Thread: Rules of installing a gun safe/rack

Originally Posted by humvee

That is why I passed my check using the rack I already had for my air rifle, then went and purchased an ecat safe when I found a really good one at a good price - I figure regardless of how much they increase the safe requirements for A-Cat they are unlikely to increase it beyond what they use to accept for E-cat.

My landloard is ok with holes on walls but not on the floor. I think gun rack will be a better solution for me. I will use my safe un-bolt as gun bolt and ammo storage.

Originally Posted by Russian 22.

It did to me.

What if they require more than the current 1.5 mm thick safes straight out of China? An 8 gun of those cost me 300 odd dollars.

And then you'd have to pay twice

I bought a 3mm one

BTW, are there any hunting zones and ranges near Hamilton? Are there any clubs in Hamilton?

I knew a wise man who had a gunsafe behind his bedroom door, bolted to the (very crumbly) brick and plaster with the smallest rawlbolts you can imagine. He plastered the outside with firearms related stickers - mainly Colt and Smith and Wesson, so it was glaringly obvious as to what was inside.... Except that he had filled the safe with about 70kg of water pipe offcuts. His real safe was discreetly hidden elsewhere, disguised as an electrical breaker box. What burglar will notice that there are 2 in the house anyway?

Originally Posted by lhou

Hi all, I've just passed the safety course and I'm waiting for the inspection now. I'm wondering are there any rules? When I was in shop today, I was told gun racks would fail so I bought a safe.
I try to check rules of installation but it seems there aren't any. I've gone through the Secure storage guidance for firearms that published by police and got confused. This guide says racks are options to store firearms at home. Is that true?
What shall I do to pass the inspection?

I had my inspection recently, I passed with the gun city 4 gun rack I originally installed for my Air rifle, they are often recommended against by inspectors and they want them to be in a location "not easily seen or located by someone not familiar with the property"

A few things I did that may have helped with passing

from the store they only have 3 screw holes - and often they are not all in the right place to connect with beams - even when all 3 are into solid timber it does not feel sturdy/securely fastened - so I increase the number of holes and screws to 8

While the inspector was going to pass the rack he was much happier when I showed him the photos of the (formally known as) E-cat safe I had just purchased via trademe but had not yet picked up or installed.


My personal opinion is things like racks are better of used only for things like air rifles, or "ticking the must have storage at home check box" if you don't normally have firearms at home. however if your serious about things you should really get a good heavy duty safe, some safes sold that currently comply are very light weight - and have it bolted down

have a look at where to hunt on the doc sight

Arms Regulations 1992 (SR 1992/346) (as at 12 April 2019) 19 Conditions relating to security precautions – New Zealand Legislation

That is what the law says.
No real specifics on how it has to be secured.
Just has to stop a child and an opportunist thief from accessing your firearms

I think doing the bare minimum is foolish, do the best you can without going overboard.
If someone really wants your guns they are going to get your guns.

As someone else has said.
Place the safe in such a way its harder for someone to pry/lever at the safe.



Personally i would get an alarm system before upgrading my A cat safe to B/E level. Obviously renters might not be able to.
For similar or not much more than B/E cat safe you can get a certified alarm system. Possibly even back it up with a do it yourself camera system.

It will act as a deterrent for your whole house getting burgled, if they do break in and it goes of it will drastically limit the time they want to spend in your house. Grab what they can and run.
If you have an E cat safe and no alarm they might have a bloody good go at getting the safe off the wall or getting it open if they feel they have time.

Added bonus of an alarm is that cheaper insurance premiums usually and it protects your whole house contents not just your guns.