Home invasions and gun safes

[Hotshot10]

If you want the convienience of an electronic lock, go for it. But there, I have to suggest getting an LG. There are others with considerable factors that I don't like.

Pardon my ignorance: what's an LG? I'm going to buy a safe with an electronic lock, so I'm guessing this is pertinent.

 

[heeler]

Valnar,if physically pointing a rifle at a man that came breaking through my front door(after a brisk exchange of punches) constitutes deadly force then I have been there.
But that break in,and it was a home invasions by any count,was over a woman and not my worldly goods.
As far as my gun safe being breached the answer is no.
I have had the home I live in broken into three times in 30 years though and have had numerous firearms stolen because they were not locked up in a safe.
I live in Houston and can tell you Houston averages 60 home burglaries a day which is more or less 1800 a month.
So since probably at least one out of three of those homes has guns in them a lot get stolen.
I have what I consider a pretty good gun safe which some call a RSC.
I also have a fair collection of pictures of gun safes that have been pryed or cut open and most are lower grade units that have 12 gauge bodies and thin,flimsy,"composite" refrigerator type of doors.
And if these guys have real power tools they will cut right through a certain safe salesmans 1/4 steel wall Graffunder "safe" almost as easily as a Chinese 12 gauge "safe".
But most RESIDENTIAL burglars do not carry power tools.
So always remember that even though a 12 gauge Cannon,Liberty,Champion,Browning may be an UL rated RSC so are my Amsec BF,a Fort Knox Titan,a Liberty Presidential,etc. and they are much more robust than the lower tier RSC's as far as a prying or beating attack is concerned.
And of course that 1/4 inch walled Graffunder is even better than the others I mentioned under this sort of attack.
The truth is not all RSC's are created equal.

Hotshot,the LG means Lagarde lock.

 

[whalerman]

Who the heck started the RSC baloney? Is an RSC the same as a zip lock bag? I see that it is a residential storage container. That could be tupperware. What total crapola. Look. I don't know what an RSC is or what bureaucrat started that nomenclature, but my experience has been with safes. They're metal, usually steel. They're heavy, usually very. They're hard to break into, and give you some protection against fire. They are not perfect. So if you want perfect, by all means get a residential storage container. Wheew. Is this site going nuts too?

Alright. I own a safe. I don't believe in buying real fancy ones. I'd go to a local locksmith and find out where they are made LOCALLY, as shipping is often a large part of the costs. I think they're a good idea.

If I put a sandwich in a plastic case and take it to work does it become an NRSC. Non-residential-storage-container. Get it? Sometimes we overthink things a wee bit, maybe. Excuse me while I got to the RCSD for a cold one.

 

[fatcat4620]

Are these RSCs like Stack On brand? I call those storage lockers. I agree this RSC thing is lame. As far as break-ins do what i did and get a big dog that barks a lot.

 

[Shadow 7D]

That dead fish stink
See SAFE (as in the REAL kinds) have certain levels of protection that is VERIFIED (though this is not a required step) by UNDERWRITERS (think liability and insurance) Laboratories.

So for types of businesses and say HOME INSURANCE, the possession and insurance above of certain value (esp in single small, high value items) will ONLY be covered if they are inside of a certain RATING professionally installed safe.

the gunsafe can't meet the BASIC safe resistance, so those who make them, worked with the UL to come up with an acceptable level, and to avoid the technical issues, lawsuits etc. they are called what they are, RSC, AKA gym lockers.

 

[heeler]

As I said earlier...Not all Rsc's are equal.
I suppose something like a Fort Knox Titan or the now discontinued Amsec SE 6831,both Rsc's, are by your definition a gym locker.
Get real Shadow.

 

[whalerman]

We used to call condoms safes. We called residential storage devices jars, sometimes cans. But that was long before everybody learned to use letters instead of words.

I wish everybody a VMC on the 25th.

 

[danite]

A hint for a newbie perhaps? What is an RSC?
I have a home in a nice up-market neighborhood but keep all handguns locked in a small safe, the house has an alarm system, and there are video cameras that monitor the outside and blast motion-based updates to my phone and computer.
Just seems like a good thing to do. Removing either temptation from guests or availability from BG's.
I am curious though for any Californian's to comment. I have a Sentry-brand small safe. Probably need to upgrade for more space, but for now it is not clear whether this safe is a CA-approved-for-guns safe. What makes it approved versus not approved?
B

i have safe bolted through the floor sec-cams are are good if you have instant notification,otherwise you get films of guys ball-caps and sun glasses a loose safe can be pushed over and popped with two 6' bars or splitting wedges and a sledge a wall safe can be cut out from the room behind it and cut out with a electric chain-saw and usually punched with a fire ax sa for a big floor safe if you have the time you can grind off the corner edge and peel it back with hammer and chisel or portable compressor and a car body air-hammer from a body shop had a crash course when i worked in a junk yard as a teen-ager with about 10 ex-convicts2 were safe crackers then by chance diebold distibutor sold about 20/25 assorted safes for scrap and my lesson began

 

[Fatdaddy]

RSC=DSIEH

 

[whalerman]

You have to give us the answer or us old guys can't enjoy.

 

[Firemedic56]

As I said earlier...Not all Rsc's are equal.
I suppose something like a Fort Knox Titan or the now discontinued Amsec SE 6831,both Rsc's, are by your definition a gym locker.
Get real Shadow.

I dont think anyone is saying that a $5000-7000+ RSC is a "gym locker". Most consumers have RSCs from big box stores where they paid $750-1500 for something that essentially is opened much like a "gym locker" and in about the same amount of time.

Generally speaking, if you really want to protect your investment a "safe" safe will always perform better than a RSC "safe".

In general, though ymmv

Edited to add: That doesn't mean a RSC is bad, you have to decide what is best for you. If you have $2000 worth of guns, do you want to spend more on the safe? Do what is best for your situation just be aware that everything has drawbacks and plan accordingly

 

[Batty67]

My 500 lb RSC will defeat 99% of casual "smash and grab" thieves. And I have good homeowners insurance in case I get targetted by a pro (but which seems very unlikely).

 

[Down South]

Used force only once. I've had guns stolem from home and auto. I keep very few guns out "laying about the house". The rest are in a Liberty Fat Boy Jr safe out in my shop. The shop is conctete floor and metal building so I don't have to worry about fire.

 

[gym]

No basements in FL. Concrete slab, so it would have to be the incredible hulk. Anything is possible you can only prepare for what is probable.Dogs, alarm, safe camera, otherwise you need to move into Imax.

 

[valnar]

I am buying a 10 gauge RSC, so better than average, and it will be on basement concrete with a concrete wall behind it. Bolted to the floor.

I weighed (literally) the options of buying a real safe, but after $5000+, I think better protection would be an RSC + Home alarm system and video. It cost less overall and the cops showing up will limit the amount of time they have anyway.

Plus, a safe only protects what is in it. A good alarm will cover the rest of the house too.

Thanks for all the replies so far. I was curious if anyone had been hit by professional thieves and had their safe/RSC opened up. Except for some known family members in a couple examples posted, it seems to be very rare.

 

[CB900F]

Whalerman;

The people who apparantly started the terminology Residential Security Container/RSC are the Underwriter's Laboratories, or U.L.

I suggest you take your complaint to them, they'll give it the attention it deserves.

900F

 

[whalerman]

I have no complaint. I'm lovin' all this. Institutional stupidity, especially when adopted by others, is fun to watch. I be a livin' at the wrong time. Excuse me while I go watch the Kardashians.

Looking back, I see you were the first to use the RSC deal on this thread. I didn't mean anything personal by my making fun of the usage. Don't take it that way. It just seems a little foolish to me. But hey, you might find it useful.

 

[Shadow 7D]

The use of such advanced specific technical terms will always be mystifying to some....
but then some (same) people call a $89 sentry tin box a "safe"...

 

[NoAlibi]

CB900F: "Whalerman;

The people who apparantly started the terminology Residential Security Container/RSC are the Underwriter's Laboratories, or U.L.

I suggest you take your complaint to them, they'll give it the attention it deserves."

Whalerman - I hope U.L. at least gives you a kiss before your complaint gets the attention it deserves.

BTW, a VMC 2U2.....Doc

 

[CaliCoastie]

Don't advertise what you have, the fewer people who know the less likely people will suspect and/or target you.

 

[whalerman]

AKIAGT, I'll take it.

This isn't the first time I've had toubles with all the abbreviations. Its not really the ASTT, it's WHY, Shadow. You cannot tell me their usage doesn't cause more confusion than clarity. Methinks there's an Ego element in there somewhere. Typing is not that tough. But I'll try harder.

 

[NMGonzo]

No one is going to look at my sock drawer, under my underwear.

The only visible gun does not even work ... ehehehheh.

 

[NoAlibi]

whalerman - There is a "sticky" in this General Gun Discussions forum, 3rd from the top, named "A THR primer on courtesy and abbreviations" that you might find helpful, even though RSC isn't listed.

Maybe you can "break the ice" by posting your newly learned acronym there.

 

[Jim K]

Safes by whatever name deter and slow burglars who enter your home when you are not there. If you and your family are present, they don't slow anybody very much because when you see a cocked pistol held against your little girl's head, you will open the safe yourself and just pray they will be satisfied with taking the guns.

(And, yes, a sock drawer or bedside stand is the first place burglars look for guns.)

Jim

 

[CZguy]

(And, yes, a sock drawer or bedside stand is the first place burglars look for guns.)

I guess I better go move it. How about the dirty clothes hamper?