firearms security

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surplusguy	firearms security	Lead	[-]
Posts: 15 (10/28/07 10:16 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Tags : None I have been coming to this web sight for some time now and have been reading about everyones ways of storing firearms.Some have safes(my method)while others have racks in a room.I am interested in the room racks so that I can display my firearms and other accesories but am worried about security.Do these rooms you have with the racks have vault doors or heavy steel doors,or is having someone break into your house and steal your firearms not a worry?I am truely not trying to be critical of anyones method of storeage but trying to understand another way of storeage that would not worry me to death while I am at work.Also I see where parents have been charged with improper storeage of a firearm and wondered if I just hung my firearms on a wall with just a locked interior door would this qualify as improper? Is there something else that should be done to have a wall rack (like removing the bolts or locking up all ammo) or am I just being parinoid about the whole thing? Please do not be offended! I am really just exploring alternate ways without trying to run afoul of the law or have my weapons stolen by some drug addict looking for quick money.Any and all opinions would be greatly apreciated. Eric
EricOKC		#1	[-]
Posts: 4478 (10/28/07 10:56 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Eric, The first thing you need to do is have a home security system installed. This will cut down on the amount of time a burglar will spend trying to steak your stuff, or deter them altogether. Your homeowners/renter's insurance premium will drop a bit, by the way. If you claim your home as a business, you also get tax benefits. Virtaully all of my firearms are in gun safes, so I'll let someone else address the proper displaying of them.
wsmrto	Room storage	#2	[-]
Posts: 286 (10/28/07 08:14 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	I won't give away to many secrets, but mainly you are just trying to slow down or make it harder for a thief to get to your collection. Personal situations, such as work schedule and other occupants also come into what you need to do. I live in an area that is very gun friendly, and most everyone has firearms of some kind. There is also border induced crime as I am only 60 miles or so from Mexico. Mainly when I renovated the house I made a walk-in area that is secured by an exterior type door with a very, very heavy duty set of dead-bolt locks and the walls are reinforced. If I am out of town for an extended time, I inform my neighbors and we all keep watch on each others property. Again, a thief would have to make a lot of noise and take the time to gain entrance. I hope that would deter him to go somewhere else. Also, I suggest you should have at least a hidden house gun. If I, or my family is at home and there is a break-in, as I said this is a very open minded free state, I doubt he/they would be able to depart the house under his own power.
Bryan 45		#3	[-]
Posts: 1718 (10/29/07 07:56 AM) Host Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Concrete and steel my friend.....
William98k		#4	[-]
Posts: 232 (10/29/07 10:28 AM) active member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	I have to second the idea that you are only slowing down a thief. Maybe you can slow him down enough that he gives up or doesn't try to begin with. Security of your guns, like security for yourself, is a compromise of what you are not only able to afford but willing to pay for and the convienence or enjoyment you give up in the process. If I were to have one of the cool secure vault type rooms like some talk about (and I wish I could) then realistically my collection would probably only consist of one gun. In my last house I had all my rifles out on racks. The house I have now (at my new wifes request ( that is read order)), they are almost all in a walk in closet. I admist I feel a little more secure about them, but I enjoy them a lot less, It was nice to be able to casually compare the little diffences in a neat row of mausers. Probably the first thing would be a home security system, they are an excellent deterent ( as a 20 year cop, I almost never take a burglary report from a house with an alarm), if they fail to deter, an aduible system will send them running upon entry. The next (or first if the $ are lacking) would be for them to be out of view from the outside of the house, like an upstairs or downstairs room, or one with blinds or curtains. ( almost all our cases are outside jobs, theives that were not actually familiar with the people or home). Maybe go with a locked room or walk in closet. Possible a decent safe for the most expensive pieces. As for those new laws about them being accessible, I would hope anysort or lock, on a room a safe or even a glass doored cabinet should be enough there, but that would depend on the vagueness of the law and the attitude of a jury. I have seen where a simple locked house door was anough to stop a thief, the other extreme I have seen 1 case where a pretty nice safe, bolted to a basement floor was cut loose, drug out of the walk out basement doors using a tow strap and a Quad Runner ( or 4 wheeler), drug out in to the woods, and a hole cut in the steel. ( this was a gun safe, not a flimsy metal cabinet). But that is an extreme case.
rkukoda		#5	[-]
Posts: 2 (10/29/07 12:06 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	My collection had outgrown the small gun safe I had in my old house. I was transferred seven years ago, and wanted to address my gun storage problem as I planned to build a new house. The way I saw it, I could either go heavy-duty, with reinforced walls and a bank vault door, or go stealth. I started with an upstairs bonus room, that would become my hangout (my computer, musical instruments, library, etc. are located there). I walled off a 6 x 15 area to the left of the stairs, with access through a door in the center. The carpenter, who was building all of my cabinetry onsite, also built a bookshelf around the doorway. The center of the bookshelf swings inward on the door to access the hidden room. The guy did a superb job, and I doubt many people would figure it out if they didn't know it was there. A hinged panel swings away on the side of the bookshelf to reveal the doorknob, which stays locked to keep the grandkids out. My entire collection fits inside of my "hidden room", with room at the ends for work tables/reloading bench. The space is climate controlled. Of course I still haven't finished building gun racks in there (project #392 on my list), but I'll get to it. I plan to be here when I retire in 10 years or so.
Youngblood		#6	[-]
Posts: 1036 (10/29/07 12:17 PM) Veteran member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	The rifles that I cannot fit in my gunsafes have their bolts secured in one. If a crook defeats my house alarm & gets in while I am asleep, he can bludgeon me with one of my own rifles, but he will not be able to SHOOT me with one.
Dennis Jenkins1		#7	[-]
Posts: 1797 (10/30/07 02:19 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	The burglars who stole my guns broke in once to case the place and then they struck a couple of months later. They were here a while the second time. They even stole my alarm system. Dennis Jenkins
surplusguy		#8	[-]
Posts: 16 (10/30/07 09:37 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Thanks for all the info.I have a safe but my question was one of display of my firearms.I really like your idea rkukoda as this gives security by deception but still allows easy viewing.I could get a security system but I am in a very rurual area and it would take law enforcement 20-25 min. to get here unless a sheriff just happen to be here in the area.I always figured a thief would be long gone by then.This gives me something to think about as I ponder my curio collection, and yes I too wish I had the funds for a cool vault room but there are always more pressing issues on a working mans pay. Thanks to all who replied. Eric
reddogge		#9	[-]
Posts: 4276 (10/30/07 11:51 AM) Host Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Sometimes a rural area works for you. I live in a farm house that was part of the bigger farm. I have a mercury vapor security light to light the parking area and several motion detector lights. We have three vehicles counting my old farm truck so it looks like someone's home most of the time. That and a couple of lights on timers complete the deception. Criminals know farmers have guns and know how to use them so I think they stay away. As far as displaying, I don't do displays.
HoosierDaddy		#10	[-]
Posts: 4861 (10/30/07 06:32 PM) Forum Site Moderator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Ash Iron Construction
WVchuck		#11	[-]
Posts: 9957 (10/30/07 06:46 PM) Forum Site Moderator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Neil, You forgot to let Grant get out of there.
wsmrto		#12	[-]
Posts: 287 (10/30/07 06:49 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	And my wife thinks I am a gun nut. Just to think I thought I had a walk in gun room. That's bigger than most of the Army's Company Arms Rooms and I have been in a few in the last 40 years. No wonder there is a shortage of milsurps in the Hoosier State. Looks like Cabella's gun room.
WVchuck		#13	[-]
Posts: 9958 (10/30/07 08:38 PM) Forum Site Moderator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	That's the Hoosierdaddy branch of the Springfield Armory. I've got tickets to go view the holdings, but getting there is the problem.
ballcap57		#14	[-]
Posts: 323 (10/30/07 08:49 PM) Veteran member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Nah that steel door is nothing, if you break it down, then you have to deal with Grant
kidmma		#15	[-]
Posts: 123 (10/30/07 09:36 PM) active member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	WOW! Scott
Bryan 45		#16	[-]
Posts: 1727 (10/31/07 07:47 AM) Host Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Guys, what HD didn't tell you is that he's the custodian for the Indiana State Minute Men's small arms. They meet at his house every Tuesday of the month for tea and crumpets.
Czubek		#17	[-]
Posts: 963 (10/31/07 09:47 AM) Veteran member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Now I want all those rifles cleaned and inspected by this afternoon!!! Brian
texraid		#18	[-]
Posts: 287 (10/31/07 07:54 PM) Forum Co-host Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	That's an air raid shelter not a gun room. I expected to see surplus Civil Defense drums stacked in the corner. How do you deal with the humidity HD?
HoosierDaddy		#19	[-]
Posts: 4862 (10/31/07 08:45 PM) Forum Site Moderator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	The construction of the room doesn't lend to much humidity. I made sure the foundation and under slab is well drained with about 8" of chat over a vapor barrier. The footing drains are part of the construction of the footing and drain all under ground water away via a natural drain. The outside of the walls were coated with a state of the art waterproofing system then backfilled with chat. Water has no chance to lie along the walls or under the slab to wick into the room causing humidity. The inside of the walls are covered with styrofoam and then covered with drywall. The basement is also a walkout not a hole in the ground. This is more like a half basement. Then we fully conditioned the area with heating and air. I also have a big ole dehumidifier that runs in conjunction with the HVAC. I haven't had a bit of rust or tarnish in the last three years. Ash Iron Construction Last Edited By: HoosierDaddy 11/01/07 05:33 AM. Edited 1 times.
texraid		#20	[-]
Posts: 289 (10/31/07 09:40 PM) Forum Co-host Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	That will do it!...... All I could tell is it's a type of basement and I'm sure the dehum helps. I have a similar basement arrangement with an old coal room about 10x14 that I converted. 14" poured concrete walls with a 4" concrete ceiling, no acess other than the solid door. It does has extra dead bolts, opens outward and tamper proof hinges. It would take a determined thief with time on his hands to get into it. It's inconspicuous enough they would probably not even notice it, tossing the bedrooms instead. The only good thing about a thief is they don't like to work hard. I do have to keep a dehum running though and monitor it. I like that vault door. As to surplusguy's question I think a lot depends on the house. In my case I was lucky enough to have a secure room with only one point of ingress and all I had to do was secure the entry. I think a lot of homes could be securely converted without selling the wife's jewelry if there is only one point of access. In my case the real expense was the wall racking. Last Edited By: texraid 10/31/07 09:52 PM. Edited 1 times.