Shotgun mount question

[crazyXgerman]

I have been doing some research (including the THR archives) on how to secure a shotgun in a bedroom closet against unauthorized access while still allowing quick access in case of emergency.

So far I have found the following products:

SC-5 Gun Lock for all Rifles & Shotguns

Mossberg Loc-Box

These two are reasonably priced and have the features I am looking for. However, they both require a key for opening which I find suboptimal. Trying to locate and use a key under stress, possibly in the dark, sounds like a recipe for failure.

Then I found this:

Shotgun Case, Closet Vault from V-line Steel Hard Rifle Case

It looks like a good solution, but once you add shipping, it is rather expensive and actually costs more than the weapon it is supposed to secure.

I also found this:

Santa Cruz Electronic Lockhead

It is designed for vehicle mounting and wiring to 12V so it won't work in this scenario, but something like this with an electronic combination/button lock would be ideal.

Another one I came across:

MAGLOC Push Button Trigger Lock

Interesting design, but doesn't look like it will work with a shotgun.

Is anybody aware of a product that would fit the bill?

- Single shotgun/rifle wall mount
- Theft protection
- Keyless access/release
- Reasonably priced

Any tips would be appreciated.

I wasn't sure which forum to post it in since it fits multiple categories - Tactics, Rifle, Shotgun, Accessories - so I posted in the General forum - hope that is ok.

 

[LaEscopeta]

MAGLOC Push Button Trigger Lock
Interesting design, but doesn't look like it will work with a shotgun.

I use a wall mounted Magloc for my shotgun. I got a couple of L screws from the hardware store, screwed them into the lintel above the closet door and wrapped duct tape around the exposed parts. One L-screw points up to support the stock, the other points hozontal towards the first, so the muzzle slips over the second L-screw (like the Mossberg Loc-Box.) The Magloc is mounted with straight wood screws to the wall at the trigger guard. OK it looks like something from Tool Time, but it is on the inside of the closet, so I'm the only one who sees it.

 

[crazyXgerman]

Wouldn't the width of the shotgun body make it impossible to mount the lock against the wall? Did you have to use some sort of spacer?

 

[AK103K]

Santa Cruz Electronic Lockhead

It is designed for vehicle mounting and wiring to 12V so it won't work in this scenario, but something like this with an electronic combination/button lock would be ideal.

I've used something similar mounted in my shop when the kids were small. All you need is a 12vDC transformer and you can run it off AC. My buddy hooked mine into an old emergency light, so I had a battery back up too.

My kids were never a problem, but I still had mine set up "without" the delay, so you had to have one hand on the gun and the other on the button. You had to push the button and pull the gun out at the same time, and the button was at arms length on one side and the gun at arms length on the other.

 

[crazyXgerman]

I've used something similar mounted in my shop when the kids were small. All you need is a 12vDC transformer and you can run it off AC. My buddy hooked mine into an old emergency light, so I had a battery back up too.

Eeeenteresting. While I am handy with tools, I don't have much experience with electrical wiring. Could you provide details on how to put this together? I wouldn't mind giving that a shot.

 

[strickjc]

I use a closet as a gun safe with a dead bolt,strikeplate,etc...

I suppose the same could be done using a key-less lock very easily!

 

[AK103K]

Crazy,

I'm not an electrician either, my buddy is though.

The transformer is just a small thing that takes household AC and converts it to 12vDC. Wires with a plug on one end, wires out to the mount on the other. I did that part myself.

I'm not sure how he hooked the emergency light up, he came by one day with one he removed from somewhere and hooked it up while we had a beer.

 

[LaEscopeta]

Wouldn't the width of the shotgun body make it impossible to mount the lock against the wall? Did you have to use some sort of spacer?

You have to push the trigger guard against the Magloc back plate (the part the mounts on the wall), rotating around the bore axis to put on the top part (part with the buttons) of the MagLoc. There is enough space between the pins and the trigger guard to allow this, and rubber mats on both halves of the lock sort of fill the gaps. As long as at least on pin is behind the trigger, I think the lock will prevent firing no matter how the gun is forced to move around on the mounted lock.

A spacer behind the backing plate could make the gun hang straight up and down, making it look better. But I think it might make it a little slower to take down, because you would have to pull the gun farther from the wall to clear the trigger guard off the back plat pins. I have my gun mounted upside down. After pushing the unlock buttons and dropping the top of the lock to the floor, I rotate the gun so the trigger guard goes past vertical and off the pins, then lift the butt end up and over the L-screw that is holding it, and lower the butt until the muzzle slips off the L-Screw on that end. Note there is space between the stock and the L-screw to allow the gun to rotate, and the L-screw on the muzzle end will unscrew 1/4 turn in the wall as the back of the gun is lowered, to help the muzzle slip off.

Hope this helps.

 

[Fred Fuller]

The keyed lock only requires a small change in habits to be effective as you describe- at least the Mossberg version does, it's the one I have here and am familiar with.

Put its key on your keyring with your car keys. When you get home, unlock the lock and leave the key (and keyring) in the lock. You can't leave without locking it to get the key out, so the lock is secured when you are not home, and open when you are.

lpl/nc

 

[crazyXgerman]

Good input, everybody, thanks.

After some consideration, I've decided to go with this model.

Picking it up this afternoon at a local store.