Kid-proof rifle safe

[doubleh]

I hate opening multiple safes when I mis-remember or flat out forget which safe houses my desired firearm, but...

I absolutely abhorred moving the 72 gun Canon I had at my last house. That’s why it didn’t make the trip to this home! Moving multiple safes sucks, but the big guys are super awkward, even the lighter models.

I attended a local gunshow several years ago and there was a safe company at the show with some of their models. One was a monster that I would bet weighed a ton. They had a turn-key operation from their plant to installed. I asked one of the guys how they moved something like that. He replied "big guys like me and golf balls". They got them up on golf balls and just rolled them along. I've rolled heavy objects on pieces of pipe but never though of using golf balls.

 

[FAS1]

This or the next size up for good basic protection.

https://www.sturdysafe.com/products/model-2016

 

[Stevie-Ray]

This is the one I got. Though there have been a few improvements over the years, Granite's were always good for the money. Heavy as hell to move when I first got it, but I eventually figured it out for my final house. Have mine set up half and half. 500 bucks way back when, no idea now, though Tractor Supply has good Black Friday sales on them usually. It's how I got my smaller ammo safe.

https://winchestersafes.com/product/ranger-26-gun-safe/

 

[illinoisburt]

This is honestly one of the most common discussions I have with new gun owners. Don't leave an unattended loaded gun in a bedside drawer, on top of the dresser, or propped behind a door if you have kids or possibly unstable people in your home. Any locked steel cabinet is better than none, even the $79 8-gun specials at local big box stores.

Educating kids about safety is really important, though curiosity may still abound. Use the free cable 'trigger locks' through the action when storing unloaded guns in a locked cabinet so even if accessed by kids they don't have ready way to close the action and pull a trigger.

Obviously keep ammo separate from guns. A padlocked ammo can is cheap and easy storage. Store keys on different key rings.

Can any of these measures be defeated? Yes, fairly easily by determined experienced theives or ner-do-wells. But we are talking about minimum safety measures to protect curious children from accidents.

*mini-rant*
This may seem to not need be said, but don't educate your young kids on how to defeat these safety measures. I've met my fair share of pre-teens who proudly show off how quickly they can open the combo lock on their parent's gun safe when we are getting equipment ready to go hunt. When I ask why the answer is usually papa taught them so they could get a gun in an emergency, or it's hard for the parent to see and manipulate the lock themselves. Tiny bit of misguided thinking with that if the goal is to keep the kid out in the first place. If they show off to me, who else?

 

[X62503]

I don't know how many of of have SecureIT cabinets, but I just bought two Agile 52's. Each holds 6 rifles/shotguns in butt and barrel cradles, more if you just stack the rifles without bottom cradles. They have a keypad lock with manual keyed override. They are shipped to your door and weigh about a hundred pounds (half of that is the door). Easy to move up or downstairs, and to assemble right in the closet. Once assembled, they are rock solid, especially when attached to the floor and wall, a straightforward matter with holes in the floor, sides and back (spaced stud width). Right now they are selling for around $600. I would get another in a heartbeat.

 

[Legionnaire]

I posted this a couple of years ago.

... if your primary purpose is to keep the kids away from your guns, there are other solutions. Before I bought my safe, I built a closet in my basement study for the purpose. While it looked like any other closet, it was lined with 3/4-inch plywood screwed to the studs, sheetrock over the plywood. The door, which swung outward, was a solid core hung with heavy duty hardware. The door latch plate was secured into the studs with 3 or 4 inch screws. On the hinge side, I had several lag bolts screwed into the edge of the door, the heads of which fit into steel sockets in the frame secured to the studs supporting the door frame with 3 or 4 inch screws; these would prevent the door from being removed if the hinge pins were driven out. Other than the self-locking (keyed) door knob, it looked like any other closet door when closed. Open, it had racks for long guns and a couple of shelves for gear.

No, it wouldn't defeat a determined attack, but it was plenty for keeping out curious kids or visitors, and even smash and grab opportunists. It had lots more space than a small safe, and because it just looked like a closet, it didn't attract attention.