My pistol safe and hopefully some community advice

N

nogoer

Inactive
New gun owner...obviously since its one gun in a holster in my safe :) Got the safe a month before my permit, kids in the house and i dont fool around with that. I struggled a bit with the best place to mount it and finally settled on my closet. I have a small house <1000sq ft, so running to grab my pistol is pretty easy. Just thought id share how i store my gun since we all love to see pics...its a SW99 .40 compact.

I do have a question though as to how the rest of you small wall safe guys store the gun in the safe? I now have scuffs on the slide because i lost the foam insert and didnt realize it was rubbing on the back even though its in the holster. I think im going to cut pegboard to fit in the back and use pegs of some sort to hang the gun on the back wall and put ammo on the floor of the safe. Maybe glue felt to the pegboard all nicey nicey.

I think i can fit 3-4 pistols by hanging that way, but its going to be a long day coming before i can even justify a couple hundred on a second gun to the wife. So hows this method of storage working for the rest of you?
 

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New gun owner...obviously since its one gun in a holster in my safe
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I would recomend you remove you gun from its holster while it is being stored. Its nice to avoid any possibility of moisture buildup storing a holsted weapon. No need for rust. Just a thought
 
i started storing it out of the holster but its so loose in there the sights rest metal to metal and its getting all scuffed. I need a better solution but until now in the holster is keeping it from further damage. I will fix the issue by this weekend though, thanks for the advice though.
 
I would get some kind of padding and glue it to the back, bottom, and sides of the safe. I few square feed of indoor/outdoor carpet or carpet pad, or even a closed cell foam sleeping mat would work. I would use one of the spray-on type adhesives. I think the last stuff I used like that was made by 3-M and had a purple top on the spray can. I got it at Walmart. Two-sided tape would work as well.

BTW if it's a carry gun it will get scuffed up and dinged up. That's part of the deal.
 
Nicely mounted.

Now practice rushing to the safe, punching the combo, and retrieving your gun. Time yourself. Seriously, not kidding.

Also, put a post-it note inside with the date you last changed the batteries so you remember to change 'em at regular intervals.
 
Just a suggestion...

Looks like you only have 1 or 2 screws securing that unit to the wall (2 in the stud on the left perhaps). If that's the case, I strongly recommend adding additional screws to the other side, even if it means drilling new holes in the safe. If you cannot hit the other stud, you may want to upgrade to lag bolts rather than screws to secure it to the wall and center the safe on the stud. You may want to add large washers on the screws or lag bolts as well, if you don’t, someone can simply "twist" the box into letting go (the screw heads will pop through the holes in the steel. Think of it as the safe acting as a lever and the stud is the fulcrum, with enough force on the right side, you can pull the right and it will intensify the “twist or pry” on the left…

I have mine mounted to the wall like yours, but I increased the connection to the wall so they’d have to really work to rip it off… you don’t want them to rip it off the wall and open it at their convenience when the get home! :D
 
Well if a thief really wants a safe there really isnt much one can do to keep them from getting it. Mine really is only meant to keep curious young hands from investigating things they havent learned full responsebility over yet. It provides a locked safe place out of site and is just as secure as the numerous owners of basic cabinets. Even if i spent the grand on a super safe i still wouldnt have a location to bolt down a big tall gun safe.

My studs are 16 on center so theres no way the pre drilled holes at 8-9 inches across are making two studs. I could try drilling new holes but the best solution would be to block in the wall behind and use lag bolts. Im not even sure the safe is wide enough no matter where i drilled holes. With the exception of using dry wall anchors on the other two screws the safe is mounted exactly as indicated in the stack-on instructions. It seems stack-on didnt put a whole lot of thought into the pry thing.

I have a second one for my wifes jewelery on the other side of the closet but its mounted to the side wall which actually had enough wall studs to get all four scews in. Couldnt do the same scenario for my safe though.

You guys are probably right though in that i should put some more effort into getting it secured better. I actually had plans to cut the paneling behind it to recess the safe and get it better secured, that might have to be part of the internal mounting project this weekend.
 
I love the tank in the top of the closet, maybe an eye catcher imo. I'd rather take the tank than fool with the safe.

Also, you might think of relocating the safe a few inches lower. The safe would be less noticeable with your clothing covering it. I know that won't deter someone who is thoroughly searching the premises, but "Out of sight, out of mind!"
 
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ZeSpectre - Ive actually practiced a few times and being in the closet even dim light makes it difficult. It wouldnt be so bad if the code was all it took but you also need to punch a symbol to indicate completion which would take some fumbling in the dark. Then 3 times wrong and its locked out for 5 minutes. I already feel nervous about using the min length of numbers in a sequence thats easy to punch quickly.

I know some think im crazy for the way ive done this but those with kids know the method behind the madness. Without kids i would probably just have a storage place rather than a safe most people assume is to prevent theft. My 3 year old isnt prying it off the wall and my 11 year old knows the consequences for snooping in mom and dads room.
 
dcobler - that would be a Stug III and is one of many, the shelf above is full of more. A texan friend of mine sells them on his website that i do work on in exchange for keeping my habit satisfied. Thier fun and cheaper to get into than you would think.
 
Nogoer, you can pull that safe out and screw/nail another beam(s) up to the beam that you did not attach to. You can attach as many pieces as necessary to the stud that you can't reach until it is close enough to screw into. Don't be afraid to use PL construction adhesive or liquid nails between the existing beam and each (spacer) piece that you install.

Don't forget to use desiccant if you are storing any guns long term. Alternatively, one of those rechargeable dehumidifiers would work well.
 
I love the tank in the top of the closet,
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Me too, make room for more guns now...send me the tank LOL

Nice starter for keeping curious little hands away, I agree a little carpet or foam will protect your guns nicely.:)

And Johnc is right on...keep that moisture out.
 
I agree with the above, you have a nice place for the safe, and it looks great. I would like to say however, that I applaud your forethought. I really appreciate someone that took the time to think it out and spent the money on a safe before the gun. That is responsible buying and parenting. I am ashamed to admit that I own about 10 guns and no safe. Just a wooden cabinet and hardcases. I dont have the restraint that you illustrate to purchase a safe instead of a firearm. Kudos to you sir!
 
ljnowell - i thank you for your compliments

SilentHitz - i spent more on my USED gun than i would have spent on all 6 of my tanks...had i not been in a services for goods arrangement.

Johnc - My planned project for this weekend is actually to do this. In its current state i had to relocate the hanger rod out so the hangers could move without getting stuck on the safe. Im going to recess the safe and block it in which will solve both issues. then im going to get felt and glue it inside while trying to somehow create 4 hanger positions so i can potentially hold 4 guns.
 
You guys are probably right though in that i should put some more effort into getting it secured better. I actually had plans to cut the paneling behind it to recess the safe and get it better secured, that might have to be part of the internal mounting project this weekend.
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I'd say you're off to a great start. You're right, anyone serious about taking it will eventually get it open or pull it off the wall, but you should make it at least more challenging or "noisy" for them to take. I do hand it to you; given you're doing this for children being in the home, you've got a +1 from me. The only change I’d make given your situation and the safe's purpose, just center it on the stud, add lag bolts and a few washers. Bingo, you're done.
 
Nice safe there. I like it. I put a larger 2 shelf box type on top of my closet shelf a few months ago. These quick access types are not the most secure, but much better than nothing at all.

That reminds me, I should get a bit more padding and line the walls of mine with it, just in case. I have too many guns crammed in there at the moment....
 
Shim the other side with another length of 2x4 bolted to the stud. Now you will be able to bolt it into both studs. Problem solved. Clean install, by the way. Once you have it bolted to both studs it will be fine. I have two like it in my closet where i keep my carry guns. the other umpteen guns are in the big safe at the other end of the house. I have had no problems. Do change the batteries regularly. I use rechargeables.
 
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