Gun safe/security on a budget?

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af1acura

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My gun collection is getting to where I would like some secure storage. I live in a apartment and was looking for an economical way to store my weapons.
I looked at getting a cheap gun "locker", putting in the closet and weighing it down with ammo.
Another option I was looking at was the Knoxx Cornerlock but It doesn't seem to be made anymore. I was also looking for a lockable gun rack but haven't been able to find anything.
Any ideas on securing my weapons in a apartment? FYI, I have 3 rifles and 2 handguns right now.
 
You should NOT rig them with explosives, but it is a fun idea. :)

The first thing you can do is be discrete. Don't tell people you have guns unless you trust them not to tell their no-good cousin who just got out of jail or unless you have to. Don't let your neighbors see you taking them in and out. I know that's hard with long guns, but be creative.
 
I've been keeping it low key and I would buy an inexpensive safe but I'm in the military so I'd prefer something that doesn't weigh 400 lbs and moving it into an apartment might be suspicious.

I think I've found a alternative solution, getting a huge pelican case, like the new 1780, and figuring a way to chain it down to something inside the apartment.
 
Get a good quality gun safe with a fire rating for your guns. You can get them in sizes from 8 gun and up. You can also store other valuables in them as well. Mine is a Liberty Safe that comes with a Life time warranty if in a fire or is damaged by attemted break-in. Another good safe maker to check out is atPatriot Safes. It is really worth the investment.
 
You can get away with a locking security cabinet for now.

Get a solid toolbox-type cabinet, and add a really good lock. Make sure the hinges are INSIDE. They are out there, and with basic hand tools and a trip to Home Depot, you can have a pretty strong cabinet. Then make sure it's somewhere in your house that they have to get in and past you and your dog first.
 
Get a solid toolbox-type cabinet, and add a really good lock. Make sure the hinges are INSIDE. They are out there, and with basic hand tools and a trip to Home Depot, you can have a pretty strong cabinet.
Click to expand...

Sounds interesting. Can you name some manufacturers, or where to find them? A quick search for security cabinet yields a few:

http://www.secureit-usa.com/secure-weapons.asp

http://www.astrametalproducts.com.au/secure-cabinets-safes.htm

Or maybe a metal cabinet for flammable materials.
 
The last time I was in a gun store I did not see to many cheap guns. A good deer rifle and sidearm can cost more than a good safe. The best thing to do is determine how much you think your guns are worth and then protect them accordingly.
 
Apartment security.

A trip to Home Depot or Lowes is all you need.

1/2" aluminum tubing and a pipe cutter will give added security to windows and sliding doors. Put the tubing, cut to length, in the track.

Hardside lockable cases are relatively inexpensive, buy a double case that will fit at least two rifles and handguns. Lock it with a good lock, stow it in the small cubbyhole where your furnace is. It's dry in there, so no moisture. Most apartment dwellers don't even change the filters, so a piece of furniture in front of the small door won't look out of place.

Just make sure you run the sweeper often to avoid the "drag marks" in the carpet. That's known as a "clue".
 
Wallyworld dumps them cheap when it's off season. You can pick up a $550 box for $350 - so I've read at Arfcom. They rather sell them cheap than return them to the warehouse. Talk to the salesperson and ask if any are in the back.
 
Here is the inexpensive safe I just bought from Stack On for $350... http://www.stack-on.com/securityplus/gun_safes/gs-810.html Not fire resistant but heavy duty enough. It only weighs 166 pounds. You can carry into your apt (with two people) and bolt it to the wall & floor. Nice heavy duty door. About as cheap as you can get for a safe and still have it mean something. If the house burns up, the last thing I'm worried about is the guns... besides thats what insurance is for. Sure, if I could afford 2-3K for a fire proof safe I'd get one. But I wanted to get a safe in the house descreetly and without hiring a moving crew.
 
Well, as much as people look down on "residential security containers", almost anything is better than nothing.

The Stack-on type of RSC sure won't stop anyone with the time and tools but if you buy one, tuck it in a closet, weigh/bolt it down then you are going to defeat 90% of the smash n' grab types because it just won't be worth their effort.

As others have said, be as discreet as possible.

Also, make sure you keep DETAILED information on your firearms in a file cabinet or something. That means serial numbers, detailed photos, reciepts, etc. so that if the unfortunate does happen at least you may have some chance of getting them back.
 
My buddy just bought a sig and has a deer shotgun. he's got $200 and asked me what should be his next gun. My answer: Stack-on.

personally, this is one of those areas that is silly to skimp on. it's like insurance... sure, most of the time you don't need it but it sucks if you do and don't have it.

on a rough estimate of your collection, i'd say you have at LEAST 1,000-1500 invested, if not much more. assuming it's a burgeoning collection that will hopefully grow, i don't think it's unreasonable to spend at least 20% towards safeguarding them. think not only of their value but the dire consequences of them falling into the wrong hands.

so, i'd say $2-300 isn't only reasonable but anything less is foolhardy.

bottom line, whatever you can do to be sure that a) they don't fall into the wrong hands and to a less extent b) preserve said firearms from environmental damages (within reason).

just my $.02 (ok, that was more like $.06. sorry for the rant)
 
You can go with those "assemble it" safes from Bass pro shops. Granted they aren't the BEST, but for $99 or so you can get something secure. I'm pretty sure they aren't even fire rated, but if you are like me, you carry your most expensive weapon - the rest are all milsurp for the most part.
Also, keep in mind that most apartments are built using bricks and concrete anymore. If you lob a 400lbs safe onto a second floor apartment, you may just "donate" the safe to your downstairs neighbor.


here is a link:
http://www.basspro.com/servlet/cata...rClassCode=4&hvarSubCode=20&hvarTarget=browse
 
Keep an eye on local news papers and Craigslist. There are always folks getting rid of quality stuff. Must be 2 or 3 good gun safes in my area for sale every month or so.
 
I just saw two red-tagged models at my loca Wally World - a locking "cabinet" that was like a thin-walled locker you'd lock office supplies in, for $64, and a nicer, more secure 8-gun safe for $299.

I've also seen a "Gun Keeper" (?) that is a long, lockable clasp that holds both handguns and long guns.
 
I would suggest the SENTRY E5251 model (they change the first letter the "E" so just loook for any model thats a 5252).

I bought one a Lowe's for $297 - I think the regular price is $399. Its 59" tall by 20" by 17" (I may be off by an inch). I could move it by myself if I had a dolly with a strap - I got it off the truck and into the bedroom alone.

It comes pre-drilled so you can mount it to the floor and walls (find studs).

It says it has a fire rating but its just a piece of drywall - still when they go on sale its hard to beat for $300...its an RSC but for a snatch and grab burglary it should be ok - don't store your sawzall, crowbar, etc. near it.

Or buy a ganagbox (jobsite tool storage box) - they are about $300 at Lowe's & Home Depot and use it as a coffe table or as a trunk at the foot of your bed.
 
Just a idea I had. Why not buy a truck tool box? Put it under your bed, I'm not talking about a big tool box that goes from fender to fender.. Just one that fits in the bed of a pick up. A lockable tool box. It doesn't even have to be fancy or fireproof.

Your next option then is to BUY locks for all your guns. Perferably ones that goes in the trigger and cannot come out without a key. A gun theif is more than likely going to want to either use or pawn the gun they just stole.

If they can't shoot it and the dealer can't get the locks off - he is going to be suspicious and probably call the police or look at a rap sheet of recently stolen guns. Might could help you to get them back.

Last but not least, put insurance on all your weapons.. Put more insurance on them than what you paid for them.. Full replacement value. That isn't going to get grandpa's old '06 back. But it will give you enough money to replace what ever was stole with something as good as or even better than what you had.

You would be suprised to find out just how much a new Leupold scope or a old model 760 in .300 Savage is worth today!

About as much as a new Weatherby rifle off the rack!
 
I have a large gun safe in my basement, but like all the other safes mentioned here, any thief who knows I have it could break in with a sledge hammer or a maul. Also, any safe that's small enough to drag is gift wrap. As others have said, try not to let it out that you have guns OR a safe.
The ideal thing is good concealment. This isn't under or behind furniture, in the bottom of a drawer, or the back of a closet. The punks will tear your place apart and find those. Good concealment usually requires a bit of clever carpentry... fake walls, bulkheads over cabinets, etc.
If I'm gone, most of my guns are in my safe, but the ones I TREASURE are deviously concealed. Someday, if I have the time, I'll hide them all.
Marty
 
about gun safes ......

Has anyone considered a construction type tool box (gang box ) made of steel they could be lined with fire rated sheetrock,then lined with plywood over the sheetrock . the only differance
would be is all the guns would be lying sideways
 
Has anyone seen the show to catch a thief?

Forget trying to hide anything! I agree about buying a gun safe. I sell gunsafes but some of the ideas are good if not great. I sold and delivered gunsafes for about a year while renting an apartment I put off buying a safe cause I would have to move it so much ,eventually I lost six guns :banghead: I like the sentry for the money. They are heavy so not fun to move steel is steel all brands claim to be the best so buy the one you can afford and have room for. If money is a problem finance it. We offer six months same as cash and it really helps with our sales.
 
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