Situation and a Safe that fits.

[SecuritySixShooter]

Ok like many others I have started a collection of firearms. Not such a big deal until my last purchase. Recently purchased (but havent built) my first AR15. Now that I have gotten to thinking about it I wish I had invested in a safe before the purchase. I figured that when I wasnt around I would just break down the rifle and hide the components (theory was that a robber would have to search for all the parts). The more I think about it I would rather have a safe of some sort. Something effective that would hold a couple of longarms (3-5) and be decently secure from smash and grab type robberies. The cheaper the better but I understand that you get what you pay for. Any tips to better secure my firearms would be appreciated.

 

[SecuritySixShooter]

It also worthy to mention that I live in a small apartment. I cant really bolt anything down to the ground (how would you go about that anyhow?). I dont really know what to do about this. At least I have loud mean sounding dogs.

 

[MountainBear]

Get a less expensive wal-mart type combination safe. When you get it into you apartment, put six or eight bags of shot in the bottom (as many as you have room for). This is better than nothing, and a good alternative to a $1000 or more safe...
I just had the same realization a few months ago and dropped a grand into my safe...

 

[Jim K]

The cost would probably be more than you want to pay, but you might try www.zanottiarmor.com. Their modular safes can be assembled where you want them and disassembled for moving, considerations in an apartment.

Jim

 

[Starter52]

You can buy a cheap but effective locker-style strongbox for about $100. They are light enough to move easily into an apartment, but strong enough to frustrate any snatch-and-grab thief.

Filling the bottom with 200 lbs. of heavy weights is a good idea. With the price of lead shot nearly $1/lb I'd consider using old gym weights. They fit flat on the bottom and are often dirt cheap.

 

[vynx]

Last year Lowes had a one day sale for the day after Thanksgiving where they sold a Sentry Safe model # E5251? or 5351? it is 59 inches tall by 21 inches wide by 16 (maybe 17) inches deep NOT counting the handle and dial which add 1.5 - 2"s for $299.

They said they do this every year at Thanksgiving - it is the fireproof (drywall) model with the lock box inside on the top shelf. For the price it is hard to beat and the size should be managable for apt/ steps. I moved mine by myself but I only had one step.

You can bolt it to the floor and/or the wall - if you don't want to make holes in the floor - you could bolt it to the wall and cover those holes when you move with a little spackle.

For the price you can't go wrong - tool boxes for trucks cost more than $300.

 

[KC&97TA]

Lowes sells a 7-14 gun safe that can be configured for half long guns and the other side selves for pistols or gear, has a locking ammo locker on the inside and a little shelf, with some elastic rope on the door. I wouldn't consider it a SAFE although it is sold that way, it's more of a storage locker. They run about $427, it won't stop a thief, but it will slow them down, and prevent anykind of smash and grab type of events. Think they weigh close to 400lbs, so you'll need a refridgerator dolly. A roll of X-Mas paper will camo your new purchase while you move it in, no need to show the neghbors you have so many weapons that you need a safe.

Another option, is a tall sentry fire proof safe, I think they sell a 2.2cu model that should hold several hand guns and a complete lower reciever, they're around $200 and weigh in around 200lbs, plus they're fire proof. Down side is a single man or 2 men could carry it out.

Several years ago, I drilled and 'liquid nailed' 1ft long 2" eye-lets into the floor and ran a titanium bike cable through them and the locks of my pelican case, kind of a gheto set up but better than nothing. I've seen people hang thier guns inside of suits and over coats to hide thier location. If you have the furnace and water heater in your apartment this maybe a good location as well.

Cost-Co and Sams Club also sell safes, for around $650.

If you live on the ground floor of an apartment, just go ahead and drill it into the floor, make sure you use a vacumee while you drill, the holes aren't that noticable, till the carpet is pulled up and then just play dumb. There's alot of people that buy cheap safes or have no safe... I used to say that my safe was cheaper than my cheapest gun, my safe was still cheaper than my cheapest shotgun Let me see someone walk off with a 700lb safe. Down side is that there's been a few posts that people were ambushed in thier homes after a burglary, when the bad guys saw the safe them came back armed to have the owner open it.

 

[White Horseradish]

Harbor Freight sells a smaller and a larger safe. Small one is good for 3-4 handguns and can be bought on sale fpr about $40. Big one has two shelves and can fit a dozen or so handguns in pistol rugs. That one sells for around $100.

Neither one of these is fireproof or good against a pro burglar, but provided you bolt them down they will stand up to curious children and smash-and-grabbers.