I apologize if this is the wrong forum for a request like this, but I am looking for a fireproof, water tight gun safe that will hold a few long guns as well as have a few shelves for pistols and papers. I would hope that they would be hard to get in to. What companies and models are recommended?
I need suggestions on a safe
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indoorsoccerfrea
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http://www.deansafe.com/biometric-safes.html?gclid=CJnqiZSFipgCFQWcnAodI3NkCw
if price isnt such a big deal, i personally would suggest a biometric safe. they don't look half bad and they are easier to access when you need to get to your guns quick, there isnt a number to forget. just a finger.
if price isnt such a big deal, i personally would suggest a biometric safe. they don't look half bad and they are easier to access when you need to get to your guns quick, there isnt a number to forget. just a finger.
Research all the articles on this site and the web if you are serious about getting the right safe for your needs. Different levels of security for different needs, for example, are you trying to keep out your kids, a smash and grab job, or a a burgler with tools?
American Security makes a good product and the older type rotating dial combination is the way to go, IMO, if that matches your needs.
American Security makes a good product and the older type rotating dial combination is the way to go, IMO, if that matches your needs.
jpwilly
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I've seen the "Winchester" 24+ guns safes at WalMart and Sams club for $600. Looks like a decent safe for the money.
from both first hand accounts and what i've read on safes, nothing is fireproof nor watertight. most top-dollar safes can be broken into fairly easily by an experienced thief with the proper tools. i'd do a bunch of reading and expect to pay handsomely. my advice is buy something bigger than you ever think you'll need. they fill up quick.
I have a high-end safe and it, too, is not waterproof. I don't think you'd want it to be. That would lead to rusty rifles.
Put a golden rod or any other heating rod in it to drive out moisture.
There are many good safes on the market. AmSec, Browning, Ft. Knox all come to mind. There are many others, too. A good one will be expensive, but it's a good place to spend money. Why buy a cheap safe?
Put a golden rod or any other heating rod in it to drive out moisture.
There are many good safes on the market. AmSec, Browning, Ft. Knox all come to mind. There are many others, too. A good one will be expensive, but it's a good place to spend money. Why buy a cheap safe?
you get what you pay for. Avoid pentagon/sportsman steel gun safes at all cost, don't ask me how i know. I have a Seira Denali 40 made by Heritage safe company. They offer a upgrade to 3/16" body upgrade (3/16" on 5 sides with a thicker door.) They are one of th biggest bang for the buck safes on the market in my opinon. The biggest downside is the internal hinges. I will also advise to avoid any safe that you cannot see in person first. Also keep in mind that about 98% of the "safes" on the market are not safes at all but Residential security containers. also divide the "advertised" capasity of the same in half and you will have the actual resionable capasity of the safe. According to the specs on my safe say it holds 44 guns (rifles) and it is full with about 25. Also if you buy online figure about $200-$400 for residential delevery. I would recomend going through a local dealer so they can deliver and bolt the safe down. I have experienced both delivery methods and the second choice is the best. Also you are better off buying a seperate document safe, since very few gun safes offer true fire protection. The vast majority (minus the AMSEC BFand HS series and Graffunder) use dry wall as a fire retardent/insulation. As far as i know the AMSEC HS and the Graffunder safes are the only "true" safes on the market, and you will pay for it (3K and up) and they weigh a lot (2500 pounds and up.) After my first experience with the pentagon/sportsman steel safe i did a huge ammount of research before making my descision. the safe i bought is not the one i wanted (i wanted a Graffunder) but i could not afford one, and any safe is better than no safe. Above all take your time and find the highest quality safe you can afford, with the thickest steel you can afford. There are other members far more experienced than I in safes and hopefully they will chime in on this thread. good luck.
http://www.utahsafe.com/Summit Safes.html
http://www.heritagesafe.com/legacy.html
http://www.utahsafe.com/Summit Safes.html
http://www.heritagesafe.com/legacy.html
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Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow
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It is; have a couple. It's not gonna stop a determine thief or a raging unchecked inferno, but it will slow them down or buy time to get the FD to the house - nice interior and nice safe overall for that price.
That depends on your definition of the word "safe". Under most people's definition (and the dictionary's), that's not true. Both phrases are apt/descriptive, in fact.
Guns and more
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Get the biggest and best you can afford. (and then some.) You'll never regret it.
Buy locally and look at the choices. Dealers may have used safes that look like new, because people move and it's easier to sell than move it. Local dealers can deliver it and position it for a fee. It's worth every penny after you see the tools they use. (If you're buying a 100# lockbox, no, but an 800# safe? Yes.) They had to take my door off, as well as the handle on the safe and the electronic lock cover, and then it only fit by a 1/4". Good luck to a thief taking it out. My dealer also made an additional shelf covered in the same fabric, free.
If you are putting it in the garage, cosmetics might not matter, but I like the shiny paint since I look at it every day. I like the electronic lock, since it leads me to use it more, but that's my opinion.
Mine is a Century, I'm very happy but there are lots of brands out there.
Buy locally and look at the choices. Dealers may have used safes that look like new, because people move and it's easier to sell than move it. Local dealers can deliver it and position it for a fee. It's worth every penny after you see the tools they use. (If you're buying a 100# lockbox, no, but an 800# safe? Yes.) They had to take my door off, as well as the handle on the safe and the electronic lock cover, and then it only fit by a 1/4". Good luck to a thief taking it out. My dealer also made an additional shelf covered in the same fabric, free.
If you are putting it in the garage, cosmetics might not matter, but I like the shiny paint since I look at it every day. I like the electronic lock, since it leads me to use it more, but that's my opinion.
Mine is a Century, I'm very happy but there are lots of brands out there.
I to have been shopping for a new safe for some time and have not found one that has all the bells and whissels. You more or less have to give and take on what is being offered by all and choose whats right for you. In all my research for the past 4 months I came across a Steelwater gun safe that was resonably price for what they were offering with free shipping. nice pkg. 39 gun, gloss black, crome hardware ez out ,top shelf and 4 sides and not to heavy to install for around $1400.00 but don't hold me to it I would have to look it up again. Its been so long I can't remember. I had to put it on hold until after the winter. My opinion for what it's worth, any gun safe that you purchase is the best one on the market because that's what you were willing to pay for it. good luck shopping. www.steelwater.com
Thanks for the replies. The search didn't do much for me when I tried. I don't have any specifics other than I want it to hold 5-10 rifles/shotguns and have a few shelves to hold pistols and ammo. I know nothing is foolproof, but I want something that will hold off a flame until the FD gets there, 20-30 minutes would be great, and not destroy my guns while they put out the fire. I also want it to slow down a thief as much as possible. I basically want to hear opinions on if buying from WalMart or sporting goods stores is a good idea or bad.
Semmerling
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Very Important:
1. No fireproof safes, you wouldnt want the guns after the steam is released. Fireproof safes are for paper (think cash) and jewelry (think things that can get soaked from the moisture release). Anybody tells you differently hasnt been through a fire. See #5.
2. Absolutely no electronic locks, none, zero. Mechanical only and be prepared to set your own combination.
3. Its all about weight and strength. Figure on a minimum purchase of $2,500.
4. Off the floor. Be prepared to establish a hard pad (concrete) to get the safe off the floor at least 4 inches.
5. On a second floor? Wood construction? Not on an outside wall? Well, your not well located at all. First floor, on concrete, outside wall is best.
1. No fireproof safes, you wouldnt want the guns after the steam is released. Fireproof safes are for paper (think cash) and jewelry (think things that can get soaked from the moisture release). Anybody tells you differently hasnt been through a fire. See #5.
2. Absolutely no electronic locks, none, zero. Mechanical only and be prepared to set your own combination.
3. Its all about weight and strength. Figure on a minimum purchase of $2,500.
4. Off the floor. Be prepared to establish a hard pad (concrete) to get the safe off the floor at least 4 inches.
5. On a second floor? Wood construction? Not on an outside wall? Well, your not well located at all. First floor, on concrete, outside wall is best.
Thanks Semmerling, that is sound advice. Pretty much, I want to slow down a thief and protect the stuff inside while the FD hoses down the house. I will have to put it on my first floor. I do have a basement, but getting a safe down there is not an option, washer and dryer was hard enough and it is moist down there. Should I steer clear of $399 specials?
Geneseo1911
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search "rsc" and you will find more info than you want. About every safe thread has had that term in it somewhere. You can also search for posts by "a1abdj"; he's a safe dealer.
Nowhere Man
Member
I purchased a Readhead safe from Bass Pro. 24 long guns. 1 1/2 hr fire rating. It does have an electronic lock, which I like. It was $850 with $100 off plus an additional 10% off when I took out the BP credit card.
I'm happy with it.
Dave
I'm happy with it.
Dave
Guns and more
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Everyone has opinions, mine is my own.
I like the electronic lock, I use it every day. If I had to spin the dials, it would stay locked all the time. And in a panic? Good luck.
Spending $2500 minimum means many people would never buy a safe. I wouldn't. Mine keeps burglars out. I also keep spare keys, credit cards, and a few pictures in there. Makes other things hard to steal. Survive a fire? A lot better than having everything in a desk drawer!
To me, it's not "What is ideal?" It's "What can I afford that's better than nothing."
Geneseo1911
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WHERE did you get That deal?!
That safe should be over $2K
Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow
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Could you please elaborate on that? I don't understand that.
I find it rather difficult to swallow that many many many expensive safe companies are in essence duping the public into thinking that fire safes are helpful in a fire, knowing they are not.
Titan6
member
I think he is talking about the moisture from a wood stock being released? Possibly a warped stock? Not sure...
They are helpful in a fire, just less so for storing firearms.
Wierd things happen inside a sealed container when you heat them. If you are trying to store something that is vulnerable to oxidation(rust), a "fire-safe" vice a "safe-safe" may actualy make things worse.
This is usually a non-issues as most people are storing jewels, papers, or other items that don't rust.
Wierd things happen inside a sealed container when you heat them. If you are trying to store something that is vulnerable to oxidation(rust), a "fire-safe" vice a "safe-safe" may actualy make things worse.
This is usually a non-issues as most people are storing jewels, papers, or other items that don't rust.
winston smith
Member
Real fire safes have a water bearing substance -- vermiculite mixed with concrete; when the fire heats up the mix, the steam keeps the contents from burning for additional time. Gun safes mostly use sheetrock as fireproofing; I don't know if that has any moisture stored in it. Most gun safes should survive your house if they are in the basement or ground floor.
Waterproof safes may even survive the fire department!
Now say a jet crashes into your house. Rosie O'Donnell may not get it, but even steel melts... You are more likely to have a fire than a burglary... but how many houses have burned down near you in the last 10 years?
Crooks can be detered, mostly, but some can't no matter what.:banghead: Go rent "Goldfinger".
Its like life insurance; waste the largest amount you can afford; you need your guns to protect your life.
Here is a great Gun Safe Guide:
http://www.6mmbr.com/gunsafes.html
Oh, a friend says Gander Mt. is having a sale on slightly damaged safes in about 2-3 months. 30 percent off.
Waterproof safes may even survive the fire department!
Now say a jet crashes into your house. Rosie O'Donnell may not get it, but even steel melts... You are more likely to have a fire than a burglary... but how many houses have burned down near you in the last 10 years?
Crooks can be detered, mostly, but some can't no matter what.:banghead: Go rent "Goldfinger".
Its like life insurance; waste the largest amount you can afford; you need your guns to protect your life.
Here is a great Gun Safe Guide:
http://www.6mmbr.com/gunsafes.html
Oh, a friend says Gander Mt. is having a sale on slightly damaged safes in about 2-3 months. 30 percent off.
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