Safely securing a loaded shotgun.

[MikeJ]

Hello,
I want to get a shotgun for home defense but the issue I am faced with is how do I store it safely when I am not at home? If I get a pump action, which is the way I'm leaning, I assume that you need to keep it loaded and ready in order for it to be really useful should someone come barging in with bad intentions. With my handguns, I have them stored in a built-in hidden area, but it is not designed to hold long guns. I have looked at the Remington 870 that comes with an integral lock but am also interested in the Winchester Defender, which doesn't have such a device. Any suggestions as to how to keep a loaded shotgun stored in a closet for example, yet made safe and secure? Thanks, Mike

 

[Preacherman]

Buy one of the cheap Stack-On or Sentinel gun cabinets from Wal-Mart (about $80 for the 8-gun version), and secure it to the wall and floor inside one of your closets. It'll hold your loaded shotgun secure from little fingers or prying visitors, and still be a key-turn away in time of need. Don't trust trigger locks or anything like that - they aren't nearly as secure as a metal gun cabinet. The cabinet also has the advantage of being able to hold other items of value and/or importance - guns, ammo, cameras, checkbook, etc.)

 

[Dave McCracken]

Our Chaplain has given good input. Another way....

Most pumps kept for defense are kept "Cruiser Ready". This is as follows.

Action closed and locked on an empty chamber.

Magazine loaded, sometimes one less than capacity to lessen the strain on the springs, sometimes not.

Safety on.

Note how many separate moves must be undertaken to make the weapon fire. These can be done in a second or less by the cognescenti,much longer and possibly not at all by a child or untrained adult.

Pumpguns are among those kinds of firearms having the least number of tragedies. This is why.

As to that locking safety, it can be manipulated to on without a key. Not a good idea on a defensive arm.

HTH...

 

[Nathaniel Firethorn]

I'm thinking along the lines of the Long Gun Vault.

Not in stores yet, apparently.

Re the $80 gun cabinets: Thin sheet steel can be pried apart with a crowbar or chopped through with a hatchet.

- pdmoderator

 

[dfariswheel]

Something you might want to look at is the new wall-mounted shotgun security device from Mossberg.

This is steel locking device similar to the lock racks used in police cars.

Apparently this is very secure and totally prevents anyone from operating or removing the gun.

I've read about some people spending some money and using an actual police car electronic shotgun rack mounted inside a closet.

I personally know two people who've bought the Mossberg lock box, and both are completely satisfied with it. The price is right, it's certainly secure, and it can be positioned just about anywhere, not just in a closet.

http://www.mossberg.com/locbox.htm

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

Re the $80 gun cabinets: Thin sheet steel can be pried apart with a crowbar or chopped through with a hatchet.

that'll take awhile, and more secure storage can be used when he goes on vacation.

 

[TarpleyG]

I use the Mossberg LocBox too. Pretty good design although I have to keep a key at the ready when I go to sleep.

GT

 

[Nathaniel Firethorn]

that'll take awhile, and more secure storage can be used when he goes on vacation.

About a minute. Maybe five minutes if the thief has to go get a Wonderbar and a hatchet.

- pdmoderator

 

[C.R.Sam]

Couple different levels of security at play here.
Child resistant
Thief resistant.

Cruiser ready pretty good child resistance ...
Thief resistant would take a decent safe.

If kept in safe, I would take it out upon arrival home.
Gun in safe worthless for home protection.

Sam

 

[MikeJ]

Thanks everyone for your responses. The Mossberg Loc-Box is what I am going to go with, it is perfect for my application. Now I can finally get a shotgun.

 

[Coronach]

Also, consider one of these. It is a vehicular shotgun lock, as used in police cruisers. It is a simple matter to secure it to a structural beam in a closet or behind a dresser. It is electronic, but nothing says you have to hook up the wires. Just use the key override. Lock it when you're away or have little ones about, unlock it when you want it 'on duty.' I keep my shotgun secured in one of these, cruiser ready.

The one shown is adjustable, but they have model specific ones for less.

Mike

 

[Darrin]

dfariswheel, thanks for that link!

 

[Monty]

Will the Mossberg® Loc-Box fit a Rem 11-87 with a side saddle attached? I see from the web page it will fit the 11-87 but no mention of the side saddle? From looking at it I would think probably not but wanted to ask anyway. Thanks, Monty

 

[sm]

Along Sam's thinking...

I think like a child, I think like a thief. I don't have kids around now, when I did I taught, If one visits I take precautions dependent on child's firearms training, or lack thereof. I never depend on electrical/battery security alone. Life experiences has taught me a safe keeps an honest man honest,mechanical slows down a pro...dependent on quality of mechanical. Experience also taught, I don't discuss valuables or security measures, and the people whom install , trustworthy and bonded...still I trust no one.

The two devices linked work well. If I use a firearm (shotgun in this case) it is accessible, If I'm gone, so is the ability to access firearm.

Think like a kid, how did you get into stuff when a kid at that age?
Think like a thief, how would you rob yourself?

 

[Mikul]

The Loc-Box looks like the gun could be made to fire if shells were left in the tube.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

The Loc-Box looks like the gun could be made to fire if shells were left in the tube.

Aside from the muzzle hook and the clamp that goes around the receiver, the gun hangs from a hook that goes into the chamber. The action has to be open to put the gun in the Loc Box. So the gun cannot fire if it's in one.

 

[Mikul]

Thank you for clearing that up. The chamber hook isn't evident in the photographs.

 

[Hkmp5sd]

The only real way to protect the firearm from theft is a safe. Even that is not 100% because given enough time and the proper tools, they can be opened.

One thing I would like to see for protection against small children (not against theft) is a locking devices designed to function without a key. Design one with a latch assembly that can be opened by the physical strength of an adult, but cannot be opened by a child .

The reason I would prefer this over a keyed device is I don't like the idea of being awakened from a deep sleep by an intruder and having to try to locate the key and get the gun unlocked.

An example of this is a gun lock I saw several years back designed for a handgun (don't remember who made it). It was similar to the childproof caps on pill bottles. It consisted of a plastic "cartridge" casing that was inserted into the chamber of a pistol or revolver. You then had a rod, similar to a cleaning rod, with a spring assembly on one end. The rod was inserted into the muzzle of the barrel (had adjustable lengths for different barrels). You then pressed the spring with the palm of your hand. The device would snap into its locked position, with the rod engaging the plastic casing, disabling the gun.

To bring the gun into action, you just pressed hard against the spring with the palm of your hand (or against a wall or the floor). The device would snap to its unlocked position, releasing the rod from the casing. You simply drop the rod/spring assembly to the ground and now have a fully functional handgun.

For autoloaders, you racked the slide, ejecting the plastic casing and chambering a cartridge. For revolvers, just start shooting.

The device also allowed the owner to adjust the tension level required to actuate the locking/unlocking mechanism.

Something similar designed for a wall mounted locking bracket would be ideal.

 

[Mannlicher]

When home, keet it loaded and chamber a round, put the safety on. When you leave, remove the round from the chamber leave the action open, and put the shottie in a GOOD safe. Repeat as often as necessary.

Simple, but this has worked around my house for about 70 years now, between my Dad and I, and never a problem.

I don't think it prudent to ever trust locks or gadgets for gun safety. One of the main reasons we keep guns around is for defense. Waking up in the middle of the night, and then, in the dark, trying to manipulate some lock or gadget pretty much renders you gunless.

 

[TarpleyG]

Will the Mossberg® Loc-Box fit a Rem 11-87 with a side saddle attached?

It'll fit any pump from what I can tell but not with a side saddle.

GT