Gun safe installation

The Best online firearms community in Louisiana.

Member Benefits:

  • Fewer Ads!
  • Discuss all aspects of firearm ownership
  • Discuss anti-gun legislation
  • Buy, sell, and trade in the classified section
  • Chat with Local gun shops, ranges, trainers & other businesses
  • Discover free outdoor shooting areas
  • View up to date on firearm-related events
  • Share photos & video with other members
  • ...and so much more!
  • LACamper

    oldbie
    Premium Member
    Rating - 100%
    4   0   0
    Jun 3, 2007
    8,629
    48
    Metairie, LA
    I'm moving a sheet metal gunsafe into a different closet tomorrow (long story.... and a real safe isn't an option right now. this is just to keep the kids out more than anything).

    I can screw into the studs easy enough but... Anybody mount differently? 2x4's across the back wall? Etc... I can mount into the slab (and will but not immediately) but I'm looking for alternatives.
     

    Barry J

    Well-Known Member
    Rating - 100%
    2   0   0
    Dec 5, 2011
    1,334
    48
    Thibodaux
    I had one where the holes in the back of the safe didn't line up with the studs. I screwed two 2x4 across the wall and screwed the safe to the 2x4's. I used screws instead of nails, they are harder to pull out.
     

    wcweir3

    Well-Known Member
    Rating - 100%
    3   0   0
    Apr 26, 2015
    1,191
    38
    Gonzales, LA
    X-10 on the screws the longer you can the better. Just like when I used to install new deadbolts I used 3in screws in the strike plate to get into the 2X4 studs instead of the 1in that comes with most locks.
    Wingate
     

    RustyHammer

    Well-Known Member
    Rating - 100%
    20   0   0
    Feb 9, 2008
    618
    16
    NOLA
    I had one where the holes in the back of the safe didn't line up with the studs. I screwed two 2x4 across the wall and screwed the safe to the 2x4's. I used screws instead of nails, they are harder to pull out.

    I did same ... just make sure you don't slide keys or anything else off the top of it (between it and the wall).
     

    davidd

    Expert in the field of wife avoidance
    Rating - 100%
    13   0   0
    May 9, 2011
    558
    28
    Baton Rouge, LA
    Lowes sells a 4'x2'x2" solid wood board. I screwed that to the studs with 3.5" countersunk screws, then used lag bolts through the back of the safe to attach to the board. I also have file cabinets and a heavy desk pushed up against the side, in a small bedroom we used as an office. Not as secure as bolted to concrete, but while the alarm is going off and the police are headed over, that is a lot of stuff to get out of the way. I'm hoping time would be on my side.
     

    LACamper

    oldbie
    Premium Member
    Rating - 100%
    4   0   0
    Jun 3, 2007
    8,629
    48
    Metairie, LA
    Put a dead bolt on the closet door and lock it, Hide the keys.

    Wish I could. Its a 6' sliding door.

    Lowes sells a 4'x2'x2" solid wood board. I screwed that to the studs with 3.5" countersunk screws, then used lag bolts through the back of the safe to attach to the board. I also have file cabinets and a heavy desk pushed up against the side, in a small bedroom we used as an office. Not as secure as bolted to concrete, but while the alarm is going off and the police are headed over, that is a lot of stuff to get out of the way. I'm hoping time would be on my side.

    That's a good idea. I was thinking about some pieces of 1x6 behind it but this is better. Time again is the issue. I have two LEO's nearby (one retired, once working nights), 150 lbs of dogs, a good monitored alarm, and a bunch of paranoid nosy old ladies close!

    I saw a local gun shop's back room once. He had the same kind of steel box safes but had angle iron jb welded and bolted to the front with padlocks. It would make peeling the safe a lot harder. I've seen the videos of the less expensive real gun safes being peeled in a matter of minutes. I'm not sure they're worth the extra expense. A 1000 pound safe is not in the budget nor would it fit where it needs to go. Not to mention my gun collection isn't extensive enough to justify that... yet.
     
    Last edited:

    Forum statistics

    Threads
    195,218
    Messages
    1,546,026
    Members
    29,168
    Latest member
    Lyle.lejeune2017
    Top Bottom