Different lockable storage options for short guns in cases (not a typical safe)?

[Macchina]

I have a gun safe with my rifles and shotguns in it and a smaller safe for my handguns. I have a few ARs in cases (with mags etc in each case) and a couple breakdown shotguns in dedicated cases. They don't store well in a safe and are safe now from my toddlers on the top of my storage shelves but I'm looking to get/make a more secure storage box for them.

Locking steel cabinets are pretty expensive ($300+). Maybe that's my best bet. Any suggestions to store 4 or 5 30" cases in a quick access locking case?

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Stackon sells a decent *pistol & ammo cabinet* for under a hundred.

More a "prying hands" item than a full-on security measure.

It's basically the sort of thing I grew up with which was set between wall studs.

Todd.

 

[WestKentucky]

Really depends on how secure you want it to be. I’m weighing my options now on what to do to expand a bit because my safe is getting to overflow mode. I’m trying to decide between a harbor freight locking tool box, and a pretty basic filing cabinet with a couple shallow drawers. I’m also considering some hidden in plain sight deals like those from tacticalwalls. Mine would be simply to keep little hands away from things that look interesting. Have you looked at old lockers from a school or stadium?

 

[Macchina]

I have looked at lockers and am thinking hard about it but they don't have a great way to do a normal keyed lock it seems.

 

[Fyrstyk]

I have a locker that I use for my muzzleloader guns, as it is taller and will handle the guns with 43 and 33" barrels. I had a slotted lug welded to one side and a hasp ring welded to the opposite side. A steel rod with the hinged part of the hasp welded to the end goes tru the lug on the side and the two handles of the locker. The hinged hasp end of the rod goes over the welded hasp and a sturdy padlock secures the unit.

 

[Insignificant bill]

Concealment tables with hidden lock

 

[theotherwaldo]

I like Stack-on cabinets - I have ten of various sizes to handle my milsurps, antiques and black powder guns.
I use a more advanced safe for my modern guns and a fast-access mini-safe for my ready guns.

 

[Armored farmer]

I have some stack on safes. Four of them , in fact. Mine are lagged to the walls. It would take pretty serious determination to get into them I think.
One thing I have done recently is to add a smaller stack-on cabinet in my shed where I house my reloaders and all my hunting gear. I keep my in - season hunting guns out there. For example, my Turkey gun is out there now. That way I'm not fiddling with the gun safe at 4am while mrs farmer is grumbling about the lights being on while she is trying to get her much needed beauty sleep.
Edit to add pic of man-cave safe...

I really like my between the studs StackOn safe in our closet. I keep a couple of .357s in there and some emergency cash. As you can see , my ruger SR556 hangs on a hook there too. Ammo for it is secured as well.

 

[theotherwaldo]

Mine are lagged to the floor, the walls and most are bolted to each other.
They're also wired for electricity for lighting and alarm systems.

 

[BigBL87]

Its $300, but this is the quaint little gun safe I have for my very-small-by-THR-standards collection. Nothing special but it keeps my 2 year old son out, and would probably discourage all but the most determined criminal.

https://www.ruralking.com/gettysburg-fire-resistant-14-gun-safe-black-fs14e-j

It seems like there's pretty much a jump from 24 inch or so tall safes to full size gun safes/cabinets, and not many options in between. Those I did find between were more than the larger gun safes.

 

[dcloco]

Don't forget to look at garage cabinets (Sears makes SEVERAL sizes). Other companies have them available as well.

 

[bearcreek]

You can get used gang boxes for $100-$200. Those'd work well. If you want to go cheap and the goal is just to keep the weapons away from kids, a simple plywood box with a padlock on it would be fine.

 

[cjwils]

I have learned the hard way that any safe small enough for one person to carry is probably not secure, even if bolted to the floor or wall. A large crow bar or sledgehammer can break such a safe loose from its mount. Do you have such tools in your garage or shop? If a burglar sees a small safe, he might be motivated to go search your garage for the right tools. That happened me. My own sledgehammer was used to break two small safes loose from the floor.

 

[ilbob]

You can get used gang boxes for $100-$200. Those'd work well. If you want to go cheap and the goal is just to keep the weapons away from kids, a simple plywood box with a padlock on it would be fine.

Yep. Not impossible to break open a locked gang box but it keeps a nondetermined thief out. Someone with time on their hands and tools can get into almost anything.

 

[Sneakshot92]

Really depends on how secure you want it to be. I’m weighing my options now on what to do to expand a bit because my safe is getting to overflow mode. I’m trying to decide between a harbor freight locking tool box, and a pretty basic filing cabinet with a couple shallow drawers. I’m also considering some hidden in plain sight deals like those from tacticalwalls. Mine would be simply to keep little hands away from things that look interesting. Have you looked at old lockers from a school or stadium?

+1 on the lockers. I use 2 for ammo storage.