“Cheaper safes”

[hso]

So firearms would actually be safer in a non-insulated steel cabinet?

Not "safer", but in most cases there's no real value in claims of the majority of non UL or ETL (and many UL) fire rated "safes" because if the fire actually reaches where the "safe" is the internal temperatures are high enough your valuables are damaged/ruined. It takes a very highly rated "gun safe" to get your guns out unharmed in a fire at the location of the "safe". Most "safes" claim fire protection because of drywall/gypsum liners that cook moisture out. They steam cook the interiors your valuables are sitting in. THEN the time it takes to get the items out while they're in that environment adds to the problem. And that's not even the fire department or sprinkler contributions. The more effective protection comes from ceramic or older concrete liners that don't cook out moisture. There are some very sad threads at THR and elsewhere about the condition of firearms in famous maker "safes" after a fire.

Gun Safes Fire Test - Don't Believe Fire Ratings

Real world gun safe fire test - 75 minutes fire rated safes fails in 20 minutes.Gun safe fire ratings are not based fire testing that simulates a real fire.T...

youtu.be

We open a fireproof gun safe after a house fire - See what’s inside!

See what happens when a gun safe that is supposed to be fireproof actually burns in a fire. The results are shocking!

youtu.be

Two Sturdy Gun Safes Survive Complete Burn With No Water | Best Fireproof Safe | Fire Safe

A very long time ago we mentioned how a few of our safes went through a 100% total burn down without any water being able to quench anything down. We finally...

youtu.be

Fire Test: Fort Knox Safe Vs. Leading Brand

Fire Test between Fort Knox Defender series and a Big Box Retailers' Safe in an actual total burn down of a building. Temps over 2000 Degrees and Safes were...

youtu.be

Gun Safe Fully Engulfed In Warehouse Fire

I sell fire rated gun safes and my company is OutLaw Safe Company in Anaheim, CA. I sold this gun safe to a customer and this safe was engulfed in a warehous...

youtu.be

How Much Fire Rating Do You Need in a Safe?

What Do Safe Fire Ratings Mean? https://youtu.be/5SwZj72j2n0Burglar Ratings Explained: https://youtu.be/9u-asS7LdysBuy Fire Rated Safes Online from at ACME ...

youtu.be

Cautionary note about the videos, understand that the folks opening the safes aren't gun guys or firearms condition assessors so their "those look great" comments aren't what you'd base the condition on after you looked over your guns hours or days after the fire.

 

[Jonah77]

Not "safer", but in most cases there's no real value in claims of the majority of non UL or ETL (and many UL) fire rated "safes" because if the fire actually reaches where the "safe" is the internal temperatures are high enough your valuables are damaged/ruined. It takes a very highly rated "gun safe" to get your guns out unharmed in a fire at the location of the "safe". Most "safes" claim fire protection because of drywall/gypsum liners that cook moisture out. They steam cook the interiors your valuables are sitting in. THEN the time it takes to get the items out while they're in that environment adds to the problem. And that's not even the fire department or sprinkler contributions. The more effective protection comes from ceramic or older concrete liners that don't cook out moisture. There are some very sad threads at THR and elsewhere about the condition of firearms in famous maker "safes" after a fire.

Gun Safes Fire Test - Don't Believe Fire Ratings

Real world gun safe fire test - 75 minutes fire rated safes fails in 20 minutes.Gun safe fire ratings are not based fire testing that simulates a real fire.T...

youtu.be

We open a fireproof gun safe after a house fire - See what’s inside!

See what happens when a gun safe that is supposed to be fireproof actually burns in a fire. The results are shocking!

youtu.be

Two Sturdy Gun Safes Survive Complete Burn With No Water | Best Fireproof Safe | Fire Safe

A very long time ago we mentioned how a few of our safes went through a 100% total burn down without any water being able to quench anything down. We finally...

youtu.be

Fire Test: Fort Knox Safe Vs. Leading Brand

Fire Test between Fort Knox Defender series and a Big Box Retailers' Safe in an actual total burn down of a building. Temps over 2000 Degrees and Safes were...

youtu.be

Gun Safe Fully Engulfed In Warehouse Fire

I sell fire rated gun safes and my company is OutLaw Safe Company in Anaheim, CA. I sold this gun safe to a customer and this safe was engulfed in a warehous...

youtu.be

How Much Fire Rating Do You Need in a Safe?

What Do Safe Fire Ratings Mean? https://youtu.be/5SwZj72j2n0Burglar Ratings Explained: https://youtu.be/9u-asS7LdysBuy Fire Rated Safes Online from at ACME ...

youtu.be

Cautionary note about the videos, understand that the folks opening the safes aren't gun guys or firearms condition assessors so their "those look great" comments aren't what you'd base the condition on after you looked over your guns hours or days after the fire.

Appreciated, and the other comments as well.

Aside from feeling like an ass for buying one, I’m learning A LOT.

Lesson so far? Less guns, more safe.

 

[hso]

Lesson so far? Less guns, more safe.

And focus less on fire and more on reliable security against casual thieves.

 

[Varminterror]

Hornady Snap Safe = great for apartments. Much easier to move in and out, less obvious to neighbors when moving in.

Not for nothin, but intelligent design in your storage solution can save a lot of headaches. What are the things we need from our storage solution? Contain the firearms, so it needs sufficient racking to hold what you need to hold. Secure the firearms from interlopers, so it needs to be sufficiently strong, enclosed, and with locking mechanisms to preclude access by whatever level of threat you feel is applicable - this is a tricky one, most "gun safes" aren't (and most gun safes really don't need to be). If we choose to ask fire protection from our gun safes, then the area of the home and surrounding structures can play as much or more part in success than the safe itself. In one of my houses, I built a fireproof room like a walk in closet (Type X Gypsum board, interlayered corners, intumescent seals & paint) - in another house, I lined a closet with gypsum board which housed my safe. We may also need to consider location in the home, and the realities of firefighting activities - a safe in the basement is often flooded when water lines are ruptured in fire, or when deluge water is pumped to fight fire, and safes on the ground level can quickly find themselves falling through flooring as structure fires progress. Elevated steel platforms or flooring supports help, or keeping a safe on a ground level without sub-grade basement beneath might mean the difference in destruction vs. recovery. But maybe we're overthinking what needs to be done to protect our firearms...

But... The best aspect of any gun safe may truly be the full value replacement insurance policy.

 

[The Night Rider]

If you buy the cheapest safe you can get you're not only paying for the cheapest safe you can get you're also paying for the next safe that you're going to buy when you upgrade.

So it seems to me that you would be better off just buying the upgrade.

I would also suggest looking around your local gun stores or shooting ranges or even on Facebook Marketplace and seeing if anybody in your area is selling a used gun safe.

 

[CapnMac]

But... The best aspect of any gun safe may truly be the full value replacement insurance policy.

Wise words, to which might be appended "and a firearms-specific insurance policy." If only because firearms replacement is a narrow niche not always well-met by homeowner's (or renter's) policies. As with all questions about insurance, please consult an agent licensed in your State for specifics, and not some numpty on the inter-tuubs.

 

[Walkalong]

But... The best aspect of any gun safe may truly be the full value replacement insurance policy.

Bingo