First, we opened the box:
ShotLock
The unit is surprisingly small:
Compact
(That's the S&W M&P9 compact for size comparison)
Here's a closeup of the keypad and lock release:
Buttons!
It's quite simple to set up for a pump-action shotgun - there's a series of metal plates that are bolted to the unit that the action fits over to hold the gun in place; bolt them in the appropriate slots and the unit's ready. For semi-auto or over/under shotguns, there's a pair of wedges that bolt to the unit on either side of the trigger guard - still very simple. Just cut the foam out for the plates or wedges, bolt in place, and the unit is ready to mount to the wall:
No bayo?
It's mounted in the back of the closet, behind a row of dress shirts. ProTip: make sure you leave enough room to get the shotgun in place without hitting the shelf in the closet. Otherwise you'll have an extra hole...
Should the shotgun be needed, a simple parting of shirts and punch in the code, and the gun is ready:
590 to go
It has to be kept with an empty chamber, for obvious reasons, but the convenience can't be beat. It's secured to the wall with three 3" wood screws (mount into studs for best results; larger wood screws can be used if desired). The locking mechanism is simple to use; the buttons are prominent and easily accessed; the door swings easily out of the way for immediate access. Push a few buttons, twist the release knob, and eight rounds of 00 buckshot are at your disposal.
In the Vault, it's protected from unauthorized access while at the ready - and that's a good combination.
That is all.
8 comments:
Very nice!
Looks good How much does it weigh?
"mount into studs for best results"
I would say: don't use unless you can screw into a stud.
And it would be nice to have an optional wide mounting plate to allow attachment to two studs!
Jay,
Didn't you blog about something like this a year or two or three ago? The device has a familiar feel to it. And what Yankee said . . . the gizmo should be mounted to a steel plate so it can be attached to two wall studs for added security.
Brad
Will it work if you have a side saddle mounted?
Thanks OldNFO! It's a nifty little locking device that keeps the shotgun at the ready but secure. No arguments here!
YF,
It weighs about 5 pounds or so - while it's a small unit, it's got some serious metal behind (inside) it.
You could mount it with a half-dozen sheet rock anchors - but it would only prevent unauthorized access for a short while (IOW, it would keep your kids away from it).
Studs are better; what would be best would be a reinforced backing with a solid 2X6 running the whole length behind the plate.
Then again, a determined thief will just sawzall the whole wall to get it - it's all about degrees.
Brad,
Yes, I got it about a year ago. It took a bit of "discussion" about placement and then I wanted to leave it up to see how it held up (fine for the past few months!).
Eric,
It should - the buttstock is completely open. The only thing that would interfere would be a scope.
Jay, I meant the variety that mounts to the side of the receiver.
The physics teacher in me says that if you grab the muzzle end and pull, you've got yourself a lever to wrench the thing off the wall. The would-be gun thief might not succeed, but he could probably mess up your shotgun. If it were mounted so that a the tip of the gun could slide through a u-bolt type of loop first, you could eliminate that problem.
~ "The Senator"
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