Gun Safe Organization - Good method or not?

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

For longguns in the gun safe, I put loaded guns muzzle DOWN, and unloaded guns muzzle UP.

Of course I always treat all of them AS IF they were loaded, but this is a method of keeping track.

Anyone else do this, or think it's a good or bad idea?

 

[mcdonl]

Dr. Tad, I keep all guns that are in storage unloaded, and in use... loaded. My SD gun in the night stand and my carry gun are in use.

 

[Chicken-Farmer]

Unloaded guns in the safe only!

I have a no loaded firearms in the safe policy! My large safe houses only unloaded firearms, and i still check each firearm as i remove it from the safe to ensure that it is unloaded. I do keep my ccw firearms loaded in their own separate safe. I don't know about your safe arrangement, but my large safe requires that i lean the rifles at a diagonal across the safe, alternating directions for each rifle. I could easily see myself accidentally hooking a sling swivel on a trigger while removing a rifle.

Chicken-Farmer

 

[FiveFiveSixFan]

I agree with the previous posters; unloaded in a storage safe. Small HD safe is exactly the opposite - NO unloaded in that safe.

 

[Kind of Blued]

Whatever works for you, as long as an upright gun doesn't eventually get handled (even subliminally) with less care than an upside down gun.

I just keep 'em all locked and loaded.

 

[ShooterMcGavin]

...I put loaded guns muzzle DOWN...

My only concern is that possibly, by placing the gun muzzle down, it might be more likely to have moisture (in the safe liner) held against the crown to cause rusting. You probably have provisions for dehumidifying and maybe this is a very unlikely scenario. It's just a thought.

 

[Rockwell1]

I keep my alternate carry gun loaded in the safe to use in the unlikely event that the bad guys force me to open the safe. other than that all guns in the safe are unloaded

 

[Kingcreek]

I put long guns in the safe alternating muzzle up/muzzle down (all unoaded and in safe socks).
you can fit more of them in the safe that way.

 

[czarjl]

All guns in my safe are unloaded. I figure by time I get to my safe in need a loaded gun I’m in a world of problems. HD guns are loaded and secured elsewhere.

 

[jfh]

My approach is what Rockwell1 has done--e.g., there is one, possibly two 'last chance' handguns ready to roll should I be forced to open the safe.

HD and carry guns are loaded and elsewhere, of course.

Jim H.

 

[SaxonPig]

I keep one handgun in the lead safe loaded and right up front in case of the scenario where armed home invaders are forcing me to open the safe. having that gun there may be my last chance to fight back. I know it may be fantasy, or paranoia, but it makes me feel better.

I also keep the fighting shotgun with its magazine loaded and 5 more in a butt cuff. If I need something beyond a handgun and have 3 minutes to prepare this is what I get out of the safe ready to use.

Um... now that I think about it, I also have loaded magazines nearby for the FAL and the AR. These are unloaded in storage but can be made ready to fire in seconds.

Geez... I'm more paranoid than I realized. I'm surprised that I don't keep the 460 loaded in case of an attack by a charging elephant.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Right now the only one loaded and muzzle down is the 930 SPX, a home defense shotgun. It comes out occasionally - goes in and out, always loaded. So McGavin, although that is an excellent point, in this case, I'm not concerned about the crown of a shotgun. There's also that last ditch loaded handed in there.

By the way, I can get into this one safe very quickly (about 2.5 seconds), with the electronic keypad.

 

[CoRoMo]

Tad:

Your setup is fine if it works for you. You certainly have enough knowledge on these things that I'm surprised you're asking.

And it all depends on the specifics of your safe. I have two categories in regards to safes. STORAGE and READY. The terms are relatively imperfect, but here is how they apply. The STORAGE safe is big and houses the bulk of my collection for long term. I'm with Rock. I'll keep but one pistol loaded in the STORAGE safe for the very same reason.

The READY safe is a wall safe that holds two shotguns, an AR, a couple handguns, extra mags and several boxes of ammo. All the guns in that safe are fully loaded and ready to roll.

 

[Sav .250]

What ever you do is fine. For me though, all guns are empty(un-loaded)
Except the ....one.

 

[mcdonl]

coromo thats awesome. The ready safe.

 

[Walkalong]

I have them all muzzle up.

The rifles that are loaded have yellow stickies on the bottom of the mag, which faces out, with LOADED in black magic marker. (AK in one safe & Mini-14 in the other). There is also a loaded .45 in there with an extra full mag beside it. It is marked the same way.

The Seecamp .32 and the NAA .22 Mag are also always loaded for when I pick them up and take them with me, but not marked. I guess they should be.

Whatever works for you.....

 

[alemonkey]

I only have 1 loaded gun in my safe (Remington 870 loaded with 00 Buck). It's muzzle down. But, I do alternate muzzle down/muzzle up just because I'm out of room and I can stack more in that way.

 

[Desert Panther]

umm...

I keep my alternate carry gun loaded in the safe to use in the unlikely event that the bad guys force me to open the safe. other than that all guns in the safe are unloaded

I'm just curious here, but what makes you believe that if a BG is forcing you to open a safe at gunpoint, that he will allow you to actually swing the door open and grab a weapon? More than likely, as soon as the lock makes the audible "click" signifying that it is now unlocked, the BG will not idly stand by while you retrieve a gun from inside.

 

[wally]

I agree with the previous posters; unloaded in a storage safe.

I agree with the exception my carry guns stay loaded but are holstered when locked in the safe.

--wally.

 

[CoRoMo]

what makes you believe that if a BG is forcing you to open a safe at gunpoint, that he will allow you to actually swing the door open and grab a weapon? More than likely, as soon as the lock makes the audible "click" signifying that it is now unlocked, the BG will not idly stand by while you retrieve a gun from inside.

Just part of a plan, that's all. I'd rather have that option and never need it, than to need it and not have it.

 

[264]

All guns in my safe are unloaded, however, I heard or read somewhere that you should always store your longarms muzzle down to keep excess lube from coming into contact with the stock and softening the wood. Anyone else heard of that?

 

[Kind of Blued]

Or you could just avoid excessively lubricating your guns in the first place, making that a moot point.