[SHOT Show 2017] Firearm Storage Extravaganza!

We're going to talk about firearm storage. Billy Mays being unavailable, we put an exclamation point in the title, so you know it's important.

Some people store firearms in night stand drawers. Others keep them sequestered in lock ups rivaling Fort Knox. Last wee we combed the show floor for new and interesting firearm storage solutions on behalf of those of you concerned with home defense, smarter storage, and better security. We could post hundreds of pictures of big safes and thousands of plastic cases, but instead we'll show you some of the more unique items.

SHOT Show 2017: Firearm Storage Extravaganza

First up is not a new product, but it is one not many people know about. Gun Storage Solutions came up with an idea to help cure the school dance problem your rifles have been having in your safe. Traditional safes tend to have areas to hold your rifles along the walls while leaving a cavernous expanse in the middle — a yawning space that could be holding more toys.

What they have created is simple and effective. Its a plastic rod with male Velcro on its end called the Rifle Rod. You then use either the carpet lining your safe or female Velcro on the safe's roof. The rod is dropped in the barrel and affixed to the roof. This allows you to organize your safe better while storing even more guns in the same square footage you had before. It's a cheap option that could save you from having to buy another storage unit.

Next up is something for the night stand pistol crowd. IDENTILOCK has come up with a finger print trigger lock. The trigger lock when first installed requires you to scan your finger multiple times from different angles. This ensures that if it is grabbed in a high stress situation it should still be able to unlock — should be the operative word, of course. This is an interesting solution but one we'd want to rigorously test.

The unit has an internal battery that charges off of a micro USB cable and if the power goes it can still be opened with a dimple key (much better than a standard key, in our opinion). It's available for many popular pistols, with more on the way.

While we are talking about electronic storage solutions, we'll address two products do it a bit differently. BoomDock has created a wall mounted system that removes the bulk of a safe while still providing what appears to be a kid safe storage solution for that loaded home defense firearm.

The safe uses adjustable internals to secure pistols, rifles and shotguns. The light on the outside is motion activated and lights up when you go to the keypad. If you don't want to fumble punching in the code there are various RFID options to just place against the pad and have access to your firearm.

If a firearm overtly mounted to your wall is not your thing, then Tactical Walls might have what you're looking for. At the show this year they released a night stand, coffee table and end table that run on the same idea as the concealment shelves you've likely seen before.

With a tap of the RFID chip against the key area the bottom of the table drops down and slides out, revealing your firearm o(r whatever item you wanted to keep out of sight). Made in America with American made materials, these things not only look great, they provide a functional storage solution.

Safes can be too large or heavy to get into the intended room in a house. SecureIt has designed a flat pack gun locker you can carry up piece by piece to its intended location.

The inside of the locker is lined with their modular mounting solution. This allows the rifles to be supported at the appropriate height and also allows for storage bins, magazine holders and other accessories to be mounted above the firearms.

If you're looking at storing rifles on the wall at a gun store or in your gun room, look no further than Gallow Technologies. They have a huge inventory of various mounts thatwill display and store your guns and gear. They had a couple new items out for this year, including a cable lock mount and magazine well mount.

The cable lock mount allows firearms to stay on the wall in places that require firearms to be locked on display (like Canada).  If you run a store, or at a long term convention or expo, this could save you from taking the weapons down every day.

The AR magazine well mount does just what its name says. Instead of supporting the rifle by the stock and barrel, the rifle locks in like inserting a magazine.

If you're the kind of person who has matched set Perrazi money to spend, then this next one is for you. Vault Pro has released a large safe with ballistic glass viewing panels on it — you know, so you can gaze upon your collection and gloat, or provoke bitter envy in house guests who walk by.

The interior has nice storage racks to display expensive or historically valuable guns. Attention to detail and adornment were key with this safe, as you can see from the gold leaf work and hand painted striping.

As with locks gun storage devices are designed to keep honest people out, slow thieves down and stop our children access to things they shouldn't touch without supervision. The problem is — and you must always remember this — all can be defeated given enough time, tenacity, and opportunity. It's up to you to decide what level of care and investment you make in firearms storage.

What's your favorite storage solution? Let us know in the comments.

This has been a special SHOT Show installment of Industry News. It is not a review nor an endorsement.

What is the NSSF SHOT Show?

The NSSF SHOT Show (Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade Show) and Conference is an annual event held by the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Typically attended by thousands of people from all 50 states and over a hundred countries, it is (quite rightfully) described as the “…world's premier exposition of combined firearms, ammunition, law enforcement, cutlery, outdoor apparel, optics, and related products and services.

Imagine the Worlds' Fair, but packed with everything from mini-guns and every breed of body armor, bows and boots; from eye pro and ear pro to optics and ordnance, socks to swords…you get the idea. If you'd like to see a sampling of the companies who will be showing at this year's SHOT, there's a live map right here, though it doesn't reflect the organizations set up elsewhere, in hotel suites, etc

View imagery from our coverage of last year's SHOT Show here; 2015's is right here.

SHOT 2017 Schedule

January 15 — Special invite-only events; Veterans Training Fund/Wishes for Warriors at The Ranch, SIG Sauer Range Day, and others
January 16 — Media on the Range, Boulder City Rifle & Pistol Club
January 17 — 20, 2016

Sands Expo and Convention Center
Las Vegas, Nevada
Hours
Tuesday, January 17 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, January 18 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, January 19 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Friday, January 20 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

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