Bolt Storage in Safe

[Screwball]

I have a Liberty Fatboy Jr, which I keep the bulk of my collection in. Half holds surplus ammo (adds weight to the bolted down safe), handguns, and basic accessories/valuables that I want locked up. Other side has some more surplus ammo (used to prop up three shorter long guns) and majority of my long guns. Anyways, I'm in the process of selling a shotgun (which will be replaced by a Yugo Mauser), so I've been going in and out the past two days. I did my best to organize it, but I noticed that the bolt actions are taking up a little extra room due to the handles.

The two bolt guns I own happen to be a M1903 in a USMC sniper setup and a Mosin Nagant PU sniper. As I said, I also have a Yugo Mauser eventually coming, so that will be another one to deal with. Guns like my WASR, Garand, and Yugo SKS have handles sticking out, but can't really do much other than fit them between guns. As it sits now, those are a non issue.

So, I pulled the bolts out and really made some headway with fitting another gun in the back... in turn, giving me more space to fool around with (I use Rifle Rods, so not going to do anything better). The Mauser has a spot where the shotgun was, but I'm thinking about pulling the bolt to keep it a little clearer. None of the guns inside the safe are loaded, and none of the bolt actions will be pulled out and need to be running for defense. They are all recreation rifles.

As it sits now, I just tossed the two bolts on one of the shelves... to put them somewhere. My question is what do you guys use for storing bolts that are not in rifles? I would love to figure something out where I could store them on the door, but have other things up there to not use those full sleeve storage covers. Even just a soft case to hold the three would be nice (I'm not really looking to get another bolt action anytime in the near future).

Thanks.

 

[Scooter22]

I keep all the bolts in my rifles. You only have 2 or 3 but I would still keep them in. Things get lost or misplaced even in the best circumstances and replacing a bolt isn't cheap. Plus, God forbid, something happens to you and the bolts get separated from the proper gun is they will be worth much less. You see boltless guns for sale very often. I'd keep them in. JMHO

 

[GBExpat]

I store all of my boltgun bolts on the door.

 

[Scooter22]

Boy I hope you have them all labeled or S/N 'd to go back to their proper home. A mismatched bolt isn't good. Looks nice and organized.

 

[GBExpat]

Boy I hope you have them all labeled or S/N 'd to go back to their proper home. A mismatched bolt isn't good. Looks nice and organized.

Thanks! I took that pic over 10 years ago. Initially I only created Hang Tags for bolts with no SNs. Then I realized that it was lot easier to have Hang Tags for all of them.

 

[Sunray]

If you have multiples of the same model bolt action, how do you tell which bolt goes with which rifle? Assuming they're not S/N matched. Just curious.

 

[GBExpat]

If you have multiples of the same model bolt action, how do you tell which bolt goes with which rifle? Assuming they're not S/N matched. Just curious.

As I said in Post#5, they all have Hang Tags.

 

[CB900F]

Screwball;

I'll advise you to not keep ammunition in the same container as your firearms. I have personally dealt with a situation where the thermal temps exceeded the ability of the safe to provide protection, and ammo was stored in the safe. The contents were a total loss. When one round goes off, you can pretty much bet that all the rest of them will follow suite in very short order. At that point the interior becomes filled with a cloud of incandescent gas at a temperature in the thousands of degrees.

Your Liberty Fatboy is an RSC, and provides the protection level of that category, which is not particularly high. However, it's your property and your choice.

900F

 

[CB900F]

Fella's;

Most RSC's do not seal nearly well enough to convert the container into a bomb. That comes pretty close to "Urban Legend", but total loss of contents? Ohellya.

900F

 

[Panzerschwein]

Delete

 

[Panzerschwein]

I store all of my boltgun bolts on the door.

Nice safe! It's like a sardine can from heaven in there!!!

 

[Ohen Cepel]

I prefer to keep the bolts in; sometimes opening the action and letting the bolt sit open helps reduce the thickness of the rifle.

 

[GBExpat]

Nice safe! It's like a sardine can from heaven in there!!!

And that pic of my North gunsafe was taken before it was full.

 

[Screwball]

Things get lost or misplaced even in the best circumstances and replacing a bolt isn't cheap.

They are going to be in my safe, somewhat nearby the gun. It isn't like the bolts and rifles will be in two separate safes.

I understand your concern, but having more long gun space is worth the risk.

I store all of my boltgun bolts on the door.



http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y285/Jungesblut/Stuff/zGunSafe_North3.jpg

That is kind of what I'm looking to do, just not with that many guns (wish I had that many). Only issue is actually figuring out how to do it. Not really too crafty.

I wouldn't store rifle bolts separately. I sometimes store the gun with the bolt open which gets the handles out of the way. If you do remove the bolts make it crystal clear which bolt goes with which rifle. It's not a mix and match proposition.

We are talking about three bolts...

The Mosin Nagant bolt is clearly evident on fitting just that rifle (also has a matched serial number). Being the M1903 is similar to the Mauser action, that would be the only chance of mixup. But the Springfield bolt is Parkerized, and the Yugo bolt is shiny (and has a matched serial number on it). Kind of easy to figure out.

I understand your concern, and if I was going to collect more bolt actions, I'd definitely consider it. But not the case... and if I did get another, it would be a Remington 700 or Ruger Precision Rifle.

Fella's;

Most RSC's do not seal nearly well enough to convert the container into a bomb. That comes pretty close to "Urban Legend", but total loss of contents? Ohellya.

900F

To be honest, I have the safe (sorry, I understand the RSC meaning, but I'll still use the term safe [emoji6]) in an area of the house that I don't feel is in a major danger of fire. With the close proximity of the local fire department and the alarm system installed, I don't have as big of worry with it. I do have it marked as having ammo inside.

My main concern is theft and humidity control.

 

[GBExpat]

... That is kind of what I'm looking to do, just not with that many guns (wish I had that many). Only issue is actually figuring out how to do it. Not really too crafty. ...

I bought a number of these many years ago (when they were cheaper).

Remove the nut, then the "loop" and you have an attachment+standoff unit for your pegboard.

If you are careful to position the magnets just above the inside door panel attachment screwheads, they will not try to slide down when you increase the weight on the pegboard.

 

[Screwball]

I bought a number of these many years ago (when they were cheaper).



Remove the nut, then the "loop" and you have an attachment+standoff unit for your pegboard.



If you are careful to position the magnets just above the inside door panel attachment screwheads, they will not try to slide down when you increase the weight on the pegboard.

Thanks for the info/link. May have to figure something out.

 

[cdk8]

As a general rule, if I am keeping a firearm in a high security safe, I leave the bolt in as I feel it's saved time and prevents dust buildup. If the firearm is being stored in a locking cabinet in which the armor is thin sheet metal, I then remove the bolt and lock the bolt up in one of the security safes.

I use one of the roll up cases made for storing chef knives. A lot of different styles are there and the one I use is a generic product but it has the same idea as this image. I think I paid like $3 for mine at a yard sale.




If you want an option for storing on the inside of the door, check out some of the products that are made by Scotch-3M. They have a TON of different hooks, containers, and mounting toys. Most are under the COMMAND line. I've used a lot of their products on the doors of safes and have fastened them using 3M's VHB tape instead of having to bother with glue or screws. By doing this I've managed to utilize every bit of what otherwise would have been dead space. Especially with two safes that weigh as much as a car but are relatively small in size, this has helped me pack as much stuff inside the safes that people are not going to be breaking into without hours of time, skill, and specialized cutting tools (and so my preference is to put as much stuff in them as opposed to my locking cabinets.)

 

[SlowFuse]

This seems like an easy solution. Remove the ammo to free up more space, no need to remove bolts.

 

[Screwball]

This seems like an easy solution. Remove the ammo to free up more space, no need to remove bolts.

Actually, that would make it worse, as three rifles are too short to reach the top with a rod or the barrel groove (which I removed anyways). They would take up more room propped up against the wall.

 

[BSA1]

Another vote for removing the ammo from the safe.

Since we don't know what the layout of your home is it is hard to make specific suggestions but I would either store your ammunition is military surplus ammo cans, in a sheet metal cabinet with doors or on shelves or, like I do, a combination of all three.

Surplus ammo cans are great because they are designed for ammo storage. They have a rubber seal against moisture, are designed to stack well on top of each other and are easy to move and carry. I have each one of cans labeled on top of the lid so I know what is it in without having to open it up.

Sheet metal cabinets such as sold by big box stores such as Lowes, Home Depot, are affordable and can be locked against causal curious eyes such as children.

Shelves are handy if you have a secure area to keep everything.

As for removing the bolts I have CRS so it is a very bad idea for me. I am currently searching for about twenty large and medium size plastic MTM ammo boxes that I know I have somewhere.

 

[natman]

Remove the ammo from the safe

Actually, that would make it worse, as three rifles are too short to reach the top with a rod or the barrel groove (which I removed anyways). They would take up more room propped up against the wall.

I'm afraid you're missing the point, which is that it's dangerous to store ammo in a safe.

Use something else to prop up the rifles in question.

 

[Screwball]

Surplus ammo cans are great because they are designed for ammo storage. They have a rubber seal against moisture, are designed to stack well on top of each other and are easy to move and carry. I have each one of cans labeled on top of the lid so I know what is it in without having to open it up.

I don't use surplus can, but those ones from Cabelas that they give you when you buy bulk ammo. Have four, which stores the bulk of my ammo. Also labeled, but if you have an iPhone, my suggestion is the AmmoBase app. Set each can up as a location, and you'll have a breakdown of what is in each one with one quick look... not to mention knowing what/how much ammo you have on hand whenever you see a "deal" (also pricing that you previously purchased at).

I appreciate the concern, but the spam cans in my safe are not even a quarter of my total ammo supply. If someone got into my house, the Cabelas cans are a little too heavy to walk out with in the average response time, nor would someone go through and pull out certain rounds (cans are marked 1 through 4). Spam cans are a little easier to walk off with, even though only a shooter would want some 7.62x25mm Tokarev, 7.62x38mm Nagant, or 7.62x54mm.

As for removing the bolts I have CRS so it is a very bad idea for me. I am currently searching for about twenty large and medium size plastic MTM ammo boxes that I know I have somewhere.

I'll have three bolts, two serialized, and one being very different than the others (Mosin Nagant). And of the two that look similar, one is shiny and the other is Parkerized.

The only time I lose stuff is when people are taking stuff out of its place. My safe is opened by one person (me), but I do have a way for some people to have access if I really needed them to. All my stuff is pretty damn organized (even stuff like holsters), so I don't worry about misplacing a bolt. Bolts/rifles would be removed/put away together. I'm in my late 20s, so I don't worry too much about memory issues.

I'm afraid you're missing the point, which is that it's dangerous to store ammo in a safe.



Use something else to prop up the rifles in question.

Not really... I made another thread on another forum to get multiple replies, and it isn't any more dangerous than being next to it. Liberty Safes aren't airtight.

Close proximity of my local fire department and setup of my house, fire is lower on my list for needing the safe. Theft and humidity control are way higher.

 

[W.E.G.]

When you croak, the guns missing the bolts will be disposed as junk.

Somebody will get a smoking deal.

 

[GBExpat]

When you croak, the guns missing the bolts will be disposed as junk. ...

Certainly not if the people who would be in charge of any disposal are "gun people".

 

[Screwball]

When you croak, the guns missing the bolts will be disposed as junk.

Somebody will get a smoking deal.

I'm not planning on going anytime soon, but whoever would be going into that safe would see the bolts and put the two together. That's why I prefer to have them on the door instead of a shelf.

But let's say it went down like that... am I around to worry about it?

All I can say is that I'm around presently, and looking for insight of storing bolts on the inside of the safe door.