Gun Safes

[Hoss]

I figure you guys might know something about gun safes. I've only just recently realized I own things valuable enough to put into a safe. So I've just started trying to research them. I'm surprised that there isn't any consensus on one or 2 "best" safes. Or if there is, then I've been looking in places that were trying not to step on anyone's toes. It just seems to me like the 3 big things you expect out of a safe would be fire protection, theft protection, service, and price. Maybe not in that order, but pretty close, and someoen is bound to do those things better than everyone else.

So anyway, what do you guys use? The only big name safe I've really looked at is Ft Knox, because they have a rep at all the local gun shows. I've had friends (cops and volunteer firefighters) tell me to forget about fire protection based on how many ruined safes they've seen. But they didn't seem to be aware that there's a big difference in fire protection ratings and they didn't know why some safes they recovered from burned houses were OK while so many were ruined.

Information

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[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

I have had a Hall's safe for over 20 years. Very happy with it. I like dial, but they have electronic locks. They are in northern Calif.

Hall's Safe catalog

I started out keeping my most precious item in it, then just put in guns and coins.

Beleive it or not CostCo has some good deals on safes. Delivered to your driveway.




---------- Post added at 05:59 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:57 PM ----------

[Buntlineguy]

Dick's sporting goods has a good selection at decent prices.

B

[Youngblood]

A decade ago when I bought my first gunsafe one of my PRIMARY considerations was how to get it delivered and "installed" (a.k.a., into my house).

I met a fellow at a local gunshow who sold/delivered/installed Ft.Knox brand safes who said that I could act as his Helper in the process, I could save some money ... which worked out perfectly because I wanted to get some hands-on experience for the future.

I went home, did more research on Ft.Knox gunsafes, gave the guy a call and placed my order.

The delivery went smoothly (basement installation) and 2 years later when I decided to get a 2nd, I called the same fellow.

I suppose that the moral of this story is to decide how big a gunsafe you need ... and then get one two or three sizes larger, because you are going to fill that pup UP.

BTW, I am happy with my gunsafes. I re-did the Spacers so that I could get more long guns in and added peg board for bolt (and other stuff) storage on the doors. I also added inside power for rope lights, stick-heater and small fan.

[us019255]

Before I purchased my first safe I talked to a vendor at a gun show. He had retired from selling safes and strongrooms in Hollywood. His advice made sense. He claimed that all the brands of safes would be good enough, unless one had some really valuable stuff (like $1,000,000 in bearer bonds). If you had that and the right person found out, the best safe in the world would probably not be enough.

He did recommend that you secure the safe to the floor. Otherwise you may come home to find that after the local druggy smashed the handle and dial, he still couldn't get it open and ended up tipping it over in his rage, scratching your guns.

My only other advice is that the installation is a big thing. Gun safes are heavy!! My present man cave has a very small door. (The house dates to 1905) I couldn't get a standard safe in. I did some research and found Zanotti Armor on the web. They make safes that come apart into pieces. Not only did the pieces fit through the door, one or two men can easily handle them. I noticed last month that they now have competition.

I thought long and hard about electronic locks vs. mechanical. Yes, I know you can replace the batteries from the outside, but I decided that I didn't need another thing to go wrong when I really wanted to get into the safe. I went mechanical.

[albert]

I don't think that many of the commercial safes will stop a seasoned pro. What I count on mine for is the foiling the teenager or junkie with a pillow case who might be in the house for five minutes.

[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

My safe above weighs 1250# empty. Full, which it is ???
It resides in the walk in closet in my bedroom. No room to tip it over. I don't feel a need to bolt it down.
I have heard of smaller safes walking away though.

[JGaynor]

Following is a link to a buying guide prepared by a safe manufacturer.
I worked in the security field for a number of years and used to specify safes and vaults for drug distribution centers and manufacturers.
Most of the US companies i knew like Mosler and Diebold seem to have faded from the scene.

I don't have any connection with the company in the link but I like their approach. The equipment is high end and its reflected in the prices. On the other hand the rule of thumb we generally relied on in the industry was that the price of a safe should probably not exceed seven percent (7%) of the value of the contents.

Best Safe - Our Extensive Best Safes Buying Guide - All Safes are not Created Equal - Brown Safe Mfg.

In the final analysis people have to select the security arrangement that works for them and their budget. The safe is not the only way to skin the cat - don't overlook alarms, residential sprinkler systems, a dog and basic measures like good deadbolts and lighting. A cheesy safe is probalby just money wasted.

Regards.
Jim

[Johnny Peppers]

Remember that when you are buying a gun safe, every manufacturer thinks theirs is the best.

Our local gun shop sells several different brands, and while they haven't had one of their safes broken into, they have had three go through a total burn down. Professional safe crackers don't prey on your average residential dwelling, but a lot of crackheads and low life type do. Your main concern is protecting your valuables from theft, and from fire. Personally I bought Browning, and while I haven't had a break-in or fire, I feel that I have good protection. I would go for the highest fire rating the manufacturer offers when purchasing a safe.

[Hoss]

I should have checked this thread more often, thanks for the tips everyone. I am going to go for a ft knox or something in that class. I feel like they are are equal enough when it comes to theft protection as long as it's a big safe that can't walk away and they take some basic precautions with their dead bolts. As was said, no safe will protect valuables from a seasoned pro with ample time. It seems to me that the big difference is in fire rating, and I'm going to find the biggest one I can afford with the best fire rating. At the last gun show I went to I talked to another safe guy with fire ratings quite a bit higher than Ft knox. I can't remember the name off the top of my head, but I'm currently leaning towards them.

My biggest question now is still where to put it. Are there standard rules regarding placement? Inside wall, outside wall, etc. Inside a closet isn't possible as I don't have any big closets. I have a spare bedroom that we use as an armory, so we're either putting it there or in the garage. I personally don't like the garage because of the increased risk of corrosion and the fact that it's a lot easier to break into my garage without me knowing than to break into my house. I'm also worried about my foundation because my soil shifts a lot, but every time I bring up that concern with the various safe people they say it has never been a problem.