Gun Safe advice

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Seems this topic has been covered like many times. Do a search for RSC and Amsec BF series RSC, etc.
 
Thanks, guys, for all the advice. My brain hurts now. Every time I think I have the right safe picked out I end up doing more research and rethinking my choices. I'd rather spend an extra $500-$800 and do it right the first time. I just don't know if I trust the electronic locks, for many reasons.

I called EVERY safe company and locksmith today in the Tampa, FL area and NO ONE had any used safes. So it looks like I'll either have to buy a new one from a local store or order one from the internet and have it shipped to me.
 
I called EVERY safe company and locksmith today in the Tampa, FL area and NO ONE had any used safes.

No used gun safes, or no used safes at all?

If you can't find any used safes at all, then you're speaking to the wrong people. If you're not finding any used gun safes, that's fairly common. I get about 20 inquiries for every 1 used gun safe that I get.

Let me know if it's the wrong people, and I'll get you some names and numbers.
 
a1 - I asked about gun safes and regular safes - nada, zip, zero.

I'm getting a little jaded here. Granted, I'm not the brightest bulb in the refridgerator, but I do want to make the right decision. I spent some time today assessing the value of my collection. I came out to about $10,000 in true costs - many of my guns can be replaced, but some cannot - the 2 SBR rifles with suppressors - we're talking $800 in tax stamps alone. The HK P9S in 9mm and one in .45 (very rare), and the over $2000 in optics alone, plus when I get some Gen 3 night vision, that is over $3000 right there, not to mention important papers, photos, etc.

So, with that said, I think now I'm seriously considering ponying up for a much better safe. I'm not expecting to go over about 10 rifles and 4 handguns in the future. My house is concrete block in a city, so fire danger is minimal and response time is fast. Hurricanes are a concern, though.

I think I might be willing to go into the $1500 range on the safe, but if in the future we decide to move, I'd want something not too dificult to take with me.

I guess when it comes down to it, spending 15% of my collection's value on security isn't a bad deal. Any suggestions? I don't think I care for the $599 special at Sam's Club anymore due to the light-weight construction and minimal fire rating.
 
Got a Winchester 6026 for $888 through Sam's. Good safe, maybe a bit light in it's construction out of #10 sheet metal.

I spent more to get a smaller safe - but I got the mechanical dial instead of the electronic lock. Call me paranoid -- my wife does -- but the idea of a computer controlled lock gives me the willies. I work with computers all day, so I don't trust the cantankerous beasts any farther than I could throw one (IBM PS-2: fourteen and a half feet.) Battery exhaustion, outright failures, back door codes, flooding, EMP, etc. all means I might be separated from the guns when I needed them.
 
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Looks like I'm now down to the Zykan Diamond series, the AMSEC BF series, and the SturdySafe. Decisions, decisions, decisions.
 
I gotta say

I read that "other" thread about ...well let's just call it gun "storage" to keep it simple....And I was chomping at the bit to get a post in but work and other nonsense kept me from doing so. So here's my totally unsolicited advice. Engage the debate about RSC's, gun safes, non-gun safes, document safes. whatever ....if you like. And hey, if you got thousands to spend on some sort of "storage" protection for your weapons...go forth and conquer. But I think for the "masses" it comes down to this. Leaving your weapons..of any value..laying around the house...not such a good idea. Thinking you gotta spend a year's salary on something to put them in...well if you can great...but I suspect most of us cannot. So do a little research...get something at a "reasonable" price that the average hack can't get through in 5 minutes ...and whtat has some level of "advertised" fire protection...and be done with it. Thinking of protection as one layer....bad idea. Think layers of protection and you don't need all that much to put your guns in...this is key. In fact my set up will make it highly unlikely anyone will even GET to my safe much less get in it. All that other arcane B.S. is well...just that. Safe snobs come forth and identify yourselves.
 
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.
 
Think about how big a gun safe/rsc you need.

Then double the size. It's a great place to store important documents, coins, jewelry, laptops, expensive cameras/eletronics etc. I was amazed how much important, expensive non gun stuff gets secured in the gun safe. It gives us some peace of mind from a possible smash and grab burglar when we're not around.

That being said, I saw a low/mid? end Graffunder safe recently in a safe store. It was a large, heavy, secure safe. It was around $4000.00. My girlfriend looked at the safe, and pointed out that didn't seem unreasonable for a high degree of secure storage for a lifetime. Even after you go, I'm sure some family member or next of kin could use the safe. Think about it as a safe deposit box in your home. I've known non gun owners get one for the secure storage.

I've learned a lot about safes here on THR. We're already thinking about a second safe when if we move to a larger house in the next few years.
 
I own two Liberty safes. I've been happy with both. Buy one that is bigger than you think you need. :)
 
I have a browningbecame a must when the boy was born. Two things I would mention 1 as mentioned before get bigger then you think you will need lots of stuff can go into the safe.

In case of fire adn get a good fire rated safe, water damage can happen so may want to put any documents etc in a water tight container in the safe.

I went with the old fashioned combo lock, The warrenty on the key pad was just a year on most of the electronic locks. I keep my HD gun in a sepearate quick access safe so real quick access is not mission critical.


ANoe reason for going bigger then you need is a little know law that says if you have empty spaces in your gun safe then you must buy guns to fill them:D.
 
Yeah, I talked to them - seemed nice and knew a lot, but they didn't care the brands I was interested in.
 
rich0372
Why are they anti gun?

I dunno why... arrogance? Stupidity??

Read This

Costco does not believe that it is necessary for firearms to be brought into its warehouse stores, except in the case of authorized law enforcement officers. For the protection of all our members and employees, we feel this is a reasonable and prudent precaution to ensure a pleasant shopping experience and safe workplace. Our policy is meant to protect our members and employees in all warehouses around the world. This is not a new policy and we do not customize the policy for each individual city/county/state/country where we do business.The shopping experience is not enhanced by bringing a firearm into our warehouse.

Our primary goal at Costco Wholesale is to keep our members happy.
 
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I forgot about that

I know they don't let us workers carry either. I have a question about this if a privary co. has a sign up saying no firearms allowed but, you have a CCW for that state to carry shouldn't you still be able to carry your not breaking any laws right??
 
rich0372
I know they don't let us workers carry either. I have a question about this if a privary co. has a sign up saying no firearms allowed but, you have a CCW for that state to carry shouldn't you still be able to carry your not breaking any laws right??

That would depend on the specific laws of your state. Also, since there is a membership agreement, you would have to check it for any penalties that Costco might impose: for instance, loss of membership and membership fees.

And as always, IANAL. :D
 
Not sort a whole thread but this is sort of related and hopefully not a hijack.

I just got a stack-on strong box safe with electronic lock. I got it so I can have quick access to a hand gun when someone is going bump in the night. Does it really have to go beep when you push a number. It is not real loud but damn it if I am going for my gun I do not need an audible warning to whom it may concern.

Sorry for the vent.
 
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