Cabinet Advice

[Dombo63]

Hi all, I should get full membership of my rifle club in 2-3 months or so and applying for coterminous FAC/SGC thereafter. I am looking at the Brattonsound 6/7 deep cabinet with top box but wondered if the standard 6/7 deep with a separate ammo safe might be better. What do you recommend?
I intend asking for on the FAC:
22LR bolt
22LR semi/auto
.303 Lee Enfield
.308/7.62 (not sure about this one as one full bore is probably enough)
a couple of moderators for the 22s
Then 2 x Section 2 shotguns
The bolts for the rifles will have to go somewhere secure along with ammunition so I'm guessing the top box might be too small.
Thanks for any advice.

[ovenpaa]

The standard 6/7 deep is going to be cramped with that lot on it however you should be OK as long as you take any bipods off when storing them. One problem is height, the cabinet is fine for normal scoped rifle however if you ever decide to get into the longer barrelled F Class rifles you will struggle.

I prefer separate ammunition lockers and mine are outside albeit bolted to the gun cabinet and wall as well

[DoaS]

If you can get a separate ammo locker that will satisfy your local Firearms enquiry copper, then that'll give you more flexibility in the length of rifles the gun cabinet can take, and will give you more space for ammo, and if you;'re going for things like a .303 you'll probably end up reloading, so handy to have extra storage space for powder etc.

See if you can get hold of the copper who'll be dealing with your application, and have a chat with them. Take their advice!

I've lived in two force areas since I got my first FAC almost 20 years ago, and they've always been very helpful

[mitchy]

Do the ammo lockers have to be bolted to the wall and to the gun safe or just bolted off securely ?

[ovenpaa]

Just bolted securely as you would a cabinet. All of my ammunition lockers are bolted to the floor/wall/each other/gun cabinets (Yes all of these ways!) I work on the premise that if someone has got past two large dogs and pulled that lot off the wall, complete with contents they are welcome to take it away.

[Dangermouse]

I agree with the above, by chance my ammunition safe is the same dimensions as my rifle safe so I have connected them end to end with 4 bolts, as well as to the floor. My cabinets lay on the floor. My thinking is that even if someone did manage to get them free of the floor the blooming things are so unmanageable even when empty, that when full they would give up trying to move them.
Well that is my cunning plan - it is pure coincidence that they are positioned over the wifes half of the bed!

[ovenpaa]

I hope you have not been thinking off part sawing through the joists to deter crims DM....

[Dangermouse]

never entered my mind but waking up next to my guns would be a far more attractive proposition each morning, and it would stop the snoring..

DM

[Polchraine]

Dombo ...

Just think about the future ... you may get rifles that are "long" and so choosing a safe with Top Box or Shelf will not suit.

The Brattonsound MT range are what you need to consider.

I always advise on the basis of; What have you got/requested and what size will cover those - and in your case a 6/7 gun would be suitable. But look to the future, and one more gun and there will be no room, so move up a size. The 9 gun is 75mm (3") wider and you must be able to squeeze it in.

Based on my two comments: MT9+ for the guns with a PD7 for the bolts/ammunition - or maybe an SC2S which will have plenty of space.

[Mike357]

Agree with above. You have maxed out your proposed cabinet capacity before you have even got your ticket. It is fair to say that guns will come and go but the number will likely increase. I'd go for at least 9, I know I wish I did.