Advice needed on securing HD shotgun

[AmbulanceDriver]

So....  Need to pick the brain of the hive mind and see if we can rattle enough brain cells together to come up with an idea....

I've got a Remington 870 shotgun configured for home defense....   And pre-kiddo (and before she was walking) I was content just shoving it in the corner of the closet behind everything where I knew she couldn't get to it.... But now that she's ambulatory and getting into everything, need to rethink my strategy on securing it, yet keeping it accessible for things that go bump in the night.



This is how it's configured - side saddle shell holder mounted onto the receiver, and pistol grip speedfeed stock...  Those are the complicating factors for securing things.....    The goal would be to somehow secure it in the closet still, so we know where it's at, can get to it quickly, but it's inaccessible to little hands with entirely too much curiosity.

[dogmush]

Budget?

Your place or rental?

I put a rack like this on the bridge of a ship for vessel defense, and fabbed up a pretty easy lock with wire and a padlock.

One of those War Dog  drawer RSC's under your bed could also work.
http://www.wardogsafe.com/home-defense-classic.html


Or just put a Keypad lock on the closet door.
http://www.schlage.com/en/home/products/product-listing.html

Or that fancy headboard thing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRUw3R5kZtk

[Ben]

I had to deal with this because my niece has a two year old that comes over to visit. I ended up going for one of these Barskas last year, which was an Amazon lightning deal for $197:

http://www.amazon.com/BARSKA-Quick-Access-Biometric-Rifle/dp/B005FDIUPE/ref=sr_1_2?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&s=hunting-fishing&ie=UTF8&qid=1447629794&sr=1-2

They are of course not really burglar resistant, other than smash and grab, but it works great for securing my bedroom HD shotgun and pistol when the kid is around. I was hesitant that the biometric feature would work well, but was very, very surprised at how well the Barska fingerprint reader works. From reviews, it's apparently much better than the Sentry readers at that cost point.

My trick for getting it to recognize me the first time everytime, was to use my thumb. When I did the initial scan, I jammed my thumb as far in the reader as I could, FIRMLY pressing my thumb tip into the back of the reader. That creates a reference point for me to ensure i place my thumb in the exact same place every time, and thus the safe opens every single time. It also comes with an external powerpack (aa batteries) so if the internals die, you unscrew an access plate on the door, insert the powerpack leads, scan as usual, and open the door. I'm still working on my first set of batteries from last year (probably time to swap them out).

It fits nicely into a corner without taking up much space. There's not a ton of room. I've played around, and can comfortably (criteria being that I can get them out fast without hanging up) a couple of HD shotguns with lights, or a shotgun and my M1A Scout. From reviews I've read, it is tight for an AR with 30 round or greater mag inserted. It does easily fit my M1A with 20rnd mag (pre-ban, for any ATF agents lurking). Your shotgun would have no problem fitting. There is a shelf that will fit a large or two small handguns. I've been looking at putting hangers of some sort in to hang a pistol or two from the walls, but haven't tried it yet.

[AmbulanceDriver]

To answer dogmush's questions -

Would like to keep it under $200 if possible....  But more could be budgeted for it if needed.

We own the place, so no worry about putting holes in walls - at least not from a landlord...SWMBO might have a word or two to say if I get too carried away there.

Underbed RSC is right out, as our bed just isn't set up that way - same thing with a lock on the closet - sliding doors...

I like the RSC ben put up, but it would take some creativity on my part to get it secured to a wall stud - there's just not a ton of room in that closet - and something that utilitarian would not be allowed in the open by SWMBO.... :)

Oh, and the tactical headboard?  Screw up the grab and not only do you have a burglar in your house, but you also have a concussion too.

[Ben]

I like the RSC ben put up, but it would take some creativity on my part to get it secured to a wall stud - there's just not a ton of room in that closet - and something that utilitarian would not be allowed in the open by SWMBO.... :)

If you're not using it as a true theft deterrent safe, you could always just use drywall anchors in the wall. There are holes in the bottom so that you can Hilti or whatever the safe to the floor.

Or just mount it out in the open, put a plant on top and call it a decorative plant stand. 

[BobR]

You could use a Mossberg Loc-Box in the closet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxL84oNYafo&fmt=18



bob

[cordex]

You could just mount rubberized hooks above the closet doorway - for a few years anyway.

[GigaBuist]

$20:  http://www.tactical-life.com/gear/gunvault-shotgun-breechvault/

It's a plastic insert that goes into the action of the shotgun.  I have one and I like it.  I don't use it.. and I'm not sure why not. I forgot I had it until this post.

You can keep a round on the carrier with this deal.  Insert key, remove lock, rack forward and you're in business.

[never_retreat]

You could just mount rubberized hooks above the closet doorway - for a few years anyway.

This will work until they are old enough to carry a stool over.

[roo_ster]

All the solutions requiring either a key or a biometric are non-starters for me.

[Andiron]

http://www.readyathandgunmagnet.com/contactus.html

Couple of those on the inside, overhead part of your closet.  Easy access for you,  and no way for kiddo to get at it short of a ladder.  Added bonus of being completely hidden, unless a burglar goes into your closet, turns around and looks up.

[HeroHog]

Can magnetize ferrous metal parts! That might cause issues in some guns.

[Marnoot]

I had an earlier version of one of these: https://www.shotlock.com/ShotLock_Shotgun.php

It worked well, until it didn't open any more. It took me a good half hour to gently prod it to give me my shotgun without breaking out the angle grinder and cut-off blade. That said it looks like they've re-designed it, so it might be worth another go.

[cordex]

This will work until they are old enough to carry a stool over.

Above the doorway?  Little longer than that, unless your kids are very tall or are bringing over a six foot stepladder. 

[Regolith]

Above the doorway?  Little longer than that, unless your kids are very tall or are bringing over a six foot stepladder. 

Kids can climb better than you'd think. And I was pretty young when I figured out I could get into my dad's gun closet (which was deadbolted) by climbing a chair and reaching up above the top of the door frame to snag the key he hid there...

[GigaBuist]

Above the doorway?  Little longer than that, unless your kids are very tall or are bringing over a six foot stepladder. 

The top of my television mounted on the wall is 6' in the air and last week I cleaned the cheesey fingerprints of my two year old off of it.

They don't need no stinking stepladder.  You push your kid table over to the console, put your potty stool on the console, climb the table, onto the console, then mount the stool.

They're monkeys.  Hairless monkeys.

[sanglant]

Just a thought.

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/product/index/homak-in-the-wall-gun-safe?a=427265

[AJ Dual]

Just a thought.

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/product/index/homak-in-the-wall-gun-safe?a=427265

I really dislike the need for two keys top and bottom, that's not fast at all.

I like the "above the door frame inside the closet" idea. Especially because there's a big strong header board in there to bolt things to...

But upgrade the idea like this: http://www.amazon.com/SHOT-LOCK-S-SLC01-02-ShotLock-Solo-Vault/dp/B007UT14FO

Although a lot of these won't work with the sidesaddle shell holder, or a pistol grip. But there's several models availible. And you could always just ditch the sidesaddle, and the pistol grip stock too.

[roo_ster]

Shotlock looks good.  The dirty SOBs even used one to secure a Rem 1100 in their gallery of (secured) guns.

http://www.shotlock.com/Gallery.php

[MechAg94]

Kids can climb better than you'd think. And I was pretty young when I figured out I could get into my dad's gun closet (which was deadbolted) by climbing a chair and reaching up above the top of the door frame to snag the key he hid there...

I don't disagree with you, but just a gun rack over the door would keep it out of reach for at least a couple years.  If they needed to save up to get something better, it would buy some time.  It might work even better if there was some way to keep it out of sight. 

[AmbulanceDriver]

I kinda like the over the closet door idea - gonna play around with that a little bit, especially to make sure we can still get to the rest of the stuff on the shelf in there - but more importantly that the Mrs. can reach it if it's up there.

[Ben]

I'm not big on keyed solutions if it's a defensive firearm you have to get to RTFN. I'd be too worried about fumbling the key, forgetting the key, etc.

While, as mentioned, I have historically been leery of biometric locks, the 100% success rate of the Barska over the last year has changed my mind for a defensive firearm safe/locker, etc. My big safes are mechanical, and any other large safe for general storage I get in the future will probably be mechanical just for simplicity, but my Barska unit has won me over for a fast access solution.

Full disclosure: Since I don't have kids, there's still something(s) next to me at night. Defensive guns only get locked up when there are guests over and wandering around.