What is the best way to store a handgun?

[mustang69 505]

All,

Ok, I have a few handguns and I'm looking for opinions on the best way to store them.

 

I have a safe - that part is easy. I'm looking for opinions - Do I store them in the foam box? In the holster? Does the type of holster matter? Should they be naked?

 

Does it matter if they are upright or on their side?

 

Loaded, locked and cocked? unloaded? For semi-auto, with the slide open or closed?

 

Am I over-thinking this?

 

Thanks,

Dean

[johnp 45]

If you have a safe, why not go with a pistol rack?

http://www.brownells.com/shooting-accessories/gun-cases-racks/gun-racks/handgun-rack-field-mat-prod23227.aspx

 

Locked and loaded is totally your preference.

[brocglock23 4]

Depends on why you have the guns. If it is for a collection, foam case. Just any old gun, gun rack. Home Defense, holstered, locked and load and only in the safe when i'm not home. My home defense gun is on my dresser at night. Not gonna fumble with a safe in the middle of the night. That's just my opinion.

[TheLugNutZ 21]

HD shotgun / pistol loaded in bedroom but not accessible to children. Other rifles & pistols in the safe. I use these to hold pistols: http://www.amazon.co...ils_o00_s00_i00

 

And keep theM coated in some sort of rust/moisture repellent. (see http://njgunforums.c...__fromsearch__1 )

[mcbethr 42]

If your guns are only for fun and not for home defense, keeping them unloaded is fine.

 

The tricky part comes when you have a gun in your safe for home defense and the other guns for fun. If this is the case, then all of the guns need to be in the same condition. In other words, in the middle of the night, when you are panicking you don't want to grab the wrong gun and oops... it's unloaded.

 

Keep all of them loaded. Or all of them unloaded or all of them loaded but without a round in the chamber. This way, there is never any confusion over what you have to do to get it to shoot, no matter what gun you pull out of the safe.

[ChrisJM981 924]

http://www.gunvault.com/handgun-safes.html/ keep the guns in the safe empty. Get a biovault and mount it to the frame of your bed. You can keep the loaded HD pistol in there.

[JackDaWack 2,895]

What kind of safe? I'm planing on getting those pistol hangers that slip on the top shelf.

Something like this.

http://www.buy.com/p...ingId=225618230

or

http://www.buy.com/prod/backunder-handgun-hanger-2-pack/226945529.html?listingId=225556451

[ChrisJM981 924]

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/870529/hyskore-modular-3-gun-pistol-rack

 

I also have a few of those in my safe.

[RubberBullets 65]

I wish there was a more presentable way to store handguns. Say you only have a few with a good size safe..id like the wow factor of handguns prominently displayed on the shelf. something like those hand sculptures to hold books that actually hold a handgun quite well. I recall someone used them to show off a handgun some months back. Awesome presentation.

[jamesbod 0]

To battle against rust, get some VCI & socks.

some use desiccants, but it's probably useless if you don't dry them every few weeks.

[djg0770 481]

I use these and I have made tags that I have attached to the zipper pull so I don't have to fumble through 3 cases to find the gun I want. I don't like storing guns in foam filled plastic cases as I have heard too many stories of guns rusting in them. Whether the stories are true or not remains up for debate, I don't feel the need to take that chance AND the plastic cases take up significantly more room in the safe.

[jamesbod 0]

plastic cases take up significantly more room in the safe.

true, the plastic cheap cases are tossed once you get the goodies out

[Vlad G 345]

I'm really not concerned about presentation, so I went the easy route. My safe has a single shelf at the top so I've added a couple of under shelf wire baskets that hang from each other, something like this: http://www.amazon.com/The-Container-Store-Undershelf-Basket/dp/B0000CFU1H/ref=sr_1_19?s=storageorganization&ie=UTF8&qid=1351343756&sr=1-19&keywords=under+shelf+basket

 

Those things hold my handguns just fine and use up the center of the safe where there are no long guns anyway.

[djg0770 481]

All,

Ok, I have a few handguns and I'm looking for opinions on the best way to store them.

 

This is a little bit like asking "What's the BEST way to have sex?" or "What's the BEST drink ever?" It requires elevating someone's preference or opinion into an absolute. This is, of course, the source of all debate...

 

I would say that the BEST WAY to ask the question is "How do YOU store them." This gives OP the option of reading several methods and generating his OWN opinion about what works BEST for him.

 

But you really didn't want to know that...

[ChrisJM981 924]

Have her bound and gagged and bend her over your...oh. The way to store firearms. Keep them out of the cases and put in a Golden Rod in her...err...the safe.

[TheBigKahuna 2]

I've gone to these silicon impregnated Bore-Stores.

 

No rust, keeps guns from getting dinged, and can be marked as to contents.

 

[jeklog 7]

very nice thebigkahuna!

[Socom 19]

I keep all mine oiled up in a gun sock in the gun safe; albeit my hd gun which is close to me locked and loaded in a holster at all times, I clean it every few months!

 

Rob

[tony357 386]

Loaded and on your hip...

[jamesbod 0]

I've gone to these silicon impregnated Bore-Stores.

 

No rust, keeps guns from getting dinged, and can be marked as to contents.

 

there you go. quite nice.

[owidruldu 0]

I have a Vline gun safe like this https://secretstorages.com/best-under-bed-gun-safes/ mounted in my bedroom. Keeps the kids out of it, but the combo is quick and easy to enter and access. A little bit pricey, but keeps the gun well away from yunguns and lets me keep the guns loaded and ready to go. I personally don't believe in leaving the chamber empty on a home defense gun. Had an instructor once say "the only thing more scary than the sound of a shotgun being racked in the bedroom, is the sound of safeties being taken off in the living room after the rack" The first thing I want a home invader to hear is either my command for them to freeze while they are covered, or the sound of my firearm discharging (depending on situation).

[capt14k 2,052]

Do not store blued firearms in silicone socks, foam cases, or holsters. If you want to store in foam case or silicone sock put in a VCI storage bag first.


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[RichP 115]

Depends on the length of time that you "store" them.

Long term, wipe down and put in a VCI or similar bag.

Short term, wipe down and put in a pistol rack in the safe, along with a dehumidifier rod. Never in a holster, or in a box that renders the dehumidifier useless.

For me, all guns in the safe have mags removed, hammer down, no ammo.

Loaded HD handguns go into pistol vault, specifically for that purpose.

[Gunstarter 0]

Pretty sure you are overthinking! I know you said you have a safe, but you did not specify the type or model so I'll run through my whole setup.

I store mine on its side on a foam pad just for more protection. I don't keep it in a holster because if I need it in an emergency, the gun needs to be easily accessed. 

Mines loaded with a round in the chamber ready to go at all times.

My glock is stored in a biometric quick access safe like this one https://combated.com/best-gun-safe-reviews/#1_vaultek_vt20i_biometric_handgun_safe 

The thing I like about that safe is that I can move it wherever I feel like I need it at the time. When I'm sleeping, I'll move it to my nightstand near my bed. When I'm in the living room, I can easily move it there.

[capt14k 2,052]

Pretty sure you are overthinking! I know you said you have a safe, but you did not specify the type or model so I'll run through my whole setup.
I store mine on its side on a foam pad just for more protection. I don't keep it in a holster because if I need it in an emergency, the gun needs to be easily accessed. 
Mines loaded with a round in the chamber ready to go at all times.
My glock is stored in a biometric quick access safe like this one https://combated.com/best-gun-safe-reviews/#1_vaultek_vt20i_biometric_handgun_safe 
The thing I like about that safe is that I can move it wherever I feel like I need it at the time. When I'm sleeping, I'll move it to my nightstand near my bed. When I'm in the living room, I can easily move it there.

If you have a blued finish you may want to take off that foam pad.


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