Overflow ammo and accessory storage ideas?

[gtae07]

I'm looking for some ideas on storing extra ammo and various accessories as it looks like we're soon outgrowing our current safe.

Right now we have a standard "24-gun" size in our second floor bedroom that's pretty much packed to the gills. Rifles and shotguns take up one side, ammo boxes are stacked in pairs on the other side. Pistol mags, extra holsters, etc. are all over the upper shelf, pistols are hanging from the underside of it, and a door organizer holds more stuff and another rifle. Getting things in and out is a pain, and as it looks like we'll likely be adding a couple more rifles and some bulk ammo purchases we're really running out of space.

The ideal answer, I know, is another and/or larger safe, but right now that's out of the picture. Getting this one upstairs was enough of a challenge, and I'd be a little nervous about having something larger with all that weight bearing down. Whenever we move into our next long-term house I'll definitely be getting something bigger. In theory I guess we could get one and bolt it down in the garage, but we're tight on space there as it is and I don't want it in a nice easy place to get into. Same with putting it in my workshop, with the added discouragement that any tool up to and including a plasma cutter would be available to help break into it, and the shop is isolated in the back and affords lots of privacy for breaking in.

I thought about getting one of those bolt-together stack-on cabinets and stashing it in a closet or something, but without good shelving it's not really helping the problem.

I've thought about just stacking ammo cans in a closet or on tall bathroom shelves but I'm not really comfortable with them not being secured somehow, primarily because of a very curious and active toddler. I'm already looking at trying to find a better more toddler-proof pistol safe that I can secure to the bedframe. (aside: any good suggestions on storing loaded carry guns in a large safe? Velcro'ed soft holsters and hanger rods seem like a potential for problems eventually)

[Nocturnalis Discipulo]

We have job boxes we filled up with ammo and accessories. You can get them fairly inexpensively. I think it would work well if you have the right location. https://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-48-in-x-24-in-Universal-Storage-Chest-48R-OS/300748574 That is a similar model to what we have.

When filled up these things are HEAVY! Granted anyone with tools could break into them, but we don't store guns in them. Anyone with tools and time is going to be able to into anything I have access to soo...

[hufnagel]

http://www.stack-on.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/GCB-1522_RF-Closed-2_19L-289x600.jpg

http://www.stack-on.com/product/22-gun-security-cabinet/

I have the 14-gun versions here (they're 2" shallower in depth, same width and height though) I use to store ammo in. Lots of places have had sales on them, and you can get them for about $100.

[ragnar_d]

We have job boxes we filled up with ammo and accessories. You can get them fairly inexpensively. I think it would work well if you have the right location.
This is what I do. I've got a 48" Better Built 48" job box from Lowes for all of my ammo and mags. Loaded down, you'd need a pallet jack or a fork lift to get it out.

Holsters and soft gear I use are in an old WW2 Army footlocker that got passed down from my Grandmother. Seems like a fitting place to store all the battle rattle. Stuff that I don't use get sold/given away. I keep enough around to outfit what I've got. Doesn't make much sense to keep extras around.


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[BehindBlueI's]

I don't put holsters or accessories in the safe. I put some self defense ammo, but the vast majority goes in a storage cabinet I built in the garage. Nothing fancy, just a wood cabinet about the size of a refrigerator with a hinged door on the front and a bunch of shelves. I store primers, bullets, and loaded ammo in it. Powder goes on a shelf over my reloading bench so it's not exposed to primers in the unlikely event my concrete and stone garage somehow sets fire.

My home office has my "cop/gun stuff closet" and I use shoe organizers to organize holsters and magazines.

[EricM]

Might consider a filing cabinet, used ones are often cheap. An old heavy-duty steel one can hold a lot of weight, just be cautious with weight distribution when opening drawers. You can get something like this (https://www.amazon.com/ABUS-07040-46-0-Inch-Chrome-Drawer/dp/B005UM8TMY) to make it lockable.

[richiecotite]

If space is the concern maybe get something from Tactical Walls; if I had the money I’d have a couple of pieces from them


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[mtnbkr]

I have the 14-gun versions here (they're 2" shallower in depth, same width and height though) I use to store ammo in. Lots of places have had sales on them, and you can get them for about $100.

This is what I've been doing for years. I only keep ammo in the gun safe that is either going to the range soon or new handloads I need to test. My bulk ammo and other gun stuff is in my smaller Stack-On locker.

Chris

[Trukinjp13]

I keep mine in a similar container to the stack-on. I have always been concerned about a fire and the steel boxes not being fireproof.


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[dpadams6]

Costco has a heavy duty shelf unit that holds 2000 lbs PER SHELF.

[Cookie Monster]

Reason for locking up the ammo? I keep ammo in stacks of ammo cans. Not saying I have the best practice.

[EricP]

double post

[EricP]

I bough an Edsal cabinet similar to this (https://www.samsclub.com/sams/sandusky-quick-assembly-keyless-electronic-coded-steel-cabinet-black-36-w-x-18-d-x-72-h/prod6710329.ip?pid=_CSE_Google_PLA_520246&source=ifpla&CAWELAID=730010300000287080&adid=22222222627000034209&wl0=&wl1=s&wl2=c&wl3=79949775275&wl4=pla-52152508974&wl5=9002279&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=1247713&wl11=online&wl12=520246&wl13=&wl15=22983885515&wl17=1o1&veh=sem). It has held up to the weight of ammo well and stores accessories as well. This allows the safe to just hold guns.

It wouldn't keep out a determined thief, but it should keep out children.

[Trukinjp13]

Reason for locking up the ammo? I keep ammo in stacks of ammo cans. Not saying I have the best practice.

Thiefs, and now kids. Got robbed when I was little. They stole all my dads guns and ammo. So, shit gets locked up now. I live in the country and chances are slim. But I aint taking a chance.


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[HCM]

An old non working refrigerator or freezer makes a good cheap ammo storage locker - add a hasp and a padlock and you are in business.

[03RN]

Thiefs, and now kids. Got robbed when I was little. They stole all my dads guns and ammo. So, shit gets locked up now. I live in the country and chances are slim. But I aint taking a chance.


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Depending on the amount of ammo you might be better off securing an entire room for stuff you don't want the kid to get into.

Lock up a spare bedroom, office, or build a man cave in the basement.

There is just no way I could fit all my ammo cans in a safe or cabinet.

[Cookie Monster]

I hadn’t thought about kids just playing with ammo. I figured without a gun ammo is useless but I could see my boys loading it into dump trucks and moving it all around.

I got enough guns I had to move all the magazines out of the safe. Reconsidering where I keep them now.

Sounds like a construction site job box or locking plywood cabinet is in your future.

[mcgiiver]

Here is some easy to make shelving I made for my ammo cabinet. All held in place by gravity, no glue or fasteners. 2206022061220602206222063

[RJ]

Ref Accessory storage ideas, I bought a Plano 3-28 latch storage unit today. WalMart’s local price was $3.84. It’s this one on Amazon:

Plano 23750 StowAway Organizer, 3-28 Adjustable Compartments

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007UTNREK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_fdTiAb9SVR2HV

I’ve been meaning to get something like this to organize all my little odds and ends:

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171202/e4fe37c1420daef4adbd54aad39ffe2b.jpg

[willie]

For ammo storage, the op might try spreading it around using locked gi ammo cans. Some might go in different closets but not stacked. This way it does not tumble down on the toddler. Another toddler tactic is putting locks on one or all closets. In my case, for theft deterrence, I once stored wheel weights in locked ammo cans stored in my garage. These were labeled with various caliber designations. They were bait. I owned a number of old non functional junker long guns that belonged in a land field. I kept these in cloth(cheap)gun cases rigged with cheap locks. These junkers were kept in a locked outside storage building. So I provided a lot of heavy bait for a thief to carry off. None did.

[txdpd]

Contact your local fire department about fire code and appropriate storage. If it's in a house or attached garage, I would not store ammunition in metal lock boxes or safes. Wooden boxes and plastic foot lockers may not be as theft resistant, but I'd much rather replace stolen ammo than have a situation where the fire department lets my house burn down.

[Malamute]

Somebody already mentioned it but i'll repeat it, get locking doorknobs, the keyed entry type, for closets, and keep the keys in the safe or someplace they cant get in the wrong hands. Besides making a closet relatively safe from kids, it adds a layer of trouble for thieves, even if theres a safe or locker inside. If the hinges are exposed, you can get security pins (https://www.google.com/search?biw=1242&bih=579&tbm=shop&ei=zkEjWqzmKMGKjwSw4Z-oDQ&q=door+hinge+security+jamb+pins&oq=door+hinge+security+jamb+pins&gs_l=psy-ab.12...33640.37501.0.39873.5.5.0.0.0.0.152.464.4j 1.5.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..0.3.243...0i13k1.0.aS5cO18BT2s) that replace a couple of the screws for the hinges so if the hinge pins are pulled the door still isnt coming open.

The cheap metal gun lockers are OK for ammo or accessories. No, they arent fire proof, but are at least more secure than sitting around in ammo cans.

[hufnagel]

I made some shelving out of some 1x3 and 3-ply plywood scraps. A pair of ladders on either side and let the shelves rest on the rungs. Done totally on the cheap, but it works.

[mmc45414]

I brought one of these home this morning:
https://www.ruralking.com/delta-job-site-box-48-toolbox-637990.html
A lotta room for $200.

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[blues]

I brought one of these home this morning:
https://www.ruralking.com/delta-job-site-box-48-toolbox-637990.html
A lotta room for $200.

I have a Knaack 4824 (http://www.knaack.com/en/view/Products/Jobsite%20Storage%20Equipment/Jobsite%20Storage/Chest/4824) which I got a great deal on a couple of years back from Acme Tools. Love it.

[gtae07]

Thanks all for the responses. Some interesting ideas I hadn't considered before.

In no particular order:

Plano cases for cleaning rods, small tools, etc. are great; I've been using one since I got my my first rifle in 2007. What I meant by "accessories" was more things like magazines, slings, extra holsters, choke tubes, spare stripped upper, etc... all those miscellaneous things you tend to accumulate that have a purpose but aren't used all the time.

We don't have any spare closets or bedrooms available and my "cave" as such is the tool-equipped detached workshop/garage. It's kidproofed as a whole for now in that the doors are locked and he can't operate them, but there's zero theft protection besides the light and locks on the door. For sure, if we had a spare bedroom/closet everything would be stored there minus the carry guns and an under-bed or in-wall long gun container.

I should have clarified; the current safe is in our master bedroom. We have a little space next to it for a cabinet (e.g. https://www.amazon.com/Stack-GCB-18C-Convertible-Security-Cabinet/dp/B002TOKR1M/), or maybe some room on my side of the closet. I'm leaning towards this for now.

The one-car attached garage is a convenient option but it doesn't have a whole lot of room and it's also my wife's art and painting room. I like the big jobsite box idea too but she will veto it.


The last idea would be just shelves in our closet or up high in the bathroom. I'm using those plastic ammo cans like (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005IURN5M/) when I can grab them on sale; it wouldn't provide theft protection but he wouldn't have access.