Posted: 11/7/2006 8:51:17 AM EDT
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My new C&R hobby has caused an over-flow situation on my gun safe. I had been just stacking them in closets, but knew that was a temporary stop-gap measure. It was time to build a rifle rack. I didn't want anything fancy, just something to keep them from leaning on each other and scratching them up. I noticed that I had a 5 foot section of wall in my computer room between the bookcase and the corner that would be just right for a rifle rack. I decided yesterday to build a rack and did so in a couple of hours with some scrap wood. I started out with the base, which I made from a 2 X 6. I wanted the finished length to be 5 feet, so, knowing that it would have two ends made with 3/4 inch stock, I cut the base to 58 1/2 inches long. I then rounded the front ends:  I then cut the two end pieces from 3/4 inch stock. I tapered them from 4 inches at the bottom to 2 inches at the top, and rounded off the top. I attached them to the ends of the 2 X 6 with drywall screws in pre-drilled and countersunk holes. Here's the bottom:  Here's the top.  The top rest for the rifles was made from a scrap piece of 1 inch lumber and ended up 2 1/4 inches wide and 58 1/2 inches long to match the base. I drilled a 1/2 inch hole every 4 inches, 1/2 inch deep. I then cut 14 dowels, 3 1/2 inches long and glued them in the holes.  Here's the finished project:  And here it is in place, with some rifles on it.  My lovely wife noticed that there are 6 empty slots and told me I needed to get to ordering. What a great gal!!  Cost was almost nothing, assuming you have some scrap lumber. It was fun to build and solved a storage problem for me. Give it a try if you need one.  |
As I'm sure you know, it's the little things that make a project nice. 
I probably need another Mauser or two, Swingset still has more SMLEs than me, those K-31s are going fast, and..........well, you get the idea. 
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This from the man who criticized me for posting a pic of my GUN CABINET? 
IDIOTS if I remember correctly for #3. Hmmm.. although not the best security, my gun cabinet is lockable from #'s 1 and 3. |
I thought about it, but tried the rifles and it didn't seem to need anything else. I was going for "simple". 
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Dern Mark! I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. But mine is not a "display" rack. It's just a rack to hold them and keep them from banging into each other. Visitors do not visit the room where these are kept. |
Maybe glueing some felt to the bottom would be simpler and serve the same purpose?z |
That's so unlike you.  |
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That looks exactly like something I did in one of my gun closets a few years back. I made several of those top rails and spanned the width of the closet with them. To hold the rails in place, I used sheet metal 2x4 strap hangers fastened to the drywall. The rails dropped right into the bracket and can be easily removed if necessary. ETA pics:  
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Don't forget the Mosin-Nagant sniper rifles. You can either buy a reproduction rifle, or buy a scope and mount and DIY. I'd be interested to see what a 91/30 Sniper could do with handloads. |
That's a very nice design. If only I had an empty closet. |
I have been doing woodworking for many years. The secret is to start with something very simple and take your time and do as good a job as you can. You will learn as you go. Something simple like this project is a great way to start. |
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Good job! I made a rack a few years ago out of red oak. If I make one again, I will use pine as the oak was hard to work with(and $$$). I need to rework mine as it does not hold the rifles at enough of an angle, so they like to fall forward sometimes  . It will be easy to do as I used a board on its side with V-notches cut into it to hold the barreles instead of the wood pegs you used. I just need to cut the notches deeper and the rifles will lean farther back. It also has the provision to thread a chain or cable through the trigger guards and lock it into lag eye bolts set into the wall studs.
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I just wish I had the rifles (M1....M1.....) and the ammo to shoot them. I have 2 Enfields (N01mk3 and a No5mk1 Jungle carbine) a K98 Mauser WW2 bring back (my grandfathers) 2 Ar's, 1 SW36, 1 Browning .22 Buckmaster and 2 Glocks. Next buy is a 10/22. Wish I had more guns but that money goes to ammo. |
That is very nice - I like the placement at the foot of the stairs. |
Dude, aren't you worried about theft? I ask because I LOVE the way it looks, but I'd be scared to death to do it. Or is it done only because they are C&R rifles? |
With quality C&R weapons going for between $100 and $150, it is easy to get a nice collection. And milsurp ammo for them is very cheap nowadays. |
I usually go to the range in the morning and she works during those hours. She'd definitely be a Big improvement over Tman.
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I would certainly hope so! |
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Here in CA, we'ld screw it into the studs to keep it from falling over in an earthquake. A cable lock through the trigger guards would help solve the idiot and theft problem, and hold them in during the earthquake. I never had the theft problem, but I did have an idiot friend. As I learned in the '71 earthquake, anything you can do to keep anything from falling over or out is one less mess you need to pick up when things stop shaking. I was working in a market at the time. The shock direction kept most of the stuff on the shelves, but the liquor department was pretty much a sawdust from the butcher shop, brooms and mop clean up effort. Almost got drunk just walking near it. I can also tell you that it was not a good idea to put all the ice cream toppings, syrups, cherries above the ice cream freezer. most of that stuff spreads out and between everything before it freezes. |