Storing handguns on dowels?

I was recently watching something (well, not that recently as i don't remember what it was though this part did stick in my mind) and noticed that the handguns in this were stored on dowels down the barrel so that they could basically be gripped and pulled straight out. Is this a common practice that I've just never seen before? Usually I see handguns stored as hanging by their trigger guards or stacked carefully on shelves in safes.

Yes, it is fairly common.

I don't care for wood dowels though, as they can attract moisture and/or grit.

I have used dowel or better yet, aluminum rod covered with clear vinyl hose.
It is imperivous to mosture, doesn't hold grit, and can't scratch a bore.

rc

Yes, it is fairly common.

I don't care for wood dowels though, as they can attract moisture and/or grit.

I have used dowel or better yet, aluminum rod covered with clear vinyl hose.
It is imperivous to mosture, doesn't hold grit, and can't scratch a bore.

rc
Ahh, cool thanks. I imagined I would use some sort of polymer if I did the same (which I most likely will someday).

Thinking maybe long pegboard hooks with a length of poly tubing or electrical shrink wrap on them? You could buy them long and cut the hooked end off.

Polymer = Plastic.

Plastic = Plastic Deformation or creep.

Fiberglas rod maybe, but glass fiber is very abrasive and not something I want stuffed down my barrels.

I'd suggest aluminum rod, covered with plastic hose like I suggested.
The weight if the gun hanging off it won't make it droop and drop the gun eventually.

rc

I like wood dowels. They wipe down easily with a oiled gun rag if they get dirty.

MAGNETS
actually there are number of setups from high pull magnets for steel guns to a magnetic rack type design, also, consider hooks, they work too, or a dowel though the trigger guard

BUT I always thought a lollypop stand of pistols would be cool.

Or buy the 6" pegboard hooks, trim them to size and dip them in Plasti-Dip. You can do your tool handles with the rest of the can.

www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx?itemid=22872&catid=699

A gun store here just uses the bare hooks down the barrels.

MAGNETSI prefer not to magnetize all my handguns.

It would attract metal particles and could eventually cause problems I don't need.

The this about my Benchmade knife failure.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=7286065&postcount=1

rc

I got some dowels in Lowes in the section where you can find "for sale" signs. They're about 4 foot long wooden dowels with a heavy plactic coating and wide reflective stripes. I cut the dowels the the right length, drilled holes on a piece of 3/4" plywood that fits in the side of my safe, glued the dowels in and fixed it in place.

The rack can hold 28 handguns that are .38 or larger.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y145/Japle/Guns/Safe1.jpg

This is neat! do you have any more wider pictures I'm running out of handgun room as we speak!

I bought these (Handgun Hangers) and think I may need some more. Here is a web address for them. http://www.storemoreguns.com/handgun-hangers-info

The thoughts of a wooden dowel snapping off and on gun crashing down on others gives me chills.

@grayrock: that is awesome, bookmarking for the future
@Japle: Cool. And the grips on that revolver is gorgeous.

"The thoughts of a wooden dowel snapping off and on gun crashing down on others gives me chills."

When I read that I was thinking about termites. :) I have a safe in an old unfinished basement.

The dowels will only snap off if you lean the guns to the side or up/down strongly as you're putting them in place. As shown and assuming any decent level of care when placing or removing the guns that dowel setup would last for years.

Now doing the same with .22's on the other hand would be an issue. If you want to do this with that caliber of handgun I'd suggest a steel wire or fiberglass kite rod for the core and cover it with a layer of thin wall heat shrink tubing to avoid the scuffing noted by rcmodel.

One aspect not considered so far is that ANY coating soft enough not to directly scuff the bore WILL allow itself to pick up and hold any grit that may get on the surface. And once forced into the surface that grit will scuff against the barrel over time. So bare wood or plastic coated it's a good idea to be sure that you clean the dowels regularly.

Frankly I'd rather use something else besides a barrel insertion method for storage.

I used rubber dip with long slim steel rod. About 4 dips and you have a protected steel rod. Drilled holes in 2x4 and attached to interior of safe.

I would think that brass rods, cut to length, would work great.

Here is an example of my space saving solution for my safe. This is just one, but you get the idea. This a "Mainstays" brand expandable wire shelf from Wal-Mart. Target and other stores carry similar setups, though they vary slightly in the spacing between the bars. Works quite well for me. I just had to cut the legs down a bit to fit them in my safe.


http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q139/jad0110/Misc/DSC07091.jpg


http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q139/jad0110/Misc/DSC07094.jpg


http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q139/jad0110/Misc/DSC07089.jpg

I use these plastic coated steel dish drying racks. You can find them at most Walmarts, Targets, Kmarts, etc. They are exactly the width of handguns and revolvers. They are usually about 8 wide, but vary in widths. About $5 a piece. Perfect, space saving, finish protecting and affordable. PS - the one pictured is not the one I use, just an example. It appears to have slots for 14 dishes, guns, tools, etc.

Here is an example of my space saving solution for my safe. This is just one, but you get the idea. This a "Mainstays" brand expandable wire shelf from Wal-Mart. Target and other stores carry similar setups, though they vary slightly in the spacing between the bars. Works quite well for me. I just had to cut the legs down a bit to fit them in my safe.


http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q139/jad0110/Misc/DSC07091.jpg


http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q139/jad0110/Misc/DSC07094.jpg


http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q139/jad0110/Misc/DSC07089.jpg
I'm probably wrong but could that be a GunCrafter's Industries "Pistol With No Name" along with those revolvers jad0110?

I'm probably wrong but could that be a GunCrafter's Industries "Pistol With No Name" along with those revolvers jad0110?

No, it's actually a Springfield 1911A1 Mil Spec, 5". Good try though. :cool:

lc,

Your dish drying racks do look interesting. The version I tried, then returned, was just a bit too narrow. Maybe I'll have to go out with my tape measure and bring another brand home to try.

@jad-
Mine fit perfectly for standard pistols and revolvers. The large ones are alittle tight. But the rubber coating on the racks protects the finish. For under $5, it's the best economical storage for multiples.

This is how I save space and store my handguns and their accessories in the safe. I like the idea and tried the door hangers, but the shelfs in my safe extend out to the front too far.
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb204/zebraranger/Manabout%20Racks/DSC06125-1-1.jpg
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb204/zebraranger/Manabout%20Racks/DSC00493-1-2-1.jpg

I keep my handguns in their zip up gun rugs stacked on one another on the floor of the safe.