since replaced the Rugers with a collection of Savages. Anyway I quickly realized that all guns look alike to my wife, especially if they are similar.
Before my obsession with Rugers subsided my collection had grown to 8, each equipped with a Leupold scope. Since they were all heavy barreled guns, except the 77-22, with walnut stocks, gold ringed scopes and, identical cases even I could hardly tell them apart. I could get away with cleaning or working on any of them right in front of her and she thought for the longest time that I only owned 2. I did have to come clean when my daughter got to the age where she might be home alone. I decided that it was high time I got a safe, even though my gun cases all had locks on them, 2 each. When we went looking for safes and my wife pointed to the small ones that held about 8 guns. I was caught and I knew it. I looked at her, smiled and said "well that could work, if she were willing to put Christina in the safe." What do you mean she said
, catching on all to quickly. I said weeeeelll
I need something more like that one there pointing to the one that held 35. You know though, I really should get that one over there, pointing to the one that held 60, so I have room for expanding my collection.
Heck, if you are gonna get in trouble you might just as well go for the gusto, right.
She wasn't real happy about it but she said well we do need it but, theres always a but, that she says, pointing to the thousand dollar price tag on the small one is all WE are spending. You will have to sell something if you want a bigger one. It hurt a lot but I sold off three rifles and ended up with the $2700. plus tax, 35 gun safe. I am now at the point that I need another. I WONDER if I could get away with buying another identical safe, have the Liberty Logo done backwards, put them on opposite walls facing each other. Do you think she would believe that one was a mirror?