Gun / Ammo storage: what makes sense?

[Rumline]

I know, I know, yet another safe thread by a newbie. I've been lurking on this forum for several months now, and a majority of my reading time has been spent trying to figure out how I'm going to store my first gun. I've learned a lot about steel gauges, fill materials, RSC vs "real" safe, etc, but I still don't really know what would make sense for me in a practical way. I mean I know I could spend $10k and get something totally amazing...but I don't really need that either.

So let me just jump into what my "requirements" are. I currently have only one gun, a shotgun. I don't anticipate ever owning more than 4 long guns, and that's being generous. If/when I go above that I have no problem with getting something bigger...crossing that bridge when I get to it. The only other stuff I can see storing in the safe is whatever ammo I buy, my watchwinder, (10"x14"x6") and maybe my camera equipment (which currently fits in one 12"x10"x24" shelf). My "real" valuables and important documents are in safe deposit boxes. So I really don't need anything very large, nor do I need anything super duper burglar-proof because everything I'm keeping in the safe is "just stuff."

I'm also a renter, and while I rent a house for now, there is the possibility of moving to an apartment at some point in the next 6 months. So I would need to be able to fit it in a standard closet, because that could very well be my only placement option. (again, being small = advantage)

And now my n00b questions:

1. Is it OK (or "advisable") to store your ammo in the same location as your guns?
2. What are the pluses and minuses of doing so?
3. Is it worth it to buy a small cheapo RSC just for ammo that you keep somewhere apart from the guns?
4. Should I store the ammo in ammo cans if I keep em in the main safe with the guns?
5. Will a fire-protected safe prevent ammo from going off in a house fire? (up to the effective time rating of the safe that is)
6. What is the "minimum" amount/class of fire protection that is actually meaningful for enabling its contents to survive a house fire? (just stuff, not papers or media) As in, what line(s) of safes would meet that criteria?
7. I'm currently looking the closest at a Sturdy 2419, because it looks, ahem, sturdy, and it's small. But for what I need a safe for, is it overkill?
8. Would something cheaper work OK if I stick it in a closet and bolt it to the floors and wall? Or is anything cheaper just junk?

So what I want is a storage solution that makes sense. I can't afford the best of anything, but I'm willing to pay more for quality as long as it buys me something useful. In other words, I need help finding "the sweet spot."

 

[heeler]

Although many say dont store your ammo in a gun safe,I store some there such as .380 ammo because when I started putting it in the safe it was at least twice as expensive as it is today.
Hopefully a1abdj will come along and answer a lot of your question in more depth about fire protection etc.
I can say there is a guy I work with here that's really into photography and bird watching.
Hence he has some pretty expensive camera equipment and some high end German binoculars and spotting scopes.
He ended up buying a Browning Medallion gun safe last year in a close out sale in a size that has been discontinued(19F) and was perfect for his master bedroom walk in closet.
Reasonably secure and unless there was a total burn down would most likely protect his equipment for 20-30 minutes unless the fire started very close to the safe.
I own an Amsec BF gun safe that I am very impressed with and think highly of Sturdy's as well.
Since you live on SOCal you can probably get either of these gun safes for a pretty good price as both are built close to you.

 

[a1abdj]

Is it OK (or "advisable") to store your ammo in the same location as your guns?

I wouldn't store large amounts of ammo inside of the safe, although I think smaller amounts are fine.

What are the pluses and minuses of doing so?

For this question I am going to assume that the safe works as advertised. In many cases it won't. If the interior temperature reaches 350 degrees, it is not hot enough to set of some primers.

Is it worth it to buy a small cheapo RSC just for ammo that you keep somewhere apart from the guns?

Most explosives should be stored in enclosures that "vent" any possible explosion. A light weight sheet metal cabinet would be better than a safe.

Should I store the ammo in ammo cans if I keep em in the main safe with the guns?

Ammo cans should contain any issues with ammo popping off because of the heat within the safe. They are also designed to vent.

Will a fire-protected safe prevent ammo from going off in a house fire? (up to the effective time rating of the safe that is)

Depends on how hot it gets. 350 degrees is hot enough in some cases. Anything hotter is almost a given. Have you ever heard stories of guns being stored in ovens that started firing themselves when the oven was heated? Same thing here. If you wouldn't want it in a 350 degree oven, you don't want it in your safe.

What is the "minimum" amount/class of fire protection that is actually meaningful for enabling its contents to survive a house fire? (just stuff, not papers or media) As in, what line(s) of safes would meet that criteria?

UL 1 hour fire safes are designed for this, and are the most common home "safes". Most gun safes will provide some protection, but are not designed the same way as a real fire rated safe. The other disadvantage that a gun safe has is its height. The lower to the floor, the lower the external temperature, the lower the internal temperature. A taller safe is going to be hotter inside at the top.

I'm currently looking the closest at a Sturdy 2419, because it looks, ahem, sturdy, and it's small. But for what I need a safe for, is it overkill?

Sturdy safes are sturdy compared to a number of other safes on the market. Probably overkill for what you want to do with it, but it's never bad to have more than what you need.

Of course you've only looked at gun safes. There are plenty of commercial safes much more sturdy, and again, much more overkill.

I'm not a big fan of the insulation they use, just like I'm not a big fan of the insulations most other companies use. I think it will give you some protection, but not the same level as a cast product.

Would something cheaper work OK if I stick it in a closet and bolt it to the floors and wall? Or is anything cheaper just junk?

There are $3,000 safes that are junk. Since you are not housing any serious valuables, I think you would be fine with a less expensive unit.