Gun safes

[hometheaterman]

So what's a good brand of gun safes to look at? I'm hoping for one that's a decent price and will last a lifetime. How is the Winchester one they sell at Sams Club? Is it a good choice?

Also how long are they actually fireproof? Is the rating on them usually correct?

 

[hometheaterman]

http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?dest=5&item=399617 This is one I was looking at. How is it? I thought the one I saw in the store was slightly smaller but it may not have been.

 

[Winston_Smith]

It depends what that value is of the stuff you plan to put in it.

I don't expect you to provide a number, but you should write it down then compare that to the cost of the safe you are looking at.

The safe in the link you provided is only designed to hold out forced entry with a screw driver and hammer for 5 minutes (I would guess that the fire protection is on par with the burglary protection).

 

[hometheaterman]

So what kind of safes would you guys recommend?

 

[mr.scott]

That safe is fine. It's rated for:
# 59"H X 28"W X 22" D* 12/24 Convertible Interior
# Fire Rating - 1 hour at 1200F
# Burglary Resistant
# 3-Way Active Bolt Work
# 12 each - 1.25" Diameter Locking Bolts
# 5-Spoke Vault Handle
# Electronic Lock
# Powder Paint Finish


# Drill Resistant Hard Plate - 60-61 Rc
# Auxiliary Spring - Loaded Relocker
# Insulated Door - 1.5" thick
# Insulated Body - 1.375" thick


I don't know where Winston Smith got his numbers. Maybe because it doesn't say Browning on the door.

 

[DagoRed]

I have been looking at Sturdy brand gun safes. They tend to get good reviews from what I have read.

 

[Winston_Smith]

I don't know where Winston Smith got his numbers.

That is what an RSC rating means.

http://www.klsecurity.com/ul_fire_rating.htm

If you search for RSC on this forum you will find a lot of info.

An RSC with "Browning" on the door is still an RSC, just better looking.

 

[Logos]

Home fires are so very rare. I've never had one......nobody I know has ever had one.

It could happen, but I don't see it as likely enough that I'd spring for an extremely expensive safe because of it.

Since a lot of safes are not a LOT more effective than steel cabinets in defeating good tools (not many more minutes of delay for the thief) I'd rather stay with steel cabinets and spend the money I save on other layers of security protection like better locks, alarms, etc.

There is quite a lot of money saved, as the safes are extremely expensive.

 

[M57]

The main thing is to make sure it says,
MADE IN USA!
Too many chinese made crap safes out there and be carefull some safe companies like Liberty have USA made safes and China made safes. Mine is a Cannon, they are not cheap, but neither are the things in it.

 

[Logos]

Yes, if you are gonna go the whole way and invest in a safe......make sure it's the best quality.

 

[kanewpadle]

The main thing is to make sure it says,
MADE IN USA!
Too many chinese made crap safes out there and be carefull some safe companies like Liberty have USA made safes and China made safes. Mine is a Cannon, they are not cheap, but neither are the things in it.

Very true. I have opened and or repaired Sentry safes and others like them.

There way to many good gunsafes to list but here are a few but not in any perticular order.

Digital combinations are nice but more unreliable that the tradition combination lock. Most manufacturers use S&G or Lagard.

Liberty
National Security
Fort Knox
Cannon
Amsec
Treadlock

 

[sniknah]

American Security BF 6030...NUFF SAID !

 

[M57]

Good point kanewpadle about the locks, I like the traditional combo locks seems like a lot less hassle I think eventually you will have problems with the electronic ones, I've heard "dial combo locks take to long in a emergency" my thought is if you have to open your safe to get a gun to defend yourself it's too late anyway. They are made to store personal belongings and guns, just not all of them!

 

[hometheaterman]

So Cannon safes are good? One of them was what I was looking at but I just wasn't sure as I wasn't familiar with the name of them. I think I'd like to have a traditional lock but it seems as if most I find are the digital ones.

 

[hometheaterman]

What about this one? http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?dest=5&item=424732

The biggest downside I'm seeing to it is it says only fireproof for up to 30 minutes. That's a lot less than the hour of the Winchester.

 

[M57]

Take your time as this is not something you will want to be buying and upgrading every couple years, spend the extra money now and get a good quality made one that will give you many many years of reliable service and piece of mind. My safe is in my house so I went for the nice finish and fancy pinstripe as I want it to look nice in the house, but if you are going to put it in the basement or out of sight you can save some cash by going with a less expensive finish. Try Gander Mtn and Cabelas, the internet is great but I like to look, touch, open, close etc. Look around before making any decisions and buy the right safe that fits your needs one time.

 

[kanewpadle]

What about this one? http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?dest=5&item=424732

The biggest downside I'm seeing to it is it says only fireproof for up to 30 minutes. That's a lot less than the hour of the Winchester.

Usually 30 minutes is enough. How long would it take the fire dept to get to your house? If you live to far from them then get a one hour rated safe.

 

[kanewpadle]

Also keep in mind when you buy a name brand such as Winchester, Remington, Browning etc...... You usually paying more. Not always. But sometimes. Someone else makes these safes for them.

 

[gym]

I would suggest a safe that is anchored to a cement floor, if possible. I have seen the largest safes placed on dollies and rolled out in a few minutes. Having had several types over the years in business and at home, The inexpensive "hopper" type resisted 2 burglaries in the basement of one of my businesses. It could have been "drilled" but most times unless it is a pro, they don't have the proper tools. The tilt and roll method is pretty common, as most "moving men" can attest to. If you rolled it in, someone can roll it out.

 

[CB900F]

Fella's;

There is a "great divide" in the firearms storage world. RSC's and true safes. Everything mentioned herein so far is an RSC, or Residential Security Container. As far as I know, there are only three true safes available in the home firearms storage arena. They are: 1. The very top end AMSEC units, not the BF line. 2. Brown. 3. Graffunder.

For what it's worth, I regard the AMSEC BF's as the best of the RSC's on the market today. Particularly when you do a cost/value evaluation. If you're in the sub-$1000.00 category, pick what's got the features you need at the least price. There's no substantial protective difference between any of them.

I'm a locksmith & in the business of selling safes.

900F

 

[WVMountainBoy]

Location of the safe can often be more important than the actual toughness of the safe. Concealment is great, making it anchored even better. Put it someplace that it would be hard or impossible to use a tool to produce leverage on the door (think narrow corridor with only enough room for door to open)

 

[Mr. Bojangles]

+1 for "Made in USA." Just remember to bolt it to the floor to prevent schmos from carting the whole thing off.

 

[Acera]

Remember there is a difference between real safes and RSCs.

Check out this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2EyFNCAX3s

Not trying to promote one safe over another.

Just making a point about safes vs. RSC. Look at the UL label to be sure.

 

[Morrell]

Just to point something out... that youtube video for Liberty Safes... Those are RSCs as well... even their mighty Lincoln series. Watch the video.. read the UL label shown at 3:15. Given that you seem to make a difference between real safes and RSCs, what is a real safe? Not anything made by Liberty because even they say their product is a RSC.

 

[heeler]

Frankly I get more than a little tired of reading that it only takes a screw driver and hammer to get into a RSC.
Try it sometimes guys before saying such things.
Now a stout pry bar and sledge hammer..You bet you will get in.
Although it may or may not take more than the set in stone belief of "5 minutes".
And not all RSC's are created equal.
Try prying your way into a RSC with a 3/16th body with a reasonably thick 1/4,3/8,or 1/2 inch plate steel door.
Like I say some RSC's are considerably better than others.
Any safe including a TL-30 jewlery safe can eventually be breached but it wont be easy and neither will a LOT of RSC's that Cecil Crackhead or Mickey Meth comes across while pillaging your home.