gun safe

[ra]

I'm looking for feedback on gun safes. In particular, I'm interested in the Snapsafe Titan because of it's size, easy assembly, discreet shipping, not needing delivery by a couple locals who don't need to know i have a safe. They tout a really great fire rating of 2300 degrees for 1hr. I'm a little skeptical. Does anyone have a Snapsafe or knowledge on them?

 

[kcgunesq]

Not with this brand, but there are other RTA RSC's available. You can spend days or weeks researching the subject. But unless you have several thousand dollars or more to spend and somewhere you want to place a 1,000lb dead load in your house, I suggest you buy the best priced RSC that has at least 2x your present capacity needs and comes with features you want. In reality, the burglar resistance to most RSC is almost exactly the same despite how many extra "security" features they tout.

Of course, if you have a $100,000 collection and live 30 minutes from the nearest fire station you may need more than someone with a $5,000 inventory, 2 minutes from fire trucks.

My point is that unless you are getting into true TL15 or greater rates safes, I'm not convinced brand name or slight upgrades to steel make that much difference. If you do get into TL15 or better, again, the rating is there. Everything else is just finish and features.

 

[nyresq]

Unless its made of some kind of titanium alloy, the 2300 for an hour is just a dream... Carbon steel melts at 2600, and steel expands 1" per 100' for every 100 degrees so 2300 for and hour would probably soften and deform enough to expose any contents.

As far as any safe you assemble, I have yet to see any design that will withstand more then about 2 minutes with a good size crowbar.

Base your price range for the safe on what you will put in it. A $700 safe to hold a $5,000 collection is justified, but put a $50,000 collection in that same $700 safe and many would consider you a fool...

Anything over $10,000 in firearms and jewelery, you should be looking at a true rated safe and move past an RSC. A good TL rated safe can be found used for the same price as one of the better RSC's. A top of the line Ft. Know for example will cost you more then a rated commercial safe with a real UL TL-30 rating. Find one of the Safe dealers here on the hide or find a local safe shop. You will be amazed what you will spend for an RSC and how little protection it really affords compared to a rated safe that doesn't have all the bells and whistles which add no protection from attack.

 

[119er]

There are ways to install a safe to make them harder to get into by your average thieves. Typically you install it in a corner in such a way that the door opening is a against the wall. For example the back and left side are against walls and the door hinges are on the right. This prevents thieves from getting good leverage to pry the frame away from the live bolts. It also prevents them from drilling to the face of a bolt and smashing it back to break the locking system unless there is access from the top. Another option is to encase the safe with a 2x4 frame and sheetrock to make it harder to attack. I spent a lot of time talking to safe companies and lock smiths. If your setup can with stand a quick attack you are most likely going to be alright. The lock smiths reported that most had scratches from thieves trying to pry the door open, usually with the home owners tools from the garage. Others such as the cheap Brownings, Cannons, etc had been chopped open with an axe right in the side and peeled open. I saw one at a safe shop. The metal was similar to a car door in the body of that safe. I am assuming of course that you intend to anchor the safe to the floor or foundation of your home. Should you be wealthy (or unlucky) enough to attract an actual professional criminal capable of cracking a safe you're probably SOL anyway or have additional security measures such as an alarm system. RSL's are not Fort Knox, but they only need to deter crackheads or the sort for a brief time. They will grab the easy money and leave. They usually have no interest in sticking around to meet you or the cops. I spent about $2700 installed on mine and made it difficult to attack. The price came from selecting a safe with an actual hardplate door and 3/16" body. A good company will not install your safe during daylight hours or show up with advertising on their truck. This prevents word of mouth from getting out to the public. Your neighbor might not steal your stuff but his son might tell his buddy and so on. I didn't touch fire protection because I think it is mostly BS sales tactic at this price point. Good luck and use your head when making a decision!

 

[hueyville]

+1 all info said. Whatever your budget you can make thieves job harder and add fire protection. Mine are all in basement with first bolted in corner. Basement was finished so I peeled drywall and studs back to concrete. Used a 3/8" laminate to keep safes from direct.contact to concrete and build up.moisture. all bolted to floor, walls, each other. End vault had cement block wall built to.fit.and.back filled with concrete. AR400 steel cabinet placed above them. So doors only part accessible to theives and fire. Bought vaults with 1/4" AR500 steel, drill plate and.active reloaders. Once setting off alarm, not enough time to attack before I or cops show up.

As an aside: I have an automatic fire suppression system above vaults and reloading equipment. Most fire departments will do a fire plan at no cost. I had local fire dept. come to my house and business. I gave them my house and business structure plans on a c.d. we identified high priority areas such as safes, computer rooms, China cabinets. They know what doors to kick open, where to spray water and where to use foam. On way to structure, fire fighters will have building layouts come up on their truck computer monitors and suggested plan is how to attack along with sensitive area.
Michael

 

[CB900F]

Ra;

I haven't run across Snapsafe before, but my professional BS meter is up in the red. I'm a locksmith and I sell true safes, not RSC's.

Just to give you a measuring stick, I've got an ex-major-chain-grocery-store safe in the shop. It's TL rated and has an electronic keypad entry. Since I didn't expect to be making this post, I don't have the exact dimensions in my mind, but it's roughly 54" tall X 40" wide X 30" deep exterior dimensions. I'll sell it for $2,500.00 as is, where is.

900F