Gun safes

[imashooter2]

Since it's new construction, plumb a fire sprinkler over top of the safe location and you have as good a fire protection as you can get.

[MUSTANG]

^ ^ Plus 1.


1. My experience is that in rural areas, the Fire Department shows up and watches the fire burn. They do not fight a fire. Best they might do is wet down areas in vicinity of other structures and homes in the area that might have embers blow that way. This is based on personal observation at five different fires in rural areas.

2. Never store powder in a sealed metal container. The expanding gases if exposed to fire will result in shrapnel being thrown out once the gas exceeds the strength of the container. This is why card board/fiber/wooden chests are called for in storing powders. Best to store larger amounts of powder in an out building if possible.

3. They also coordinate with power company to kill all electricity to the area. So if you are dependent upon a well for water powered by "Power Company", better have a generator or back up battery power to get water; otherwise watch it all burn.

[quickdraw66]

I have a Cannon 24 gun safe. It offers some fire protection and is enough of a deterrent to stop most thieves. Especially around here.

[deathdragon147]

Mustang. Very interesting points. I can build something to store my powder in then. Sucks about them not actually fighting the fire. Good info on power too. I was planning on redoing my electrical panel with setting up a back up

[Elkins45]

I built a 1" wooden magazine for my powder because that's what the fire code specifies. It's in the basement and I positioned it directly under the CPVC water line. My hope is that if the powder ever ignites the flame will melt through the waterline and either extinguish or at least moderate the fire.

[str8shot426]

^ ^ Plus 1.


1. My experience is that in rural areas, the Fire Department shows up and watches the fire burn. They do not fight a fire. Best they might do is wet down areas in vicinity of other structures and homes in the area that might have embers blow that way. This is based on personal observation at five different fires in rural areas.

2. Never store powder in a sealed metal container. The expanding gases if exposed to fire will result in shrapnel being thrown out once the gas exceeds the strength of the container. This is why card board/fiber/wooden chests are called for in storing powders. Best to store larger amounts of powder in an out building if possible.

3. They also coordinate with power company to kill all electricity to the area. So if you are dependent upon a well for water powered by "Power Company", better have a generator or back up battery power to get water; otherwise watch it all burn.

My local firefighters motto is..."We haven't lost a foundation yet."

[Springfield]

I store my powder/primers/ammo in an old refrigerator. It keeps a more constant temperature as it is insulated, it can be locked with the addition of a hasp, and if it catcehes fire it is not so strong that it will be a bomb, or at least less than a safe. And they can be had for free.

[deathdragon147]

So this is interesting. How do you store your reloading supplies. I think this would be a good thread topic

[dragon813gt]

So this is interesting. How do you store your reloading supplies. I think this would be a good thread topic

The specifications are laid out in the NFPA guidelines. They can also be found in SAAMI's literature.

http://www.saami.org/specifications_...ess_Powder.pdf

http://www.saami.org/specifications_...01-Primers.pdf

Know your local fire code. Every time this subject is brought up it becomes readily apparent people don't know theirs.

[deathdragon147]

Ya i dont know mine and the comment about building the wood storage got me thinking just that. That is why i have come to love this site. Being able to ask a question or an opinion without judgement for someone learning and being steered in the right direction. I really appreciate that.

[Artful]

I built a 1" wooden magazine for my powder because that's what the fire code specifies. It's in the basement and I positioned it directly under the CPVC water line. My hope is that if the powder ever ignites the flame will melt through the waterline and either extinguish or at least moderate the fire.

Smart - it might even be worth running a stub line with a sprinkler head

[AggieEE]

Elkins45, Some years back I had quite a bit of powder from pulling down some rifle ammo I couldn't shoot. So I decided to experiment. I poured some powder on a brick lit it and sprayed it with a spray bottle of water. Did not put it out. You would have to hit it with enough water to disperse the pile of powder so the unburned wouldn't lite off. I even tried a CO2 extinguisher, I hd powder burning under a layer of CO2 snow. It burned very slowly and gave off a lot of rust red smoke, NO3 I think. Durning my day job at the time I was talking to a fire specalist and he said the only thing that will put out smokless was a Halon extinguisher. Since that's classified as a global warming gas good luck finding one, but if you can latch onto it.

[deathdragon147]

Well darn i was thinking of using a foam based. More good info

[imashooter2]

Powder carries its own oxygen and so is very difficult to extinguish. What you are looking for with a fire sprinkler is for it to extinguish any secondary materials the powder might light and keep the house from burning down.

[Bzcraig]

Here ya go!

[deathdragon147]

Sweet