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June 18th, 2021

Fit More Firearms in Your Safe with Handgun Hangers

hand gun storage solution under shelf handgun hanger coated wire

If you’re looking for a space-saving handgun storage system, consider the Easy Use Gun Hangers from USA GunClub. These vinyl-coated, wire hangers organize handguns below the shelves in your gunsafe, freeing up storage space above the shelves. To use the handgun hangers, simply slide each hanger on the shelf and then slip your pistol’s barrel over the lower rod. Handgun Hangers are intended for guns with an overall length of 10 inches or shorter. They will fit shelves that are at least 11 inches deep and 5/8-1 inch in thickness. Handgun Hangers will hold handguns .22 caliber and up, though the fit is a bit snug on .22s. A four-pack of Handgun Hangers costs $9.99. This product has been Amazon’s #1 Best Seller among handgun storage accessories.

hand gun storage solution under shelf handgun hanger coated wire

WARNING — Always Make Sure Handgun is UNLOADED when using Handgun Hangers!!

hand gun storage solution under shelf handgun hanger coated wireUSA GunClub also offers an Over-Under Hanger that holds two handguns — one above the shelf, and one below. A two-pack of Over-Under Hangers (capable of holding four handguns) costs $9.99. This may be a good solution for you. This editor personally prefers the standard model, so I can use the upper surface of the shelf to hold odd-shaped items such as cameras, binoculars, and miscellaneous valuables.

hand gun storage solution under shelf handgun hanger coated wire
Permalink Gear Review, Handguns, New Product No Comments »
June 8th, 2021

Steelhead Outdoors Offers American-Made Modular Safes

steelhead modular safe steel

For gun owners who have to move frequently, or who may live in an upstairs apartment or condo, we recommend a modular safe. We have featured modular safes in the past, and now we’re pleased to say there is a new line of made-in-USA modular safes that may work well for our readers. Steelhead Outdoors, based in Minnesota, now offers three different safes: Nomad 26, 32, and Nomad 38. These are good products for sure, but they are also quite expensive. The Nomad 26 starts at $2495.00 while the big Nomad 38 lists for $3495.00. However, when you consider the value of your gun collection, the cost becomes more tolerable if you need a safe you can take down and move.

steelhead modular safe steel

USA-Made Nomad Series safes come in three sizes — Nomad 26, Nomad 32, and Nomad 38:

Nomad 26 — 25.5″ W x 54″ T, holds 6-15 long guns. Weight 375 lbs. (< 100 lbs. per panel) Nomad 32 -- 31.5" W x 60" T, holds 8-19 long guns. Weight 500 lbs. (< 135 lbs. per panel) Nomad 32 -- 37.5" W x 60" T, holds 10-34 long guns. Weight 600 lbs. (< 165 lbs. per panel)

This video explains the features of Steelhead Nomad Series modular, take-apart gun safes:

Steelhead Outdoors states: “Our modular gun safes are easily moved and assembled by two people. Traditional safes require hiring a specialized safe moving company, which is costly, or enlisting buddies on a dangerous DIY adventure each time the homeowner moves.”

steelhead modular safe steel

Steelhead Outdoors Nomad series safes features some high-end security features. The patent-pending construction features a fully dry insulation system, eliminating the need for a dehumidifier. This system utilizes a radiant heat reflecting coating to reject incoming heat from entering the safe. The metal interior provides additional protection and is made from nearly 100 percent nonflammable materials. The panels are filled with ceramic fire insulation that is rated to 2300 degrees and is non-moisture trapping so it does not require the use of a dehumidifier and will not release steam into the safe in the event of a fire.

This cool time-lapse video shows the entire process of assembling the safe, start to finish.

The video below shows how to assemble a Steelhead Outdoors Nomad series safe. If you have basic skills, these safes can be assembled easily in under 60 minutes. Steelhead recommends having two people to do the job. The entire safe ships in four (4) boxes. Wrenches are included with the safe.

Features of Steelhead Outdoors Nomad Series Safes
Steelhead Outdoors Nomad Series of premium modular gun safes are designed and constructed to allow for flexibility and mobility without sacrificing safety or durability. Shooters, hunters and gun collectors will appreciate these smart design decisions.

— Double wall construction with 12-gauge welded, powder-coated exterior panels and 20-gauge interior panels, 7-gauge plate door (3/16″), large 1/2″ locking plates.
— Patent-pending construction with dual-stage fire protection with 2300° insulation and radiation-reflecting panels, for enhanced corrosion resistance.
— Drill resistant hard plate features 78 captured, hardened ball bearings to destroy attacking drill bits
— Full-length hinge side locking bar locks door solidly in place, even with door hinges removed
— Cam-Over-Center direct drive lock mechanism with metal bearings at every moving point
— Ships flat and easily assembled in place with one hex key wrench (provided)

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December 19th, 2020

Firearms Safety Info from NSSF — Resources for Gun Owners

NSSF childsafe safe storage

The NSSF, as part of its ChildSafe Program, has just released a 26-page PDF document covering all aspects of firearms safety and safe storage. We recommend that new gun owners review this Safety Brochure. In addition, NSSF and Project ChildSafe offer a variety of other educational materials and resources:

1. Safety infographic for First-time Gun Buyers
2. Tips for Firearms Safety in the Home
3. A brochure and two videos highlighting Firearms Safety in Vehicles
4. An infographic detailing Safe Storage Options
5. A guide for parents to help Understand Youth Mental Health
6. A resource for military families for Veteran Suicide Prevention

Message from the NSSF:
“With the holiday season upon us, the National Shooting Sports Foundation reminds Americans to practice responsible safety measures at home, including safe and responsible firearm handling and storage. “It’s important to remember that the holidays can be a challenging time of year for many, and that may be especially true this year — particularly for those who are unable to see loved ones due to the pandemic, or who may be feeling isolated or alone for other reasons,” said Joe Bartozzi, NSSF President and CEO. “We want to ensure families are practicing safe firearm storage habits to reduce the chance of a firearm accident this holiday season.”

NSSF childsafe safe storage

NSSF childsafe safe storage

SAFETY QUIZ — NSSF has created Firearm Storage and Safety Assessment Quiz. This walks gun owners through questions related to safe handling and storage of firearms. Click Link below to take the Quiz.

Take Gun Storage and Safety Quiz »

NSSF childsafe safe storage

Permalink - Articles, Bullets, Brass, Ammo, Tech Tip 1 Comment »
November 28th, 2020

Firearm Storage Safety QUIZ — How Safe are YOUR Guns?

NSSF resources quiz new firearm gun owner

Do you have a friend or family member who is a first-time gun owner? Then show them this article. It provides important guidelines for new gun owners. There’s an Infographic printed below. And, there’s a helpful Firearm Storage and Safety Assessment Quiz. This walks gun owners through questions related to safe handling and storage of firearms. Here is Part One of the Quiz. If you click on this part, you can complete the entire Quiz and see how you score.

Take Gun Storage and Safety Quiz »

NSSF resources quiz new firearm gun owner

Firearms Safe Storage Video

NSSF Infographic for New Gun Owners
Below is the latest NSSF Infographic for new gun owners. This provides questions to ask before buying a gun, plus information on safe gun storage at home. This Infographic is part of a large collection of NSSF Resources for New Gun Owners.

NSSF resources quiz new firearm gun owner coronovirus covid-19

Want to learn more? CLICK HERE for the Interactive Version of the NSSF Infographic. On that Interactive PDF, click on the smaller buttons to get additional information, or to watch related videos.

Other Gun Safety Resources

NSSF resources quiz new firearm gun owner

NSSF resources quiz new firearm gun owner

Firearms Safe Storage/Transport in Vehicles | Ten Tips for Firearms Safety in Your Home

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November 19th, 2020

Hidden in Plain Sight — Storage Options for Long Guns and Pistols

hidden gun safe Tactical Walls concealment

When you want a firearm for home defense instantly available, you don’t necessarily want it buried in a large gun safe in a remote section of your house. There are reasons you may want a rifle, pistol, or shotgun ready to be deployed quickly. One solution for this is the “hidden in plain sight” option. Using common household furniture or house features (such as vents and mirrors), you can stash a firearms where it can be quickly accessed, but no unwelcome visitor will suspect it is stored. This article presents some popular gun storage options.

Virginia-based Tactical Walls is a leader is specialized gun storage/concealment systems. This company offers a variety of USA-made furniture/decorative options for gun storage. There are mirror assemblies, sliding wooden flags, tables with hidden storage, bookcases, shelving units, and more. The General Manager of Tactical Walls is Dennis DeMille, formerly GM of Creedmoor Sports, and a talented marksman.

Creedmoor sports Tactical Walls Dennis Demille GM General Manager concealment

Dennis tells us: “Tactical Walls was the pioneer in concealing firearms in plain sight”. He says this company has great creativity and impressive production capabilities. View all Tactical Walls concealment gun storage options at TacticalWalls.com.

Fine Firearms Furniture with Slide-Open Table Top
Here’s something that will teach unwanted guests some “table manners”. We’ve seen handguns hidden in books, and stowed behind faux baseboard vents, but this hand-crafted, slide-open table takes the cake. We doubt that anyone could sit down at this table and suspect that a shotgun, scoped rifle, two pistols and a knife were stored securely inside. There’s an arsenal hiding in there!

furniture table top sliding concealment gun safe vault secure

To access the guns under the sliding table-top, first you flip down a wood trap-door on the side. That exposes a key-lock which unlatches the interleaved left and right table segments. These slide open horizontally on metal tracks, exposing the full arsenal underneath. This “table vault” is a very clever design, built with fine craftsmanship. You can purchase this table from the maker for $1799.00.

Hidden in Plain Sight — Guide Gear Vent Pistol Locker

hidden gun safe Tactical Walls concealment

This clever “imposter vent” should fool any unwanted visitors. This Guide Gear Hide-A-Gun vent storage unit is just $34.99 on Amazon. NOTE: This will require installation in the wall, with attachment to studs.

Decorative Storage — Patriot Flag Concealment Unit

hidden gun safe Tactical Walls concealment

This handsome triangular wood box has hidden storage for a firearm and/or valuables. It is $39.95 at MidwayUSA or $49.99 on Amazon. You may want to bolt this down to a shelf for extra security.

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October 4th, 2020

Hang Your Cleaning Rods with Fishing Rod Racks

Fishing Rod Rack Cleaning RodsForum member Nodak7mm has discovered an ideal way to store your rifle cleaning rods in your garage or loading room. Using inexpensive Berkley Horizontal Fishing Rod Racks, Nodak7mm has secured a half-dozen Dewey rods on the back of a door. You could also mount the racks along a wall or on the side of a storage cabinet. This installation takes up minimal space and the Berkley Racks cost just $11.96 at Amazon (select “6 Rod Rack”) or $16.50 per set at Walmart. If you prefer wood, Amazon also sells a pine 6-rod wall rack for $22.45.

Nodak7mm explains: “I was moving some fishing poles around and ended up with an extra pair of Fishing Rod wall racks. I said to myself, ‘I bet this would hold my Dewey cleaning rods’. I mounted the pair on the inside of a closet door in my man cave and put my cleaning rods in it. It works like a charm and is far cheaper than a specially-made rack that only lets the rods hang. One can even slam the door with the rods mounted and they stay put. This rod rack set… is made by a nationally recognized name and does a great job of holding the cleaning rods securely and safely.” These are inexpensive and are easy to mount to a door or wood cabinet.

Stow Your Cleaning Rods on Your Gun Safe
Another option is to make a rod set with a magnetic backing strip. This can be affixed to the sides of your gun safe or steel storage cabinet. Here is a home-made, magnet-affixed cleaning rod holder made by Forum Member “BobM”. This smart installation works great. CLICK HERE for more information.

magnetic rack gun cleaning rod gun safe

Permalink Gear Review, Reloading 2 Comments »
August 24th, 2020

Store More Long Guns in Your Safe With Rifle Rod Kits

Gun Storage Solutions Rifle Rod Kit

Running out of space in your gun safe? Here’s a clever product that will allow you to store more long guns in your current vault. The plastic Rifle Rods from Gun Storage Solutions slip in long-gun barrels and then grip the shelf above using Velcro pads. This allows you to nestle your rifles and shotguns much closer together than with the conventional racks provided with most gunsafes.

The handy Rifle Rods are offered in bright orange or basic black. We prefer the orange rods (shown above with the Velcro “receiver” shelf liner provided with the Rod Kit).

Gun Storage Solutions Rifle Rod Kit

Rifles with narrow furniture (such as lever guns) can be placed very close together, saving lots of space. For benchrest or varmint rifles with wider fore-ends, you won’t benefit as much. Note that, in the photo above, all of the guns are fairly slim — none have wide fore-ends. Still we think these Rifle Rods could open up 12″ or more horizontal clearance in a medium-sized safe — that could easily allow you to store six (6) more guns in two rows, as shown.

Rifle Rod Kits Starting at $24.95
A kit with 5 Rifle Rods and loop fabric shelf liner costs $24.95 on Amazon.com, while the 10-Rod Kit with liner costs around $34.95. That’s a lot cheaper than buying a new safe. A six-pack of additional Rifle Rods costs $17.95 on Amazon. You can also purchases rods and fabric directly from Gun Storage Solutions.

WARNING: Always REMOVE Rod from barrel before taking gun to the range. Never place live ammunition in a gun with storage Rod in the barrel!

Product tip from EdLongrange. We welcome reader submissions.
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June 15th, 2020

Bargain Finder 247: AccurateShooter’s Deals of the Week

AccurateShooter Deals of the Week Weekly Bargain Finder Sale Discount Savings

At the request of our readers, we provide select “Deals of the Week”. Every Sunday afternoon or Monday morning we offer our Best Bargain selections. Here are some of the best deals on firearms, hardware, reloading components, optics, and shooting accessories. Be aware that sale prices are subject to change, and once clearance inventory is sold, it’s gone for good. You snooze you lose.

1. CDNN — DPMS A15, Magpul Stock, Match Trigger, $499.89

AccurateShooter Deals of the Week SK .22 LR midsouth ammo ammunition sale

The DPMS A15 is a good basis for a .223 Rem varmint rifle. It’s an excellent value at $499.89, given the components. The Magpul stock works well with a rear bag. And we like the 1:9″-twist 24″ stainless barrel with target crown. For varminting, it’s nice to have a 24″ barrel for extra velocity. Be aware this barrel has an unusual triangular profile forward of the handguard. This DPMS rig also features a 2-stage Bushmaster target trigger and durable Cerakote finish. NOTE: This is NOT a complete rifle — you need to supply a bolt carrier group and charging handle. But if you already own an AR15, you can use those components.

2. MidwayUSA — Dual Steel Gong System with Frame, $71.99

Viking Solutions Crossbar steel gong dual AR500

Who doesn’t like shooting steel? The “clang” of hitting a steel target at long range provides instant gratification. This patented Viking Solutions Gong Target System features two 3/8″-thick, AR500 Steel Gongs (8″ and 10″) suspended by chains. The support frame consists of 2 leg stands and 2 crossbar sections. Assembled, the crossbar is 32″ above ground level. Right now this unit is on sale for $71.99 — 20% off the regular price.

3. Natchez — Big Weaver Scope Sale, Save Hundreds

AccurateShooter Deals of the Week Weaver Scope optics sale discount Natchez

Weaver makes very good optics for a variety of disciplines — hunting, tactical, even benchrest. With Natchez’s June Weaver Optics Sale you can save up to $585! For centerfire benchrest the 48X T-Series XR scope can do the job at 1/3 the price of a Leupold. And for rimfire benchrest rifle, the 24X Weaver T-Series XR is a fine choice. Hunters will find suitable Weaver zoom scopes at crazy low prices. The 3-9x40mm Kaspa Hunting Series scope is just $79.99 on sale.

4. Midsouth Shooters — SK .22 LR Rimfire Ammo Sale

AccurateShooter Deals of the Week SK .22 LR midsouth ammo ammunition sale

Right now Midsouth is running a big SALE on SK .22 LR Rimfire ammo. This quality ammo has shown fine accuracy in our rifles. A variety of types are offered starting at $5.59 for 50 rounds. For target rifles we recommend SK Flat-Nose Target ammo at $7.10 per box or $64.79 for 500 rounds. For many folks it performs close to high-end match ammo costing much more. Also, if you are looking for bulk .22 LR ammo, you can get 1000 rounds of Browning BPR 36gr copper-plated HP ammo for just$44.99 at Cabela’s. That’s just 4.5 cents per round.

5. Precision Reloading — .223 55gr V-Max Bullets, $169.99/1000

hornady v-max varmint bullet sale precision reloading

Varminters rejoice! Here is a killer deal on excellent “dogtown” bullets. These 55gr .224-caliber V-Max bullets deliver explosive results on ground squirrels, p-dogs, and other small varmints. The BC is pretty low, but you can drive these V-Maxs over 3300 FPS with a standard .223 Rem cartridge using Varget or CFE223. With this sale, you can grab these excellent bullets for less than $17 per hundred — that’s a steal. If you’re a V-Max fan, act soon before this deal sells out.

6. Amazon — The Wind Book for Rifle Shooters, $22.99

wind reading book

This is the NEW May 2020 Edition, Just Released!
Readers often ask: “Is there a good, easy-to-comprehend book that can help my wind-reading?” Many of our Forum members have recommended The Wind Book for Rifle Shooters by Linda Miller and Keith Cunningham. Other books cover wind reading in a broader discussion of ballistics or long-range shooting. But the Miller & Cunningham book is ALL about wind reading from cover to cover, and that is its strength. The book focuses on real world skills that can help you accurately gauge wind angle, wind velocity, and wind cycles. Here’s a video review explaining what makes this book so good.

7. Gander Outdoors — Compact 4-Long-Gun Safe, $183.30

wind reading book

Need a small vertical safe for your workshop, loading room, remote cabin, or RV? This Legend Range & Field 4-Gun Safe can fill the bill. It has an electronic lock and backup key, and secures with five 1″ locking bolt. This small safe also includes a bolt-down kit for added security. At $183.30 this safe offers significantly more protection than a thin-walled security locker, for not much more money. Save $37 with this promotion at Gander Outdoors. NOTE: If you have the safe shipped to your house, there is a $50.00 Shipping Fee. Exterior Dimensions: 55″H x 11.6″W x 11″D

8. Cabela’s — Catch-All Gear Bag $12.99, Many Colors

AccurateShooter Deals of the Week Cabelas Catch-all Gear Bag $9.99

This versatile bag holds lots of gear, and you can’t beat the price — just $12.99. At 16″x10″x6″ it’s big enough to hold rifle ammo, muffs, a Kestrel, and other accessories. It can also serve as a general utility bag for car camping trips. Six exterior pockets, including zippered mesh pockets on top and side, provide multiple storage options.Sturdy 1-1⁄2″ nylon web carry straps can be joined by a hand-friendly wrap handle. Cabela’s Catch-All Gear Bag available in a variety of colors including True Timber Camo, 02 Octane Camo (3 versions), Lt. Gray, Blue, Green, Tan, Orange Gold, and Dark Gray.

9. Amazon — Motorola T100 Walkie-Talkies, $29.00/Pair

Motorola T100 walkie Talkie

Here’s a great Father’s Day gift that you and your Dad can use together. Walkie-Talkies are “must-have” items for long-range shooting. The 22-CH Motorola T100 Two-Way Radio is an Amazon Favorite among FRS/GMRS Handheld Radios. Motorola says the T100 has a range up to 16 miles (with ideal conditions), and the T100 units can receive communications from all FRS/GMRS two-way radios. Price for a Two-Radio T100 Set is just $29.00

10. Brownells — Wipeout Foam Cleaner, $14.99

wipeout cleaner

Walking the firing line of the Berger SW Nationals this year, one cleaning product was mentioned over and over again and for good reason. Sharp Shoot R Wipe-Out foaming bore cleaner is a no-nonsense, easy-to-use bore cleaner that does a great job. We get best results with two applications of Wipe-Out after some wet patches. If you’re tired of long brushing sessions, give Wipe-Out a try — it really reduces brushing required. This is a great deal. The same 5 oz. can is $23.95 on Amazon.

Permalink Bullets, Brass, Ammo, Gear Review, Handguns, Hot Deals, Optics No Comments »
April 9th, 2020

Important FREE Resources for New Gun Owners

NSSF resources quiz new firearm gun owner coronovirus covid-19

Due to concerns about the Coronavirus Pandemic, large numbers of Americans are acquiring firearms for self-protection. Many of these citizens are purchasing a gun for the first time. It is important that these new gun owners learn about gun safety and responsible gun storage.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) has released a new Infographic for first-time gun owners. If you recently purchased your first firearm, we recommend you review this document. Additionally NSSF released a new Firearm Storage and Safety Assessment Quiz. This walks gun owners through questions related to safe handling and storage of firearms. The Quiz also links to helpful gun safety resources.

Take Gun Storage and Safety Quiz »

Below is the latest NSSF Infographic for new gun owners. This provides questions to ask before buying a gun, plus information on safe gun storage at home. This Infographic is part of a large collection of NSSF Resources for New Gun Owners. Among those resources you will find links to gun storage options, training videos, guidance on talking to children about gun safety, and much more.

SEE All NSSF Resources for New Gun Owners »

Here’s the NSSF Infographic for New Gun Owners. CLICK HERE for the Interactive Version. On that Interactive PDF, click on the smaller buttons to get additional information, or to watch related videos.

NSSF resources quiz new firearm gun owner coronovirus covid-19

Other Gun Safety Resources

Firearms Safety in Vehicles

Ten Tips for Firearms Safety in Your Home

Safe Gun Storage Infographic

Firearms Safety Videos

NSSF Safety message Videos

Permalink - Articles, - Videos, News, Shooting Skills 1 Comment »
March 21st, 2020

With Kids Out of School, Keep Guns Locked and Stored Safely

NSSF gun storage safe safety locks NSSF

In many states, schools have been closed and citizens have been ordered to stay at home for days or weeks, as a response to the Coronavirus health issue. With more gun owners at home with their kids for extended periods, firearms safety is more important than ever. Given that fact, the NSSF reminds gun owners to keep their guns locked up so they cannot be accessed by children.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) and its partners urge gun owners to keep firearm safety a top priority and are making safety resources widely available as gun and ammunition sales increase, especially among first-time firearm purchasers.

NSSF gun storage safe safety locks NSSF

“During this stressful time and with children spending more time at home, the firearm industry reminds gun owners that protecting yourself and your family includes making sure your firearms are stored securely when not in use”, said Joe Bartozzi, NSSF President and CEO. “The last thing any firearm owner wants is to have their gun fall into the wrong hands, particularly those of a child or someone at risk of harming themselves.”

For anyone considering buying a gun, Project ChildSafe’s Road To Responsible Firearm OwnershipMany Paths to Firearm Safety video series helps gun owners determine the best safe storage device for their home/lifestyle. You also view the Safe Storage Options chart.

NSSF gun storage safe safety locks NSSF

NSSF encourages gun owners and non-gun owners to use the firearm safety resources available on its Project ChildSafe website. These include the McGruff Gun Safety videos for young children and this educational video explaining how to discuss gun safety with children:

“More parents are assuming the role of educators in their homes, so it’s a good to time have a talk with your kids about gun safety, even if you don’t own a gun”, Bartozzi said. “If you do own a firearm, be sure your family understands the safety rules regarding firearms in your home, and always store guns responsibly when not in use.”

For more information on firearm safety, visit ProjectChildSafe.org.

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December 21st, 2019

NOTICE — Replace Batteries in Your Gun Safe Keypad Every Year

If the battery on your safe’s electronic lock is
more than a year old, or if it is not giving you the
right voltage, replace it today!

safe battery gunsafe sargent greenleaf

Gunsafe safe keypad control battery batteriesThis time of year, many of our readers are putting their guns away in a safe for the winter. It’s easy to just tuck the guns away and forget about them. But there’s something you should do before you shut the safe door. If you have a safe with an electronic keypad, you should replace the battery every year as a precautionary measure. Trust us, you don’t want to come back in a few months and find that the keypad memory is kaput, and you’re locked out. That can lead to frustration and an expensive locksmith visit.

Here’s a true story. I have one safe with a Sargent & Greenleaf (S&G) keypad. A couple years back, in early December, I went to get into the safe. I punched in the correct combination, but all I got was a rapid “beep, beep, beep, beep” after I finished the last combination entry. I tried again to ensure I entered the combination correctly (I did). But again, the locking system responded with multiple rapid beeps indicating something was wrong. And the safe would not open. Now I was worried….

I popped out the battery holder (which slides in from the bottom of the keypad housing on the door). I removed the battery and tested it with a volt-meter. The 12-month-old Duracell 9-volt battery only registered 6.1 volts.

Low voltage was the problem. I went down to the store and got a couple new 9V batteries. I tested the new batteries and both measured 9.4 volts output. I slipped one of the new 9V batteries into the keypad housing, punched in the combination and everything worked OK again. Eureka.

Most electronic locks for safes WILL “remember” the combination for a period of time even when the battery is low (and the keypad’s “brain” should retain the combination when you remove the battery for replacement). However, a dead battery, or extended periods of low voltage can give you problems. Don’t rely on wishful thinking…

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December 9th, 2019

Don’t Let Rust and Corrosion Attack Your Guns This Winter

gun storage bag silicone fleece anti-corrosion safe protection

Wintertime is here, the season of cold and damp… and RUST. There’s snow on the ground in many parts of the country. If you want your fine firearms to remain pristine and rust-free through the winter months, it’s wise to protect then while they are stored in a safe. You should protect blued surfaces with a rust-blocker. In addition, we recommend storing guns in protective sleeves. Our take on Bore-Store Gun sleeves is simple: They work great, so buy them and use them — for ALL your valuable firearms.

These thick, synthetic-fleece sacks cushion your guns, preventing nicks and scratches. The breathable fabric wicks away moisture, and the fibers are coating with corrosion inhibitors. I personally use Bore-Stores for in-safe storage with all my guns, and I have never had one of my guns rust inside a Bore-Store, even when I lived a stone’s throw from the ocean.

Bore-Store Gun Sacks
Photo from Pistoleer.com, a Bore-Store vendor.

Bore-Stores are offered in a wide range of sizes, so you can find something to fit everything from a Snub-nosed revolver to a 32″-barrelled 50 BMG. Rifle-size Bore Stores can be purchased for $13.00 – $22.00 from Brownells. For long F-Class or tactical rifles, we recommend the 10″x52″ Scoped Shotgun Bag, Brownells item 132-000-003WB. You can also order direct from the Bore-Store manufacturer, Big Spring Enterprises, www.BoreStores.com. Big Spring will also craft custom sizes on request.

Consider Military-Style, Triple-Layer Bags for Long-Term Storage
While we prefer Bore-Stores for regularly-used guns, if you have heirloom firearms that will be kept in storage for very long periods without seeing any use, you may want to grease them up and place them in the thin, but rugged three-layer storage bags sold by Brownells. The bags are made from a three-layer laminate of polyester, aluminum, and polyethylene film, with a shiny silver exterior. Though the laminate is thin, the Brownells storage bags are puncture-resistant, and have a 0% moisture transmission rating so moisture can’t get inside. These bags are also resistant to petroleum-based chemicals and they won’t break down even in contact with soil or moisture.

3-layer Brownells storage bagHere’s one VITAL bit of advice for using these bags. Be absolutely sure, before you seal up the bags, that your guns are DRY and that all metal surfaces have been coated with an effective anti-corrosive, such as BoeShield T9 or Eezox. Brownells’ storage bags are inexpensive. A three-pak of 12″x 60″ rifle sacks (item 083-055-003WB) costs just $22.99 — under eight bucks a gun. That’s cheap insurance for rifles and shotguns that may cost thousands of dollars.

Get Your Guns Out of Foam-lined Cases — They Are Rust Magnets
Just about the worst thing you can do in the winter (short of leaving your rifle outside in the rain) is to store firearms in tight, foam-padded cases. The foam in these cases actually collects and retains moisture from the air, acting as the perfect breeding ground for rust.

Foam-lined hard caseRemember, those plastic-shelled cases with foam interiors are for transport, not for long-term storage. Don’t repeat the mistake of a wealthy gun collector I know. He stored four valuable Colt Single Action Army (SAA) revolvers in individual foam-padded cases, and locked these away in his gun safe. A year later, every one of his precious SAAs had rusted, some badly.

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