Are you one of the more than 5 million Americans who became a new gun owner in the past year? Or are you planning on purchasing your first firearm in the near future?

If so, listen up. Owning a firearm is a right, so long as you are in good legal standing to do so. But it’s also a responsibility, as firearms can be dangerous if you don’t know how to handle a gun.

Aside from knowing how your gun works, gun storage is one of the most important aspects of owning a firearm. When stored the right way, your guns will stay safe and hidden from inexperienced shooters who can hurt themselves or others if they have access to them.

So how should you be storing your gun at home, during transportation, and out in the field? Read on below for the most important gun storage tips that you need to know.

Why Gun Storage Is Important

Many gun owners don’t think twice about storing their guns. They might leave a hunting rifle on a table in the garage. Or they might place a handgun in their dresser drawer.

But doing so is very unwise. On the surface, this might mean your firearms are exposed to moisture and dust, which can affect the performance of the gun over time.

But more importantly, leaving firearms out in the open puts people at risk. If you live with others, be it a partner, children, or roommates, all of them are at risk when firearms are out in the open.

Someone might be curious to see a gun and may go and look for yours. If the gun is loaded, or if ammunition is accessible too, an inexperienced shooter can accidentally fire a bullet.

Do you live alone? It still isn’t safe to leave your guns out in the open.

Unfortunately, break-ins are all too common in the US. 2.5 million burglaries take place in the US each year, and there’s a chance it could happen to you.

If a thief stole your gun(s), it would be very inconvenient for you. But more importantly, there are now additional firearms in the hands of criminals, which puts even more lives at risk.

Are you ready to invest a little bit of time and money into proper weapon storage, for the betterment of everyone around you? That’s the question to keep in mind as you read the rest of the article.

Gun Storage at Home

Proper gun care starts at home. After all, you don’t get to spend all day at the shooting range, or out hunting. Your guns will sit idle, inside your home, 99% of the time.

Depending on what type of guns you have, and why you have them in the first place, you may invest in a different storage option. Here’s what to consider for your home.

Long Gun Safe

If you have any type of rifle or shotgun, you’re going to want a proper gun cabinet. They’re made of heavy-duty metal. You’re going to want to buy one from a local store, as they would cost a lot to ship to your home.

You can get a safe that’s as narrow as a locker if you only have one or two long guns. Or you can get a much larger cabinet, capable of storing a dozen or more long guns.

For maximum security, you’ll want to affix your gun safe to the wall and/or floor. It should also be in an inconspicuous area, such as the corner of a garage, or down in the basement.

Put a heavy-duty lock on the safe. Burglars like to get in and out fast. If they notice your safe is attached to your home and has a big lock on it, they will probably leave it alone.

If your guns have sentimental value, consider paying extra for a fireproof safe. If you were to suffer from a house fire, your safe would most likely be fine, with guns unscathed inside.

This also doubles as a place to store other personal effects and valuables.

Hand Gun Safe

Many gun owners have no need for a long gun, as they aren’t hunters and are primarily concerned with personal safety and home protection. So they will only own a handgun or two.

There are different types of handgun safes you can buy. Those who’d like access to their guns in the middle of the night, in the event of a break-in, choose a small, bedside safe with an easy access locking system.

These locks can contain a keypad, where you type in a short code, or a fingerprint scanner. The idea is that you need to be able to open the safe up when feeling frantic.

Those who practice concealed carry will often remove their handgun and place it in their bedside safe once they are home for the day.

Many people also install small, hidden safes throughout their home, so they can access a handgun at any time, without having to run across the house. You can hide safes like these inside drawers, mounted on the underside of desks, or even made to look like books on a bookshelf.

There are also basic handgun safes available if you just need a place to lock it up when you are heading to the shooting or target range.

Gun Storage on the Go

Gun storage at home isn’t the only thing you need to be concerned with. Most people take their firearms out of the home at some point or another.

Usually, this means taking it to the shooting range to get some practice. It might mean taking it to a gunsmith for repairs or upgrades. And for many, it means heading out into the field for hunting.

Here’s how to store guns while you’re on the move.

Gun Storage in the Car

Car storage is very important for your firearms. Doing this wrong could get you into trouble with the law.

In many states, to legally transport firearms, they must be unloaded and stored in a location that is inaccessible to the driver and any passengers. To access a firearm, a passenger should need to get out of the vehicle.

In small vehicles, this means storing in the trunk or rear seat. In trucks, it means storing it in the bed, or under a rear seat.

Your guns will also need to be cases. This could be a standard hard case, or a portable soft case, or even a simple gun sock. A hard case is best though, to protect your gun from any potential damage from shifting around, or falling objects.

Ammunition needs to be stored separately from the gun. It can be next to the gun, just not in the same case as the gun.

Storing your gun properly in the car prevents unnecessary accidents. It also lessens the chance of gun theft, since cars are relatively easy to break into if a burglar sees something they want.

Flying With Guns

Most of the time, hunters are the only ones traveling on a plane with guns. And yes, doing so is totally fine, as long as you pack and store them properly.

Per TSA rules, guns always need to go with your checked luggage in a locked, hard-sided case. So first things first, you need a quality, hardshell gun case that is able to withstand the weight of many suitcases piled on top of it.

Many gun cases can store two or three long guns as well, making it easier to travel with hunting partners or bring different types of guns for different types of game animals.

To check your firearms, they must be unloaded. When checking in at the ticket counter, you need to declare each firearm. Depending on the airline, there may be additional baggage fees for claiming a firearm.

Some airlines may just rate your gun case as a normal checked bag, which may or may not be included in your ticket price.

All ammunition and firearm components and accessories must also remain in check luggage only. The only thing you can bring in your carry-on bag is a rifle scope.

Gun Storage in the Field

Lastly, there are ways you should store your guns in the field. The field can be an indoor or outdoor shooting range, where you are actively using your firearms, or it can your own property or a hunting area.

Most firearm-related accidents don’t occur when someone is actively using the gun. They occur in the in-between moments when you are preparing to shoot a gun, preparing for a hike, or getting ready to put all your gear away.

These are the easiest moments to slip up, as you think a gun is unloaded. But there are countless times when there is one round remaining in the gun. Here’s how to stay safe when out in the field.

At the Range

Shooting ranges have very strict rules regarding how firearms are handled and stored. This is to ensure the protection of everyone at the range, both customers and workers.

To enter a shooting range, your gun(s) need to be cased from the moment they leave the car. You should not uncase your gun until you are at your assigned shooting stall.

You should only have one gun out at a time. Any other firearms that you brought should remain unloaded and cased until you are ready to use them. When pulling out your second gun, make sure to unload and case the first one.

When casing and uncasing your gun at the range, be mindful of what direction it is pointing in. You might know it’s unloaded, but if it’s pointed at your neighbor while you are putting it away, they might feel threatened.

The Hunting Field

Those outside the hunting community might think that it’s a dangerous sport. But statistically speaking, hunting is not dangerous.

Of course, there are accidents, but the bulk of hunting incidents are self-inflicted. The unexpected discharge of a firearm is one of the main issues, meaning hunters might accidentally shoot their own foot or leg.

And it usually happens when preparing for a hunt, or ending a hunt, rather than when they are out in the woods. Many of these accidents can be prevented with good field storage.

Any time you are not actively hunting, your rifle or shotgun should be unloaded, magazine ejected, and firearm cased. Taking this extra step shows all of your hunting buddies massive respect.

Many people make the mistake of leaning their firearms up against the truck, only for them to slip and hit the ground. Not only is this dangerous, but it could bump your scope out of place, ruining your chances of making an accurate shot.

If you are camping in the field overnight, the same applies. Make sure the gun is unloaded and cased, preferably stored in a vehicle to prevent any contact from moisture.

Out Hunting

Once you leave the truck behind and head into the backcountry, proper gun storage doesn’t stop. If you’re going to be hiking a considerable distance, there’s no need to shoulder your rifle the whole time. You’ll get sore and deal with muscle cramps after the first hour or two.

Rather, wear a hunting pack that has a spot you can secure your rifle too. Make sure the barrel is pointed upwards, to never endanger yourself or others.

And keep a barrel sock over it. This will prevent brush, snow, or rain from getting into it.

If you drop your gun, a barrel sock keeps dirt and mud out and saves you the hassle of having to clean your gun on the spot.

When you are out hunting, you don’t want to waste time with gun maintenance and cleaning. You want to spend your time looking for animals and getting into the right position.

Firearm Safety Skills

At Natchez online store experts say that people spend all of their time thinking about which type of gun to buy, what brand of ammunition, whether it’s .45 acp ammo or .40 caliber ammo, and how to improve their accuracy.

And while these are all important, none of them are as important as gun storage and knowing how to safely handle firearms. If you want to boost your safety practices and your firearms confidence, take an introductory course at a local shooting range.

They give boost your gun knowledge and skills and build an awareness of firearm responsibility that will never leave you.

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