Bolting safes together, legit storage solution?

[PaWNTANK]

Howdy Guys, I've finally managed to convert one of my once anti-gun friends with a day at the range

They're about to apply for a licence once they get their storage situation sorted. She is renting in a 4th floor apartment and the landlord has already given a big NO to drilling holes in the floor/wall.

There is no lift and the stairwell is narrow as f**K so getting a large +150kg safe up there is very unlikely.

She said her uncle has bolted two smaller safes together (just over 80kg each) to pass the 150kg weight requirement and has never had any issues during inspections.

Has anyone ever actually seen it done or done it themselves? I've seen a post here and there on other forums but I am pretty skeptical.

[Korkt]

Never seen personally.

A thought though... 2x 80kg safes for a new shooter who has how many guns? 1? 2?

Seems like a lot of wasted safe, money and space to get it over the line.

Not an ideal solution.

Alternative idea... Have a look at bolting some 1" steel plates to the floor inside instead. A ft square 1" steel plate is about 25kg off the top of my head.

3-4 of those and she'll have the weight, and you can easily take them out to move the safe. Then put them back in when in place. Achieves the same result without having a second safe taking up space.

The laws to state it has to be 150kg when empty so I wouldn't just drop the plates in, but actually bolting them in using the provided floor holes would do the trick I'd say. She'd just need to drop the safe on a few little feet to give the bolt some clearance.

Hopefully that idea is of some help.

[Point223]

Stair climber trolley - manual or hydrolic can be rented or purchased to aid the moving of a 150KG. She will need another person's assistance. She'll break a sweat. But nothing a cold beer won't fix.

[bunnybuster]

How about ballasting the safe with lead ingots,purchased from a metal supplier-- BHP 99% ingots are about 20kg each,

Be Safe BB

[Title_II]

Promise to keep 100 kg of ammo in it at all times.

I think multiple safes are a good idea in case you get robbed, especially with the flimsy ones that are commonly sold as gun safes. Unlikely a burglar is going to get into more than one. Of course, multiple layers of security are better, but not everybody can afford it and not every collection warrants it.

[Grated]

Promise to keep 100 kg of ammo in it at all times.

No dice.

150kg when empty is the legislation here.

[tiki]

I think multiple safes are a good idea in case you get robbed, especially with the flimsy ones that are commonly sold as gun safes.

There are some shocking quality ones, ebay jobs and so on.

As it's a legal requirement here and everyone needs one the quality of in-store brands is pretty decent.

They're not all bank vaults, but the 'gun locker' ones by Spika, Buffalo Creek, Lokaway (some of the common brands here) are strong enough when bolted down that a random burglar wouldn't be able to get into one.

Different story if they came prepared, but they would stop your typically smash'n'grab random burglary.

[Aussier]

When they do your inspection they do give this a push and pull.

Depending on how you did it... If there was wiggle or flex in the join I suspect they'd have issue as you could probably back-and-forth them apart. Same as rocking the bolts out of the bottom of a s**ty built safe.

If the connection was rock solid and it was as good as a 1 piece safe, you might be ok. But there would be zero room for error.

I'd go with increasing the weight of a single safe if possible.

[tarnagulla]

I ran the idea past the local DFO in Victoria, and he states that it would not count here - the 150kg must be one safe only, not two, three, or whatever. And yes Aussier, this bloke indeed gives them a push and pull when inspecting, and as he weighs something north of 100kg himself, they had better be well bolted down!

[PaWNTANK]

Cheers Lads, She has gotten a Big Iron 5 gun safe and bolted steel plates into the bottom. Checked with WLB and the local cop shop and they were fine with it. Thanks for all the handy advice fellow shooters

[Title_II]

She should have bolted them to the sides. Who tries to break in from the bottom?

[sbd3927]

Cheers Lads, She has gotten a Big Iron 5 gun safe and bolted steel plates into the bottom. Checked with WLB and the local cop shop and they were fine with it. Thanks for all the handy advice fellow shooters

Thats good news. I trust the WLB confirmed that in writing? If it was a phone call, write asking for written confirmation of the advice so you can keep it with your firearm certificates. Phone calls are only worth the paper they are written on, there should be no problem getting a letter.

If you didn't need detachable weights for moving, casting molten lead into the bottom would work well The powder coat might not like it, though wet towels externally might work. Could also use some bolts or angular welds inside to give it more to lock into if required. Depends whats simpler.

[Korkt]

She should have bolted them to the sides. Who tries to break in from the bottom?

It's just about adding weight for legal reasons here, not making it more difficult to break into by beefing up the walls.

Cleaner at the bottom.

[Lorgar]

I ran the idea past the local DFO in Victoria, and he states that it would not count here - the 150kg must be one safe only, not two, three, or whatever. And yes Aussier, this bloke indeed gives them a push and pull when inspecting, and as he weighs something north of 100kg himself, they had better be well bolted down!

I had my inspection not too long ago and the guy was nothing but thorough.

My setup is all above board of course (obviously so in fact) and the inspection was a breeze, in and out in 5 minutes.

No room for slack though, he said he'd had a few come short of the mark in his time and has no option but to confiscate everything on the spot.

[sally-bee]

No room for slack though, he said he'd had a few come short of the mark in his time and has no option but to confiscate everything on the spot.

That's fair.

They're serious tools and need to be kept safe.

[pajamatime]

Cheers Lads, She has gotten a Big Iron 5 gun safe and bolted steel plates into the bottom. Checked with WLB and the local cop shop and they were fine with it. Thanks for all the handy advice fellow shooters

my question is where is a good place to get some cheap steel plates? (around QLD brisbane)

[PaWNTANK]

She picked up the plates somewhere in Toowoomba, Not sure where though. Next time I talk to her I can ask.

[brisb]

I'd like to know too actually.

Appreciated if you can find out