Time to buy a safe. Help me decide what is right for me.

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Magic_Man

Magic_Man

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After years of using a Stack-On cabinet, & it looking like there are no reasonably priced chest options to put at the foot of my bed, I may as well buy a safe.

I don't need anything huge or insanely priced. Function over form.
I only have a few long guns and a few pistols. However, it would be nice to be able to fit some ammo cans and/or mags, etc in the safe as well.

I'm renting right now & do expect to move again next year so I am not looking for a 1,500 lb safe. I will have to find a company to deliver it to me upon purchase if whomever I buy from can't/won't. I do not have a few buddies to call on to help move it.

I'd prefer to put it on the 2nd floor, but that requires either going up the steps to front door then 2 sets of stairs to get it upstairs & who knows if the weight would be too much for the floor. So I guess I will put it in the basement. The basement is always pretty cool even when we have 100+ degree temps & high humidity.

I'd like to keep the price under $700, but may go up to $1,000 for something I find to be really nice & useful. Just b/c that's the budget I set, that doesn't mean I want to spend it all if I don't have to. ;)
 
Call a local locksmith in your area that also sells safes - he might have a trade-in from someone who upgraded. You are going to want something bigger than what you own - trust me on that
 
search here,
for your price

most if not everything will be little better then a GYM LOCKER
they can and will keep those who are honest, and those who don't know any better (often their owners) out, but can be cracked with what's in most garages. A fire ax makes a great tin can opener.

You can reinforce a closet, or buy a quality used RSC for your budget. Oh, and pretty doesn't mean protection, you can buy a browning safe, and yet for the same money, you can buy a safe that actually has protection.
 
You are going to want something bigger than what you own - trust me on that
Click to expand...

Yep, wish I would have gone bigger. I am at capacity, next long gun I buy is going in the safe and one of the queens is going under the bed. With the bolt out of it of course. Point is, buy bigger.
 
I plan to go a little bigger than I need, but I need to know what brands/models to consider. ;)
 
Accurateshooter.com has a good review on safes.Well worth the time to find and read.Bigger is better,so is heavy. Lightman
 
Price range is in my 1st post. I'm about an hour outside of Philly.
 
In that price range, your best bet is something from a big box store: Cabela's, Bass Pro, etc.

Bass Pro was or is having a big safe sale, as we have been moving a bunch of them lately. They were selling a Red Head imported by Granite that has a LaGard electronic lock. Although I know it won't hold what they claim, it is a 50 something gun safe. It's probably 60x40 or so. I think it was $1,100 on sale.
 
IMO, the bottom line is...only YOU can decide what's right for you and your needs. Get out there in your area and poke around, see what's available in your price range and size needs, and look for a local safe moving outfit. There's so many options it's mind boggling. Seems like everybody and his brother are in the gun safe building business now.
 
a1a, I want something with a dial lock.

rondog, yes there are many options out there. Welcome to why I started a thread looking for feedback from people on what they own, have owned, know someone who owns, etc etc.

I want something with a dial lock & able to fit a few scoped rifles, ARs, shotguns & a few handguns. Being able to fit some ammo etc in as well would be a bonus.

I'll be putting it in my basement.
 
In your price range I have a Liberty Colonial 23. I've been satisfied with it for what it is. It's by no means Cadillac but it will do it's job within it's limitations and Liberty has a good warranty from what I hear (never had an occasion to use it).
 
Ooof, basement. The thought of rasslin' a safe down basement stairs just gives me the willies. I only have a dinky little Stack-On at the moment, and that thing nearly ate my lunch. I'd be terrified of a 1000+ lb. safe collapsing the stairs. Even if I had pros do it I'd be scared. Plus, I hate schlepping all my guns up and down the stairs when I go shooting.

I'm seriously considering a Liberty Franklin 50, and plan to put it in the garage. It will then be enclosed in a lockable wooden cabinet to keep it out of sight and give me more storage space. It'll be on a thick rubber pad, anchored to the floor, and have a Goldenrod in it too. I'm also a fan of the standard dial, don't care for digitals.

I plan to set the safe up and then just frame up a simple cabinet around it with 2x2's and plywood, then paint it white. It'll look like any other garage utility cabinet.
 
Dont forget the insulation in the storage cabinet surrounding the safe Ron.
Very good idea you have for garage placement.
Beats letting the world from the street and sidewalk see what you have inside your garage.
 
Magic_Man

I'm very glad you asked this question. I'm also in need of a safe and am also concerned with weight and moving of said item. I myself am not overly concerned with the length/ height as I have no rifles, but I am concerned with fireproof and waterproof abilities. I found this safe at Target - http://www.target.com/p/First-Alert...with-Combination-Lock-0-94-Cu-Ft/-/A-11241634 - not sure if that's what you're looking for but, it is a start. And a fella made a mention of a Jobox or Knaack type box on another forum. That might just work for you.
 
Dont forget the insulation in the storage cabinet surrounding the safe Ron.
Click to expand...

You might as well add some insulation while you're already building something. Keep in mind that air is one of the best insulators. You're better off leaving an air space between the safe and whatever insulation you are adding as opposed to butting the insulation up against the safe.
 
Called Zanotti & not only are they on 9 month backorder, but their cheapest model is $1,400 + $300 shipping. No thank you.
 
Quote:
Dont forget the insulation in the storage cabinet surrounding the safe Ron.

You might as well add some insulation while you're already building something. Keep in mind that air is one of the best insulators. You're better off leaving an air space between the safe and whatever insulation you are adding as opposed to butting the insulation up against the safe.
Click to expand...

Huh, I hadn't even thought about insulating the cabinet! Good idea. I plan on making the cabinet larger than the safe though, so I'd have some storage room in it for rifle cases and other stuff.
 
Called Zanotti & not only are they on 9 month backorder, but their cheapest model is $1,400 + $300 shipping. No thank you.
Click to expand...

That's a bargain. I sell single doors that run into the $300,000 range. =)

Huh, I hadn't even thought about insulating the cabinet! Good idea. I plan on making the cabinet larger than the safe though, so I'd have some storage room in it for rifle cases and other stuff.
Click to expand...

Two layers of 5/8" UL listed Gypsum X makes a pretty good fire stop. I have seen houses with car fires in the garage that was contained by a dual layer. It's also cheap.
 
That's great you sell $300k safes. $1,400 was not in my budget. If I want to assemble myself I can go Dakota Interlock-XP for $1,100 shipped
 
Lots of times the cost of a safe is the finish. If you get a real nice finish appropropriate for a living room etc you will pay for all that. If you get a gray finish that isn't so shiny, you can save some money, and it will still give you good security and fire protection. Look for a safe that's not so fancy if you can deal with that. Another factor in cost is shipping. Many lock and safe companies produce great products locally. Ask a locksmith who works in your community. They will know about these things. Sure, it won't say Browning on the front but they are great products and lower cost to you. Lastly, you have to have electric access through the back or side to put heaters and such inside. A good safe will have it. You need it. Good luck. Hope this helps. Oh, and sometimes buying the biggest isn't always the best. You might have to move it and you might not have the same room available to you where you live next time around. Take care.
 
oneounce, $1,400 is not cheap when I can get comparable for hundreds less.

whaler, I have to pick up my USP this weekend & the shop sells safes so I am going to take a look at what they have.

Are the Stack-On safes junk?
 
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