Gun Safe Questions

D

Dah Mastah

Inactive
I am a first-time poster with some questions about gun safes. I recently purchased a Mossberg 590 for home defense. I have four major requirements:
1. Secure the weapon from theft;
2. keep it readily accessible for its intended purpose;
3. have a fire-resistant safe, which eliminates storing it in a gun locker; and
4. keep the safe on the smaller side, given that I won't be purchasing that many more guns (I live in Washington, DC) and do not have space for a big safe.

I have read a lot of material on the Internet (this forum, manufacturers' sites and other forums), but I have yet to see anything definitive. Thoughts?
 
Keeping the gun "readily accessible for its intended purpose" pretty much rules out a safe.
 
Even if one had the safe in the bedroom, with an electronic lock, do you think the Mossberg could be readily accessible? Are you saying that I am relegated to leaving it under the bed?
 
I'd feel safer with a safe and electronic keypad for my .45 next to the bed. If you leave the shotgun in a safe you're putting yourself at a disadvantage if you need it quickly.
 
No handguns allowed in D.C.(that could be changing)
I've recently seen a locking unit that bolts into a wall corner. Can't remember the name. I probably saw it in the American Rifleman. It doesn't protect it from fire, probably only a little from theft & works by a key.
Life Jacket would protect from unauthorized use (kids) & has a key that would allow fairly quick access.
Try waking from a deep sleep & then getting to & operating a safe quickly. It's not as easy as you might think.
Home invasions happen pretty quick.
 
For the price of a Mossberg, I wouldn't waste my time looking into a fire proof safe. You can buy a new Mossberg for 1/4th the price of the safe. Any fire proof safe I've seen is large, expensive, and heavy.

You could get one of the smaller gun cabinets like an 8 gun unit. They're about 20" wide, 18" deep, 5' high. You could use it for the shotgun on one side, and put some shelves in for other personal stuff like cameras etc on the other. This would free up other storage space.

As far as "readily accessible", that means magazine loaded. The only thing I can think of is when no company or kids are around (like at night) load the magazine with chamber empty, racking one in if needed. Put the gun away when leaving the house.
 
Solution to your problem!

1. Move back to America! D.C. was apparently taken over by the Soviet Union or some other communist/ socialist/ alien entity some years back that believes in the "only the bad guys should be armed" doctrine.

2. Hide your shotgun behind the curtain in your bedroom. Unless you have small children, this is a good solution. The weapon is secure in that only you know it is there. It is readily available in case the boogey-man comes a knockin'.

3. See #1 and get a .45! ;)

Vanguard.45
 
Off the subject, but D.C. is the perfect example of the federal government at work, and why less intrusion by government is needed.
 
How about training your kids to respect firearms? Not being a wiseazz but I was raised in a house with more than one loaded firearm and we never risked an azz whipping to mess with one of them without say so.
 
Thanks for the replies. A .45 would be nice, but DC prevents that. No, I am not moving.

Fire protection would be nice to protect first-responders from expoding ammunition in the event my house goes up in flames. It is hard to have fire protection without an expensive, heavy safe.

Of everything I have read on this forum and other sites, I think the best solution is the V-Line shotgun box -- Simplex lock, bolted under the bed, ready to roll. A small closet-sized safe (Pentagon safes has a nice one) is in the cards once kids enter the picture. Kids can be taught to respect firearms, but a weapon secured by nothing more than the threat of an ass whuppin' is asking for trouble.

Finally, DC is not neither Communist nor Soviet, nor any of those other lame jabs at the "left wing." Some of us "left-wingers" who supported Kerry nonetheless believe in the right to bear arms. In time, DC's gun laws will come around.
 
I don't think shotgun shells are any different, but cartridges will not explode in fire. At least not in the huge fireball that hollywood makes it out to be.
 
After reading a related thread on Sportsman Steel/Pentagon safes, I don't think I will be buying from them anytime soon. The price looked right, but you always get what you pay for. It looks like the safe will have to be a Liberty, which many posters have endorsed.

AUG, I put "left wing" in quotes because it is a stupid moniker designed to catergorize people in a simplistic way. People can be from DC and vote for the Dems while also respecting the right to bear arms. So, enough with the right-wing/left-wing garbage and let's talk about guns. Isn't that what this site is all about?
 
Sure. He's right, ammo does not explode unless it is confined like it is in a gun's chamber.

I predict that D.C. gun laws will change sometime after the residents stop voting for people like Marion Barry.

John
Richard Montgomery H.S., Rockville MD, Class of '68
 
Dah Mastah wrote:

"Finally, DC is not neither Communist nor Soviet, nor any of those other lame jabs at the "left wing." Some of us "left-wingers" who supported Kerry nonetheless believe in the right to bear arms. In time, DC's gun laws will come around."

Vanguard.45 writes:

a) In America, a citizen (not a subject) is allowed to carry a .45 with which to defend himself against the goblins afoot. Don't believe that goblins exist? Go to DC and watch them work.

b) In America, we know the difference in a person holding a shotgun for publicity (Kerry) and a person who truly believes in the right to keep and bear arms (someone waaaaaaay the hell to the right of Kerry).

c) Only a "left-winger" would call an accusation of DC having fallen under some totalitarian regime a "lame jab." DC is the murder capital of the country and won't allow the good guys to protect themselves. Either you people are under totalitarian control or are just plain dumb/ brainwashed/ propagandized/ neutered to the point of inaction and subservience. I was just trying to give you the benefit of the doubt. Apparently I was mistaken.

d) Keep holding your breath for DC's gun laws to change in any substantial way. They are now debating whether or not you should have the right and means of your choice to defend your home or place of business from predators!!!! That's a DEBATE?? In America, we call that an "inalienable right."

e) Yes, this website is about guns and about sound advice regarding them. My advice to you is that if you live in a place where your access to a firearm is so tightly restricted, you are placing you and your family in harm's way both in the home and out in public (especially in a cesspool of crime like DC). That is why my advice started the way it did.

f) No, you cannot vote for the DEMS and then also say you respect my right to keep and bear arms! That's like saying you voted for a bill before you voted against it. I mean, just look at all the Democrats have done for the 2nd Amendment. . . . . . . . . . . .Oh, yeah. Every major population center in which the Democrats have control (Chicago, New York, DC, etc.) IT IS VIRTUALLY ILLEGAL TO KEEP OR BEAR ARMS! What kind of idiots do you take us for? Please do not insult those of us who choose to pay attention with such ludicrous statements.

I don't trust socialists. They are simply people who have nothing and want to share it with you. DC is a shining example of this.

Just one educated man's opinion.
Vanguard.45
 
Geeez guys the guy didn't ask for a political lecture, he asked about safe storage of a firearm. We may not agree with his views, but that doesn't make him any less welcome or a target for our soap box preaching. When he asks to debate politics, debate politics, when he asks about a safe talk to the man about a safe. My two cents.

I don't think you are going to find a good solution that meets fireproof, quickly accessible, small, light and reasonably priced. As far as protecting the firefighters from any cook offs keeping the weapon in any decent steel safe should be just fine. I wouldn't think buckshot could penetrate even some of the lower end SAFE's even if it cooked off in the barrel(IE. fired) and it sure as heck won't if it cooks off loose.

Try one of the Sentry 10 gun safes for about $198 at Walmart. If you want quick access just take it out and keep it near while home and lock up when not home/in your control.

Good luck in your search. Welcome to TFL. VOTE Republican.... :D Sorry the little "right wing" devil in me creeps out now and then.

Take care, stay safe.

Chris
 
Cslinger, I mean no disrespect to anyone, and

I would never tell anyone they are not welcome here at TFL, but I respectfully disagree that Dah Mastah did not ask for a political lecture.

To nonchalantly write that one can both vote for the likes of Kerry and can also claim a loyalty to the 2nd Amendment is to expect a political lecture.

I was not attacking Dah Mastah personally as I do not know him. He is probably a very nice fellow. I was merely heaping scorn on an irresponsibly silly opinion- something we as a free people should feel obliged to do whenever we run across one.

Vanguard.45
Keeping Freedom and Liberty Aloft ;)
 
Wow, what rancor, Vanguard .45. I suspect you and I disagree on many things. I will not respond to each of your assertions, other than to say that no political party comes down on the right side of all of one's important issues, such that a Dem can be pro-military, pro-choice, pro-gay, pro-science and PRO-GUN. You follow?

Cslinger, I read bad things in this forum about Sentry products (poor quality). Assuming the fire protection feature is omitted, can anyone recommend another steel lockbox to secure the Mossberg?

Thanks for your comments.
 
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