Packing More Stuff In Less Space (and having access)

[monks]

I have endlessly scoured the internet for gun and accessory storage ideas over the years, so I thought it was time that I offered up some things I've found, and some that others have found that help accomplish a more orderly situation. Now I understand that some of the things I've done are not easily achievable, but most are and they're all budget ideas to keep the spending where it should be, on guns and ammo of course! I'm going to start outside the safe and move in. I don't mean to brag with these pictures. I've been collecting for a long time and it is a modest collection for my age, but it is sizeable to someone just starting out. Rome wasn't built in a day and I assure you my collection took years! By sharing these pictures I just want to share ideas, so ignore the stuff and focus on the ideas! Please share your ideas as well, since my best ideas are not my own!
Okay, so first up is my solution for getting most of my gun stuff in one place. When we bought our home it had a kitchenette downstairs that we never used, so I got to measuring and found that I could easily build my safe into the wall and modify the cabinets to go around the safe for storing all my reloading stuff, gun cases, holsters, etc... I'm no longer tempted to move the safe to another location (it happened a lot) and my wife is much happier that all my junk is hidden from view and not laying all over the basement! I was pleased. I think it turned out pretty nice for my limited skill set and zero dollars spent.

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[monks]

Okay, now for the second idea. I gutted my safe shelves. I had lived with the stock interior for quite a while but eventually my collection grew to the point where I couldn't have shelves. That left limited storage for handguns, so that wouldn't do! I won't lie, it was hard to do but I'm glad I did it. I used shelf brackets, scraps of 1/2" plywood and some cheap carpet that I got at Home Depot. I took advantage of the fact that a lot of my long guns are carbine length and built on long shelf. I can now store a lot more than I could before and long gun access is much better than it was due to the rifle rods I bought.

The carpet is glued down with 3m spray adhesive and I stapled the back on the bottom side with an arrow T-50 staple gun. I attached the shelf brackets onto my sheet rock with a product called wall dogs. They're holding some weight and seem to be up to the task!

 

[monks]

Idea #3 is using magnetic tool holders for my pistol magazines. I looked around and found the cheapest price at Harbour freight. I have a considerable investment in magazines so I like to keep them safe and secure.I chose to hang them at the top of the safe on the sides and back wall, but you could put them anywhere you like. They have a coating so they don't scratch the magazines.

https://www.harborfreight.com/18-in-magnetic-tool-holder-60433.html

I screwed them into the sheet rock using wall dogs. Finally all of my magazines are easy to access!

 

[monks]

Idea #4. Using these little stack-able interlocking crates from Wal-Mart for long gun magazines and miscellaneous gear.

Sterilite Mini Crate, Multi-Purpose Plastic Storage Bin with Through Handles, Stackable, Black - Walmart.com

Buy Sterilite Mini Crate, Multi-Purpose Plastic Storage Bin with Through Handles, Stackable, Black at Walmart.com

www.walmart.com

They're made in the USA and they're $1.64 each!!!! I cannot overstate how well these work. I can fit 14 stanag magazines inside each one!

 

[monks]

Idea #5 and the jury is out on this one. I ordered these last night after a lot of looking and I'm hoping they work. I would like to store my pistols in a different manner. The racks I have are from Dakota Safe and they work well (best I've found actually) but I would like to get away from sticking a steel rod down the barrel and it would be nice if the pistols weren't stored on so steep of an angle so that I could fit them on a shelf that wasn't as tall. I've been looking at different designs of racks and I thought most of them either waste space or they're over priced. I settled on these bamboo plate racks.

Amazon.com

They were much cheaper than the pistol racks and they should work well for my auto pistols. If this idea works I'll be able to move my shelves up for more crate storage or perhaps another shelf for more pistols, YAY!! I'll follow up on whether or not this is a good idea. One negative that I can see is that the pistol would be sitting on the shelf in two places. If you live in a humid environment, then maybe this isn't for you! I live in the desert and monitor my humidity so I'm going to forge on!

 

[Stomper]

The thread title:

Packing More Stuff In Less Space (and having access)

Has been the question plaguing prisoners in prisons around the world for time immemorial...

 

[monks]

So far so good with the bamboo plate racks. They have rubber feet that keep them from sliding around and I was surprised that they actually do a decent job holding my revolvers too! I don't have anything larger than a 45 colt peacemaker to try, so a smith model 29 might not fit. One pistol that doesn't fit well is my sig classic P series. The decocker and slide release are too wide. I can just pull the pistol back a tad and it will fit so no biggie. These hold eight pistols each in the same space that my previous racks held four so I need to go pick up a few more pistols to fill them.

 

[Belial]

Your not even trying if half your long guns aren't muzzle down.

 

[monks]

Your not even trying if half your long guns aren't muzzle down.

Yeah and I just moved my shelves up for more magazine crates and I now have an empty shelf. I need to go to the gun shop!!

 

[monks]

 

[P7M13]

I took the drywall off the door of my safe and now store two long guns and two pistols in it. I'm not worried about a fire, because if there's a fire where the safe is, I guarantee all the steel in that area will be a pile of slag before it burns out.

My next space expansion is to put in slide-out racks, (4) 4"w x 19"d x 48"h and (4) 5"w x 19"d x 48"h. That would allow me to get ~30 long guns into my safe, and in the air gaps on either side, another six. That's currently the same amount as what I fit, not including the two in the door, but it takes me about 30 minutes to get to the 8 guns in the back row. I've got the steel to make it, just not the time.

This thread reminds me to check my goldenrods. I replaced all my desiccant packs two weeks ago.

 

[monks]

I took the drywall off the door of my safe and now store two long guns and two pistols in it. I'm not worried about a fire, because if there's a fire where the safe is, I guarantee all the steel in that area will be a pile of slag before it burns out.

My next space expansion is to put in slide-out racks, (4) 4"w x 19"d x 48"h and (4) 5"w x 19"d x 48"h. That would allow me to get ~30 long guns into my safe, and in the air gaps on either side, another six. That's currently the same amount as what I fit, not including the two in the door, but it takes me about 30 minutes to get to the 8 guns in the back row. I've got the steel to make it, just not the time.

This thread reminds me to check my goldenrods. I replaced all my desiccant packs two weeks ago.

I really like the way the browning safes have long gun storage on the door. It makes getting to things so much easier. The slide out racks is a good idea. I found a safe company that sells them as an option and I honestly don't know why it isn't more common. Great ideas.