Need Firearm Safe Advice

[Fargazer]

Greetings all - moderate time lurker, first time poster.

I am looking for a USA made safe to secure my firearms from both theft and fire. Tentatively, I'm looking at a $4000 budget, which would include shipping and installation (placement, bolting it to walls / floor). Self install is not an option I'm willing to consider.

The security environment is layered, with a monitored alarm system and dogs; in addition, the safe will most likely be camouflaged and have a vibration alarm attached to the inside of the safe. I'm looking at storage for approximately 35 long guns and 20 pistols, with some room for expansion.

I've got two questions, at least to start with:

• I've found several safe dealers in the general area; are there any particular ones people have had a good experience with that they can recommend?
  • Nashville and Atlanta dealers can be considered also
• I suspect a RSC will do just fine, given the other layers; however, I'd love to be able to get something with a TL-15 rating. I doubt I can afford a new TL-15 safe; is it realistic to think I could find a used one with that high a rating, given my budget?

I'm looking to purchase in January, at which time I'll take a look at what used safes are available.

 

[a1abdj]

I would have to look to see who's in your area, but I have a couple of used TL rated safes, larger than a typical gun safe, starting in the $3,500 range. I would think you could probably get something along those lines for pretty close to what you have budgeted.

Are any of the safe dealers in your area true safe companies? If so, what do they sell?

 

[Fargazer]

Of the places I've checked so far.

• One dealer sells Champion Safes; given I've not seen those much in my online research, and their web site claim that "gypsum is the best fire insulation for safe applications" doesn't instill confidence.
• Another - Packard's Safe and Lock - did not speak well of the AmSec safes, and recommended Cobalt. The gentleman on the phone did not seem terribly comfortable with the conversation.
• The Safe House, out of Nashville, did sound like a true safe company; his thought for my budget was that the Browning Medallion series would be my best bang for buck, and that they were US made. He was thinking a TL-15 rated safe would be around $8000 or more.
• Randy's Pawn Shop out of Trenton GA is a Liberty Safe dealer; they have no specialized safe expertise outside of that brand.
• There is a Fort Knox safe dealer in Murphy NC, but like Randy's, there is no specialized safe expertise outside of the brand they carry.

Are any of the safe dealers in your area true safe companies?

A true safe dealers in my service area is what I'm looking for. As yet I haven't called anyone in Atlanta, but two companies that have come up are Wolf Security and Safe, and Downs Safe & Lock Company.

Do you have any particular recommendations for my region?

 

[stchman]

Cabela's has a real nice safe that you can darn near walk into for $3000. Thing is freaking huge.

 

[Cesiumsponge]

I looked on Frank's website some time ago and it looks like he is dropping Cobalt which he used to carry. We'll have to wait for him to elaborate. I believe it's an entry-level import brand (the OP asked for US-made)

 

[heeler]

I have to admit the very fact that a safe and vault guy did not feel comfortable speaking with you and the fact he suggested a Cobalt over the Amsec fire and burglary safe would have been enough right there to raise my red flag.

 

[leadcounsel]

This has been discussed to death here. Just do a search. There are like 3 active dicussions on this right now.

I'm a satisfied Sturdy safe owner and would recommend them.

 

[avs11054]

I got a liberty safe from Sam's club (25 gun safe) for about $700. That's the best deal I could find anywhere. I love it so far.

 

[Fargazer]

This has been discussed to death here. Just do a search. There are like 3 active dicussions on this right now.

I have done my RTFM; however, those threads are talking about which safe is better. This thread is asking for dealer recommendations in the Chattanooga region, and whether a TL-15 safe is realistic to look for with my budget - significantly different.

 

[Cesiumsponge]

There are a few TL-30+ used options in the $4000 and under range that I've seen on several safe websites that update their used safe selection. I assume most companies don't update their website because inventory changes so often. It also seems like most safe manufacturers skip the TL-15 and go straight to TL-30 for their burglary line, if the used marketplace is any reflection of what new sales might be so there might not be a huge price difference at the used level between those two.

Are you specifically opposed to all import safes or ones specifically from certain countries/areas? A lot of the burglary safes are made overseas, but in locations like England, Israel, France, or Finland, to name a few.

 

[Fargazer]

I'm looking for a US made safe for a couple of reasons:

• Support US industry
• the quality of steel seems to be better, at least compared to China

I'd consider a non-Chinese product made outside the US, but only after discussion with a safe professional, and only if it offered some unique feature / price benefit not available in a US product.

 

[adirondack]

+1 for Sturdy Fargazer.

They are as American as a safe company gets and they really know their steel and steel fabrication. Beyond that for that price, be looking for a good used TL safe and a1abdj is a good source for that.

www.sturdysafe.com

 

[a1abdj]

There are a few US companies that built TL rated safes here in the US. There are far more that are imported. You won't find many TL rated safes coming from China, but Chinese safes are not as evil as most make them out to be. So long as the Chinese safes are built to spec for US companies, they tend to be of decent quality.

Atlanta is a good area for safe guys.

Braselton Safe and Lock, 706-654-2662. This guy is a smaller dealer, but is involved in moving and refurbishing safes. If he doesn't have something, he probably knows where to look. If you call Al, tell him the guy that sold him his hydraulic trailer referred you.

If Al doesn't have anything, call Protection Lock and Equipment, 770-436-0302. Ron is heavily involved with high security safes, and although I think he's mostly involved in the service side, would also know who has what for sale.

 

[Cesiumsponge]

Graffunder is another option if you can find one used because it's a turn-key gun safe that won't require retrofitting the interior. The lowest security level is a B-rate (1/4" body. 1/2" door) plus the composite and inner lining. They're listed with some fire rating, but not through UL. I've attached a photo of a cross section of their B and E/F levels. Made in the USA too (WA state)