Rifle storage

[DeerMeadowFarm]

Rifle storage! My new (to me) truck is a ’95 Chevy regular cab K-2500. The question is, where to store a rifle? In my ’87 I used a two-gun rear-window hard-mounted rack. It was steel with rubber-coated hooks that rubs the finish off the stock and the bluing off the barrel. I kind of liked the location, because it has easy access but I don’t like the fact that everyone can see your rifle. This isn’t a problem when I’m in Maine, but back home in Massachusetts people tend to freak out a little when they see firearms.
I’ve been looking at the Rifle-It system. Just unbolt your visors, mount the shelf, and attach the visors in their new location and Violá! Has anyone else tried this method? I am 6’2” and I wonder if visibility will be an issue. I don’t think the shelf itself will be too bad, but if my visors are mounted a couple of inches lower, I wonder if they will now be too low when I fold them down…?
Does anybody have or know someone who has one of these racks? What do you use to carry your rifles (assuming you have a need to carry one)?

[blackdog1]

Cabelas has a few different options for you. One is a blanket style seat cover with a long pocket in front of the seat. I think the pocket spans the entire seat and will take a scoped rifle. good: gun is out of sight and somewhat protected. bad: not easily in reach, need a bench seat, I think it will only take one gun, and those style seat covers are not for everyone. I think they also sell a fabric sleeve style that straps to the back of the seat. they are almost like soft cases with a strap system for attachment to the seat back. Again not in reach, but you can carry more than one. That's all that comes to mind as alternatives. I think visability could be a problem with the shelf type unit, but have no experience with them. Good luck.

[ih82plow]

Originally posted by DeerMeadowFarm
Rifle storage! My new (to me) truck is a ’95 Chevy regular cab K-2500. The question is, where to store a rifle? In my ’87 I used a two-gun rear-window hard-mounted rack. It was steel with rubber-coated hooks that rubs the finish off the stock and the bluing off the barrel. I kind of liked the location, because it has easy access but I don’t like the fact that everyone can see your rifle. This isn’t a problem when I’m in Maine, but back home in Massachusetts people tend to freak out a little when they see firearms.
I’ve been looking at the Rifle-It system. Just unbolt your visors, mount the shelf, and attach the visors in their new location and Violá! Has anyone else tried this method? I am 6’2” and I wonder if visibility will be an issue. I don’t think the shelf itself will be too bad, but if my visors are mounted a couple of inches lower, I wonder if they will now be too low when I fold them down…?
Does anybody have or know someone who has one of these racks? What do you use to carry your rifles (assuming you have a need to carry one)?



NO OFFENCE meant here but why wouldnt you want to lock it up in a truck riffle safe you put behind or under the seat?When ever I travel and see those riffles in truck windows I have often wondered why some would want it in the truck and also so visable.

Do you keep it loaded? Do you leave it out over night?

Just so you know these come from a fellow who carry's all the time But its conceled.

[Pelican]

I've only studied photos of those visor replacement bins, but it seems both upward visibility would be reduced and risk of a head injury would be increased. I haven't bought one for that reason.

I've got the window rack in my truck, but most often it's got a 4' level riding in it. My preference for rifle/shotgun storage would be the pouch that attaches to the back of the seat that blackdog mentioned.

ih82plow, in NY it's illegal to transport a loaded long gun in a vehicle. I'll agree that if the vehicle is to be left unattended an out of site storage unit would be best, but for trips to and from the woods, I don't see anything wrong with the redneck gun rack.:zoom

[labsnducks]

D.M.F.

Bass Pro and Cabelas both have racks that mount in the middle of the cab (overhead) and dont get in the way, the one with the visor mount is ok too, i had one in my 83 F150 and it never got in the way (I'm 6'1"). There is also a rack that hard mounts on the wall behind the seat and is the same kind that you mentioned on the back window, is out of the way and is hidden from theives. The one that hangs from the seat is also a good idea.

Whats the reason you want to carry a rifle around anyway, all of mine are in a hard case and sits in the front seat (on the floor) when I'm going to and from the field or the range, I would be concerned about the scope (if there is one on the weapon) with it not being in a case, either being knocked around and the fact that going from hot to cold alot you could build-up condensation and/or fog inside of the optics.

Mike

[DeerMeadowFarm]

I guess I wasn't being perfectly clear here so I'd like to eliminate any confusion.
1. No the rifle isn't loaded. I was almost insulted by this question. Every state that I hunt in it is illegal to carry a loaded firearm in a vehicle, sort of; Massachusetts allows carrying a loaded firearm that is under your control (I think they are implying a handgun in a holster that you are wearing) in a vehicle. Long guns (to my knowledge) do not apply to this rule.
2. No I don't leave it out overnight personally, but the places where I hunt in Maine it really wouldn't matter too much. I hunted with my Uncle's neighbor in Maine once. We took his truck. I dropped him off on one logging road and I took his truck to another where I got out. I couldn't take the key out of the ignition (old style Chevy so there were no fancy releases that I was missing). Hours later when we met up I told him about it. He said "That key hasn't been out of the truck since I bought it 10 years ago, no need to. In fact, I don't even know if I have a key to my house..." Different way of life; kind of nice actually...
3. When transporting my guns to hunting camp my guns are locked in a hard side case and hidden as much as possible under other gear. Going to the range (no more than 2 miles from my house) I may or may not have my guns locked, but usually in a hard case.

The reason I want to carry my guns in some sort of a rack is when I am hunting. The areas in Maine where we hunt are paper company land. I drive miles of gravel roads to hunt certain areas. Before the next post, let me tell you in no uncertain terms: I am not a road-hunter. I will and have however, bailed out of my truck in a hurry when a deer has crossed in front of me. Two years ago I was driving my cousin’s Jeep Grand Cherokee out of the woods as he followed me in my truck (he had shot a deer and we put it in my pick-up so his Jeep wouldn’t get dirty. In Maine, you have to accompany your deer until it’s officially checked in at the tagging station) His Jeep didn’t have any rack for guns so I put my rifle in the very back of the Jeep. As we drove out, a very nice buck crossed the road in front of me, ran about 10 yards off the other side of the trail and stood there. I opened the door and the deer still stayed where he was as I got out. Only when I walked around to the back of the Jeep to attempt to get my rifle did he bolt. If I had been in my truck we would have been bringing two deer to town that night. Anyone who hunts big woods (or deer in general) knows that you take advantage of opportunities when they are presented, because they aren’t presented very often!

When I am hunting in my home state I am usually on our own farm or within a 5-minute drive (through hunt-able areas) of where I want to be. No real need to lock up the gun; it's either riding with me in the truck or being carried by me through the woods.

As far as damage to my equipment, I use Remington pump action guns (.280 model 7600 rifle and rifled 20 gauge 870) because they are fast, accurate, and reliable under adverse conditions. The scopes I use are Leupold low power scopes (1 ½ - 5X on the rifle and 1 – 4X on the shotgun). If I had to worry about them being knocked out of zero from riding un-cased in a truck or from fogging up they wouldn’t be used by me at all.

It wasn’t my intent to start a discussion on safe and legal gun handling (I live in Massachusetts, you want to talk about gun laws, we got ‘em!), just looking for a rack!

[labsnducks]

D.M.F., Nobody here wanted to insult you, just inform you.

Unless your Leupold scopes are gas filled, it is possible for them to become fogged or get condensation if you were to leave them in your truck (hot then cold) for a period of time. This is what I was implying, ANY SCOPE can get knocked off of alignment by the smallest bump, not likely, but it can happen.

I currently have 4 Zeiss scopes, 7 Leupold (all vari-x 3) and 2 Unertl scopes, any of which this could happen to.

As I said before the rack you mentioned is fine, and a few of us gave you some other options.

That’s what we do here, we learn from others that may have extensive knowledge on a certain subject.

Mike

[Roger Dodger]

Just another reason for an extend cab. Solved many of my extra gear issues! Tinted windows sure help to quell spying eyes.

[DeerMeadowFarm]

Roger – If only it was a simple as getting an extended cab truck!
:)
Mike – I’m glad you commented on the rack in question; thank you. The other options I’m not too sure about. My seat is pushed all the way back, so I don’t think the rack behind the seat will work well for me. The one in Cabela’s that mounts to the ceiling looks like it would hang down to low. As far as the scope comments, I guess they could fog, but if that happened wouldn’t that indicate a leak in the scope? I’ve never had my scopes fog up (sound of knocking on wood) from going outside to the inside of my truck or vice-versa. It sounds like you put some good $ into your optics as well and I’d be surprised (and a little bummed out) if you ever have a problem with them either.
All – Sorry for the ranting, I guess ih82’s reply rubbed me the wrong way; not his fault I guess, he stated “no offense”; I just happened to take offense. Maybe my neck is redder than I care to admit…? Anyway, just looking at options and suggestions; this site has always been helpful and I expect it always will…

[JB1]

on a truck I had once I took the rack your talking about and mounted it to the back of the seat was out of the way and worked good.

[labsnducks]

D.M.F.

Measure the distance from the top of your head and the headliner in your truck, my buddy had one of these in his pick-up and we had more then enough head room as they are mounted tight to the roof.

To answer your scope question; a weak seal yes, leak not really I mean if your in the rain, water wouldn’t get in there, but I have seen nice scopes with condensation inside of them and it happened after they were taken out of a warm area into a cold one. It happens

Worse case you get one from cabalas, it doesn’t work send it back they don’t care they are real good about returns as a matter of fact get a couple of them and keep the one that you like the best.

Mike

[ih82plow]

Originally posted by DeerMeadowFarm
I was almost insulted by this question.

Certainly was not my intention to insult you.

If I did I sincerly applogies for it

I just never understood why the guns were there,And always wondered if they were loaded.

[DeerMeadowFarm]

ih82 - No problem, you stated "no offense"; I know it wasn't your intenet to insult me.

All - I went to our local auto/truck accessory store last night and one of the guys working there had a Shelf-It mounted in his Dakota. I sat in it and it wasn’t too bad, but even he said he couldn’t re-use the stock visors because they hung down too low, and he was shorter than me. I know my truck is bigger but I just don’t know…. I wish someone had one in a full sized truck around here!
I think I’ll take Mike’s suggestion and order a couple of different ones from Cabela’s. I’ll let you know how it turns out! Thanks for the help!

[DeerMeadowFarm]

Cabela's sent the overhead 2-gun rack last Friday. Very well made and a good idea but there is no way it will work with me/my truck. My head would constantly be hitting the rack. I think this would be great for an extended cab truck or a Tahoe/Suburban type vehicle, but not for me. Guess I'll have to see how the "Rifle-It" shelf works out. I'm afraid this will hang down too low as well but we'll see. :confused:

[phoenix827]

Every truck I have seen with a "shelf it" Has surprized me with how High it sits. I shouldn't come down any further then the top of the windshield, the visors might come down past the frame, but the shelf shouldn't. The other thing that surprizes me is how much room you get with them. Takke EVERYTHING off your dash, and I bet it will fit! lol (except coffee cups!):grinz

[DeerMeadowFarm]

Phoenix - I hope you're right. I like the idea of the storage location, I just hope it works for me! :)

[phoenix827]

Originally posted by DeerMeadowFarm
Phoenix - I hope you're right.

OMG!!!:eek: Someone spelled it right!!!:grinz :D :grinz

[DeerMeadowFarm]

Not too hard to do Phoenix, ya just have to copy yer post! What do you usually get, Feenicks?
:grinz

[phoenix827]

No, either pheonix, or phenix.:grinz :headwall
Not a big deal, jusy like to bust stones about it sometimes! lol:grinz

[DeerMeadowFarm]

The “Rifle-It” rack came in yesterday. I installed it; then disassembled it and re-boxed it to go back. Here’s why:
1. The design relocates the sun visors so they rotate towards the windshield in the up position. What this means is:
a. You turn them upside down from their normal position (i.e. the mirror on the passenger side now shows all the time.
b. You can swap them; passenger to driver’s side, etc.
c. The pivot point is now 5” closer to your face so it really makes them useless.
d. When you do pivot them from the new location they hit the mirror.

2. After all that I tried to put my rifle up there and it wouldn’t fit!

Looks like it’s back to the drawing board!

[phoenix827]

Well that sucks! No way to mount the visors with the pivot against the glass?

[Adams Plowing]

that sucks... have ya thoughout about the ones for behind the seat?

[Pickering Snow]

I dont run into this problem i have a browning 12gauge that a gun smith made for me its basiclly a assult gun since its 28" barrel is know about 16 whole gun fits under my seat

[DeerMeadowFarm]

Phoenix - The original pivot mounts are used to mount the shelf brackets and then the shelf has brackets built in to accept the visors. I guess it could be done, but not as clean or as strong.

Seth - I'm 6' 2" and the truck is a regular cab. With the seat all the way back there isn't much room behind the seat. To complicate that option, I bought a set of those big truck speakers from a guy at work for $20. I built a shelf to relocate the jack and tire tools and to support the speakers. With all that there, what little room there may have been has been used up....

[Roger Dodger]

DMF- how about an alternative? Like a Ruger Super Redhawk stainless in .44mag w/ scope. That will put the smackdown on living and non-living things. Stowes easier than a rifle too!

[Jerre Heyer]

Had a shelf it that I made from stainless and had rhino lined in my F150 for years.

Scrapped the visors cause I don't use them. That's what sun glasses are for.

Other options for the rifle(s) and mounting are customize the top of your speaker box to accept the rifle in a case or soft bag with velcro to keep it down.

Also if it's a bench seat you'll be suprised at the amount of room below the seat to get a rifle in. Carry 2 Remington 788's in the fall and both would fit under my bench.

Like Rodger I too went with the x cab. Probably go with the club next time cause Ford gave a big fold down seat in the rear with alot of room for speakers and guns behind. I like there engineers...LOL

Carry mostly hand guns now so have a quick holster in the truck to take it off the body when driving. Still often put the 788 behind the seat though. The x cab has room behind if you lift the rear seat back up.

I'd look at the old rack you had and see if you can use any of it to remout to the speaker box or above if you can't get a soft bag or case in there.

Good luck

Jerre

[labsnducks]

DMF, You may want to check Galls, they sell mostly to Police & Firemen, they have some nice mounting stuff, BUT they are a little expensive.

www.galls.com