Where to put a shotgun for HD?

[CooperThunder]

I normally have all my handguns in in an upstairs safe, except for the one I keep in a locked storage case in our downstairs master bedroom for hd.

I've been wanting to get a shotgun to put in the bedroom too, but I absolutely don't want it to be easily accessible to anyone else. There are no kiddies in the house, but I wouldn't want a neighborhood kid or thief to easily be able to get their hands on it.

Any good ideas how or where to put/hide a hd shotgun, where it's accessible, if needed? I'v thought of over the door in the walk-in closet, but figure that's one of the first places someone would look.

Thanks,

BCC

You know...I was resting down on the couch a few weeks ago. It was around 2pm...then suddenly I heard the storm door creak, then the someone trying to open the door handle. My dog got excited and barked. He's a rottweiler, a little bit over one year old, over 110 lbs and have a loud bark. I was alone in the house with my dog as my husband went out for an errand. Yep! in the middle of the day, in a very quiet neighbourhood. My gun nowhere near me. It was in the kitchen bench. If I do not have a dog and I run from the family room to the kitchen, the BG would have seen me. I felt so inadequate that day and swore I will always have my gun and spare magazines with me, in MY person and/or within my reach in the same room as I am. Why think of another room to put a gun?

 

[DarylD]

I struggle with the same problem. i am considering a system that attaches to the bed's sideboard. WHEN THE BED IS MADEUP (company coming) it is coincealed also unloaded. The major threat are Illegals coming across the border. Most are harmless, but some can be a problem. Our main line of defense is our dog. Most people who live away ftom town here in AZ are armed. Usuallu at a minimum pistols, but also a shotgun for the occasional coyote or mountain lion. Our county is pretty large with a fair amount of mountains and semi wilderness so we are pretty much on our own as the deputies are spred pretty thin. I love it here and have no intention of leaving until they carry me out
DarylD

 

[Darkninja]

With the pistol, I think that bullets will go through the walls and hit other family members.

Shotgun is the way to go. More likely to hit something and the energy of the shot is quickly dispersed in the wall -- won't go past the immediate wall struck like a single bullet.

Both will penetrate quite a few walls. A shotgun penetrates a little less than rifle or handgun rounds. http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot3.htm
http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot1.htm

 

[Averageman]

If you dont have children at home you can always reenforce with longer screws a coat rack that hangs on a wall and hang a shotgun inside a jacket on the coat rack.
In a bedroom you can modify an old Truck rear window gun rack to hang behind a headboard or side rail of some larger beds, hook and loop or Velcro straps can secure them safely. Burglars looking for guns and valuables usually will quickly flip matresses to look for valuables, so I wouldn't reccomend that unless you return the gun to the safe each morning.
You can't stop a burglar from finding anything, you can only slow them down. They usually are motivated by a profit and loss clock, "how quick can I get in and out with as many valuables as possible.
Secure your windows and doors, tell no one about your gun collection or any other valuables and get an alarm and a dog. That should cover 90% of it. You would be amazed at how information about "Jim Smiths" gun collection or Rolex watches; "Betty Smiths" jewlery and gold coins is oveheard and used in places where loose lips slip.

 

[roo_ster]

I put an electronic dead bolt on the hall closet door. I has all my long guns, my HD shotgun being the first at hand.

Input 4 numbers, twist, & grab.

Handguns are in quick-access safes by hte beds.

 

[blastdark]

How about placing it behind a mirror ?

Not my idea, but seems like it'd work. Build a wood frame to hold your shotgun. Cover frame with a mirror. Mirror is secured to frame with a piano hinge. Hang on assembly on wall.

 

[roo_ster]

blastdark:

You, Sir, are an inspiration!

That is a wonderful idea. I tried to sell the missus on something like that, but as a coat hanger and it was a "no go."

I bet if I sold it to her as, "One last check to make sure your hair/clothes/etc. are in place" I'd find success.

One modification:
A simplex push-button lock along the outer edge on the back side of the frame that overhangs the built-in box.

 

[TxBuzzardBait]

blastdark's mirror box gave me an idea.

Put one of the narrow full length view mirrors that people mount onto a door into a hinged frame. Find an convenient location in the bedroom and cut out the drywall to form a vertical cavity large enough for your weapon to be placed into. Be sure there are no wires, plumbing or other utilities residing in the wall or that you will be able to work around them. Trim out the cavity to form a gun rack. Then hinge the framed mirror to the wall over the cutout. Now your wife has a full length view mirror for dressing and you have a hide out for old "Bessie". Of course if you don't have stick built drywall covered walls, this may not be an option.

 

[sheepdog]

...excellent ideas...but keep the handgun at arm's length or on person...most exterior doors require only one kick to open...a quality storm door on the outside that has a deadbolt lock on it keep them from snatching open the screen and kicking it in...any door/lock just buys you time to react...

 

[chuckusaret]

I keep my Mossberg 500 20" barrel HD shotgun on a box spring gun rack. When the bed is made it is not noticable or visible.

 

[konaseven]

Long Gun Vault

Lag screwed into the wall studs just inside closet door by bed. 8 lag screws.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

Lock it in the safe when you leave. Pull it out when you arrive home.



Does that sound inconvenient?

Ha! Tell the 'inconvenience' story to anyone who lost a gun to home theft.

Protect your guns. Period.

+1 on this advice. Bolt the safe to the floor as well. It's not that big of a deal to open it each night and takes like 20 seconds. Plus, with the larger size safe your wife can keep her valuables in it as well. Depending on the size and brand, you're looking at somewhere between $300 to $600 for a safe that will meet your needs.

 

[DAVIDSDIVAD]

won't go past the immediate wall struck like a single bullet.

This is what einvasion actually believes

 

[Balog]

One cannot hide guns from scumbag thieves. Locking them up into safes gets mighty old every day. There has to be a happy medium somewhere. One that yields instant access and theft prevention when not there.

And I want to wear a shiny hat and be the king of all Londinium, but...

As for the bold part, it's called locking it in a safe when you leave, and taking it out when you get home. Is punching in a combo and opening a safe door really that hard?

 

[Kymasabe]

I have two big hooks screwed into the wall above my walk-in closet door frame, inside the closet. All I have to do is step into the closet and look up, and my loaded Mossy 500 is ready to grab, don't really see it up there unless you're looking for it.
I also keep my .38 and a small LED tac. light right next to my bed in a digital gunsafe.

 

[DAVIDSDIVAD]

I do the same thing when I'm staying at my apartment, Kymasabe!

I'm 6'3", so I put it so high up that I have to tippy toe to snatch it down.

That way, the tiny south texans that would break in would need a step ladder, hahahah.

 

[308win]

I keep mine at less than arm length loaded with the safety on. No kids in the house reduces the complications.

 

[Howaido]

I always think of the interview I saw with a career criminal who shot and killed a man during a home invasion. The intruder was able to get into the house without waking the couple in bed. The couple awoke as he came into the bedroom and the man made a run for the closet. He didn't make it as the intruder shot him down.

 

[Averageman]

I am actually wondering if you couldnt flip your box spings on its side an take off a two foot secton of that grey cloth and velcro it back in place and attach the Shotgun mounted to the box spring inner frame. Drop to the floor, pull the vecro and out slides the Shotgun.

 

[Darkninja]

Not my idea, but seems like it'd work. Build a wood frame to hold your shotgun. Cover frame with a mirror. Mirror is secured to frame with a piano hinge. Hang on assembly on wall.

Awesome! Looks good and it's functional to boot!
Might have to look into something like that.

 

[03Shadowbob]

Mine stays over the inside closet doorframe.

This is mine also. My 3 dogs are usually deterrent enough though and if not I am sure I could have enough time to wake up, get the sleep out of my eyes, go to the bathroom and get dressed before grabbing the shotgun.

 

[Calhoun321]

They make long gun boxes with a simplex lock - inexpensive, reliable, safe, and no batteries. Some mount on the wall or between wall studs.

 

[IllHunter]

How about blending two concepts...

Buy snake loads for a large caliber handgun if you fear penetrating the walls. This "small shot gun" can get you to the large shotgun. Imagine six .44 cal snake loads coming your way and tell me you wouldn't be moving rearward!

 

[Shawn Dodson]

I use a V-Line ClosetVault, which bolts between wall studs. See: http://www.vlineind.com/html/closet_vault.html

I suggest you examine your walls closely to ensure no electrical outlet boxes on the opposite side will interfere, or any plumbing pipes, or any ventilation ducts.

 

[the iron horse]

Between the mattress and the boxsprings

All other various weapons (pistols, knives, baseball bats etc...) located in other areas