A gun magnet is a block of neodymium in a leather or rubber jacket that holds a firearm to any surface you screw or stick it to. It is the cheapest way to stage a gun where you can reach it, in a car, under a desk, beside a bed, or inside a safe door, and it works with every steel-slide handgun and every steel-barreled long gun. This guide covers what to look for, the SofHold line we carry, and where a magnet belongs and where it does not.
What matters in a gun magnet
- Pull force. 50 pounds is the number to look for. Cheaper magnets rated at 25 pounds hold a pistol on a wall and drop it on a bumpy road.
- A cover. Bare magnets scratch. Leather is best; rubber is fine. Both keep the slide off the metal.
- Two mounting options. Screws for vehicles and anything that vibrates, adhesive for desks and safes.
- Size. A pistol magnet is about 4 inches long; that is enough face to hold a slide flat. Long guns want two.
The SofHold magnets we sell
SofHold Magnetic Gun Mount
The standard. Neodymium magnet rated at over 50 pounds of pull, wrapped in top-grain leather so it does not scratch a finish, and it mounts with screws or adhesive backing, so you can screw it down or stick it. Works with any steel-slide handgun, including Glock, Sig, Smith & Wesson, Springfield, Ruger, Beretta and Taurus. Money-back guarantee. $45.
Embossed versions
The same magnet and hardware with a graphic in the leather: In God We Trust, Don't Tread On Me, American Patriot, Armed and Beautiful, and caliber-marked Come & Take It versions from .22 LR to 12 gauge. All $45. The full line is in the SofHold collection.
Where a gun magnet works
- Car. Under the dash or on the console side. Screws, not adhesive.
- Nightstand. Screwed to the inside of the nightstand frame or under the top, so the gun is hidden but a hand finds it in the dark.
- Desk. Under the desktop, on the side away from the door.
- Safe. Adhesive on the inside of the safe door turns dead space into a pistol rack.
- Long guns. Two magnets, one under the barrel and one under the receiver, hold a shotgun or rifle under a bed frame or behind a door.
Where it does not
Anywhere a child, guest, or burglar can reach it. A magnet is not a lock and does not cover the trigger. If the room is not controlled, the gun belongs in a safe, and the magnet belongs inside it.
Frequently asked questions
Will a gun magnet damage my gun?
No. The magnet is covered in leather, and a magnetic field does not affect a firearm or ammunition.
Will it hold a polymer-frame pistol?
Yes. The magnet holds the steel slide, not the frame. Polymer-frame Glocks and Sigs hold fine.
Is a magnet a safe way to store a loaded gun?
Only where children and unauthorized people cannot reach it. A magnet is a quick-access mount, not a lock; the trigger is exposed, so mount it where nothing can contact the trigger.
Screws or adhesive?
Screws for anything that moves, meaning a vehicle. Adhesive for a desk, nightstand or safe wall, on a clean flat surface.
Will it hold on a bumpy road?
A 50-pound magnet holds a 2-pound pistol through potholes. Mount it so the gun's weight pulls along the magnet face, not straight away from it.
The bottom line
The SofHold 50-pound magnet is the one to buy: enough pull for a vehicle, leather so it will not scratch, and screw or adhesive mounting. Pick an embossed version if you want it to look like something.
Related reading
Best car gun holsters (no drilling)
Under-desk and nightstand gun mounts
Gun safe magnets: organizing a safe
