Storing Ammo

[Lon C.]

I hope this is the correct forum for my question.

New shooter here. My wife and I are in our early 70's and reside in a senior complex [read "not a lot of room"].

I enjoy going to the range and have a couple thousand rounds of ammo [.22, .38, .357] in the condo...unsecured. We have cabinets w/o locks; it is not very practical to add locks to hollow-core cabinet doors(!) Currently, that's where everything is stored.

There is some room for a small safe in our garage storage space and elsewhere, but how practical is that!? Seems everyplace is visible, right out there in the open.

I had thought of buying a new/used "secure file cabinet" weighing over 300 pounds with dial/combination lock. Then I thought: we live on the ground floor, and having someone in the neighborhood see a safe/file cabinet being wheeled into our home puts us at risk.

Anyone live in similar circumstances? What is the best, practical approach to storing and securing ammo and firearms in a less than 1,000 square feet home? Bank/S&L/credit unions safety deposit boxes prohibit firearms and ammo storage.

Many thanks for taking the time to respond!

Lon

[George W]

Hey Lon .
You have room for an old fridge or freezer.
cut the cord off it and keep your stuff inside it.
If anyone see's it they will think its just what it looks like.
Make a shelving unit with a large toe kick or bottom base cabinet with a false top or face held on with a magnetic catch or something similar.
Loose lips sink ships. Your only going to stop the honest crooks in a hurry.

[Red9]

Lon
Curious? Do you live in a senior complex? Or is there young folks mixed in? Reason being, there is a retirement community close to me. They have zero crime. One way in and out. I would guess those folks dont worry much.
If your in a regular complex? Then I can see a security risk. Maybe get a metal storage box like construction guys use. 60x24x36 can hold alot if ammo. You could install casters and roll it around or bolt it to the floor? How are your firearms stored now? Maybe a safe upgrade?

Sent from my LG-TP450 using Tapatalk

[Subotai]

Maybe one of those under bed safes?

[kcheung2]

I wouldn't do anything special. A "couple thousand rounds" of pistol & .22 doesn't take that much space. I bet your financial documents take up more space. A .30 cal ammo box will hold 1000 pistol rounds and those are the size of phone books. Three of four of those boxes on the bottom shelf should do it. If you're concerned about theft or appearances, use a bookshelf with doors. Ammo is compact, but heavy so thieves aren't looking to carry around 50 lbs.

Or just stack them under your bed or closet.

[JackEllis]

Here's what I recommend:

Buy a Stackon security cabinet like this one.

Reinforce the keyed lock by installing a hardened steel hasp that covers the cabinet's lock cylinder and also covers the fasteners that are used to secure the hasp. You can drill the holes with a powered drill and HSS bits.

Secure the hasp with a stout lock. ABUS makes pretty decent combination locks but you can use a keyed lock if you like.

The cabinet will hold your 22, your pistols and several cases of ammo.

If possible, fasten the cabinet to a wall (or possibly the floor) using steel lag bolts driven into the studs. If you have long crowbars, keep THEM and your drill bits hidden so as not to provide potential thieves with any more help than is necessary.

This solution will not stop a determined thief, but my research suggested that even expensive safes could be broken into by someone with enough help, enough muscle and enough time. What you want to do is stop casual thefts and make a break-in as time-consuming as possible.

[Divernhunter]

You should NOT store ammo in a safe. Just store it on a shelf in a cabinet or where ever you have room. Firearms should be stored in a safe.

[cabikefreak]

I used to use steel toolboxes, one for each caliber. Readily available and unobtrusive.

[JagerDog]

What you cannot secure can be concealed. Ottoman with storage?

[RestrictedColt]

Why are you worried about having your ammo locked up?

[baih777]

I small jobsite box will work.
have someone cut you a board to sit on top.
put a tablecloth over it.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Lund-32-in-Heavy-Duty-Job-Site-Box-08036Y/100598309

as you fill it. it will get heavy.

[desertrider]

Here's what I recommend:

Buy a Stackon security cabinet like this one.

Reinforce the keyed lock by installing a hardened steel hasp that covers the cabinet's lock cylinder and also covers the fasteners that are used to secure the hasp. You can drill the holes with a powered drill and HSS bits.

Secure the hasp with a stout lock. ABUS makes pretty decent combination locks but you can use a keyed lock if you like.

The cabinet will hold your 22, your pistols and several cases of ammo.

If possible, fasten the cabinet to a wall (or possibly the floor) using steel lag bolts driven into the studs. If you have long crowbars, keep THEM and your drill bits hidden so as not to provide potential thieves with any more help than is necessary.

This solution will not stop a determined thief, but my research suggested that even expensive safes could be broken into by someone with enough help, enough muscle and enough time. What you want to do is stop casual thefts and make a break-in as time-consuming as possible.

^^^^ Everything he said, plus the following.

Add decals or use stencils and with spray paint add the following to the cabinet.....

Insecticides
Chemicals
Flammable Liquids
Poisons

And you may even find a decal at a hardware store of a hand in a circle with a
line across it (Do Not Touch).

You're in a retirement community, you probably will have grandchildren visiting, right? This will also throw would be thieves off of thinking you have valuables in there. Unless they really want your bottle of RoundUp.

[trackcage]

Where/how are you storing guns currently?

Aside from keeping the ammo out of sight so it does not invite thieves, what is the concern around unsecured ammo?

[Tango_Down]

2000 rounds should fit in a small box.

[vino68]

I live in a larger space but in a shared property. I secure my ammo in ammo boxes using all those damn cable locks I get. The decent ammo boxes will have holes for locks. Do I need to do this, no but when my housekeeper brings her kids over, I do not want them opening up the boxes. Even though most are hidden or in my office, which is locked.
I have had safes delivered which are usually in some sort of packing carton. If the neighbors see, what do I care. The cartoons usually do not say much on the outside.

If you are concerned about fire, you should store your ammo outside a safe. I still keep a few boxes in mine, just in case. I also have a collector's policy which covers my ammo in case of theft or fire. I keep inventory for my records and if I ever have to file a claim.