Gun racks and gun safes come in all shapes and sizes, with new variations continually popping up – usually with a focus on the old adage that bigger is better. However, one gun rack that I recently put to the test proved to be not only intriguing for a variety of uses but also functional in the most key areas: firearm safety and security.
Securing firearms has never been more important, especially if you have or will have small children anywhere near your home, and while most folks focus their spending and saving efforts on buying the gun(s) of their dreams, they often neglect properly storing them. That includes safely storing them, too. Simply put, anyone who owns a firearm for either hunting, sport shooting or home defense is obligated to ensure the safety of others – and themselves – by keeping weapons from getting into the hands of youngsters, those untrained in how they operate and even criminals.
While there are countless gun safes and security racks on the market, it can be tough to choose the right one – especially if you’re on a tight budget – but that isn’t a valid reason to put off properly securing weapons.
Don Graham, founder of Texas-based Firearm Security Racks Inc., provided the nine-gun rifle and shotgun rack for testing, and after putting it to good use, it came through with flying colors in a number of areas, mostly due to its simplicity and ease of use, but also because its design allows it to be safely used in a variety of locales. The setup, with a slim profile and patented “Gun Cuff,” is designed particularly to be bolted onto 2-by-4 studs in a closet but it also can be used in other areas of a home or business, or even by law enforcement agencies, and can be bolted onto solid walls as well.
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The setup’s component list includes:
- Steel barrel support bars
- Steel barrel rest
- Hex lag screws
- Hex head bolts
- Plastic bolt head
- Washers
- Screw head covers
Minimal tools are needed for setup. They include:
- 9/16-inch socket and ratchet
- 7/16-inch wrench
- Electric drill with ¼-inch drill bit
Among the design specifications:
- All components are made of steel and feature a rubber-dipped coating that won’t scratch firearms.
- The steel locking bar slides through the holes on each side of the frame, locking in the hand grip area. The firearms are locked in place in narrow stalls, which prevents them from being pulled out.
- The locking bar slides out of the hole at one end of the frame, about 1½ inches. The L-shaped curve at one end of the bar allows it to swing outward, allowing easy access once it’s unlocked.
- The barrel rest uses two support bars which are attached to the lower section’s mounting screws and to wall studs. The barrel rest also separates the barrels of guns in their stalls to protect from wear and tear.
- When the firearms are locked into their individual stalls makes it difficult for unauthorized removal. The gun rack kit includes two round screw head guards that can be tapped over the mounting screw heads.
- The locking bar can be held in place with any shackled lock, though it’s advised to use one that features higher cut resistance.
An adult probably could eventually pry or cut the gun rack apart using heavy-duty tools, but it wouldn’t be an easy task, and a child certainly wouldn’t be able to get into the guns when they’re secured in the device.
Trigger locks also can be used with the device for an added layer of security.
In addition to the nine-gun rack, Graham also offers a three-gun rifle and shotgun rack and pistol rack.
Racks such as those by Firearm Security Racks Inc. act as teaching tools in addition to their main function, providing adults with the opportunity to instill the most important aspect of firearm ownership in their children – that it’s the innate responsibility of the owner in every circumstance to properly store and secure their weapons.
That’s not something to be taken lately, and you owe it to yourself and others to use good gear.
The nine-gun rack is listed for sale on the website at $119.95.
