Where to Put House Shotgun?

[tibbits]

right now, mine is in a closet downstairs, a long way from the bedroom. tonight I'll look for a better place. for me, an 870 is as good as it gets for defense. love my autos, but ordinance down range is the key at 3am when something goes bump. fortunately, I grew up with scatter guns so they are like riding a bike for me. I have no doubt that at 20 yards or less l am more accurate and confident with a shotgun from the hip than any handgun I have. and the classic sound of racking an 870 is almost a weapon itself.

hmmm, got the fever now...may have to reload the tube with birdshot and take a walk in the woods tonight.

[Barth]

I haven't been real clever on that.
My long guns are usually on the top shelf in the bedroom closet.
Would like a gun safe that looks like a cabinet If I had my own place...

[OldLincoln]

I love that site Hidden Passages. I was trying to recall it when O'Dell was looking for ideas.

[earle8888]

870 with Rem folding stock, sling in chest drawer, close to bed

[TucsonMTB]

I figure we have 4 seconds max and I'll need all of it.
. . .
I'm obviously concerned about what I see happening in the world and I remember they last time things went to heck home invasions spiked wildly. That was why I became armed and wear even around the house (be lax on that lately tho'). This time I'll take it to the next level with my shotgun, door brace and porch alarm. Sound like a plan?

Thanks for the help folks. It helps.

Hey OldLincoln!

You may already have done something like this, but with your layered plan to home defense, one additional layer might be an outer security door, in place of a screen door. We arranged to have Unique Home Design Security Door installed this summer. It is not cheap but, is very convenient and remarkably strong.

Oh, and your wife will like it because it is quite beautiful.



From choosing the colors and design to actual installation was abut a month. The installer comes to your home to measure your front door at which point you can tweak the design after seeing the color samples he brings with him to your home against your wall and trim colors in daylight. It was a very satisfying experience for us.

[melissa5]

I was thinking about putting mine behind my bedroom door beside the AR15. Guess I really need to get creative or buy a safe.

[TucsonMTB]

I was thinking about putting mine behind my bedroom door beside the AR15. Guess I really need to get creative or buy a safe.

A safe is always a good idea for security when you are not at home. Ask O'Dell. Otherwise, behind the door sounds good to me. Did I mention that I am cheap!

[TheTman]

Mines behind the bedroom door in the corner there. I have hand guns within reach once I sit up. We had some fool ex husband kick in his ex-wife's door, so I know we aren't all that safe. Fortunately we live in a crime-scarce area. I would have one on the headboard if I had a headboard with shelves. If I think about it I'll wedge a chair under the doorknob for an extra second or two of time. Should get one of those metal rods that hook under the knob and extend to the floor. They are probably only good for a couple extra seconds too, but that could make the difference.

[garyb]

A shotgun is an excellent choice, but we did not like leaving it unsecured when we left home for a BG to have when he broke into our home. We don't want to come home to a scene like that. I suspect the statistics prove a greater probabililty of an intrusion when we are not home. We don't want to leave any guns out or even hidden for someone to take or use on us when we return. Ask guys that have had guns stolen...BG's find them even if they are hidden well. A bedroom or bedroom closet is the first place they will look. This means remembering to lock up the home defense shotgun everytime we depart home and unlock it when we got back home. Just doesn't happen.

Therefore, we have decided to keep the shotguns locked with the rest of the guns; keep our carry pieces available when we get home... and carry it when we depart home. My wife is doing the same and we'll have two guns bearing down on the BG if necessary; with a good, practiced (roll play) tactical plan should an intrusion occur. Everything else is locked up. It may not be as ideal as a shotgun, but we don't carry a shotgun either, so as close to ideal as it gets for us is to rely on our carry. We've decided to be confident in what we carry and lock the rest up. But we agree, the shotgun is the best home defense... but whether or not we are home our carry will do.

[OldLincoln]

It hadn't even occurred to me how to secure it when we leave the house. Gasp! Maybe I can do a locking hanger lagged into the door header over the closet. Gotta think this one through a bit. No problem on the hanger, but need a locking mechanism that's secure but relatively quick & easy to open.

How about a shotgun lock box I can drill and mount? Well, forget that! I found and priced it available at my favorite gun store for only $275. When I said I'm more interested in something under $75 she said use the lock it comes with.

Now I thinking about those bicycle locks that have the ridged elongated "U" bar. Oh well something will come to me. Or, how about you guys??

[Bawanna]

I'd not do any kind of lock that would take time to put into action. Thieves will seldom take long guns as they are hard to carry and too obvious. O'Dells thing was pretty unusual. The thieves knew what they were after and made a plan. The usual day time burg is gonna go for fast and easy and they ain't gonna waste alot of effort on a 300 dollar shotgun. Not impressive enough to the gang unless the cut the barrel off at the tube which wouldn't work on yours since the tube is long. Hang it over the closet door header, lock it up if you go on vacation for any length of time. (or not) and find something else to worry about.

The beauty of a shotgun is it dont break the bank if it does go away. It's a sad thing and no one wants to see it happen or in the hands of a dirt bag but still not the end of the world.

[OldLincoln]

Gee, and a plan was coming together too. I may still do it (or not). The idea is to keep it in "The Backup" when home and in the closet rack before leaving. I suppose I could get lazy and leave it locked in the rack. Well, I'll probably at least get one ot those vinyl coated bicycle hanger hook things for about the closet door to get it out of sight when not home.

The grandkids are supposedly gun safe but I still like to lock the guns up.

[ltxi]

In a front inside/near corner of my MBR closet a few steps from the bed. We have gun safes, but our ready to go/instant access arms are never locked down when leaving the house on a routine basis. Too hard to remember to do, to hard to remember to undo, and too big a pita. We also have both indoor dogs and an extensive alarm system, do not have children, and live in a very low risk neighborhood.

[Jeremiah/Az]

I don't like a shotgun for home defense & don't want to come home to a break in & have to face my own shotgun. My house is big with lots of nooks & crannies where a BG could hide & grab a long gun as I was lookin' for him. My shotguns are always locked up when not using them. My PM9 is always with me tho!

[OldLincoln]

You know I liked The Backup Plan bedside shotgun holder. It is the price that stopped me so I came up with an alternative device to do a similar thing. The idea is to attach 2 hooks to hold the shotgun at a level where the mattress and boxsprings meet. I chose to use 2 "J" hooks normally used in communication wiring inside buildings above suspended ceilings.

I will attach those to a carpet sample shaving a strip in the knap for the top rail to sit and pop rivet the top and bottom rails together through the carpet sample. Place the carpet sample between the mattress & boxspring and it's good to go. I anticipate it working but it doesn't I'm only out $1.50 for me effort.

This pic is the 2 "J" hooks with the center part removed on one.


This shows the carpet sample with "J" hook placed. The knap isn't cut yet as I haven't picked up the gun and don't know exactly where to place them.


If this works, next up will be hooks mounted above the closet door as an alternative spot.