Inexpensive method of safely storing loaded revolver

[Tallinar]

Currently, the only handguns I own are single action revolvers. I have a .45 Colt New Vaquero that I currently keep loaded and cased on a high shelf in my bedroom closet.

Now that my children are all old enough to walk (oldest just turned 3, youngest just turned 1), and along with that - new concerns voiced by my wife, I would like to reconsider my method of storage.

Being a single action revolver, it doesn't make a lot of sense to me to keep the gun unloaded. In the event that I needed to get up and grab it in the middle of the night, it would be unrealistic to try to load it in the dark and still fighting the effects of sleep. So I would like to still keep it loaded. But I recognize the great balancing act that has to take place when one has young kids in the house.

I can't really afford one of those snazzy 4-button combination quick release gunsafes at the moment, and I'm not in any hurry to trade off my single actions for an automatic or a DA revolver - which would allow me to store the gun unloaded but with a magazine or speedloader readily accessible nearby. The SA's are all I have because they also happen to be what I enjoy shooting recreationally. If I was in a position to buy a new gun right now, I would; but in the absence of spending cash, I'm not anxious to trade off the stuff I have. Surely ya'll can relate to that.

So does anyone have any suggestions for an inexpensive way to keep a loaded SA revolver safe from children, but still readily accessible in the event of needing to grab it?

Like I said, I know it's a balancing act trying to keep your home defense guns readily accessible, while also safe from small children. So please, if ya'll wanna scold me for storing a loaded revolver in my closet to begin with - save it. I understand the intrinsic safety concerns. I don't need to hear all the "well, even your 1 year old can get to it somehow" or "imagine walking into your bedroom with your toddler lying in a pool of blood" stuff. I understand your concerns. Really, I do. At the same time, I have similar horrific images of my stay-at-home-mom/wife being victim to a daytime home invasion in which she can't defend herself or the kids. I want to prevent both extremes as well as I can.

Thanks folks.

 

[Pyro]

Usually like $20 for a pack, but worth it IMO. Just keep a metal rod next to the gun that you can slap down the barrel and arm.
http://www.safetybullet.com/

 

[Kendal Black]

It'll have to be some kind of lockbox or safe. This one doesn't cost a lot. http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=7704750&postcount=4

There are override keys in case the electronics pack up. You get one, your wife gets one and any others go in the trash.

I don't have any firsthand experience with this unit, and no doubt you'll want to check out for yourself anything you are going to use, anyway, but not all small safes cost a fortune.

Something of that sort, or any really sturdy lockbox with a lock that can't be defeated with a screwdriver, a slim jim, or something else.

 

[leadcounsel]

Small lock box for $10 or a small sentry firesafe for $20 or $30. Put your key on your key ring.

 

[tepin]

Never seen that before. Interesting method.

I think I would opt for a trigger lock and at night before bed remove the lock. With a revolver, I'll probably want all 5 or 6 chambers hot and not have to worry about jamming up the gun with a "safety round" and looking for a rod.

 

[rcmodel]

Cheap & simple method.

Zip-Tie the hammer down and keep a pair of wire cutters or a pocket knife handy.

rc

 

[Tallinar]

That safe you linked looks sort of promising, Kendal. Not bad at all for $25!

 

[kk0g]

Maybe a holster? Seriously I'm not trying to be a smartass, if your sidearm is not on your side it is of little to no value. What happens when someone is smashing the door in and your gun is locked up on the other side of the house or upstairs or where ever you decide to store it? Now you have to cover a lot of distance and dig around in your pocket for the key or fumble around with a combination during an EXTREMELY high stress situation. Worse yet, what happens when the bad guy is between you and the locked gun?

 

[Tallinar]

Maybe a holster? Seriously I'm not trying to be a smartass, if your sidearm is not on your side it is of little to no value. What happens when someone is smashing the door in and your gun is locked up on the other side of the house or upstairs or where ever you decide to store it? Now you have to cover a lot of distance and dig around in your pocket for the key or fumble around with a combination during an EXTREMELY high stress situation. Worse yet, what happens when the bad guy is between you and the locked gun?

Err, do you have kids?

Wearing a holster while sleeping is not exactly viable. Nor is it viable for me to keep a holstered gun in plain site next to the bed when I sleep; lest one of my kids simply wake up in the middle of the night and find their way into my room while I'm sleeping. If you sleep with a holstered sidearm on your person, I'm impressed. Having the gun secured in my bedroom is as close to readily accessible as I am going to get by with when I have children in the house.

If you're referring purely to normal activities during the day, then sure, I agree with you. Gun on your person is the best thing you can do. Even then, though, I don't expect to have my wife begin carrying a handgun on her person throughout the day while she's constantly lifting/holding kids, having kids run up and grab her all the time, and changing diapers all day.

When I am not at work or on my way to work, I am typically carrying. I'm also not the one who necessarily has kids hanging off me all the time though.

 

[stumpers]

Here's one possibility:

Use a child safety lock on your case that is easily manipulated by you, but hard for your kids.

Here's an image of what I mean, only substitute a child lock for the small D-ring.

 

[Tallinar]

Not bad stumpers. Thanks for the idea!

 

[Dr_B]

Small gun safes with key-pad electronic locks cost $60-$100 around here. Medical bills cost a lot more than that. Don't hold back on safety equipment when you have kids in the house.

 

[rdsmith3]

You'd be surprised at how resourceful young kids can be. My youngest is now 5. When he was 2, or maybe younger, he would pull a chair over to the kitchen counter and climb up on it, so the stuff we though was out of reach was really not safe at all. Now, even though he cannot read, he was able to hack my iTunes account and download some apps. He also figured out the 4 digit PIN for his sister's iPad and was able to get into that. If he keeps this up I'm sending him to the NSA.

Kids are naturally curious, and very resourceful, so I agree that you should not compromise on safety.

What about something like this?

http://www.amazon.com/Gunvault-GV1000D-DLX-Mini-Vault-Deluxe/dp/B002HOLG2I/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1306106364&sr=8-7

 

[Shadow 7D]

Usually like $20 for a pack, but worth it IMO. Just keep a metal rod next to the gun that you can slap down the barrel and arm.
http://www.safetybullet.com/

PLEASE don't get that, many issues and it's something that isn't needed (read his site, its not really that gun friendly)
Why put something that can lock up your gun, when all you have to do is seperate the gun and ammo, or say, lock it up.

You can buy a cheap money box for less than 10 dollars, a simple document box fire safe for $20 or a four button bed side pistol box for less than 100 dollars

really can't afford a bedside, shoot you can buy a small electronic safe from Walmart or Target for less than 100
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=small+safe&x=0&y=0
first one, less than $50 with free shipping.

so I question your whole premise, I mean really, don't eat McDonald's for a month and you can afford it.

 

[Tallinar]

I'm thinking this safe from the site Kendal linked would suit my purposes. Doing a little math (gotta love the Pythagorean theorem), I *think* my 7.5" New Vaquero will fit in this one if positioned corner to corner. Trying to account for the fact that the listed dimensions are exterior and not interior, I figure I'd probably have right at about 12" from corner to corner. If it doesn't fit, I may just end up moving the 3.75" .44 special Vaquero to bedroom duty at night.

 

[rdsmith3]

Harbor Freight always has coupons, so you will pay less than that. You can frequently find 20% off coupons in motorcycle magazines, for example.

 

[Strykervet]

I bought three cheap metal lock boxes at Target ten years ago. They are in the area with the "safes". You can also find them at WalMart, Home Depot, etc. The one I have is sheet metal, double thick with a space in between (fire resistance). They are sold as document or fire safes, but I doubt they do much against fire or attack. But they'll keep the kids out.

I took one of them and drilled out four holes in the bottom for screws (it has bosses, but no holes, holes would kill the fire rating altogether). Then I glued in egg crate foam, and presto, I had a pistol safe ready to bolt down. All for $20 or less.

 

[Cluster Bomb]

get a 2 zipper hand gun bag and either do something similar to Stumpers said or use a paper clip. and "lock" the two zippers together.

 

[Deaf Smith]

So does anyone have any suggestions for an inexpensive way to keep a loaded SA revolver safe from children, but still readily accessible in the event of needing to grab it?

The key part is being safe AND accessible.

May I suggest a false light switch on the wall high enough so kids can't reach it (and in an obscure place.) Yes it means cutting into sheet rock and installing an empty light switch box and then using magnets to keep the cover in place (and do this when the kids are NOT HOME!)

Or, a fake wall clock..

But what ever is done, teach the kids about guns and how to safely handle them.

Make sure they are not seen by the kids as 'forbidden fruit' and thus they seek them out when you are not there.

Once they see the guns as not forbidden stuff and the necessity of you having them they will not think much of it.

Let them know you will be happy to go shoot with them... but when you are way to please not touch them (and not tell their friends about them!)

Deaf

 

[cpallenjr]

I think these look promising:
http://www.raclocked.com/products

 

[Rail Driver]

If you're referring purely to normal activities during the day, then sure, I agree with you. Gun on your person is the best thing you can do. Even then, though, I don't expect to have my wife begin carrying a handgun on her person throughout the day while she's constantly lifting/holding kids, having kids run up and grab her all the time, and changing diapers all day.

Not to derail, but I am a stay at home dad of a 2 yr old and an 11 month old. I do all of that and more with a handgun strapped on.

As far as storage, when my oldest son started walking I stopped keeping the guns on my display rack loaded, and I moved the loaded long guns to an old gym locker I stuck on the top shelf in my closet long-ways. I keep it closed with a screw type locking D-ring that has the option for a padlock. My handgun stays in the holster at night and goes into the bedside holder between the wall and the head of the bed. It's completely out of sight even with the bed stripped, and easily accessible should I need it.

 

[CmpsdNoMore]

I don't know if they make one that a single action revolver would fit in, but I have my sp101 (3") in a Gunvault Nanovault. I don't have to worry about kids right now, but I follow the practice of putting the key in it at night (It sort of works as a handle after you unlock it) and remove it when I'm out of the house.

 

[FAS1]

I don't like the idea of having to find a key in the middle of the night, but there are usually trade-offs when kids and guns are involved. You can buy a camlock from Graingers and install it on your nightstand drawer for $5-$10. With your limited funds and the size of your gun, this could be something for you to look into. Gotta protect the kiddos. Good luck on your search.

 

[Tallinar]

But what ever is done, teach the kids about guns and how to safely handle them.

Make sure they are not seen by the kids as 'forbidden fruit' and thus they seek them out when you are not there.

Once they see the guns as not forbidden stuff and the necessity of you having them they will not think much of it.

Let them know you will be happy to go shoot with them... but when you are way to please not touch them (and not tell their friends about them!)

Deaf

Completely agreed, Deaf. And this is the mentality I will be using as my kids get older. It's how Dad raised us, and my siblings and I somehow managed to grow up without killing ourselves/each other. Here in the next couple years, I will be introducing my eldest child to gun safety.

Harbor Freight always has coupons, so you will pay less than that. You can frequently find 20% off coupons in motorcycle magazines, for example.

Yes, thanks! I noticed this! I found a 20% off coupon code online before ordering. Awesome deal, I think.

Not to derail, but I am a stay at home dad of a 2 yr old and an 11 month old. I do all of that and more with a handgun strapped on.

Good deal! I'm glad this suits you. My point wasn't that it was impractical or couldn't be done by anyone. I just know guaging my wife's own comfort level with guns that she wouldn't feel comfortable carrying throughout the day at home like that.

I think these look promising:
http://www.raclocked.com/products

Whoa, that looks very promising indeed! I could even hang that in the wall in my closet. Definitely something to consider! Not sure it would be safe for a loaded gun though, based on their descriptions. Would give me a secure way to keep an unloaded shotgun in the closet though...

Thanks for the input everyone.

 

[SwissArmyDad]

I have a gunvault nano-vault. It was about $30.00. It holds my loaded XD9 at my bedside, and I basically keep the 3 digit combo one number off. At night I simply set the correct number, but leave it closed.

It's worked for a year or so, to keep my kids away from it, but I do plan on getting another keypad safe (gave mine to my dad) that allows for quicker access and for more storage inside. The Nano is only good for one gun, and might be a bit small for a full-sized barrel on your revolver. A shorter barrelled rig might work, though.

Also, don't just look @ Gunvaults products. WAY overpriced in my opinion, with some of them topping out at like $300-400.00.

I had a DAC brand keypad safe that was around $65-70.00 and it worked flawlessly for the 3-4 years I had it. There's some great deals to be had on Amazon for lockboxes/pistol safes that would do great to keep a kid safe, at the same time keeping your SA loaded and ready for you or your wife to use.