Heritage Gun Safe

[Bill Jones]

I am trying to find real world information about Heritage gun safes. I know, Residential Security Container. I recently moved from a small farm house to a house with a full basement. Now that I have a basement, I want a gun safe, a big gun safe. The only brand I have experience with is Heritage; my dad has had one for many years. I like the fact the door is a piece of plate rather than formed sheet metal like on the Liberty gun safes.

There is only one store around here that stocks any selection and I have been to look at Liberty, Heritage, Fort Knox, Winchester, and Superior. I really like the superior because of the exposed hinges, but they only have one, and it is a small one. I thought I had my mind made up, till I found this website. They have a Heritage Tradition series that is 43” wide by 72” tall, weighs in at 1650 pounds, http://www.heritagesafe.com/heritage-safes-tradition-series.html

That is the size I want. I have enough guns in my Dads safe to put a slight dent in this one, but I hope to keep purchasing for years to come. Plus, I don’t have any kids or car payments so I figure I should buy the biggest I can get while I still can.

After reading around on this site I have started looking at the Sturdy Safes and American Security. There are no local dealers for these safes though. They are approximately the same price after shipping as the Heritage TX4372.
So, after all that rambling, my question is; is the Sturdy Safe or the American Security that much better than the Heritage?

Thanks for any replies and thanks for this site.
Bill

 

[dprice3844444]

get a package deal on 2

 

[lebowski]

IMO yes, an amsec BF or sturdy is better than a heritage. I have a sturdy.

Since you have a basement and it sounds like this will be a very long term purchase - why not price out a graffunder?

 

[TXdefender]

The Graffunder is a great safe if you've got MONEY! Mine was expensive! A gun safe is something everyone should have...so long as one knows the limitations. Now, a good composite safe will cost you less than a plate steel safe of the same rating. Me, I like steel, that's why I got the Graffy. Know what everything is and get what you want/can afford. FWIW, Gunblast.com has a review on the Heritage, search their archive.

 

[heeler]

Heritage has made a lot of changes to it's line of safes since that GunBlast.com review of it's Tradition series gun safe.
Supposedly the Tradition is now 3/16 of an inch in body thickness vs 10 gauge of years past.
The doors have changed as well because now they use a welded two piece plate steel that encases fire insulation.
My suggestion is to get a safe you truely like but get one with outside hinges as that 180 degree door swing makes life a lot more easy for the owner in loading and unloading a safe.
Fwiw I own an Amsec BF 66X36 and am very happy with it.
Please research heavily before you spend a wad on one of these heavy premium gun safes.

 

[Bill Jones]

The upgrades that Heeler mentioned are what initially turned me towards the Heritage safes. The 3/16 wall thickness really stood out to me. I would have to step up to the Presidential series Liberty safe to get that wall thickness.

I like the American Security series because of the external hinges. They have 11 gauge walls, but the poured walls should add an extra bit of reinforcement.

I dont have any local dealers for American Security products or the Grands. But, if I could find one and get it shipped for a reasonable sum I would consider one.

I also agree about doing research. If I am going to drop almost 4K or more on a safe I want the best I can get and I dont want to repeat this in several years. I have been studying on the internet for almost a month.

Thanks for all the information,
Bill

 

[heeler]

You have to also understand that even though the Amsec BF has an 11 gauge outer wall it also has a 1/16th inner steel liner which equeals the 3/16th of the Heritage plus it has the two inches of the poured seemless liner and not sheetrock.
The door is a solid 1/2 inch plate steel.
The Sturdy has a 3/16th outer wall and a 14 guage inner steel wall if you get the model with the fire insulation.
It's door is a reasonable 5/16th plate steel thickness.
You can get the Amsec or Sturdy shipped right to your curb.

 

[a1abdj]

I also agree about doing research. If I am going to drop almost 4K or more on a safe I want the best I can get and I dont want to repeat this in several years. I have been studying on the internet for almost a month.

If you had the ability to drive to St. Louis and drive a 3,000 pound safe back, I have a 1" plate safe that would sell for that without an interior. It has already been gypsum lined, and has an acceptable (although not super nice by any stretch) paint job.

If you are planning on using the safe for a bit of everything, you may want to consider buying a second safe better suited from a security stand point for the other stuff, and buy a less expensive gun safe for the guns themselves. If the guns are the valuable part of what you are storing, then you'll want to keep on the same track you're already on.

 

[wperez]

Take a look at steelwatergunsafes.com
you may like what they have.Purchased one recently and very happy with it

 

[Bill Jones]

If you had the ability to drive to St. Louis and drive a 3,000 pound safe back, I have a 1" plate safe that would sell for that without an interior. It has already been gypsum lined, and has an acceptable (although not super nice by any stretch) paint job.

If you are planning on using the safe for a bit of everything, you may want to consider buying a second safe better suited from a security stand point for the other stuff, and buy a less expensive gun safe for the guns themselves. If the guns are the valuable part of what you are storing, then you'll want to keep on the same track you're already on.

St. Louis is a little far me to drive.

The main use if this safe will be firearms and firearm accesories. I have been doing a lot more reading on the subject of gun safes. The American Security safes are starting to look good to me. There is supposed to be a dealer for Amsec in Knoxville, but the phone number is disconnected.

The price I found on the internet for the 7250 was about 4K which is only 300 more than purchasing the Heritage locally after I pay the sales tax.

The main advantage that I see to the American Security is the external hinges and the fact that they have been in business for many years.

Can anyone recommend an online dealer that can ship to East TN? Or a dealer within driving distance so that I could go look at one in person. That is my main hang up with the Amsec safe, not seeing it before I pay for it.

Thanks,
Bill.

 

[heeler]

Bill,the number one reason I did not buy a Sturdy was the fact that I could not see one in person.
I had good eye access to Liberty,Browning,Champion,Heritage,and of course Amsec.
You might have to make a road trip to a big city to see what you need to see.
Any online dealer can ship to TN. easy enough including a1abdj.