I've got one 36", 900 lb fireproof safe that was picked because that was the largest that would fit in the room I had and that I could afford. I'll not be buying another other than maybe a small vault for the bedroom for the bedside gun unless my circumstances change significantly. I've a bit of room yet in my safe and the size encourages me to keep my addiction within reasonable bounds. As much as I like guns, I like other things in life too, and living with balance is the key. I don't sucscribe to the "he who dies with the most toys wins" philosophy.
One large safe or multiple smaller safes?
- Thread starter Armymutt
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huntsman
Member
+1
I'm a pipe smoker and $500. Dunhills are the main competition to guns/ammo for my meager extra cash.
Reloadron
Contributing Member
That was the logic I applied when I went out and bought our RSC. Now it is tight in there. Anyway, for her jewelery and all our important documents and papers it made sense to her and she always goes for things that make sense.
Anyway, I don't bother with ammunition in the safe, RSC or whatever and as I add things I'll just invest in another one. I planned the space when the first went in.
Ron
Stevie-Ray
Member
I have one 600# Winchester. I'm looking at getting a Stack-On or Sentry for the ammo that is stored in the Winchester. Then I'll probably be set. No bigger ones for me, too damn hard to move, and doubtful I'll acquire much more in my life.
Shadow 7D
Member
Most of them are simply wall lockers built a little tighter, with a snazzier paint job and better lock...
Would it surprise you to learn that many to most brands of 'gun safes' are built by the same factory/company in china?
Price is a major consideration, as is UL rated lock, there are a few US brands that are MUCH better than a NAME brand chinese box for much the same price. An honest safe smith would be happy to steer you to the most affordable box or the best for your price range...
BTW if you check there are 2 Safesmiths who post regularly and they'll even help a forum member out, including shipping to a dock (truck freight terminal) they usually beat the local 'sporting' box store.
Would it surprise you to learn that many to most brands of 'gun safes' are built by the same factory/company in china?
Price is a major consideration, as is UL rated lock, there are a few US brands that are MUCH better than a NAME brand chinese box for much the same price. An honest safe smith would be happy to steer you to the most affordable box or the best for your price range...
BTW if you check there are 2 Safesmiths who post regularly and they'll even help a forum member out, including shipping to a dock (truck freight terminal) they usually beat the local 'sporting' box store.
If I bought lockable storage for my ammunition, I'd go broke.
As a reminder to the OP, rated long firearm capacity of safes from the manufacturer and what the safes can actually hold are rarely the same unless the only guns you have are O/U shotguns and/or lever action rifles, no scopes installed.
"As a reminder to the OP, rated long firearm capacity of safes from the manufacturer and what the safes can actually hold are rarely the same unless the only guns you have are O/U shotguns and/or lever action rifles, no scopes installed. "
That post is true. I have ten long guns packed in tight, so to add more I would need to remove the included shelving.
I am of the opinion that firearms and ammunition should be stored separately. That being said, multiple storage is recommended. My two cents worth...
That post is true. I have ten long guns packed in tight, so to add more I would need to remove the included shelving.
I am of the opinion that firearms and ammunition should be stored separately. That being said, multiple storage is recommended. My two cents worth...
That doesn't seem to stop people who are determined. If they can pry open a safe they can pry it loose from walls and floors. That or they can cut through the bolts holding the safes in place.
Either way it's still faster to get in and out of a house taking two small safes with you than it is to break into a safe while you're inside a house that you broke in to. Bolting down safes will slow down the bad guys but it will not stop them. If you have the right tools you can break a safe loose pretty quickly.
Black Butte
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One decoy safe in plain sight, and the others well hidden. Once burglars find the decoy, they'll stop looking and waste their time trying to open it. Put in some fake jewelery and phoney coins to make them think they got it all, then they'll quickly leave without ever finding the real safes.
I have three safes and all are overloaded. 24 guns my left...
Maybe if I had 24 Red Rider BB guns they would all fit or a bunch of single shot .22s and 12s without scopes.
My "big" safe is in my bedroom about 5 feet from my head when I sleep. One is in my large closet and the other is in a spare bedroom. All three are bolted to concrete floors as well as into studs in the wall. I have no doubt that a professional thief with time would be able to break into or remove all three of my safes. I have a "layered defense" to try and make sure he doesn't have enough time but I realize it can still be done. He certainly isn't going to move the safes by himself so he will have to have accomplices.
The problem for me and one HUGE safe is more an issue of available space than any other consideration as it would take up half a wall or an entire closet. With multiple safes I no doubt take up more total space but it is spread out more.
The only ammo I store inside my safes is a loaded mag for a couple of HD guns and one fully loaded .357. I would need two more safes to store ammo so all mine is stored in ammo boxes in a closet. Until recently I never considered that the ammo is more valuable than most of my guns. An ammo box full of 9mm is worth $250 in today's market and one full of .22 is worth about $1 bajillion.
Maybe if I had 24 Red Rider BB guns they would all fit or a bunch of single shot .22s and 12s without scopes.
My "big" safe is in my bedroom about 5 feet from my head when I sleep. One is in my large closet and the other is in a spare bedroom. All three are bolted to concrete floors as well as into studs in the wall. I have no doubt that a professional thief with time would be able to break into or remove all three of my safes. I have a "layered defense" to try and make sure he doesn't have enough time but I realize it can still be done. He certainly isn't going to move the safes by himself so he will have to have accomplices.
The problem for me and one HUGE safe is more an issue of available space than any other consideration as it would take up half a wall or an entire closet. With multiple safes I no doubt take up more total space but it is spread out more.
The only ammo I store inside my safes is a loaded mag for a couple of HD guns and one fully loaded .357. I would need two more safes to store ammo so all mine is stored in ammo boxes in a closet. Until recently I never considered that the ammo is more valuable than most of my guns. An ammo box full of 9mm is worth $250 in today's market and one full of .22 is worth about $1 bajillion.
Hardtarget
Member
I have one safe and it is about full. Soon, some space will open up. One long gun, (Marlin 39),and two hand guns (S&W K-.22 and a Colt Trooper) will go to my sons...inherited from my brother. However, that doesn't mean I will be making new purchases. I can barely feed the guns I have! I need reloading supplies more than another firearm.
Mark.
Mark.
Fella's;
My first thought is that what the collective "you" are calling safes, aren't. Like the Sturdy, in point of U.L., they're RSC's not safes. If you're limiting the discussion to RSC's, then both views have valid points. But, if the discussion does include safes then it's no question in my mind - get a big safe. And I've put my money where my typing fingers are, more than once.
It's quite true that real safes cost more than RSC's, whether or not the cost is justified to you, well that's your personal decision. But, to my mind at least, attempting to protect a 25K gun collection with a couple of .8K Blue Light Specials is just asking for a double scoop of reality to land in your diapers. In other words if what you've got to protect is truly valuable to you, be it jewelry, guns, photos, or other things, then spend the money to do the job correctly. There's a difference between Dr. Feelgood & responsible M.D. and that applies here also.
900F
My first thought is that what the collective "you" are calling safes, aren't. Like the Sturdy, in point of U.L., they're RSC's not safes. If you're limiting the discussion to RSC's, then both views have valid points. But, if the discussion does include safes then it's no question in my mind - get a big safe. And I've put my money where my typing fingers are, more than once.
It's quite true that real safes cost more than RSC's, whether or not the cost is justified to you, well that's your personal decision. But, to my mind at least, attempting to protect a 25K gun collection with a couple of .8K Blue Light Specials is just asking for a double scoop of reality to land in your diapers. In other words if what you've got to protect is truly valuable to you, be it jewelry, guns, photos, or other things, then spend the money to do the job correctly. There's a difference between Dr. Feelgood & responsible M.D. and that applies here also.
900F
That's a sentiment that holds true in nearly everything, not just safes. Kimber's cost more than RIAs because they do a "better" job. I own both. Winchester rifles are better than Savage rifles. Mercedes are better than Toyotas. Rolex is better than Timex. True "safes" are better than RSCs.
In these types of posts I always try to think of the "average" guy. This guy has a couple or ten guns, maybe 25 or 50 but nothing worth $25k. Probably along the line of $10k total with a bunch of $300 rifles and the occasional $750 gun. He just realizes the need for a means to lock up his guns and other valuables. He can go to Tractor Supply or Academy or Bass Pro and buy a safe that will virtually always do what he needs. There are certainly more expensive/better options in safes, guns(Korth anyone) and cars(still looking for a Lamborghini) but average Joe buys what he can afford right now rather than saving and getting the top of the line. Doesn't make him right or wrong...just average.
BTW. In case there is anyone that doesn't know this your home owners insurance will not pay for $10k worth of guns if you are robbed. Most of them are around $2500 unless you get a "rider". The same is true of jewelry as a friend of mine found out a few weeks ago.
Breaking into or carrying off a safe or RSC is possible. Heavier safes make it more difficult.
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Fella's;
"He can go to Tractor Supply or Academy or Bass Pro and buy a safe that will virtually always do what he needs." That's true. Because virtally all the time all you're buying is a storage container. It's only after the burglary, fire, or natural disaster that you find out if what you bought is good enough. The chance of those particular circumstances happening to you is how the insurance companies place their bets with the premiums. However, some of those circumstances do occur to some people every day, and not virtually.
Therefore, the guy that posts: "I bought the Super-Wow wonder safe five years ago and I've never had a problem. This is a great unit & you should buy one too!", literally does not know what he's talking about. He bought storage, I believe it's good storage, and he's happy with it as storage. But he doesn't have a clue as to whether or not the thing is capable of protecting it's contents when a real attack is made on it. A lot of what both A1abdj and I do on this site is to attempt to bring the membership up to speed on the subject of RSC's, safes, and the differences between them. In other words, an RSC may be good enough, but a true safe increases those odds in your favor to a very high degree. Is it worth is to you? That's every consumer's personal decision.
But, many things influence the relevancy of that decision other than money. For instance; I'm sure I can find at least one member on this site that would rather have his MIL come visit for six weeks rather than lose "that" gun. The gun may only be worth $500.00 in today's market, but to that person it's priceless. Or, you may not treasure the wedding album but your wife would make life a living he!! if something happened to it. And I could go on.
900F
"He can go to Tractor Supply or Academy or Bass Pro and buy a safe that will virtually always do what he needs." That's true. Because virtally all the time all you're buying is a storage container. It's only after the burglary, fire, or natural disaster that you find out if what you bought is good enough. The chance of those particular circumstances happening to you is how the insurance companies place their bets with the premiums. However, some of those circumstances do occur to some people every day, and not virtually.
Therefore, the guy that posts: "I bought the Super-Wow wonder safe five years ago and I've never had a problem. This is a great unit & you should buy one too!", literally does not know what he's talking about. He bought storage, I believe it's good storage, and he's happy with it as storage. But he doesn't have a clue as to whether or not the thing is capable of protecting it's contents when a real attack is made on it. A lot of what both A1abdj and I do on this site is to attempt to bring the membership up to speed on the subject of RSC's, safes, and the differences between them. In other words, an RSC may be good enough, but a true safe increases those odds in your favor to a very high degree. Is it worth is to you? That's every consumer's personal decision.
But, many things influence the relevancy of that decision other than money. For instance; I'm sure I can find at least one member on this site that would rather have his MIL come visit for six weeks rather than lose "that" gun. The gun may only be worth $500.00 in today's market, but to that person it's priceless. Or, you may not treasure the wedding album but your wife would make life a living he!! if something happened to it. And I could go on.
900F
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While that is most assuredly true, the Sturdy is a huge step up from the average RSC with 10 gauge if your lucky, but more likely 12 gauge steel wrapped around sheet rock with weak a bolt setup that goes behind a weak "frame".
The Sturdy has at least 7 gauge walls with tight fitting 5/16" door, with long bolts that are supported on both ends that go behind a substantial piece of frame. Mine has the 5 gauge wall upgrade, and right now they have some 4 gauge upgrades and 3/8" door upgrades going.
Walkalong said:
Exactly. I have a couple of Sturdy "safes" and they are far beyond the typical RSC that you find at Gander Mountain or similar. There are some interesting photos and explanations in the link below.
http://www.sturdysafe.com/gaugethicknesswar.htm
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