Dealing with "Scope Clash" in a tight cabinet

[wytonpjs]

Like others living in modern houses, options for FEO-approved cabinet locations can be limited and actual space constraints mean you can not necessarily get a bigger cabinet into the space. Welcome to my world!

I have an excellent Brattonsound RL5+ extra deep and a 7+ in storage but I cannot get SWIMBO authority to take over the entire space so I'm stuck trying to get the most regularly used CF rifles and a Hushpower .410 into the same 5+ cabinet. For some, this won't be a problem but I like short 20" rifles and lengthened stocks so even when trying to top-and-tail, I end up with scope turret clash (Hik Alpex, Swaro dS, Z6i and Thermion). I tried to overcome this by using a strong magnet to provide a "sky hook" base to lift 2 rifles but having had a rifle fall down whilst trying to get another out I decided it was time to do a proper job. After lots of time measuring, drawing up sketches (measure twice cut once) I drilled 2 holes in the lockable top box floor, fitted stainless steel M6 bolts with penny washers, SS joining nuts to add rigidity, a lock nut and a SS eye-ring. See the pictures - better that my words.

This arrangement still means I have to unhook and lift out one to get at the outside rifles but it's a lot more robust and I'm not worrying about "dropping" another rifle on its crown.

Posted for others who may be similarly challenged (and possibly to stimulate other ideas).

 

[Mike L]

I think you need to grow a pair and put the other cabinet in …………………. Good luck

 

[willie_gunn]

In my imagination I’m wondering if, when you open the cabinet, it is accompanied by a noise like a peal of bells??

 

[Mr. Gain]

Satisfying to see space well used. The trouble with big cabinets is that they tempt you into buying more guns.

 

[User00056]

trouble with big cabinets is that they tempt you into buying more guns.

Indeed. The struggle is real

 

[Len the dog]

I sit alternate rifles on blocks of wood thick enough to raise them up so that the turrets don’t coincide.
If I had time I would make a more permanent base of a similar configuration, but the blocks of wood work just fine.

 

[Tazz]

I do laugh when makers describe cabinets as 4 or 6 etc gun cabinets, yes they are if you have a collection of 410 over and unders and you have Vaselined them. However if you are talking bolt action scoped rifles with mods and bipods then you can reduce the advertised number by a third ( Bit like the advertised range of EV’s reduce by a third for real world reality)

 

[wytonpjs]

In my imagination I’m wondering if, when you open the cabinet, it is accompanied by a noise like a peal of bells??

Nope

 

[wytonpjs]

I think you need to grow a pair and put the other cabinet in …………………. Good luck

You have never met Mrs wytonpjs - not only outranked me but has more medals than me. I chose carefully those battles I’m going to fight

I sit alternate rifles on blocks of wood thick enough to raise them up so that the turrets don’t coincide.
If I had time I would make a more permanent base of a similar configuration, but the blocks of wood work just fine.

I like that solution - how high are the blocks? Do you secure the blocks in position to stop movement/make more stable or are they on a base of some kind?

 

[Cottis]

I use various stacked up books on my cabinet floor to raise or lower certain rifles to avoid turret clash. It is a "7" gun cabinet and that is the biggest lie I have ever heard in my life. I have 4 rifles and a shotgun in there and I would consider it fairly tight. It does work though with the books stacking saga I mentioned. Without that Heath Robinson arrangement, it would be a monumental PITA.

 

[Firefly]

Cut a hole in the floor, sink a cabinet between the joists and throw a rug over it, let Mrs Wytonpjs choose the rug and all will be well.

 

[VSS]

I use various stacked up books on my cabinet floor to raise or lower certain rifles to avoid turret clash. It is a "7" gun cabinet and that is the biggest lie I have ever heard in my life. I have 4 rifles and a shotgun in there and I would consider it fairly tight. It does work though with the books stacking saga I mentioned. Without that Heath Robinson arrangement, it would be a monumental PITA.

Bit of pain getting all the guns out every time you want to read....

 

[wytonpjs]

Bit of pain getting all the guns out every time you want to read....

Read - what is this thing called reading Thought all most did now was scroll or swipe

 

[HonestJohn]

You need a bigger cabinet

 

[Crowstalker]

Or if you can't get a bigger cabinet get a 2nd smaller one your going to end up really devaluing your equipment with scratches ans dents no matter how careful you are.

 

[bullet chucker]

Mine has 15 positions, I still have the Clash of the Titans’!

BC.

 

[Donkey Basher]

Or if you can't get a bigger cabinet get a 2nd smaller one your going to end up really devaluing your equipment with scratches ans dents no matter how careful you are.

And a third and fourth… oh, and the ammo cabinets…

Seriously, if you can put a second cabinet somewhere else you can then split up the shotguns into one & rifles into the other, or most frequently used in one & less frequently used in the other?

I have a friend who is a collector & the joke is he has a living room in his gun house

 

[rafael fach]

I have a bratton soud 7 gun cabinet guess how many guns I fit in it you'll never believe it it's actually seven three scoped rifles 2 being night vision and four shotguns bit tight but it works but then I don't polish mine every day

 

[Len the dog]

You have never met Mrs wytonpjs - not only outranked me but has more medals than me. I chose carefully those battles I’m going to fight

I like that solution - how high are the blocks? Do you secure the blocks in position to stop movement/make more stable or are they on a base of some kind?

They are about 2” thick. If I ever have time then I’ll make a baseplate to fit the floor of the cabinet with indents for the butt plates at alternating heights, based on the relative position of the turrets and then cover it with a suitable material.
However there just aren’t enough hours in the day and my list of projects is keeping pace with the UK national debt clock.

 

[Freeforester]

Just me and lady Ff, ( 4 are hers) but last time I looked there are 4 cabinets here- do they breed?