Firearm locker for apartments

[Redfoot]

Howdy guys.

I am quickly outgrowing my Flambeau cases for firearm storage. However, I also live in an apartment, and I will be for the next couple of years.

I am looking for a more secure storage option than a couple of gun cases that can easily be carried out of my place in the event of a break in. I was having flashbacks of my armory storage from the Air Force, and I was wondering if anyone knew of a source of "cage lockers". Ideally, the item would be lockable, and be able to be anchored into a floor or wall. Shelving is optional, but desired. I am looking to secure 4-6 long guns and handguns.

Any thoughts on commercially available items that can be retrofitted for this purpose?

Thanks for your help!

-Redfoot

[Mssr. Eleganté]

You can get a gun cabinet and bolt it to the wall in your closet...

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?cmView=full&type=pod&id=0005602

For more money you can get a small gun safe. Just search Cabela's for the word "safe" and you will see a couple of 10-gun models for around $800. There is also a company called Zanotti Armor that makes a safe you can build, piece by piece in your apartment...

http://www.zanottiarmor.com/features1-3.html

[torsf]

I have one of the stack on cabinets - it wouldn't take much with a crowbar to get the cabinet open. Better than nothing - but I would highly suggest hiding the cabinet.

It's not the greatest solution, but all I can do for now. I have 'defense in depth', so I'm not as concerned.

[fuegoslow]

I live in an Apartment and have a stack on 8-gun cabinet. I only use that one for ammo storage. All my beauties are in a Gunvault 5500. My apartment is on the second floor and a good dolly made the task of moving it up rather easy.
Are there any regulations in your apartment about gunsafes? Or are you trying to go the economical route. I'm always willing to help a calgunner so if you're in the San Gabriel valley and need help with moving a safe, let me know.

[spareparts]

I never tried it but I've heard that if you can find a used one, a cheap alternative for apartment dwellers is a cross bed tool box screwed down to the floor in a closet. Weld or bolt on a couple of hasps for lockablility.

Just a thought.

[professionalcoyotehunter]

There is a nice Digital safe for sale at Home Depot right now for $400.

[Barney Gumble]

Any safe is better than what you have now.

Bolt it to the floor with the side opposite the door hinges against the wall. That makes it much harder to pry the door open.

[Hayashi Killian]

If you want security, don't get a cabinet. They're meant for minimal safety. Any lock they have can be easily busted or broken. Get a proper gun safe.

[radioburning]

If you're in SoCal, I'd suggest the Sentry 10-gun locking cabinet at Ammo Bros(I've seen them there for about $120, but don't know what they're currently charging). The next step up from that is gonna be a real safe, which is hard for some people due to weight or the cost. The safe is best case scenario, but the locking cabinet is a lot better than what you have now.

[cmonk518]

DON'T BUY JUST ANY SAFE!!! Buy a real gun safe!! If you buy a huge metal clunker that can be pried open or sledgehammer busted real easy, its just inviting people to go straight to your cheap safe and work on that if there ever was a break-in. I don't know how much space you have in your apartment but if you have some really nice expensive pieces, buy a real gun safe that can't be hauled away easily, can't be pried, fire-proof, and real thick steel plating. It is worth all the money in the world plus you can put all your other valuables, passports, jewelry, documents, etc.

If not, I wouldn't even bother buying a regular safe. Just keep everything as is. Just look on YouTube how easily they are defeated with blowtorches and sledgehammers. Getting an alarm and/or dog might even be better if you are just worried about some protection when you are not at home.

Another solution would be to get apartment insurance. It's totally worth it. It's only a couple hundred bucks a year and they cover ALOT of stuff, esp if you just want to itemize the important stuff you have in your apartment. At least that way if someone takes your stuff, you'll be reimbursed for it. But just remember, don't settle for a cheap gun safe. It just a storage locker at best.

[Dr Rockso]

I've been reading gun forums for a few years now, and out of all the "someone just stole my guns!" posts not one of them had a safe or cabinet of any type. The typical smash-n-grab burglars you're likely to encounter breaking into your apartment aren't going to bother with trying to break into any sort of large metal box. Not saying you shouldn't get a quality safe, but DO get something.

[RolinThundr]

...Ideally, the item would be lockable, and be able to be anchored into a floor or wall. Shelving is optional, but desired. I am looking to secure 4-6 long guns and handguns...

Read your rental contract carefully, many apartment communities will not allow you to bolt anything to the floor.

We lived in an apartment for a couple of years and were not allowed to bolt anything to the floor. We bought a Liberty Safe, a Centurion model 17, and it's about 400lbs empty, so it's not going to be easy to walk out with- they'd have to come prepared. Breaking into it wouldn't be a good option either- they'd have to know they had time to work with it. Should be sufficient to suit your needs:

http://www.libertysafe.com/safe_centurion.php

[Ladyfox]

Read your rental contract carefully, many apartment communities will not allow you to bolt anything to the floor.

That's pretty much the boat I'm in right now in that I'm prohibited from bolting anything to the floor or to the walls. To say nothing of the fact that trying to get even a modest 8-gun safe into my apartment would be incredibly difficult.

I've been trying to find something like a chest that I could put some sandbags in that locks but so far I've not had any luck. If anyone has any ideas I'd greatly appreciate it.

[Hayashi Killian]

That's pretty much the boat I'm in right now in that I'm prohibited from bolting anything to the floor or to the walls. To say nothing of the fact that trying to get even a modest 8-gun safe into my apartment would be incredibly difficult.

I'll take this time to pimp out my own thread that I created a few days ago with the same problem: http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...d.php?t=215581

I think command_liner made an excellent solution, where you weld together some tubing, filled with rebar and concrete, and bolt the safe to that. It's a lot of extra weight and bulk, and depending upon where you're putting the safe, will make it hard to impossible to move. Deal also suggested filling ammo cans and using them as extra weight.

[Dr Rockso]

That's pretty much the boat I'm in right now in that I'm prohibited from bolting anything to the floor or to the walls. To say nothing of the fact that trying to get even a modest 8-gun safe into my apartment would be incredibly difficult.

I've been trying to find something like a chest that I could put some sandbags in that locks but so far I've not had any luck. If anyone has any ideas I'd greatly appreciate it.

As far as bolting things to the walls....it's not difficult to repair a 1/4" hole in a closet wall when you move out. Just sayin'.