Storing 9mm magazines vertically: I need a cheap space saver

TXAZ · November 5, 2017, 09:30 AM

I need to find a better way to store 9mm magazines in the safe. Layed on a shelf they take a lot of space. Benchmaster makes a holder for 12 but it’s $25. Seems like there ought to be a very inexpensive way to store them using an ammo holder where each cell was wide enough and deep enough to hold 1 magazine vertically.
Any ideas? A link to the benchmaster product follows.

https://shop.opticsplanet.com/benchm...magazines.html

10-96 · November 5, 2017, 12:00 PM

Would there be a means of affixing magnetic strips on the underside of a shelf or top?

T. O'Heir · November 5, 2017, 01:29 PM

Any holder will take up more space than a pile of empty mags.
I'd guess you could get a block of pillow foam in a discount fabric shop for less than $25. Takes an Exacto knife or the like to cut.

ShootistPRS · November 5, 2017, 02:45 PM

If the magazines are steel you can use any strip magnet to hold the magazines on or under a shelf.
If they are plastic yo can use a coil spring to hold them as long as the coils are far enough apart and still have enough tension to hold them. Beyond those two you will have to find a material, like Styrofoam to melt or cut pockets in.

TXAZ · November 5, 2017, 03:30 PM

10-96

had a really inspirational idea when he noted:

Quote:

Would there be a means of affixing magnetic strips on the underside of a shelf or top?

NO! But you gave me a great idea I just built at no out of pocket cost using:

2 Harbor Freight 18 in. Magnetic Tool Holder (both free from one of their flyers)
2 L-brackets found in the hardware drawer
1 piece of scrap plywood 20" x 4" x 1/4"
A little red paint

Took about an hour to put together

Thanks everyone for the ideas but especially thanks 10-96!!

MagnumWill · November 6, 2017, 08:41 AM

Hey, that’s great! I think I may mount one of those vertically in my safe.

TXAZ · November 6, 2017, 08:46 AM

I just noticed if I turn the magazines 90 degrees I can get about 30 on there total.

FITASC · November 6, 2017, 09:16 AM

And one of momma's old Tupperware containers wouldn't work because????????

TXAZ · November 6, 2017, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FITASC

And one of momma's old Tupperware containers wouldn't work because????????

Because it won’t hold enough in the space as constrained.

And what I built exactly fits on the safe shelf front to back.

Sevens · November 6, 2017, 12:29 PM

As space has become a premium in my safe... things that are not my beloved handguns have been assessed and re-assessed and relocated.

In my opinion, items like scads of pistol magazines need a fantastic home that is outside of prime, expensive, much needed gun safe. Thus, a locking cabinet or $179 "gun locker" or small chest safe or locking file cabinet or many many other options that are not my 900-pound safe bolted to the floor whose purpose is to house my handguns.

FITASC · November 6, 2017, 01:12 PM

Ammo locked inside a safe during a dire can also become a potential bomb, same for storing ammo in those GI cans vs their plastic Plano counterparts

fredvon4 · November 6, 2017, 02:47 PM

When I started accumulating enough firearms to be concerned about safe security I also was just starting into reloading as well as ammo accumulation

I am lucky with a small compound ( euphemistically referred to as the micro ranch) that has 5 out building two are climate controlled.

I decided to store firearms in a good safe secured to the concrete slab floor in my main house.......and all ammo and components in a good fire container in one of the out buildings

we are rural and I wanted to be able to ask volunteer fire fighters to save my house NO haz mat or explosives.... or ....stay the hell away from THAT SHED it IS gonna blow, let it burn!

I even printed, weather proofed, and posted the explosives placard on the ammo reloading shed

The only firearms on my property WITH ammo are all the HD and CC that are out of safe and ready for defense

November 5, 2017, 09:30 AM	#1
TXAZ Senior Member Join Date: September 5, 2010 Location: McMurdo Sound Texas Posts: 4,322	Storing 9mm magazines vertically: I need a cheap space saver I need to find a better way to store 9mm magazines in the safe. Layed on a shelf they take a lot of space. Benchmaster makes a holder for 12 but it’s $25. Seems like there ought to be a very inexpensive way to store them using an ammo holder where each cell was wide enough and deep enough to hold 1 magazine vertically. Any ideas? A link to the benchmaster product follows. https://shop.opticsplanet.com/benchm...magazines.html __________________ Cave illos in guns et backhoes

November 5, 2017, 12:00 PM	#2
10-96 Senior Member Join Date: October 19, 2005 Location: Tx Panhandle Territory Posts: 4,159	Would there be a means of affixing magnetic strips on the underside of a shelf or top? __________________ Rednecks... Keeping the woods critter-free since March 2, 1836. (TX Independence Day) I suspect a thing or two... because I've seen a thing or two.

November 5, 2017, 01:29 PM	#3
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	Any holder will take up more space than a pile of empty mags. I'd guess you could get a block of pillow foam in a discount fabric shop for less than $25. Takes an Exacto knife or the like to cut. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

November 6, 2017, 08:41 AM	#6
MagnumWill Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2009 Location: Central Colorado Posts: 1,001	Hey, that’s great! I think I may mount one of those vertically in my safe. __________________ Those who hammer their swords into plow shares will plow for those who didn't...

November 6, 2017, 08:46 AM	#7
TXAZ Senior Member Join Date: September 5, 2010 Location: McMurdo Sound Texas Posts: 4,322	I just noticed if I turn the magazines 90 degrees I can get about 30 on there total. __________________ Cave illos in guns et backhoes

November 5, 2017, 02:45 PM	#4
ShootistPRS Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2017 Posts: 1,583	If the magazines are steel you can use any strip magnet to hold the magazines on or under a shelf. If they are plastic yo can use a coil spring to hold them as long as the coils are far enough apart and still have enough tension to hold them. Beyond those two you will have to find a material, like Styrofoam to melt or cut pockets in.

November 6, 2017, 09:16 AM	#8
FITASC Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2014 Posts: 6,441	And one of momma's old Tupperware containers wouldn't work because???????? __________________ "I believe that people have a right to decide their own destinies; people own themselves. I also believe that, in a democracy, government exists because (and only so long as) individual citizens give it a 'temporary license to exist'—in exchange for a promise that it will behave itself. In a democracy, you own the government—it doesn't own you."- Frank Zappa

November 6, 2017, 12:29 PM	#10
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,756	As space has become a premium in my safe... things that are not my beloved handguns have been assessed and re-assessed and relocated. In my opinion, items like scads of pistol magazines need a fantastic home that is outside of prime, expensive, much needed gun safe. Thus, a locking cabinet or $179 "gun locker" or small chest safe or locking file cabinet or many many other options that are not my 900-pound safe bolted to the floor whose purpose is to house my handguns. __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

November 6, 2017, 01:12 PM	#11
FITASC Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2014 Posts: 6,441	Ammo locked inside a safe during a dire can also become a potential bomb, same for storing ammo in those GI cans vs their plastic Plano counterparts __________________ "I believe that people have a right to decide their own destinies; people own themselves. I also believe that, in a democracy, government exists because (and only so long as) individual citizens give it a 'temporary license to exist'—in exchange for a promise that it will behave itself. In a democracy, you own the government—it doesn't own you."- Frank Zappa

November 6, 2017, 02:47 PM	#12
fredvon4 Junior member Join Date: January 18, 2010 Location: Lampasas Texas Posts: 154	When I started accumulating enough firearms to be concerned about safe security I also was just starting into reloading as well as ammo accumulation I am lucky with a small compound ( euphemistically referred to as the micro ranch) that has 5 out building two are climate controlled. I decided to store firearms in a good safe secured to the concrete slab floor in my main house.......and all ammo and components in a good fire container in one of the out buildings we are rural and I wanted to be able to ask volunteer fire fighters to save my house NO haz mat or explosives.... or ....stay the hell away from THAT SHED it IS gonna blow, let it burn! I even printed, weather proofed, and posted the explosives placard on the ammo reloading shed The only firearms on my property WITH ammo are all the HD and CC that are out of safe and ready for defense