Gun Safes - Any secrets

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joejoeshooter

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Are there any secrets to the purchase of a safe? I looked at them at Bass Pro today - They didn't seem to bad. I'd like to spend a bit less though.

I have 10 long guns and 6 pistols.

Thoughts?

jjs
 
depends on what you are looking for
I am picking one up tomorrow - not fire proof since my apartment is already fire reistant and any fire here would cook any safe made. I am just trying to keep amatures out.
Getting one with an electronic lock - with emergency key just in case.
I am on a limited budget - wish i could get a Browning or something similar.
 
Get the best one you can afford.

The higher the firerating the better.

If you think it's big enough, it's not go bigger. (trust me)
 
Ditto on bigger than you think you need. Also, Bass Pro is seldom your friend when it comes to pricing. Do the gunshops in your area handle safes? If so, they can deal; BPS cannot (at least in my experience). Happy shopping.
 
If you look at combination safes, Sargent and Greenleaf make some of the most secure locks out there. The military is very fond of their quality and they show up at some very secure facilities.
 
I would have to recomend against electronic locks. I had my Ft. Knox vault door less than 3 months when the solenoid inside the lock itsellf went bad. When it goes bad the door does not open, no matter what. Luckily we were still in construction and were able to get insde the vault and open the door.

The electronic lock looks nice and is easier to use, but if it fails you might have a lot of work on your hands getting to your guns. The mechanical lock to me is the only way to go.
 
The advice about getting as big as you can is true. I have found out (the hard way) that with safes, you get what you pay for. If the price seems too good then you are probably getting a piece of crap. The caveat here is that even crap can sometimes pull through for you...

I just bought my 3rd safe, and yes, I do use them all. I bought a Centurion because the price was good, and it was highly fire-rated. The icing on the cake was a nice S&G lock. I refuse to get the digital locks, because I have never seen one that works well. Anyhow, I ordered the safe and when it was delivered, and we were shoving it into position, I noticed a big fat MADE IN CHINA sticker on the back. Man, I tell you, I turned about three shades of green, and did a lot of cussing. When I got over it, I came to terms with the fact that its a decent safe for short money.
 
My advice is to buy a safe that will hold at least 2x current number of guns, especially if you think you may be buying more firearms. Plus, you can put other stuff in there that you want out of sight or believe you need some security storing it.
 
My advice is to buy a safe that will hold at least 2x current number of guns, especially if you think you may be buying more firearms. Plus, you can put other stuff in there that you want out of sight or believe you need some security storing it.
Click to expand...

Excellent advice. They are NEVER big enough. Trust me.

An investment in a good safe is just that, an investment that will last you the rest of your life. Treat it as such. Find the very best you can afford, then go borrow some money and buy something quite a bit better. Cheap safes are just that, cheap. That does not mean you shouldn't go looking for the best price, and I doubt if you will find it at Cabelas or Bass Pro.
 
Here's my secret. Decide how big a safe you need, then buy one twice as big.
No kidding. They fill up fast, and it's a purchase you will never regret.

Also, any safe is better than no safe. Don't be dissuaded by the salesman who tells you to wait until you can afford the "Premiere" safe. (That he just happens to sell).

Now if you want to get into details, many will help. I started off to buy a $750 safe that weighed 500#, and I bought a $1500 safe at 800#.
Do you want shiny paint? Electronic lock? Max fire protection? Many bolts?
I did learn that if the hinges are on the outside, the door will open wider. Mine has concealed hinges (no safer, the bolts hold the door) and I had to position it a certain way to see much inside (My door only opens 90 deg., so in a corner, it can be awkward to access it). I had to move it to another wall.
 
Statistically you are more likely to lose your gun to theft than fire. No matter what the fire rating is on a safe, it will NOT PROTECT YOUR CONTENTS in the event of a full house fire. The fire seals on the doors don't expand until the heat gets high and the damaging smoke has already ruined the contents. The overall heat in the end will rust the barrels, char the wood, and melt the plastic. I've seen the best fire safes hold up in a fire, but the contents...not so much. I am a fireman, Station 940 Kansas. Protect from theft by bolting it down and hope for the best.

My .02
 
safes

Shop around and buy what you can afford for now and when another is seen to be required in the future, pick up another, I've got quite a few, and am very glad I didin't get one monster, way too much to move to find things,
I did however put a rope light in all of mine at the rear of safe for lighting, used one of the bolt down holes to run a cord thru and put in a rocker switch.
Sure helps in finding stuff, cheap simple light.
Here in Az. not much worry in regards to humidity so I only have some cat litter in plastic containers, works well.
Only problem is I seem to have to keep buying them(safes that is). LOL
Good luck with a choice and
Merry Christmas.
Rj
 
I was in the market for a gun safe and found this deal on a champion gun safe. They are $300-500 off through 12/15 depending on the model you are looking for. Thought I would pass along the info for anyone looking.

http://www.championsafe.com/

He has reasonable shipping rate. Mine to GA was not bad at all and the safe is beautiful.

Southern Security
1700 Oak Hills Drive
Kingston, TN 37763
(865) 376-6297, (800) 251-9992
www.SouthernSecuritySafes.com
 
I noticed a big fat MADE IN CHINA sticker on the back. Man, I tell you, I turned about three shades of green, and did a lot of cussing. When I got over it, I came to terms with the fact that its a decent safe for short money.
Click to expand...

Some of the Centurion Safes (by Liberty) are made in China. I was told by Liberty that the Centurion safes with a single handle are made in China, while Centurion safes with 3 handles are made in the U.S. I don't know if it's fact.
 
My strongest safe is not fire resistant but weighs as much as the others or more. I kind of agree with some who have said theft is a greater hazard than fire. Get heavy gauge sides and door + on the S&G locks.
 
1st You need one that will fit in your home ,
2nd be heavy enough to discourage theft ,
3rd be reliable enough to keep them safe from others who don't need to be touching them .
In a full house fire that burns to the ground they will be most likely cooked anyhow.
So 4th A good home owners insurance policy will be the best protection there.

just an opinion though i'm no expert
 
I bought my first safe (ok RSC) after I bought my first rifle two years ago. At that time I had two guns, and thought it was a bit silly to have such a big container for one little rifle. It looked lonely in there. So I got him a friend. And then another, and another. Now there's a party going on in my safe and it's starting to get crowded. And it's only been 2 years and 4 months.

Believe the others when they say they fill up fast.
 
Read the threads on real safes vs. residential security cabinets. You'll find recent and past stories of the so called "gun safes" pried open with screw drivers and crow bars if you want an incentive to pay for what you want.
 
I bought a RSC from Dakota safe company. They are bolted together from the inside and the largest piece weights just over 200 lbs. My review of it is in my signature. I got it because I had to walk up and down 21 stairs with 3 180 degree turns.

Oh and in my review the manufactor replied to me and told me how I set it up wrong!

-Kitchen
 
My three safes are all 20+ gun size. Two are fireproof, the first one is not, but its a brute. I would still like to get a safe to store ammo, or use the two fireproof safes for ammo, and find a better place for the guns.

My next endeavor will be a vault. I'd love to somehow incorporate the construction of that vault with the construction of a fallout shelter/survival bunker sort of thing. The trouble here is that I'd like to sell my house and start with a fresh piece of property to do that.
 
I bought mine at Tractor Supply Company (chain store). Been good to me so far and was a heck of a price deal!

The Dove
 
First of all, the fire rating on a lot of the residential safes like the ones that are being talked about are very misleading. I know of no instances in a house fire where the contents of the safe were salvageable. If you put it in your basement against a concrete wall you may be able to buy some time but you will then need to be vigilant with the dry rods.

My advice is to pay twice as much and get a commercial safe like jewelry stores and pawn shops have. They actually have an Underwriters Labrotories firerating which actually means something. If it does not have a T-Rating or a fire class rating then I wouldnt bother. These are going to be twice as heavy and twice as expensive to buy.

My two cents.
 
Do a search for "gun safe" and pay special attention to the posts by a1abdj and CB900F. They are both very knowledgeable and it's likely they've already answered most of your questions in previous threads.
 
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