Ok, here we go with the lock question-

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ChefJeff1

ChefJeff1

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I drilled a hole in my closet and secured and I bolt to the floor. I've been securing long guns through the bolt with a heavy bike lock cable and a master padlock. Am I just fooling myself by thinking these are safe? I did recently buy a safe for handguns and other small things. It seems there are different degrees of safe like safe from roommates or safe from a professional thief.
 
They're safer than if they were just sitting there with nothing. But probably not much.

I'm willing to bet that it wouldn't take much for a determined thief (or even a mediocre one) to figure out that all he has to do is rip the eye bolt out or unscrew it - neither of which is particularly troublesome - and he's got himself a brand new rifle.

Get a gun safe big enough to fit your rifles into.
 
It will keep guests and other unathourized individuals from picking it up and playing with it, but it certainly isn't going to stop someone from stealing it.
 
A locking door know would provide the same level of protection and make it far easier to access your guns.

Your not keeping them safe from a thief. You are, however, most likely keeping them safe from opportunists and kids......past that your fooling yourself.
 
Locked

An old axiom states that: "A lock only keeps an honest man honest." If one is determined to steal, a lock is little more than a delay. How long the delay is depends on the quality of the lock and the skill of the thief, but even an inept thief can succeed if he has enough time and determination. The prevailing wisdom is that if you can delay him for 5 minutes, he'll pick an easier target, but that usually applies to amateurs and opportunists. A pro who has deliberately targeted your collection probably knows about the security, and has a plan to defeat it.
 
Nothing is safe from a "Professional" theif. :mad:

They can be slowed down a bit though. Opinions vary on which type of safe. Buy what you can afford, and take with you if you rent and need to move.



Get insurance.
 
You might take the bolts out of the rifles and store them with your pistols.

If the thief sees that the guns are useless he might pass.

I once had a thief pass on a M1 Carbine because it was dismantled for cleaning. I guess he was too stupid to put it together.
 
m2carbine, you got it! I store the bolt in the safe. I went shooting with my dad the other day and forgot the bolt, the gun was pretty useless, duh! I figure my temporary set-up is indeed better than nothing.
 
Better than nothing, and of course nothing is perfect.

Even so, and even though a lock can be defeated, I'd still get a safe. Because a lock won't be defeated as readily by most as an eye bolt drilled into the floor. And trusting your property to the stupidity of the criminal is a chance I don't think one should bank on.

After all, can he not still sell your weapons at a pawn shop, even if the bolts are out?
 
If you want to keep it on the cheap, and want to address the weakest link in your current plan, I'd say put another eye-bolt right next to the one you've already got and run the cable through them both--and make sure there's not too much slack in the cable. At least this would prevent someone from simply unscrewing the bolt and walking away with the whole operation with no tool more cumbersome than pliers. The cable and lock are still susceptible to tools, of course, but bigger tools than pliers, at least.
 
Also make sure you don't have some bolt cutters in the house or found easily in the garage. Thieves have been known to use what is convenient to finish the job. Don't make it easy for him to find a way to cut the cable.

It is a much better idea than trying to "hide" the guns in a closet or like another said, just leaning them in the corner. Putting the rifle bolts in the safe is a nice touch too. :) Even if they sold the "rifle parts" to a pawn shop, you bet it will be much easier for you or the police to trace them down!

Justin
 
Safes can be opened too. That's why mine is hidden inside a purpose built false wall. Pull the correct switch the correct number of times and the wall opens. This is NOT where I keep my home defense weapons.
 
most burglaries are done by people needing money for their next fix basic smash and run in and out in short order. Buy a safe I got one years ago $800 delivered a Fort Knox I believe "Defender" model.
I've had people say that "they'll take the safe with them' well it took to guys the size of Lou Ferrigno to get it it to my house if they can get it out they can have whats inside. Someone also said safes can be opened sure IF YOU GOT THE TIME and most junkies don't want to be there when you get home.
Added bonus you might get a reduction in your home owner's insurance policy for having the safe
 
I used to do a little lock picking as a hobby.

Any cable lock that came with any of my guns usually took 10-15 seconds. Maybe 30 seconds if I goofed.

Master brand locks were a little tougher... maybe 3 minutes on average.
 
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