Rifle Rods® vs GunStiXX™

Don’t Be Fooled: Why the Original Rifle Rods® Still Rule the Safe

If you’ve been looking to maximize gun safe capacity, you’ve likely seen two products that look remarkably similar at first glance. For over 15 years, our Rifle Rods® have been the industry standard for organizing safes, retrofitting thousands of cabinets to hold more firearms than their factory racks ever could.

Recently, a new product made by Winchester Safes called GunStiXX™ has entered the market. While we’re all for innovation, we’ve noticed a lot of confusion lately. Some of our long-term customers even think we’ve redesigned our product!

Let’s be clear: Rifle Rods® haven't changed. We haven’t lowered our standards or made the system more complicated. To help you make the best choice for your collection, let’s look at the "Facts at a Glance" and see how the original stacks up against the newcomer.

1. The System: Hook-and-Loop vs. Peg-board

The magic of Rifle Rods® lies in simplicity. Our system uses a hook-topped rod that attaches to a loop-fabric shelf liner. It’s intuitive, flexible, and—most importantly—Made in the USA.

GunStiXX™ uses a "stick and cap" system that requires a rigid peg-board plate to be installed in place of a shelf. This rigid design limits where you can place your guns, whereas Rifle Rods® allow you unlimited flexibility.

2. Installation: Seconds vs. Power Tools

We believe organizing your safe shouldn't feel like a weekend construction project.

• Rifle Rods®: Simply cut the fabric liner to size and staple it to the bottom of your shelf. You’re done in minutes.

• GunStiXX™: This system requires you to cut the sticks to length yourself and drill holes to screw a heavy plate into your shelf clips.

3. Ease of Use: The "One-Hand" Rule

When you’re reaching into a dark safe to pull out a rifle, you shouldn't need three hands to manage the equipment. Rifle Rods® are a true one-hand operation. You simply lift the gun, and the rod stays attached to the shelf via the hook-and-loop.

With GunStiXX™, users often find they need two hands—one for the firearm and one to manage the "cap" and "stick" alignment. To be fair, Winchester has been putting out some new tips to cut the stick down to allow the user to "pull-up" on the mechanism to remove the gun, rather than disconnect the cap and stick. However, this still requires the user to manually customize every single stick before they can even use the system effectively.

4. Safety First: The Barrel-Stop Feature

This is the most critical difference. Rifle Rods® feature a built-in safety "stop" that prevents the rod from sliding too deep into the barrel.

GunStiXX™ do not have a barrel-stop. This creates a risk of the stick lodging deep inside the firearm without notice. Always remember: regardless of which system you use, remove the rod before loading or shooting.

5. Preserving Your Shelf Space

One of the biggest complaints we hear about the competitor's design is the loss of shelf space. Because GunStiXX™ require a thick peg-board plate in place of a shelf, you lose that valuable clearance for items stored on the shelf above. Rifle Rods® use a thin, durable fabric installed under the shelf that keeps your shelf space fully available.

6. Credibility and Value

Experience matters. Rifle Rods® have over 15 years of customer trust and thousands of 5-star reviews on Amazon, Cabela’s, and Bass Pro Shops.

• Rifle Rods®: Proven, highly rated, and more affordable ($$).

• GunStiXX™: Newer, fewer reviews, and a higher price tag ($$$) for a more complex setup.

The Bottom Line

We know it’s confusing when a new product hits the shelves that looks like a version of ours. But once you get them in your hands, the differences in quality, ease of use, and safety are undeniable.

Don't settle for a complicated imitation. Stick with the original, patented, American-made solution that has been keeping safes organized for over a decade.

Ready to finally fix your crowded safe?

Shop the Original Rifle Rods® Here