I don't have a rifle safe. I've got one lying flat on floor under bed in hard case, two standing upright in soft cases propped up against the wall in closet. Ammo all over the place. Can't afford the bid monster rifle safe yet. How are you storing yours if you don't have a safe? Or before you had one. Thanks for ideas.

Those sound like prime places for a crook to easily steal them. When I had too many for the one safe I had and before the second, I kept some in my AC air intake. I had these oiled and in a hard case to keep dust out. Also might try under the bedspread of any extra beds you might have,

When I was in college I would take my guns and put them in those "gun socks" you get at academy for $5.00 and slit a small hole in each side of them where the trigger guards are. Then take a long piece of coated anchor chain and run the chain through all the trigger guards and then through 3-40lbs cinder blocks and secure with a GOOD Buffalo lock.

Its not as secure or fool proof as a safe; but our house actually got broken into while I was in college and my rifles & shotguns where still there.

The cops that responded to the break in call said...."Good idea, the harder you make it for them the more likely they are to pass it by."

In a back bedroom I built a wall rack and set the long guns up in there. Ran a long cable through the trigger guards and locked them in place (similar to what Deewayne did). I then ran a bar across the door with a 1/2" thick bar. The supports or brackets for the bars I secured with 5" screws into the door framing. I only got broken into one time and it was late at night. The sound of the model 97 shucking a shell into the chamber changed the guys mind rather quickly. I now have two safes, a small one in a bedroom closet and a larger one in another room. Both stay locked. Keep a shotgun by the bed and a 357 in my home office. Also have a house alarm that's monitored.

My advice is to save up and get you a decent safe soon. You can grab one from Tractor Supply or other places for about the cost of a decent firearm - $600-$750.

When I worked for a pawnbroker, we had several customer's who's rifles stayed locked in our vault for 11 months out of the year. They'd pawn each for a buck. Pay the interest each month and were GTG.

Fort Knox security for a cheap fee.

Most thieves will not bother trying to steal or break open a safe. This may not hold true though, where relatives are involved.

I think its in the bed of my truck... no no its under my bed laying on the tile

Sounds like you're in the same boat I'm in!

Now that's a new one on me!

You can get a metal gun cabinet for fairly cheap. No, it's not a safe, but better than just leaning against a wall.

Though I use a 51 gun safe with humidity control, I really like the concealment furniture that these guys make:



Some other options (link)...

If you're trying to keep from getting them stolen, in a gun sock behind the fridge works pretty good. It's pretty dry because of the heat and I doubt if many crooks would even think to look there.

You could add trigger locks if you wanted. Also, if you have a water heater behind a wall panel, that's another good place.

Nothing beats a good safe though if you should happen to have a fire, so you really ought to save up. They will pay for themselves in time if anything should ever happen.

Cloth and hard shell gun cases are made to protect firearms while in transport, not to store them. They can create rust by holding moisture against a firearm's metal surfaces, especially when the firearm sweats from sudden temperature changes. It's best to store them in an open air rack where temperature and humidity remains relatively constant.

***update- I "found" 600$ and went to bass pro shop and got a redhead 18 gun safe (which is really a 12 gun due to scopes). Thank you Texas Dan for motivating me to just do it. It's a good sturdy combo lock. Very finicky though until you get the hang of it. My wife asked how much it was and I said about a quarter of the crap you bought this month....she shut up and walked away!

Congrat's on the new safe. They're worth every penny. Don't forget to bolt that sucker to the floor and wall.

Congratulations!

Peace of mind is worth every penny paid for it.

I have this light in my gun safe. Provides plenty of light and has screw holes to make it easier the secure it on the under side of a shelf with no fear that it will fall off as those with adhesive strips often do. It will also turn itself off if you forget and leave it on.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_331497-3-72445_0...der+shelf+light