Gun Safes: Looking for a recommendation

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dehughes

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Hey all,

I'm not sure which forum this belongs in, but I wager the mods will move it if need be.

I'd like to purchase a gun safe, but don't really know where to start. At present I have a rifle, shotgun, and a pistol (Glock 17), and would like to have a good quality, secure safe to store them in. Most likely I'll end up with a .22 at some point, but no means do I plan on being a "collector". I'm just looking for a smart, secure way to store my firearms both for my family's safety and for protection from theft, etc.. Your recommendations are appreciated.

Thanks.
 
Nice. Thanks. I'll look into those...

In skimming posts in the past I seem to remember there being lock types (electronic vs. combination) and manufacturers that one should get/avoid, but I cannot remember what was what. The Liberty stuff looks nice, though...
 
Second for the Liberty. I have a Centurion model. I have moved several times since i got it and I can move it by myself with a dolly if I have to, or I can move it fairly easily with a buddy and a dolly.

I would suggest getting a bigger safe than you think you need. Even if you don't intend to be a collector, you will likely find other 'stuff' to store in your safe. I bought my safe after having a house fire. I now keep birth certificate/passport/medical records/dog's shot records/etc/etc in my safe. That stuff doesn't take up that much room, but it seems that I keep my safe filled to capacity between guns, ammo, and 'stuff'.
 
Get the best you can justify. My only recomendation is for a digital lock. I tend to get into mine quite a bit... the conventional combination is slow...
Should have paid the extra 100 bucks or so for the upgrade :banghead:
 
Cool. Thanks all. So I have:

- Liberty is highly recommended
- Get a bigger one than I think I need
- Get a digital lock instead of combination

One that first point, what is the consensus with Sentry brand gun safes? I have a smaller, fire safe for papers, etc, and it's been fine thusfar...

On that last point, wouldn't a combination lock be the one to have greater longevity and constancy (no electronics, no battery dying, no electronic component failures, etc.)? Or am I geeking out on a non-important point?
 
Digital locks

My safe has an electric lock that uses a 9v battery.Some of these batts. last for up to a year or so and some only a month.Not many things use these batts. anymore and I suspect they spend most of their useful life on the store shelf.Might be worth considering.
 
What's your budget and how much security do you want?

I recently recieved my new "sturdy safe" and I'm pretty happy with it. I did quite a bit of research before buying and IMO in the mid-priced category sturdy and the amsec BF series offer the best value and quality for the money, and by quite a wide margin I may add. If money was no object I'd look at a true "safe" (which nothing mentioned thus far is) from graffunder or brown safes.


I highly recommend a dial lock over digital. Digital keypads are much more convenient when they work, but they are infinitely less reliable. A dial lock will last as forever. A digital lock won't seem so "convenient" the day you have to call a locksmith to come get you in to your own safe.

Use the search feature - this topic has been discussed many times and there is a lot of good info on thr.

Whatever you get, bolt it down.
 
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Buy Quality. Buy the best & largest you can. They fill up fast. Be sure you can get it up or down the steps (weight).
I'm not into fire safes. I prefer an unlined safe. Cheaper & they don't sweat
inside. Just my preference. I have an American Security. Shop around. Prices vary.
Mine is a combo dial. Over 25 years old. Never serviced. Never a problem.
 
The best bang for the buck security wise in what is called a gun safe at a reasonable price(sub 3k) is an Amsec BF model or Sturdy Safe.
 
I'd say to look at a safe as big as you need, and buy one twice as big.
You will never regret that purchase. I have a Champion with the electronic lock and it has been flawless. These safe threads tend to get into the technical aspects of one safe over another, until you feel you shouldn't buy anything if it doesn't cost $5,000. My theory is this: A $1000 or $2000 safe is better than your stuff in a desk drawer. That's what it comes down to. Yes, a professional bank robber can attack your safe. So far, I haven't seen a lot of bank robbers in my neighborhood. I'm more worried about a smash and grab drug addled thief.
Buy locally if you can, let them install it. They are the pro's. I had my dealer make another shelf using the same materials as the safe interior.. He did it for free.
 
Find a local locksmith in your area that sells safes - he might have a used one that someone traded in on an upgrade - you'll get a good safe at a lower price....BTW, go with a regular dial - you don't want a battery dial taking a digger at the wrong time. I have a National Security, which is now owned by Liberty
 
Great idea about the "used" safe.....never thought of that.

I'll run a search and see what shows up. I looked around the forums but didn't see anything...

As well, I'll look into those brands already mentioned, and give special attention to dial locks...

As for price, I've figured in the $500 range, hopefully under $1k, as I don't have that many guns at the moment, and none of them are exceptionally "valuable" (though I'd rather they not get stolen, obviously).

THANKS!
 
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That price range will limit you quite a bit.

I'd probably start by going to zykansafe.com and check out his eagle series. He has several listed for <$1000 (also don't forget about shipping).
 
I would recommend against the digital lock. Think of how many things that are digital or electronic survive past 10 years, 20 years. Not many. And if your safe is 15 years old, what will be options and cost be to fix the digital lock. Additionally things that need electricy in the form of batteries tend to cause frustration since they have to be changed regularly and tend to go out when you don't want them too.


If you need quick access to a handgun, a small handgun lock box would be better such as a gunvault.


Now that I see that you are in the $500 range. I did quite a bit of research recently and found that unless spending at least 700-800 and more likely over $1000, a safe is not worth spending that much money for the improvement over a gun cabinet. What I found was that a sub $1000 safe could be gotten into by a persistent theif and nothing under $1000 provided fire protection that I was comfortable with.

For me, keeping the guns from children and visitors was the highest priority and then fire protection (for more than just my guns). A gun cabinet does the #1 priority and anything under $1000 was not going to accomplish the fire protection to my satisfaction.

I decided on a a gun cabinet. Depending on the size and sales, once can be had for between $80 and $175 for the size you are looking for. I bought one for $129 at Dicks and then on the same day my neighbor saw me unloading it and said I could have a extra one that he had that was brand new. I took the one from Dicks back and put the free one to good use.

I agree with another poster about looking for used. I did find some but nothing fit my budget need at the time. Persistence monitoring craigslist could really pay off.
 
If your budget is that low then head over to Home Depot or Lowes and buy something like a Greenlee contractors tool box.
This will cost less than $500 and are usually made of 16 gauge steel and will definitely keep the kids out and the smash and grab louts.
A gun rack for the long guns can be easily built.
A friend of mine uses one for his massive ammo dump cause his Ft.Knox safes cup has runneth over.
 
Diamond Back Safes - Best Bang for the Buck

I just ordered a GS5930H Diamond Back Safe. Total price was $950 (shipping included). The specs on this safe blow away anything else in the $1000-$2000 range:

10 gauge steel
10 1 1/2" locking bolts
60 mins fire protection
22 guns
697 pounds.

Try to find anything close to those specs (most are 12 gauge steel w/ 1" bolts) anywhere near that price. You can get the 20 gun safe w/slightly less protection for $750 shipped, and the 16 for around $600 shipped.

Check them out here, but you can get them cheaper (like I did).

http://www.diamondbackgunsafes.com/
 
Wow...you know you're into guns when your Fort Knox runneth over. :)

Yeah, I'm not worried about fire/water damage, or even theft, really, so much as safety from curious children. Something solid would be nice, even something with a sturdy door and bolts...a gun cabinet is kinda in that direction, albeit maybe a bit too low strength for my gun instincts. I'll look into the Sentry stuff or a used cabinet locally, as I don't want to pay for shipping and wager I could find something decent locally...
 
The specs on this safe blow away anything else in the $1000-$2000 range:
Click to expand...

The Diamond Back is just a name applied to a safe by one particular distributor. These same safes are available through a variety of distributors under a variety of brand names.

Check them out here, but you can get them cheaper (like I did).
Click to expand...

But do you know who the cheaper retailer is? Do you know who has access to your information (including safe combo)?

These companies selling these safes for a few dollars over cost are not going through any background or licensing check of any kind. Buyer beware.
 
I understand that the Diamond Back is just a name applied to a generic safe from China, not unlike, say, the Zykan Eagle Series ZES-30 that goes for $1082 w/o shipping, also a $100 more than Central Safe & Lock, and $270 more than I paid.

The safe is being shipped from a central warehouse in CA. I have absolutely no fear that my combination and information might fall into the wrong hands. (Boo!) This was a legit sale from someone who has sold hundreds of safes on Ebay and through his own website. He sold it for $100 over cost, not a lot, but still an honest profit.

So thanks for your advice. You just sell this same safe for more than others do (and less than some as well). Good for you, but don't assume that something nefarious might be going on because someone else is underselling you.
 
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The safe is being shipped from a central warehouse in CA. I have absolutely no fear that my combination and information might fall into the wrong hands. (Boo!)
Click to expand...

You may want to reassess that line of thought. You don't really know who has access to that information do you? As somebody who's been in this business for quite some time, I do know has access to it. And when those people have not been vetted properly, the possibility certainly exists.

Boo all you want. I've seen it first hand.

This was a legit sale from someone who has sold hundreds of safes on Ebay and through his own website. He sold it for $100 over cost, not a lot, but still an honest profit.
Click to expand...

If he has a website, he must be legit right? Is he licensed in his state? Does his state even require a license? He's been fingerprinted, background checked, and all of that other stuff that us other legtimate guys have to go through? Since he's legitimate, I'm assuming he has a real brick and mortar business too, not just a website. He/she may be all of these things, I'm just doubting you checked. Of course if you did check, you may be in for a big surprise.

So thanks for your advice.
Click to expand...

You're welcome.

Good for you, but don't assume that something nefarious might be going on because someone else is underselling you.
Click to expand...

There usually is, which is why I assume so freely.
 
Oh please! These safes come in by the thousands to a port in CA and then are shipped by a variety of distributors (most of whom don't stock them) straight from the warehouse. Mine will probably never leave the original pallet or cardboard or whatever it came packaged in. It will go straight from the first warehouse it entered after it came off the boat onto a truck.

So, you're right, I didn't do a background check on the seller, I didn't fingerprint him, and I don't care if he has a license in any state. I checked his feedback, talked with him several times on the phone, saw that he's been selling safes for several years, and just took an incredible, amazing risk and bought a mid-level safe from him for 25% less than you sell the same product for.

So, if any big risk-takers would like to buy the same product that Mr. Zykan sells for 25% less, take a look at PrivateSecurityProducts.com. The service was excellent in every way (and no condescension either!)
 
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one more time - check your local locksmith (bonded and insured) for a used safe from a trade-in - he might even deliver and set up, change the combination, etc.......
 
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