I've been going through the same process, no expert but do a lot of reading and talking to sales people. What I've noticed is the better RSC safes (253 $1000-1800 range) can be broken into around 3 to 7 minutes. I've read about using axe, metal grinders, torches, cheap plasma cutters, pry bars, drilling linkage for the lock, drilling and punching bolts. Saw the YouTube video of a standard safe (not bolted down) pried into around 2 minutes. Like to have seen a similar test with a grinder on 7 and 12 gauge steel, and one bolted down. Most burglar are using pry bars, but since grinders are becoming common, I figure it is only a matter of time before they’re used. I've heard people talk about buying time...but I'm not spending an extra $500-1000 for 2 minutes of time. At some point my home owners/renter insurance will pay for the losses. This means I won’t spend more than $1000 on a safe (if I had priceless valuables, I wouldn’t get a RSC).
I also have a difficult time believing the difference of 0.0747" (12g vs. 7g) of steel is going to make a difference. I read somewhere it may provide an extra 2 minutes. I have not seen any standardized theft tests anything measured in gauge (rolled steel).
I've also seen manufacturers make a big deal about the door of the safe. If it was me and I have access to the sides or top of the safe, that's where I would use my metal grinder, or the metal grinder I found in your garage. Ideally I’d place the safe in an area that makes it difficult to get to the sides, difficult to pry, and not near power tools.
Replacement warranties don’t make a difference to me, that’s what insurance is for. Plus my insurances gives me the freedom to buy a completely different safe, from a dealer of my choice, or just keep the cash.
If you intend to simply protect a burglar from a snatch and grab, that would mean any locked container bolted to the floor/wall is going to provide you the snatch and grab deterrent.
But I think the whole idea for a RSC is to buy a safe that intimidates the burglar enough that they won't think about trying to crack the safe. Get something that makes a burglar just walk away from the safe and not even bother to spend the time trying to get into it. If something looks too cheap, it looks easy, and a burglar may decide to give a try and end up causing damage (lock damage, relocker, spindles, clutches, prying, denting, drill holes, etc).
For me, I’m still torn about these safes not offering enough burglar protection to make me feel anything is really safe, yet costing $1000++. Since the safes aren’t tested and rated (I have not seen any tests or results to be convinced of anything), I have a difficult time paying $1000+.
Fire ratings have been confusing too. Seems like a lot of manufacturers use different testing methods, and I don’t know what the real truth is (I’m more likely to believe Sturdy and AMSEC ratings).
I also don’t believe all the marketing. They all have impressive marketing. Sturdy sounds impressive with law enforcement sales, but I don’t know if it is because they sell them cheaper, or what models/options, or if it was totally custom, or the same exact safe I want to buy for $1500 . Plus, I figure if they really wanted a safe, they would get a high end true safes, not a RSC safe. Sturdy is a metal box fabrication company, so I assume they can make anything they want for their large customers, which may not be the same thing I would end up getting with their $1500 safe. But I do pay attention that the quality and reputation is good enough, although every manufacturer has the high quality and lower quality products, perhaps Sturdy does too. So I take this all very lightly.
In my quest, I’ve looked at some safes in the $400-$2500 range: Harbor Freight, Cannon, Browning, Dakota, Costco Big Horn, Liberty, Sturdy, Sportsman Steel, Pentagon, AMSEC BF, and some high rated safes way out of my price range. The AMSEC BF appears to be a solid safe and very intimidating to break into, perhaps similar price with Sturdy depending on options. Sturdy seems to have done a lot of research, provides a lot of valuable information, lots of beefy options, but I won’t be spending $$$$ on something I can’t see and touch first. I don’t imagine paying $1500+ for something I haven’t seen or touched.
I’m torn between spending $400 ($250 on sale at Harbor Freight) to stop a snatch and grab thief and keep my kids out, versus $1000-1500 to intimidate a thief and make me feel better. I’m leaning towards a $400 safe, house alarm system, and good insurance.
Jake