As an update to our September 2007 review of Campbell Industrial Supply’s 12-Gun Rotary Long Gun Rack, we have received one of Campbell’s newest offerings for review. Chris Campbell recently sent over one of his firm’s innovative 22-Gun Magnetic Rotary Gun Racks. As an option Campbell is now offering their functional and sturdy Rotary Long Gun Rack with magnets embedded in the upper rack unit which firmly holds rifle and shotgun barrels in place. This is a greatly simplified “no moving parts” design, and I believe it offers a superior solution to the issue of how to properly secure long guns in a Rotary Rack for residential or commercial application. This new design requires no cords or other devices for the user to contend with. The gun’s barrel is softly cradled in the felt-lined notches of the upper rack unit, and firmly held in place via the powerful embedded magnets in the notches.
As a bit of background Campbell Industrial Supply of Sanger, California is a family-owned business engaged in manufacturing and direct marketing a complete line of Rotary and non-rotary racks for long guns, as well as Horizontal Racks for handguns. All of their products are proudly made here in the U.S.A. The Long Gun Racks store rifles and shotguns vertically with the buttstock resting in the base and their barrels resting in corresponding notches cut into the unit’s top-end rack.
As was the case with the 12-Gun Rack reviewed last September, this magnetic rack shipped unassembled. The powder coated, tubular center pedestal is made out of heavy gauge steel with welded upper and lower flange plates. The base of the rack is made out of 1½” thick plywood and the top part of the rack, with the embedded magnets, is made out of ¾” plywood. On the 30” diameter base models the ball bearing swivel mechanism is not attached due to the possibility of damaging the unit during shipping. Installation of this mechanism on the bottom of the base is easily and quickly accomplished using a magnetic-tipped Phillips screwdriver and four supplied screws. The wooden base and the wooden top rack pieces are attached to the flanged center pedestal with either hex head furniture bolts or thumb bolts respectively. In the case of the furniture bolts, Campbell provides the proper hex head wrench. No other tools are needed for assembly. On the 22-Gun/30” Diameter Magnetic Gun Rack being evaluated, both pieces of wood are finished in a nice light oak color, with a protective coating of carnauba wax applied. Campbell also offers an optional dark walnut finish as well. As with all other Campbell rotary racks the base’s ball bearing swivel mechanism is rated to support 1,000 lbs. The base on this particular model has 22 slots milled out for the buttstock’s of long guns to be stored. Each slot has a non-marring ABS plastic insert “cup”. As with my experience of Campbell’s products from before, each of these components adds up to one very sturdy, functional piece of equipment.
The rack I received for testing had both the standard 30” tubular pedestal as well as the optional 36” tubular pedestal included. This greater height afforded by the 36” center pedestal allows for varmint or benchrest rifles to be accommodated, as they often have longer scopes that might not fit in the standard 30” pedestal configuration. Changing out pedestals is an easy and quick process using the supplied hex head wrench.
The Magnetic Rack is an ideal way to store up to 22 long guns in a 30” diameter area. Campbell Industrial’s website has video showing a similar model that has been placed inside a medium-sized gun safe with the shelves and/or divider removed. The swivel action of the unit allows the user to simply spin the rack around to the gun desired. This is one option for the user. For those with gun rooms in their house the rack would be appropriate to conveniently store and display their collection. Where the rack would come into its own, in my opinion, would be in a gun shop environment where a store owner could maximize the number of long guns which could be displayed in a relatively small footprint. Additionally, dealers who set up at gun shows might like the rack’s features for the same reason, as well as for its portability. If a dealer’s table space is limited the rack may afford them extra capacity to conveniently and securely display their long gun inventory. This practical application was recommended by my local gun shop owners who also set up at gun shows. Campbell Industrial makes a variety of standard Rotary Racks from a 10-Gun Model with an 18” diameter base, all the way up to the 22-Gun Model with a 30” diameter base. In regards to Campbell’s Magnetic Rack lineup, they are offering a 10-Gun Magnetic Rotary Rack, as well as a 6-Gun Magnetic Corner Rack (non-rotary) in addition to the larger Magnetic Rotary Rack tested here.
Campbell’s Magnetic Rack is a truly innovative product designed for the home, shop, or show user needing a way to securely store multiple long guns. If you are in the market for a rack of this type give Campbell Industrial Supply’s Magnetic Rotary Rack lineup a look. You can see all of Campbell’s models on their excellent website at: www.gun-racks.com or you can give Chris Campbell a call at (800) 932-9518 or (559) 876-1376.
Reviewed By: B.T. Davis