Gun Safes - Opinions Sought

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Anthony

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Hello Everyone,

Does anyone have any opinions on the various brands of gun vaults on the market?

Do any of them stand out above the others in security and fire resistence?

Are there any good sources for researching the various brands?

I'm going to be buying a very very large one to house my beloved collection in the foreseeable future and would like to gather as much information as possible.

Thank you for your input.

- Anthony
 
I got a Winchester gunsafe for Christmas, very similar to this one.
Someone else actually makes the safe, but I don't recall who. I believe there are only 2 or 3 gun safe manufacturers .
Anyhow, mine is the same size as the one in the link, 14 long guns on one side, and shelves for handguns and ammo and stuff on the other, or 28 long guns with no shelves.
I paid around $600 from Sam's Club.
I'm very happy with it, if I had it to do over, I might opt for the electronic combo thing. I lock and unlock mine twice a day usually, an electronic lock would be nice.
Good luck. :)
 
Before CB900R sees this, know that they are RSCs (Residential Security Containers), not safes. He's the guy to talk to, as he does safe/RSC stuff for a living.
 
Sarhog, how did you get that thing home from Sam's, and then into your house? What sort of manpower and equip does it take?
 
Long answer.....

Sarhog, how did you get that thing home from Sam's, and then into your house? What sort of manpower and equip does it take?
Click to expand...

When I went to look, they only had the floor model left, so that's what I got.
That being said, there was no "box" for it. It was bolted to a pallet slightly bigger then the footprint of the safe (or, residential security container :rolleyes: ).
I put a couple of layers of loose cardboard down in the bed of my truck (shortbed F-250) and, with the help of a few Sam's employees, laid it down "on it's back" in the bed of the truck and tied it down with a few motorcycle tiedowns.

When i got home, I backed the truck right up to the front porch and slid the safe out (with the help of the cardboard)until it was teetering on the tailgate.
I then "tipped" it out so it was standing upright on it's pallet directly in front of the front door. The pallet height was the same height as my front doorway.
I then unbolted it from the pallet and "walked it" into the house (rocking corner to corner) and onto another piece of cardboard.
Finally, I slid it, using the cardboard as a sled, into position. I have hardwood floors by the way.
Good luck. :)
 
One of our posters (I forgot who ) is a locksmith and gives superb advice regarding safes, hopefully he will chime in. I think he is located in Kansas City or St. Louis. If anyone knows who I'm talking about, how 'bout advising this fellow.
 
Good safe for hand guns

Hi all,

I would love some advise on purchasing a safe for multiple handguns.

I have a Gun Vault that I use to lock up a couple of loaded guns at night.

What I'm really looking for is a safe that can hold about 10 hand guns that won't break the bank or fill up my entire closet (my wife does a good enough job with both of these things). I don't have any long guns so I really don't need one of those 55" or 60" monsters.

I don't think I care if its really a gun safe or not as long as it has shelving, I can rig something up to safely and securely hold the guns.

Any suggestions?
 
Bought a National Security Magnum Plus, huge safe....1500lbs empty, retailed for around $4K in 1990. Love the safe but would not buy one this large again...too hard to move. Would have been better getting two smaller ones.

safe_Magnum_r4_c12.gif
 
I just ordered one this AM. I spent more time reading posts, reviews, opinions about them, than I ever did when buying a firearm. Its great that there is so much info around. I just hope it is big enough that I never have to go thru this again. Even the specs have specs. BTW it is a AMSEC BF series.
 
Sam's Club

I didn't start this thread, but I want to thank everyone for all of the posts. I did find a safe that will work for me at Sam's club. Its not a "gun safe", but a relatively small business fire safe. It will hold the guns I need it to hold, is small enough to not fill up my closet and, best of all, it's about half the price of the same safe at Office Depot! I had no idea Sam's had such great prices.

Again, a big "thank you" to everyone who's contributed.

- Anna's Dad
 
just remember to bolt that smaller safe down. One of a "HSC's" lesser-mentioned assets is it's weight. You wouldn't want a thief merely snatching your document safe with all your handguns and breaking on his own time in his garage...
 
Go with the largest Cannon Traditional Series safe you can afford with the electronic keypad. Compare and do your homework and you'll see why.

http://www.cannonsafe.com/safestraditionalseries/

1T27_large.jpg
 
You can find more info about the safes CB900R sells at www.graffundersafes.com

I bought one of their safes from CB earlier this year, and I've been more than satisfied. The thing is a beast-it weighs literally a ton and a half, and being as I'm in the Army, the movers are going to have fun next summer.

The company that makes them is located in Yakima, WA, and since I was fortuitously TDY at the Yakima Training Center, I drove down to the plant. Extremely thick steel, with the space between inner and outer walls filled with concrete instead of drywall. Oh, and the folks who work there were extremely nice, too.

But I'll feel safe keeping my collection in this bad boy, no matter where the Army sends me-even Killeen, TX (Ft Hood).
 
I need the best one I can find for under $500. This Sentry model at Lowe's seems to fit the bill for me. I only have handguns and this one shelves move to make it a "handgun only" safe. Is this decent for the price? $427

lowessafe.jpg

Exterior dimensions: 59"H x 21"W x 17 3/4"D
7-14 gun safe capacity
Solid steel construction
3-number combination lock with lever handle
1-year warranty
4-way convertible interior
 
Bulbboy, I've got an older model of that very same safe. Mine has granite bricks stacked inside on the floor as the safe only weighs 325 lbs empty. I paid $339 for it at Wal-Mart a few years ago. I'd shop around a little if I were you. Both Cannon and Browning make plain jane models that go for a little more than you want to spend. I've seen them both recently for $849. An extra $350 will get you alot higher quality safe that'll give you room to expand your gun collection and last a lifetime. When I bought my first safe I said it would serve me good enough..........I now have three of them. :D
 
Bulbboy as Rugerguy said, I would shop around some more. If you have a Tractor Supply around they market a Cannon American Eagle series safe under their name model TS6030 (its a AE 22 on Cannons website) 525 lbs , 1200 degrees for 30 minutes for $689. Just a tought. Costco seems to be selling the same delivered to your home at $999. Costco's is only available on their website while Tractor Supply's is not on their website but only in the store. Go figger. Good Luck
 
Fella's;

It's CB900F, in Great Falls Montana. :p

If circumstances demand that you purchase an RSC, get the least expensive you find with the features you want. The actual protective capabilities between them are minimal at best. Search for "RSC" here on THR & you'll find several of my posts concerning the differences between safes & RSC's

But, if you want a safe, and the advantages that come with one, talk to me.

900F
 
I just got the Winchester safe(24 gun 580 lbs.) from Sam's club with the digital keypad. It is a great safe and I would highly reccomend it for the price($600). I rented a U haul for $20 and a fridge dolly for $10, worked great. They will put the safe on the truck for you at the store but then your on your own. Just make sure you get a truck with a ramp, then back up to your house. Me and my friend got it in the house by ourselves in less than an hour(We are both '6.1'' 260 though). good luck.
 
Better Security

By all means, go with a digital locking system, also with the aid of magnetic stitches, the vault door can be integrated with a home security system,
Ive done this with portable safes in automobiles
 
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