Diary of a Man Cave

[Racer88]

My large safes stay where they were dropped decades ago mostly due to inability to 1k plus without equipment and removal of doors, frames etc.

I'm not planning on moving it, once I get it and have it installed.

Snapsafe is the way to go. You can take it apart.

I've heard of them. I figure if they can be disassembled... well.... not much security there. And like I said... I don't plan on moving it around. Ever. Not inside this house... or to another house in the future.

I had a few safes over the years and hated them all. They never seem big enough and as mentioned you cant move them without it becoming a major project.

That's why I'm thinking about the "Fatboy." It's bigger than I "need." Just like hard drives on computers. Get the biggest one you can. You WILL fill it.

n my current home, I added a gun room to the plan.

The logistics and expense of turning a bedroom into a giant safe are far more involved. I love the idea. But it's just not practical. A big traditional safe is much easier and a lot lot lot less expensive.

 

[Stephen G]

My plan now is to get down to 4- 30 gun safes probably bolted together and 2 down. I can separate items as to their usage and not have to worry about subjecting the safe queens to rapid temperature changes and 100% humidity.

Not knocking your big safe, I just said the same things 30 yrs ago. And I say this while smoking a cigarette, standing in front of a 1200lber with gas can within reach wishing it wasnt fireproof that Ive had to move 4xs. As I contemplate the sale of my home.

 

[Stephen G]

Like to add, the last time I moved this was 98 from Coral Springs( where it sat in a buddys garage till he got divorced) to southern Georgia. BSO SWAT was called out because you have to unload it to move it and do something with 100+ firearms. My only option was blankets in front yard in layers and a bunch of dudes stacking firearms and ammunition on the front lawn in the middle of suburbia for 2 hours.
And YES Freddy( home owner) actually said- O this? It aint mine. I was just holding for a friend. Roflmao

 

[Bongo Lewi]

I've heard of them. I figure if they can be disassembled... well.... not much security there. And like I said... I don't plan on moving it around. Ever. Not inside this house... or to another house in the future.

All the bolts are on the inside. It's as secure as any welded safe.

Safes keep honest people honest, discourage amateur burglars, and protect the content from a fire. A home invader, if by some miracle he gets the drop on you will tell you to open the safe or he will blow your brains out.

That was my reasoning behind a safe room. In both meanings of the term. It's about the size of a big walk-in closet. All four walls are block and the door is a commercial grade steel security type with multipoint locking. The interior walls are currently unfinished because I plan to put up ballistic fiberglass insulation before closing in the walls. It's about 300 bucks for each 4x8 sheet. I had other expenses to deal with before plunking down the 4 grand I need for that. Silly things like doorknobs, kitchen cabinets and faucets.

I'm not a fan of bunkers, but in some situations it's a good thing. My main thought was my wife had a safe room if I were not there. Nobody is getting in that room without heavy artillery or explosives. The other reason was it eliminated my dislike of safes, which among other things is like a neon sign that says "expensive shit inside". My room is barely noticeable. My final act is a sliding bookcase to conceal the door.

 

[NavyVette]

AND, the snapsafes are easy to put in places you could not get a welded safe into, like inside closets where you would have to potentially cut walls around the safe to get a crowbar in to attempt to open the door.

Also, in my case the safe would have to go up four stairs, down a hall, turn 180 degrees in a 3 foot wide space, go down 12 stairs to the basement where it would also somehow have to turn in a small area to go down two more halls into the room I want it in

Snapsafe parts are easy t do all of that with.

 

[Racer88]

All the bolts are on the inside. It's as secure as any welded safe.

Safes keep honest people honest, discourage amateur burglars, and protect the content from a fire. A home invader, if by some miracle he gets the drop on you will tell you to open the safe or he will blow your brains out.

That was my reasoning behind a safe room. In both meanings of the term. It's about the size of a big walk-in closet. All four walls are block and the door is a commercial grade steel security type with multipoint locking. The interior walls are currently unfinished because I plan to put up ballistic fiberglass insulation before closing in the walls. It's about 300 bucks for each 4x8 sheet. I had other expenses to deal with before plunking down the 4 grand I need for that. Silly things like doorknobs, kitchen cabinets and faucets.

I'm not a fan of bunkers, but in some situations it's a good thing. My main thought was my wife had a safe room if I were not there. Nobody is getting in that room without heavy artillery or explosives. The other reason was it eliminated my dislike of safes, which among other things is like a neon sign that says "expensive shit inside". My room is barely noticeable. My final act is a sliding bookcase to conceal the door.

I have a friend who has a gun room (no windows) with a hidden entry. It's like James Bond cool. The door to the room is a built-in book case in the hallway. To open it requires a turn of one of the Russian nesting dolls on the book case (magnetically activated).

 

[Bobster]

Where is your son going to sleep when he comes visit?

 

[Racer88]

Where is your son going to sleep when he comes visit?

Guest room!

 

[Bongo Lewi]

Here's the really fun part I haven't done yet. I have cameras everywhere around the property but none inside the house. I was thinking about a separate system with small, discrete cameras on each wall that can be viewed only from inside the safe room. So whoever is inside can see what's going on outside the room.

Now.... why not add a couple of gun ports to each wall? Like an armored Brinks truck. Big enough for a 12 gauge barrel.

My other brilliant idea was a nozzle on the door that is connected to a can of bear deterrent, which is a half liter of nuclear pepper spray. Bad guy tries to get in the room... kicking the door or whatever. He gets it right in the face - in his eyes, up his nose, in his mouth. In bear country I carried a product called Frontiersman. It's the best. It reaches 35 feet and in addition to the stream, it creates what I would describe as a fog. No human can get a shot of that in the face and not be in agony. Just being near it makes you want to run away. I

I have lots of time on my hands.

 

[Bongo Lewi]

Bottom line... I'm not firing a gun inside my house to test it. I'll go to the range. No biggie. Plus I enjoy going to the range. My "roommates," both human and 4-legged wouldn't like it. And I'm not sure whether the neighbors would hear it, but if they did... I'd be getting a visit from the po-po.

I didnt really think you would. Noise complaints from neighbors probably wouldn't be a big issue. The device has a similar effect as a suppressor. Wife and Doggo would definitely not be happy though. Noise + smoke. Like I mentioned, I just go out on the deck.

 

[Racer88]

Like I mentioned, I just go out on the deck.

My neighbors REALLY wouldn't like that! LOL! One to two acre lots aren't quite enough distance.

 

[One Ping Only]

My neighbors REALLY wouldn't like that! LOL! One to two acre lots aren't quite enough distance.

Same here. 2 acres poses some issues…

 

[Caleb]

Looking good Racer! I’m a bit jealous now.

 

[Racer88]

Looking good Racer! I’m a bit jealous now.

You can come over and play!

It's still a work in progress. Need cabinets. A big safe. Book case. And some ceiling-mounted track-lighting.

 

[Caleb]

You can come over and play!

It's still a work in progress. Need cabinets. A big safe. Book case. And some ceiling-mounted track-lighting.

Heck yeah!

Not sure if you have one but, a sonic cleaner would be a good addition to your cleaning bench.

 

[Racer88]

Heck yeah!

Not sure if you have one but, a sonic cleaner would be a good addition to your cleaning bench.

Yeah, I've thought about that.

 

[Racer88]

I have this "memento" from my days aboard the USS Independence. My dad came along on a "Tiger Cruise" from Pearl Harbor to San Diego. Among the many demonstrations they did for the "Tigers" was the firing of a deck-mounted Browning M2 (full-auto .50-cal) gun. I happened to join my dad for that event, and since I knew the Sergeant at Arms, he allowed me to fire it.

I gathered up some of the spent cases (I count 54 cases) and links and re-assembled them. I've had this sitting in my closet for 34 years!

I figure there is something "decorative" I can do with it in my Man Cave. Looking for ideas! I supposed I could buy some .50-cal bullets to seat in the empty cases. Just as it is, I think it weighs close to 10 lbs.

Then put it on the wall? I dunno! Throw some ideas at me!

ETA: Holy cow, that's actually some money there! About $180. I found this:

50 Caliber BMG Dirty Brass Shells Used Casings

50 Caliber BMG Dirty Brass Shells Used Casings | SHIPPING INCLUDED

emptyshotgunshells.com

 

[no4mk1t]

This place has surplus pulled bullets...you'll have to decide if it's worth the price. 50 bullets will set you back $90.00...free shipping though.
Then you'll have to glue them in the cases.

Pulled 50 BMG 647gr Ball Bullets

50 Cal 647 Grain Ball pulled bullets. Full Metal Jacket, with boat tail and cannelure. .510 diameter. These bullets are magnetic. They do have some pull marks. You will be sent the quantity of bullets that are ordered. No extra bullets are sent. Be aware you may consider some of them...

www.evergladesammo.com

 

[Racer88]

This place has surplus pulled bullets...you'll have to decide if it's worth the price. 50 bullets will set you back $90.00...free shipping though.
Then you'll have to glue them in the cases.

Pulled 50 BMG 647gr Ball Bullets

50 Cal 647 Grain Ball pulled bullets. Full Metal Jacket, with boat tail and cannelure. .510 diameter. These bullets are magnetic. They do have some pull marks. You will be sent the quantity of bullets that are ordered. No extra bullets are sent. Be aware you may consider some of them...

www.evergladesammo.com

Or 100 of them for $71.25:

50 BMG M33 Ball Projectiles - 100 ct.

www.theamericanmarksman.com

What would be the process to glue them in?

 

[no4mk1t]

What would be the process to glue them in?

After a cartridge is fired, it expands, that's why they need to be re-sized when you reload them. Without re-sizing, the bullet is a slip fit in the fired case. Being all you want them for is display, the easiest thing to do is to glue them in place. This could be done with J-B Weld or similar epoxy.
Check the cases for any with out of round necks. Use a slightly smaller 1/4" drive socket to make them round again. Test with a bullet before gluing. Clean inside the neck with lacquer thinner, acetone, or similar solvent. An asphaltic sealer is used to make the ammo waterproof and you want to clean the residue of that out so the epoxy will bond.
Apply the epoxy with a toothpick to the inside of the neck. Slide the bullet in up to the cannelure and set aside to dry.