Gun Safe Advice Needed

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javacodeman

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If you've read any of my other post, you already know that I am a new gun owner. I guess I'm just getting around to the age that I feel that I need to take certain steps to help keep my young family safe. I have three firearms: an old Winchester 30/30, a new H&K .40 S&W compact USP, and a new Walther compact .22. I'm looking for advice on how to best lock them up. Not only do I seek advice on what device is best, but what system of locked and unlocked should I use?

The rub: I want to keep my firearms locked so that no one can get to them, but I also want to be able to get to them quickly if I need to.

Thanks.
 
Pandora's box, I wouldn't worry about the .22 lock it up keep ammo separate be however pc you want to be with it. The 30/30 is a toss up but keep the .40 on your person (CCW) and under you pillow, nightstand, mattress, wherever.

A great post I read just recently had put a lock on a fire extinguisher provided a key to a supervisor and started a fire in a garbage can to prove the point that a locked fire extinguisher on a burning fire was about as useful as a locked gun at the moment you needed it.
 
I have a CPW, or at least will have whenever the government of SC gets the paperwork turned around, but I can't carry to work. I work on a DoD Naval Base. I can't even leave it in my vehicle. So I need somewhere to stow it when I can't have it with me.

As my daughter isn't old enough to be having the "safe with guns" talk, I want to secure my .22 and 30/30 as well.
 
You should be getting more feedback from the group. You might want to change the title of the post to Safe Gun Storage so that people don't think it's a thread about RSC's vs. Safe's which has been done a hundred times and is easy to search on.

Good luck
 
V-Line sells a tall "wall safe" large enough for long guns. They use a Simplex 5 button mechanical lock for access, with a key locking function for additional security.

The Simplex locks require no batteries, and offer very reliable, fast access. There are probably other companies that offer similar products.
 
I just picked up a 14 gun safe from WalMart for $149. It's not fireproof or anything special, but it keeps the kids out. Thin metal, foam stick on interior, key lock, but it does the job for the price.
 
Security for long guns and rapid access for self defense can be difficult to get in the same package. I wound up with two separate gun storage devices: a rapid access handgun safe (Gun Vault) and a regular gun safe.
 
Is there such a thing as a rapid-access long-gun safe? For that carbine or tactical shotgun I'd like to use instead of a handgun for home defense?
 
It looks like the riflelocker is discontinued...nice idea for quick storage I'd like to mount one on the wall the bedroom door cover when its opened - then hang a bathrobe in front of it.

The price I found was $569 + S/H this thing is not worth that much heck for $299 I bought a sentry E5251 safe at lowe's
 
http://www.botac.com/vlinclosvaul.html

Here is something similar called the Clost vault Still $389 for that price I'll buy on of those shotgun/rifle brackets that mount to the wall - the guns are exposed but if you put a magnetic or digital padlock on it you could probably open it pretty quick.
 
My recommendation (I have kids too):

1) For the pistols - I recently picked up a keypad lock box at wal-mart for $25. Taped a big "LOADED GUN" sign on the inside lid to remind me and my wife to follow Rule #1. It also allows me to keep my handguns loaded. It fits two pistols nicely in their holsters, and it stays under the nightstand.

2) For about $10-$15 each I have lockable hard plastic gun cases for all my rifles.

Will they deter a thief or a teen bent on destruction, no, but I feel it's enough to prevent an accident.

3) Eddie Eagle.
 
This how I do it.

I have many guns, and I keep them in three separate safes in three separate rooms, one in bedroom, one in living room, and one in bathroom, and I asked my friend to replace the locks on all three safes with the same type of lock, and only one key can access them all. And I put that key on a gold chain and wear it on my neck at all times, including shower. That way:

1. I can access it quite readily anywhere in the house, without having to look for my keys when I need to access the gun.

2. My kids can't steal that one key on my neck.
 
I have three fireproof gun safes that I store most of my guns in. Those that are kept for defense are in my bedroom, which is locked with a different key than my house is. I keep the room locked whenever I leave the house or have house guests over.
 
Gun Safe

The one thing that you need to ask is how much money do you want to spend. Buy the best one that you can get your hands on. Go to a locksmith shop and look at them there. I prefer a hand dial as opposed to a digital dial. You need to get one that can be serviced by your local lock co. Have it Bolted to the floor and maybe the wall at the same time. The most important thing in a gun safe as an accessory is a heater to keep out the humidity. Buy as big of a safe as you can, almost everyone outgrows the small ones. Expect to pay at least $650.00+ for a good one. If you have extra money get one that is the most drill resistant. I am a retired locksmith and will be glad to help if you need it.
 
Myself, I have a gun vault to store all of my firearms, a gun cabinet which holds ammo only and a 'strong box' like the one at this link:

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=2221464

Every night when I go to bed, I open the strong box (which is next the bed) and leave it open all night. I am typically the last one to go to bed and my kids are old enough that, should they get up in the middle of the night and come into the bedroom and see that, they know better than to mess with it. Believe me, they know that if they want to go shooting, all they have to do is ask...

However, in your case (seeing as the little one may not be old enough to appreciate/respect the firearm) you could keep the strong box closed. Punch in your combo and your ready to go.
 
Thanks for all of the good advice. We're about to move into a new house, so I think I'll shop around some for my ultimate safe to hold my long gun(s) and get it installed once we move in. I may go ahead and get the strong box knuckles suggested for my two handguns.

Thanks again.
 
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