Winchester or Cannon RSC?

[Vegas Silver]

I'm buying either a Winchester RSC (Sam's Club special) or the 24 gun Cannon sold at Academy. I know people like the Winchester, in general. People seem to like the Cannon as well.

The Winchester is $645.00, sold at Sams Club...

http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?dest=5&item=399617

The Cannon is $699.00, sold at Academy. The link to Academy doesn't really give much info so I'm not gonna dig it up.

They're both about the same size, near the same cost, I think both have electronic locks, etc. Is there any great reason to buy one over the other, or should I just choose the one that is most appealing to me? The Cannon is slightly bigger, and I think I like the inside layout slightly better, but the Winchester is a little cheaper.

Thanks for any opinions!

 

[a1abdj]

The Winchester is a Granite Chinese import. Since you don't have a link I can't say with 100% certanty, but I would bet the Cannon is Chinese as well.

Both are probably built to pretty similar standards. There are only a handfull of Chinese companies building gun safes, so sometimes they even come from the same factory, even if they have different names on them.

I don't do any work for Cannon, but have heard horror stories about their customer service (some right here on this forum). I haven't heard anything bad about Granite, and the few times I have done work for them, it appeared that they were a pleasure to deal with.

 

[Vegas Silver]

I have read in quite a few places that Granite is a Fort Worth, TX based company, and I've seen American made splashed around a lot concerning them. Are some "Granite" safes American made and some Chinese, or are they all Chinese imports? What's the warranty like? I haven't seen much info on it.

I looked at the Cannon again today and noticed the electronic lock was S&G, which I believe is one of the better electronic locks. The safe has a "lifetime warranty" but I guess there's not much weight to that, considering the experience you've shared.

 

[a1abdj]

I have read in quite a few places that Granite is a Fort Worth, TX based company, and I've seen American made splashed around a lot concerning them. Are some "Granite" safes American made and some Chinese, or are they all Chinese imports?

Granite was one of the last hold outs on the sub $1,000 US made gun safe market. They finally gave in a few years ago and started importing safes like everybody else.

I do believe that they make some US made safes, but they are in the higher price brackets. Granite owns Treadlok, and I believe a few other brand names as well.

What's the warranty like? I haven't seen much info on it.

Most gun safe manufacturers have similar warranties. Most of them are useless, so I wouldn't be overly worried about it. These warranties are more marketing than substance, just like so many other things gun safe related. These manufacturers have really done a good job at getting consumers to look at the things that aren't important instead of the things that are.

I looked at the Cannon again today and noticed the electronic lock was S&G, which I believe is one of the better electronic locks. The safe has a "lifetime warranty" but I guess there's not much weight to that, considering the experience you've shared.

S&G is a large brand name company. I have had better luck with LaGard electronic locks, but S&G is a good manufacturer. There are several others as well.

Of all of the companies that I do work for, but do not sell safes for, Liberty probably has the best customer service, followed closely by ProSteel (Browning). According to a member of this forum, they couldn't even get a Cannon customer service rep on the phone, nor could they get them to return their call after several attempts.

 

[Vegas Silver]

As always, your expertise is much appreciated. I've followed your threads for years. If I was in the market for an actual safe, I'd already be sending my business your way. Unfortunately, I can't do that kind of investment right now.

I'll settle for the best RSC in my price range for now. I'll probably go with that Cannon.