There are many basics to gun ownership that are no-brainers. You obviously shouldn’t point your gun at anyone or anything that isn’t a threat. Don’t do any maintenance on your gun if it’s loaded. And for the love of God, never look down the barrel of a gun.
Gun storage is just as important as gun storage for these. However, it requires a bit more thought. You want people you trust to have access to your weapons, and you also want to make sure you can access a gun when you need it.
As firearm owners with years of experience hiding guns around our homes, cars, and places you wouldn’t even dream of, we’re here to help. From gun storage cabinets to guitar cases, here are some of our favorite hidden gun storage ideas for new gun owners.
Rules of Gun Storage
Before we get into specific gun storage ideas, we should cover some basic rules to follow when storing guns. We already have a full article on properly storing your guns and ammo, so check that out if you want a more in-depth guide.
First, guns should always be stored in a locked location. Yes, this makes accessing your gun slower, which can feel like an eternity when you’re facing a home invasion or potential carjacking. However, this means that if there are malicious parties near your gun, they can’t access it. It also means that small children or friends with absolutely no gun awareness can’t pick up and play with your weapon when you’re not around to stop them.
Also, store your ammunition separately from your firearms. Again, this feels dangerous. Wouldn’t you want your ammo accessible when you need it? Well, this tactic creates an extra layer of protection. You want to ensure that even if someone gets your gun, they still can’t use it.
Plus, the best hidden gun storage ideas should be in cool, dry, and clean locations. Warm and moist environments can cause moisture buildup and rust, and dirty locations can get gunk in your gun that compromises its functionality.
1. Gun Safe
It’s in the name: a safe for guns. These safes are sealed and code-protected, ensuring the guns remain clean, dry, and inaccessible to anybody without your chosen code. They come in a wide variety of sizes so that you can store anything from a small pistol to a specced-out AR-15.
From the outside, they usually look like a normal safe. Unless someone knows you have a gun inside, they’d never suspect its true purpose. To make it even more hidden, you can set the safe inside a closet or a cupboard. You should, of course, get a second safe for the ammunition.
2. Gun Case
Gun cases are an equally straightforward gun storage idea. They’re basically locked briefcases for guns. With foam padding and inserts to keep your gun safe and in place, they’re designed for transportation — but that doesn’t mean they can’t be used for normal storage. Gun cases can be slid underneath beds, propped up inside closets, or just set in the trunk of your car.
However, if someone has seen a gun case before, they’ll probably recognize yours. That’s why some manufacturers have made gun cases that resemble non-firearm storage, such as instrument cases. People will notice a thick locked case, but the only thing people will think is inside your beat-up guitar case is your dad’s Stratocaster.
3. Cabinets
Cabinets are simple gun storage ideas for a gun safe or locked container. Set a gun on top of a cabinet to hide it without opening the doors to get to it, or slide the safe onto one of the shelves. If you’ve got DIY skills, you can add a false back to part of the cabinet to hide a safe behind.
However, you could also have a dedicated gun storage cabinet. These cabinets are basically giant safes with inserts for organizing your firearms, especially rifles. These are a great way to store many guns in one place and keep them all safe at once!
Build Your Armory With Wing Tactical
We don’t just help you brainstorm hidden gun storage ideas. Wing Tactical is a veteran-founded company with a commitment to quality. Since 2013, we have been offering gun parts and accessories that we’d use in our own weapons — no low-quality, cheap parts here. Explore all kinds of AR-15 parts to build your own, from buffer tubes to barrels. Whatever you order, we’ll send it to you with fast shipping so you can add it to your firearm ASAP.
Have any questions about these gun storage ideas, or maybe have some of your own? Reach out to us and we’ll get you answers!