Im283
Member
Doc, any luck on those websites
Last edited:
Best Value Gun Safe?
- Thread starter jbauch357
- Start date
- Status
Mainsail
Member
Every other week, when this topic comes up, I post this:
I listed my priorities thusly:
Price All the justifications for spending four figures have little meaning if I don’t have that kind of money to spend. Yes, I would love to own a huge gun safe that can withstand a near strike with a thermonuclear warhead, but I need something now, not in 20 years when I have enough money for one.
Some fire resistance. OK, there hasn’t been a house that burned to the ground here in as long as I can remember. The fire department, unlike the police, has a really fast response time here in the city. All I need is 15 or 20 minutes, tops; then my house get’s flooded by a bunch of bored firemen.
Lock. I wanted an electronic lock for speed of opening, but I wanted a mechanical lock in case a fire melts the keypad or the electronics get jumbled. (The electronic locks have a plastic membrane keypad)
Room enough. I have three long guns and five handguns. I don’t need a vault with a wet bar.
Theft resistance. I don’t need something that will stop a motivated professional team of burglars, I just need something that will stop the normal smash-&-grabber or a teenager. In reality, with a high school only five blocks away, teenagers are my biggest threat. If I lived way out in the country, I might need something that takes a long time and torches to open, but here, no.
I looked at one of the $180 large steel cabinets, the ones with a key lock. That would satisfy my lock requirement since it’s quick and safe from electronic bugs. I didn’t like the lack of fire resistance and there was also a pretty wide gap around the doors. They might keep my kid out, but I had little confidence it would keep out a determined teen or regular burglar.
After a lot of looking I bought this one for $465 delivered to my house. It’s fire resistant, has an electronic lock with an emergency key backup (to use the key you have to pretty much destroy the electronic lock), thick walls and hard-plate, and at 300 pounds empty, nobody’s going to be toting it away while I’m at work.
I listed my priorities thusly:
Price All the justifications for spending four figures have little meaning if I don’t have that kind of money to spend. Yes, I would love to own a huge gun safe that can withstand a near strike with a thermonuclear warhead, but I need something now, not in 20 years when I have enough money for one.
Some fire resistance. OK, there hasn’t been a house that burned to the ground here in as long as I can remember. The fire department, unlike the police, has a really fast response time here in the city. All I need is 15 or 20 minutes, tops; then my house get’s flooded by a bunch of bored firemen.
Lock. I wanted an electronic lock for speed of opening, but I wanted a mechanical lock in case a fire melts the keypad or the electronics get jumbled. (The electronic locks have a plastic membrane keypad)
Room enough. I have three long guns and five handguns. I don’t need a vault with a wet bar.
Theft resistance. I don’t need something that will stop a motivated professional team of burglars, I just need something that will stop the normal smash-&-grabber or a teenager. In reality, with a high school only five blocks away, teenagers are my biggest threat. If I lived way out in the country, I might need something that takes a long time and torches to open, but here, no.
I looked at one of the $180 large steel cabinets, the ones with a key lock. That would satisfy my lock requirement since it’s quick and safe from electronic bugs. I didn’t like the lack of fire resistance and there was also a pretty wide gap around the doors. They might keep my kid out, but I had little confidence it would keep out a determined teen or regular burglar.
After a lot of looking I bought this one for $465 delivered to my house. It’s fire resistant, has an electronic lock with an emergency key backup (to use the key you have to pretty much destroy the electronic lock), thick walls and hard-plate, and at 300 pounds empty, nobody’s going to be toting it away while I’m at work.
Fella's;
I have no argument with Mainsail's stand. I've always said that if you can't get a safe, find the least expensive RSC with the features you need & buy it.
I will add, as is also done every other week or so, bolt it down. Mainsail; 300 lbs is literally no problem. Even loaded with ammo & all the other stuff, you can't get it heavy enough to present a large problem to somebody who wants it, if it isn't firmly attached to the structure. I do know what I'm talking about here. As a point, we just took a large Liberty, weighed about 1500 lbs or so, out of a basement & moved it to the customer's new house. That took specialized equipment, true. But you'd be surprised at what I can make off with, with minimal equipment.
900F
I have no argument with Mainsail's stand. I've always said that if you can't get a safe, find the least expensive RSC with the features you need & buy it.
I will add, as is also done every other week or so, bolt it down. Mainsail; 300 lbs is literally no problem. Even loaded with ammo & all the other stuff, you can't get it heavy enough to present a large problem to somebody who wants it, if it isn't firmly attached to the structure. I do know what I'm talking about here. As a point, we just took a large Liberty, weighed about 1500 lbs or so, out of a basement & moved it to the customer's new house. That took specialized equipment, true. But you'd be surprised at what I can make off with, with minimal equipment.
900F
Fella's;
If you're gonna check the Brown Safe site, please also check www.graffundersafes.com. I can answer any questions you might have concerning the product.
900F
If you're gonna check the Brown Safe site, please also check www.graffundersafes.com. I can answer any questions you might have concerning the product.
900F
Charles Foxtrot
Member
+1 on Winchester / Sam's Club. Not as thick of metal as I'd like, though. Next safe will be stouter.
Heard good things about the Browning safes. Lowes has "Executive" safes for a good price.
Heard good things about the Browning safes. Lowes has "Executive" safes for a good price.
Mainsail
Member
Trust me, I wish I could bolt it down! I’m renting this house (duplex) and there are hardwood floors. To bolt it down I’d have to drill into the floor, which I couldn’t hide come move-out day. How do I find the floor joist? With my luck I’d just end up with a hole that goes into the crawl space under the house.
You did pretty much sum up my entire post with a short easy line:
You did pretty much sum up my entire post with a short easy line:
jbauch357
Member
OK, so I found this safe locally for $399 and no tax. I think it's a pretty good deal, and will hold all of my guns/ammo with a little room to grow. I think I just need to go for it - thoughts?
http://www.sentrysafe.com/products/productDetail.aspx?s=149
http://www.sentrysafe.com/products/productDetail.aspx?s=149
I've got a Champion Trophy that I'm very happy with. I got mine at a scratch and dent sale. Buffed out the minor scratches and it looks like new. I think they are a good value in the RSC category regardless. If you place it properly and get creative with side and top protection it's damn adequate.
dstorm1911
Member
yep I use a Winchester as a decoy in the main house a thief needs at least 30 minutes of undisturbed time to get into it and a metal cutting hole saw 30 minutes is enough to keep him from lookin around for the real stuff..... until one of us blows him straight to hell...
1/4" thick walls
560lbs so he isn't just going to carry it out the door
rated for 36 guns but maxes out at 20 if they have scopes pistol grips etc...
Fire resistant etc...
$500 at Wally world
The sentry your talkin about can be popped open in 30 seconds with a small pry bar....... I know that for a fact as a friend lost his key I used one side of my gerber multitools plier jaws and popped it in one try....
Its also the type of cabinet the lil boys stole the guns from they used to shoot up Columbine HS............. and they weren't profesional crooks if your gonna use a sheet metal cabinet ya'd be better off just buying a heavy sheet metal door and a few deadbolts to turn a closet into a "safe" that will actually offer more protection than the sheet metal cabinets do....
1/4" thick walls
560lbs so he isn't just going to carry it out the door
rated for 36 guns but maxes out at 20 if they have scopes pistol grips etc...
Fire resistant etc...
$500 at Wally world
The sentry your talkin about can be popped open in 30 seconds with a small pry bar....... I know that for a fact as a friend lost his key I used one side of my gerber multitools plier jaws and popped it in one try....
Its also the type of cabinet the lil boys stole the guns from they used to shoot up Columbine HS............. and they weren't profesional crooks if your gonna use a sheet metal cabinet ya'd be better off just buying a heavy sheet metal door and a few deadbolts to turn a closet into a "safe" that will actually offer more protection than the sheet metal cabinets do....
M2Pilot
Member
I've been thinking about getting a bigger safe. I looked at Stack-Ons at Dicks Sporting Goods a few days ago. They have a big (approx. 45" wide) safe on sale this week for $999 or so. At first glance it looked like a good value,but-I went to see it at one DSG & the staff there couldn't open it. I went to the other DSG in town to see it & the electric combination pad wasn't on the safe. The clerk said kids had been messing with it & screwed it up so they sent the combo pad back for repair. I think I'll keep looking.
jbauch357
Member
Well, I picked it up - figured it's better than nothing at all. If down the line I decide the build quality isn't up to snuff I can sell it for what I paid (or a small loss) and step up to something better.
Thanks for all the feedback, it's been much appreciated!
Thanks for all the feedback, it's been much appreciated!
a1abdj
Member
Just to keep it real.....
UL burglar rated safes rated at 15 minutes against brute force typically have 1" solid steel walls. A quarter of the steel could easily equal a quarter of the time (if they are motivated). Of course that 15 minute rating isn't even for the body, it's for the door, which is 1.5".
I've seen cheapie cabinets keep druggies out for hours. I've also seen jewelers safes cut up like swiss cheese in a matter of an hour or so. It really depends on the thief, but it's best to prepare for the worst. If you need 30 minutes of protection, you should buy a safe rated at 30 minutes. No gun safe is going to do that.
trainwreck100
Member
- Joined
- Jul 27, 2006
- Messages
- 175
Just got a Cannon American Eagle 24 gun a few weeks back, may not be the best in the world, but reasonable price, 700 pounds, about $500, and nobody can beat the warranty, lifetime curb-side warranty for fire, flood, break-in, or attempted break-in. 30 minute fire, and reasonably pry-resistant design.
Okay, my turn.
$1000 budget for an RSC. No, I cannot afford a real safe. But with a ankle biter due in 2 months and it being a boy, I will need to making a purchase within a year or so. I only want to buy this thing once if I can help it.
If I get a huge promotion or something of that nature, I'll upgrade. But for now, I want the very best product my $1000 will get me and the most capacity I can get and still maintain decent security.
I own my home, bolting it to the floor is not an issue for me.
$1000 budget for an RSC. No, I cannot afford a real safe. But with a ankle biter due in 2 months and it being a boy, I will need to making a purchase within a year or so. I only want to buy this thing once if I can help it.
If I get a huge promotion or something of that nature, I'll upgrade. But for now, I want the very best product my $1000 will get me and the most capacity I can get and still maintain decent security.
I own my home, bolting it to the floor is not an issue for me.
klcmschlesinger
Member
Sturdy gun safes
Does anyone know anything about Sturdy Gun Safe's. I got a quote from them last night for a 36gun safe that was really pretty good. Includes shipping, 8 guage steel. I realize it is still not a real safe, but from all accounts would seem to be better than most brand name safes you can buy in stores.
Does anyone know anything about Sturdy Gun Safe's. I got a quote from them last night for a 36gun safe that was really pretty good. Includes shipping, 8 guage steel. I realize it is still not a real safe, but from all accounts would seem to be better than most brand name safes you can buy in stores.
HKUSP45C
Member
jeepmor said:
Not to get all up in your finances but, if you were to sock away $25 bucks a week for the next year, you could afford a very nice TL-15 or used TL-30 SAFE (not RSC). You'd have $2,200 to play with that way. Just a crazy thought since your needs are so far away from the present and you already have the 1K seed money.
My admittedly uninformed opinion.
BADUNAME17
Member
- Joined
- Jun 29, 2007
- Messages
- 30
Check out these threads of people who talk about our safes for more info:
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=144253&page=3
http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=48304&highlight=sturdy+gun+safe
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=144253&page=3
http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=48304&highlight=sturdy+gun+safe
BADUNAME17
Member
- Joined
- Jun 29, 2007
- Messages
- 30
If you like, I can get you more threads.
I have a can of FFF black powder, packed tight in the can, strapped to the inside of RSC, try to torch it
no that's not boobie trapped, that is called 'not proper storage' and I have insurance. There's a sticker out the outside warning "black powder stored inside, do not heat with flame".I won't point you to which brand RSC or Safe... just a few points to ponder:
- If you own 4 long guns and 4 hand guns... buy a safe big enough for 12 long guns and 12 hand guns. Why? Because; magazines, binoculars, gps, ammo, speed loaders, surefire flashlights, batteries of all sorts, knifes, gloves, slings, extra scopes, extra sights, manufactures cases, conversion kits, holsters, cleaning gear, ear muffs, glasses, gerbers, tools, paper work, all end up in the safe... trust me and then come a few more guns.
- consider what you have for guns... if you need to store, 4 AR15's and 3 AK47's, you will need a safe that holds 14 rifles, those "ergonomic, big magazined semi-automatic rifles, with pistol grips, boom sticks and flash lights" take up 3 times more space than a rugger 10/22 with no scope, or a remmy 870 20 gauge youth model... it's discrimination against Black Guns.
- consider how you want the RSC or Safe set up, I have more pistols than long guns, and like haveing 1/2 shelfs and 1/2 for long guns, I have 4 shelves on the one side, not very big spaces, but enough to place a couple pistols in and have thier magazines with them seperated from other pistols with different magazines. Some have a huge lower space for alot of long guns and a couple of shelves accross the top.
- Get a couple buddies and a refridgerator dolly to move the RSC/SAFE, it'll save your back and the flooring, moveing a 600lb box isn't fun. Home Depot rents these dollys for $12 a day, they're worth it.
- Decide were you're going to place it, measure, measure, measure where it's going and how you're getting it there. Remember "out of sight out of mind", who needs to break into a safe, when you can just wait for the owner to come home and open it at gun point.
Gunnerpalace
Member
Don't let the "save up" crowd get you down get what you can as soon as you can keep in mind you could be broken into while you are saving up for the uber-imortal safe, and then what can you say, in my opinion if it is rated California-DOJ you should in theory be safe from lawsuits, as for fire better something than nothing.
- Status