Maintaining a "desk gun"

[JamisJockey]

So my home office (wife and I work from home) is in my basement...guns are in my bedroom.
I've listed my Taurus PT145 for sale, but am having second thoughts. Reason being, I feel I need to keep a firearm in the office. It'd be preferable to packing around the house all the time.
So, what considerations should I take towards keeping an auto in a small safe in my desk? Thoughts?
My other option would be selling the Taurus and picking up an inexpensive wheelgun. However, having 10+1 .45acp at my disposal has its attractions.....

 

[springmom]

Um, not to hijack your thread, but carrying is preferable to having them squirreled away around the house. For one thing, if it's on you and you've practiced drawing it, you're going to be quicker. For another, it gives you the ability to move AS you draw, instead of having to open a safe, reach in, and get the gun, before you can do anything defensive.

And if you have children, the gun that is on you is the one you KNOW is out of reach of the little ones.

The Taurus is a gun that lots of folks like just fine. I just wouldn't opt for keeping it in a safe instead of on/in my belt.

Springmom

 

[slow944]

+1 with Springmom. If it's locked in the safe it can't help you if you ever need it. I've got the PT145 as well and it's a great CCW package.

 

[DogBonz]

+1 for Springmom

But if you are set on not carrying then mount a chepie holster to the under side of the desk.

 

[the naked prophet]

I won't go to bed if there's a gun, any gun, in my house anywhere but in my bedroom (loaded where I can reach it, or in the safe next to my bed). I'm afraid that someone will break in and find it, and now they're armed. They could either start a gunfight or walk out with my gun. Get a .38 snub or a Kel-Tec .380 and keep it in your pocket at home. It's virtually no trouble, and it'll let you fight your way to the "real" guns.

 

[ravencon]

In my jurisdiction all firearms not under your direct control are required to be secured. Besides being a legal necessity, I find that to be sound basic security. I don't want anyone accessing my guns but me.

Carrying is more accessible than a lock box, safe or trigger lock. I suspect if I ever really need a gun it will be a time when I'm not expecting trouble. Having a gun on my person is a comforting and prudent thing.

 

[JamisJockey]

Blah blah blah
Not what I asked.
I have small children, and am not inclined to carry around the house all the time. It's not exactly comfortable, and I'm not in a high crime neighborhood.
Given the house is a two story with basement, I'd like to have the option of an accessible gun in the basement where my office is. It would need to be kept in a small drawer safe, or a safe under my desk.
We keep the doors locked and have an alarm system. Its not like I'm going to get surprised by a roving pack of mall-ninjas, as they'd lose the element of surprise when the alarm goes off.

The under-desk holster isn't an option, with small children I need to have it locked.

I often have my kel-tec on my person if I've been out running errands or whatnot, but am not inclined to suit up to check email in my underwear.


Edit:
My primary question is how should I maintain a semi-auto kept in a small safe and shot/used very little. What problems should I realisitically expect (rust, etc?).

 

[daysleeprx]

My primary question is how should I maintain a semi-auto kept in a small safe and shot/used very little. What problems should I realisitically expect (rust, etc?).

Probably no more problems than keeping any gun stored away in a regular safe or what have you. The only problem I can think of is if maybe your basement is very damp or something, in which case just clean and oil the gun every couple months.

 

[dfariswheel]

Storing an auto as you want, is no problem, but you do need to be aware of the maintenance issues.
You can load up a revolver, put it in a desk drawer for 50 years, pull it out and it will fire all 6 with no problem.

Autos are a little different due to the tendency for lubes to dry out or evaporate.
For this reason, I recommend using a good grease on autos since it stays put, and doesn't dry out or evaporate.
I've stored a 1911 for almost 10 years and it worked just fine right out of the case it was stored in.
It was greased.

To prevent rust, which shouldn't be a big problem unless you're in a really damp environment, coat the gun with either a thin coat of CLP Breakfree, which is one of the very best rust preventing lubes, OR coat it with a coat of a good wax like Johnson's Paste Wax.

Since some materials like papers and plastics might cause corrosion if in contact with the gun, I'd recommend laying the gun on a sheet or two of Vapor-Paper.
This is a paper that gives off a vapor that drives moisture and air out of a case, and surrounds the metal with a vapor that prevents rust for at least 10 years.
You can buy sheets of it from Brownell's:
http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=1197&title=GUNWRAP? PAPER

So, lube the gun with grease to make sure it'll work if you need it, and use the Vapor-paper to insure it won't rust in storage.
Do this and you should be able to store it for many years but it'll work when needed.

 

[Ala Dan]

I'm also in springmom's camp, as I pack 'round the home front. Most
of the time, its a KEL-TEC P3AT .380; but that should be good enough too
allow me to fight my way to a more powerful weapon~!

 

[Plink]

As far as your rust worries go, just give it a wipedown with CorrosionX. It's the best rust proofer I've found so far. It keeps steel rust free in hostile environments for a very long time.

 

[Bezoar]

Dont forget to swap magazines at least once a month. Nothing worse then needing your gun to realize the magazine spring took a "set" from 3 years of storage and now wont feed ammunition when you have some street hoods breaking in.

 

[Eightball]

Its not like I'm going to get surprised by a roving pack of mall-ninjas, as they'd lose the element of surprise when the alarm goes off.

Thanks for the laugh

My primary question is how should I maintain a semi-auto kept in a small safe and shot/used very little. What problems should I realisitically expect (rust, etc?).

Same way you'd maintain anything else in a safe. De-moisturizer/silicant/electronic whizz-bang machines/what-have-you are all probably a good idea, as are the suggestions of everyone else. Keep it lubed, check on it every once in a while, take it on a date to the 'range (they love that, you know) every so often--that kinda thing.

 

[Geronimo45]

Use a box of that silica stuff - you see it in pill bottles and all sorts of stuff. Sucks up the moisture to keep it away from your gun. Lots of folks sell the stuff... probably find it at Wal-Mart.
Also, lube your gun with grease. Does not evaporate, should provide much better protection against rust/water vapor than oil.
If you're not going to shoot the gun for a long period of time, you might want to download the mag by one round - just as a precaution. Having a round in the chamber should not be a problem at all.

 

[sm]

JamisJockey,

Safe:

My preference is these for a handgun safe:

http://www.handgunsafe.com/401s.htm
The site shows a few variations.
The Simplex lock system is very very good. I have used these since they were called "Simplex Lock Boxes".
Mechanical, the ability to change combinations yourself, NO batteries, NO Keys.
These bolt very well into desk drawers, allowing one to simply open drawer, hit combo, access.
Same handgun safe I recommend for vehicles as it fit legal req's for secure carry for CCW when traveling.
Desks, and other furniture, such as a nightstand, roll top desk, dresser drawer, filing cabinet...

-Breaker Boxes.
Yep, just like on the side of your house.
Heavy, internal hinges, welded ends to hinge pins, welded tang the fits through a slot where a Quality Lock can be used.

Drill holes, get some cork lining, Lock , mount and good to go.

Gun:
Semi:
I have used Bone Stock 1911s a LOT, for too many years.
BHPs as well.
Kel-Tec P-11 for some years now have been real real nice for handguns safes in desk drawers and all sorts of hiding spots in homes and businesses.

Revolver:
I am biased.
Used Police Trade in Model 10s and 64s

RIG [Rust inhibiting Grease] , just a very light film is great for Protecting no matter if environment is hot, cold, humid or damp.

I have lost count of the number of these Trade Ins used for scattering in a business, or home.
Serious, more than once a half dozen bought at a time for this very purpose.

I have used Dexron Automatic Transmisson Fluid with Great success for a lube, that lasts, and prevents internal rust and all other concerns.
Ballistol is another good one.

Heck, one place we used Kleenbore Formula 3, we had a quart given to us, so just used it with no problems.

Inspect an Maintain...biggest key.


JamisJockey, you are a sharp person. You know the first step is not ever telling anyone, or showing anyone unless that person is also going to have access to and may have to use the gun.

HTH

 

[chris in va]

and I'm not in a high crime neighborhood

You live in NOVA. You might be suprised. I lived there for a few years.

If you've got attire on that has pockets, just slip a P3AT in there and call it good. Those belt clips work wonders, even if you just have PJ's on.

I know...blah blah blah and all, but some pretty sound advice regardless.

 

[Rustynuts]

Get a small gunvault. You can mount it to the underside of the desk, either sideways or totally upside down. Accessed by feel on fingertip buttons that you program.