I'm trying to think of a good way to have a quick access handgun safe that also is at least somewhat secured so if someone breaks in they can't just walk away with it to break open at their leisure. I've got a cheap nightstand that could probably be easily broken if someone wanted to break it off of it. The closet only has metal wire shelves so nothing to bolt to on that.

Anyone have any ideas/examples to share? At the moment I'm thinking just screwing it to the floor of the closet. It's a rental as well so I can't go too crazy.

A "V Line" wall safe might work. The safe fits between the wall studs, put a picture over it. V line uses Simplex lock too.
You can remove it when you move or leave it. Pretty well built.

https://vlineind.com/shop/quic...jhfYX3MaAoXFEALw_wcB

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If appearance isn’t a factor, use a cable to secure it to a 5 gallon bucket of concrete. Yes it can be carried off but it will weigh around 100 pounds. Take the handle off to make it harder to move.

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At the moment I'm thinking just screwing it to the floor of the closet

Some quality steel deck screws will leave no sign if carefully run through carpet, and two of them into a floor joist would be more than enough to keep somebody from casually walking off with it.

Timely as I've been pondering this myself.

I'm thinking about an AMSEC safe that weighs 300lbs - is this something that a thief (a few of them?) would take away if not bolted down? Or would they just grab whatever is quick, easy and light and leave the safe?

I was considering the vlines but then started thinking about docs and fire proofing.

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I'm thinking about an AMSEC safe that weighs 300lbs - is this something that a thief (a few of them?) would take away if not bolted down? Or would they just grab whatever is quick, easy and light and leave the safe?

That's light enough that they could haul it out, but in my experience it is fairly rare for a typical residential burglar to take a safe that weighs more than somebody can pick up and carry.

I'd bolt a 300 pounder down if that was an option. Commercially insurers typically require us to bolt down anything less than 750 pounds.

If it was a team, they would have had to come in an SUV or truck - I'm guessing a 300lb safe not really indicated for a trunk. But maybe it would work? I have dolly in the garage to make it easier for them too...

Concrete slab foundation. I'm worried about cracking the foundation and leading to more problems. Especially DIY.

Too paranoid - this is everyday simple? Or does it need special care?

My 900+ lb safes are bolted. Probably overkill, but for a small one that you're talking about, definitely bolted. Can't help with your quick access safe question, though. I can't wrap my head around the concept of a quick access handgun inside a safe.

In one home I ran a cable through the back side of a wall, around the studs. We had an attic space back there, so it was an easy job. Cable and hardware was cheap from Home Depot.

In the last 2 homes I've lag bolted a fireproof safe to the floor. I also had a quick access pistol box bolted to the night stand, with weights added to make the night stand too heavy for one person to carry.

I also distribute valuables to different secure storage locations. They might get the pistol box loose but that will take enough time that they won't get to (or maybe not even find) the fireproof safe or gun cabinet, etc.

If thieves have much time and energy they will defeat most any method of bolting something down. A good pry bar will likely either open the box or pull the screws/bolts out of the wood. The main purpose of the locked storage is to thwart small children and rushed burglars.

From that standpoint, use some beefy lag bolts into the floor, or bolt it into your night stand. Carry decent insurance, too, since in most cases it is just stuff without sentimental value.

A quick access handgun safe is to keep out kids, not burglars. Almost any safe should be bolted to wall or floor. And don't forget about the alarm system. If you're out of town and burglars have all day, not much is going to save your stuff.

I don't know how optimal they are but I like the shelf units that hide guns in plain sight.

My dad has a couple of these mounted in closets: Handgun Safe. They're screwed right to a stud. I'm sure you could rip one off the wall, but they're behind hanging clothes and not immediately visible. I'm also sure they could be mount more securely in a corner.

There's youtube videos showing how to open one with a paper clip, but that can easily fixed.

A couple bolts into a metal bed frame would secure a quick access gun safe fairly well.

Exactly. I have three handgun safes around the house.. plus the big safe, but I want something like the Amsec under bed unit mentioned earlier. Some type of reinforced, cut resistant cable looped through the metal bedframe and secured to the under bed safe is adequate for me.

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Originally posted by 12GA:
A couple bolts into a metal bed frame would secure a quick access gun safe fairly well.

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Originally posted by Fly-Sig:
. I also had a quick access pistol box bolted to the night stand, with weights added to make the night stand too heavy for one person to carry.

Most any hammer would quickly bust up any wooden night stand in short order. Then they could carry the quick access safe off easily.

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Originally posted by gjgalligan:

Most any hammer would quickly bust up any wooden night stand in short order. Then they could carry the quick access safe off easily.

Probably, though my nightstand is not Ikea grade. Breaking it requires time and energy, and assumes the burglars have adequate tools. It takes away from their time to get to other things. I wouldn't keep the wife's jewelry there, but I can't think of another solution to have a handgun quickly accessible in the bedroom while keeping it safe from curious young grandchildren.