Apartment living and firearms

[nomadboi]

Good input. Ideas on the best place to look for a cheap gun safe? Since I'm in the Seattle area, I guess something from a national chain or something local.

I'm moving to a new apartment at the end of this month, and that's a good idea.

 

[rayra]

Homak 8-gun locking sheet-steel cabinet is ~$80, check Walmart or local sporting goods stores. Weighs ~75lbs, fits in the end of a standard closet (used to hang a 2-suit garment bag in front of mine), and is enough to stop the smash and grab or the simply nosy. But it's an obvious "Gun!" locker.

 

[BerettaNut92]

I'd bite the bullet and get the big 500+ lb safe. I don't like the lighter safes as if it's light enough for my wimpy 115lb frame to move it in, it's light enough for two 200lb BGs to move it out.

The moving costs are expensive, but I think it's worth it. I think of it as cheap insurance.

 

[NewShooter78]

Sunray,
Just being creative man. Its not like there are tons of guns at pawn shops across the country too.

 

[Peetmoss]

I live in an apartment and all my guns are in a safe thats bolted to the concrete slab. I am sure they know I have guns, seeing about 2 months ago the complex was sold and just before the sale the new owners representives took a full tour of the complex including every apartment. The safe plus the hard cases for the long guns, the gun vise and ammo probably gave it away. I never heard a word about it. Of course it is against the law to discriminate against tenets for owning firearms in NY.

The only problem I have had was a few strange looks from people seeing me carry out my gun cases and range bag and the shot gun on my shoulder during hunting season. Even stranger look when I wave to those same people as I let there kid off the school bus.

I clean my guns usually on my computer desk and just open a window or sometimes on my porch.

 

[Peetmoss]

nomadboi

I got a 16 gun model at Home Depot last year just after Xmas for like 330. Nothing great but it keeps honest people honest.

 

[Bowlcut]

Well glad this is helping others. I wanted to get some new discussion going on thats for sure.

I do intend to get a halfway decent safe here soon. One bad thing, no real doors in this place. Closets, even walk in one, has loover bi folds. But seeing how many long arms I now have, and a couple of them are ones Id never want to loose Im going to get something. After getting all my stuff stolen this time last year, then getting it all back I moved to a nicer area. But can you immagine that, the system worked. They caught the dude before I reported it, and once I did the serial numbers of the stuff I had and the description, and within a week or so I had all my stuff back. But that was before I had any guns in the place.

Luckly none of the neighbors know I have them, as I always am very descreete about it. Well one knows....she happened to be on the steps when I was going in, and had the HiPoint carbine slung over my shoulder. Wouldnt ya know it tho, Ive not heard much out of them above me in a while . But I now leave the tv on and a light or two when I leave. I am just trying to think of different ways of securing things. I do like that Knnack thing...now to get it in the door easily

 

[RangerGrant]

Turning a closet into a secure gun cabinet is a good idea, However.....

1. Closet doors usually open out, and the hinges are on the outside.
If the hinges are not secured, the door can still be removed. Go to
hardware store and buy the security hing/screw studs. They replace
the middle screw in each hing, and make it more difficult to pry the
door out after the hing pins have been removed.

2. Replace the door knob with a standard 1" throw deadbolt. That will
make it more difficult for someone to spread the door edge and frame,
and pop the door open. Note: you may have to deepen the strike
hole for the deadbolt to fully extend.

best, RG

 

[NewShooter78]

RangerGrant,
That's good advice. But I don't know how well the apartment owners would like to see those mods when you move out. I guess the holes can be filled and painted over, so no one would know. Since I've been reading this thread I've also been thinking of doing some mods to make my guns more secure when I leave.
When I can afford a good gun safe that I can bolt to the slab, or walls, I'll fell a lot better. So how does one go about drilling through concrete without alerting everyone in the neighborhood you are doing so? Securing to a stud would be a lot eaiser I guess in that regard.

 

[RangerGrant]

Newshooter78,

Thanks. As to the mods:

1. If the origonal knob is replaced, no new holes have to be made on the door. Most knobs use a 2 1/8" bore through the door (main hole), and a 7/8", or 1" cross bore (hole through edge of door for the bolt). Most deadbolts should retro fit without modification. At most you may have to enlarge the cross bore from 7/8" to 1", not a big deal. You will have to deepen the strike (hole in frame of door) to accept the 1" bolt. Those mods will not be noticed. Keep the origonal knob, and re-install it when you move out.

2. There is no way to quietly drill concrete, except to wear your range muffs . Seriously, most people are gone at work during the day, so that would be the best time to do it. Oh, hire that guy from the old IM Force (Barney?). His drills never made any noise .

best, RG