Weapon Rack Storage Capacity determines how many weapons can be stored in a weapon rack and how many weapon racks are required to store your weapons and gear.
This post will focus on weapon rack storage capacity and why one size fits most weapon racks do not best fill out arms rooms.
Combat Weapon Storage Systems manufactures two core weapon rack widths, 36″ W & 42″ W. These rack widths support 12 rifles with optics attached for 36″ W weapon racks and 14 rifles with optics attached for 42″ W weapon racks.
Optics attached to the top and or bottom of the weapon do not impact the storage capacity and the optics do not have to be removed to be stored. Optics attached to the side of M4s require the M4s to be double spaced inside of the weapon rack which effectively reduces storage capacity per cabinet by half.
Utilizing 85″ H full height weapon racks will yield the greatest storage capacity combinations with capacity for 24 rifles in 36″ W weapon racks & 28 rifles in 42″ W weapon racks.
85″ H Combat Weapon Racks also allow some weapons with bi-pods such as M249 SAWs, MK17 SCAR-H, M14 EBR, and others to be double tiered. We can also store machine guns like M2s with spare barrels or MK19s with M4s above on a second tier in the same cabinet.
36″ W Combat Weapon Racks store 6 weapons with bi-pods, spaced every other position. 42″ W Combat Weapon Racks store 7 weapons with bi-pods, spaced every other position.
Heavy weapon systems such as M2s with spare barrels, MK19s and Carl Gustav’s require 9″ of space to be stored effectively and can only be stored 4 across in either a 36″ W or 42″ W weapon rack. The 42″ W weapon rack can store additional rifles to the side of 4 heavy weapons.
76″ H Mid-Tier Weapon Racks allow more double tiering of rifles like M4s, MP5s and AK47s, but these rack heights also support storing one tier of M16s or shotguns and a tier of M4s in the same weapon rack.
44″ H Stackable Weapon Racks only allow for one tier of storage with M16s, M4s, Shotguns, Pistols and M249s.
50″ H Combat Weapon Racks allow for the storage of MK19s, M2s with spare barrels, M110s and other taller rifles.
85″ H – Combat Weapon Rack
36″ W: (6) M240s
42″ W: (7) M240s
85″ H – Combat Weapon Rack
36″ W: (6) SOPMOD M4
42″ W: (7) SOPMOD M4
85″ H – Combat Weapon Rack
36″ W: (2) MK19 (2) M2
42″ W: (2) MK19 (2) M2
+ (2) M16 Rifles
85″ H – Combat Weapon Rack
36″ W: (24) M16 Rifles
42″ W: (28) M16 Rifles
Optics such as the AN/PVS-7 and AN/PVS-14 can be stored on full width adjustable shelves, (10) per shelf for AN/PVS-7s on 36″ W shelves, (12) per shelf on 42″ W shelves. AN/PVS-7s can be stored (28) per shelf on 36″ W shelves and (32) per shelf on 42″ W shelves.
NVG Storage | PVS/14
NVG Storage | AN-PVS/7
Why Weapon Rack Storage Capacity Matters?
Arms room layouts are achieved by measuring the armory and filling the space with applicable storage required to meet your weapon density requirement.
With only one weapon rack width, this will limit your ability to maximize floor space in most arms rooms. Having the opportunity to max out floor space with multiple weapon rack widths tailors the space to match storage capacity instead of being restricted by one weapon rack width.
The same logic can be applied to weapon rack heights. Observing the 18″ fire code requirement can mean utilizing multiple weapon rack heights in an armory.
