What I did over summer vacation.

[AFJuvat]

Got a new photo provider set up, so I can post stuff with pictures again.

Ran into a serious first world problem over the summer.

I have a 'gun room'. The room itself is hardened. I keep all the guns, ammo, reloading components, etc in there.

My issue was, I was out of space.

The closet where I keep the ammo and the long guns quite simply cannot hold any more. The last few rifles I have gotten were sitting in cases leaned against the wall.

(I know... poor me!)

Older picture of the closet. Shelf with some of the ammo cans and reloading components, which is bending due to the weight. The rifles were hanging from the hangar bar in soft cases.



So, in a closet 22" deep, 94" wide, with an 8' ceiling, I had to come up with a way to store:
40 Rifles
50 Ammo Cans (50 and .30 mixed)
Powder, primers, brass and bullets
Some of the larger or bulkier tools.

Also, if I should move, I want to take it with me.

Working on and off through the year with AutoCAD, I finally came up with a workable design that would hold it all and be able to support the weight.



I am building it in 3 sections:

Left: 12" x 22" x 42.250" tall, 4 shelves high

Center: 42.250" tall
3 lower shelves 12" x 69"
Upper Shelf 15.5" x 69"

Right: 12" x 22" x 82.250" tall, 8 shelves high

For the front of the center shelves, I am using legs made from 2 x 3s for ease of access. For additional strength and stability, I am securing the center shelves to the right and left side units with 0.675" x 4" carriage bolts.

The shelves are supported by 2 x 4s, and the support frame for each shelf is made of 2 x 3s. The lower shelves are topped with 0.5" plywood, with the top most shelf being topped with 0.75" plywood.

Detail of the shelf frame


By my calculations, each shelf should be able to hold 15 - 18 ammo cans each.



he top shelf at the left and center spans 81" wide, 15.5" deep at the center. I worked out a way to store the rifles in 10 rows of 4, spaced 3.5" apart.

The bracing to hold the upper part of the rifles is a 2 x 6 mounted to the wall, with an upper brace cut from 0.75" plywood

Upper Rifle Brace.


Final 3D rendering