Gun safes....what ya got?

[1msucub]

I'd love y'all's input on this subject. I'm looking to stay at $1000 and under, realizing that price range eliminates the Cadillacs and "true safes". I prefer mechanical locks vs keypads and am not looking to store documents (safety deposit box handles that). I also do not own an arsenal, but am looking to expand some in the coming years as my boys get older. I'm also not afraid of used, but there seems to be a drought on the used market for now.

I've researched them ad nauseum, and would love to hear some real world input. I've got room upstairs where I could build one, and will gladly take suggestions on that, but not sure how practical hauling steel plates up there would be.

A thread search came up empty, and thanks in advance.

 

[Dawgbite]

I have a 56 gun Cannon from Tractor Supply and I like it very well. I too wanted a combination safe but settled for the key pad on this on because it gave me the most room for the money and so far have had no complaints. I haven't even had to change the battery in the key pad yet. I also have a 20 gun Sentry that I just use for ammo. I don't think I would put the 56 gun on the second floor though, its heavy empty, no telling what it weighs loaded.

 

[barely]

be careful with Cannon--Ive got a Cannon and a Liberty, both are well made, heavy duty and fire rated safes. But just a few weeks ago, I paid a locksmith over $400 to replace the lock on the Cannon. Its gradually gotten worse, over the last few years its taken longer and longer to get it open until it finally didnt open at all. It took the locksmith about an hour to open it and they were about to drill it. He told me that they see that this problem with Cannon more than any other brand of safe. I paid about $650 at Academy Sports for it, the liberty was quite a bit more, but the locksmith assured me that you get what you pay for in safes. Hope that helps

 

[dorndawg]

I have a Liberty 24 gun safe with a mechanical lock. It doesn't have any frills, want to say I gave about 450 or 500 for it. I've been satisfied.

To each their own but I wouldn't want a big safe on a 2nd floor: a) that'd be a ***** to get up there b) if you build one, it's gone if you sell the place c) would likely fall through & tear everything in it to hell in the event of a fire

 

[opieT]

Very interested to hear input on this subject also. I was looking at a Liberty Fatboy Jr. safe. The dealer in Pearl told me the safe would be fine in my garage and humidity wouldn't be a problem with a humidity rod installed. I can't exactly remember the price he told me on the Fatboy Jr. but it was over $1,000 I know. Supposedly it's the best deal from Liberty. They mass produce the Fatboys and offer limited color schemes to keep their cost down.

 

[Dental Dawg]

If you live near Pearl, go to discount gun safe. They even have a company that will finance it (Just make sure you don't miss a payment). I bought the Liberty. Works great. Get a golden rod to protect your guns from moisture.

 

[DreadNought.sixpack]

I bought the Liberty Presidential several years ago and did a lot of research. I am storing guns and documents and my even though I paid a lot for my safe, but figure it is worth it. Research YouTube and Google and I think you will find the most important properties of the safe will be wall thickness and fire rating. One YouTube video I saw showed a guy taking about 30 seconds to get into a safe with a crow bar. Another cut in through the side with a metal saw in about 40 seconds. You want something that will take several hours for a thief to get into and from what I saw, they can get into anything given enough time. The time is the deterrent. Another aspect is fire. You want something with a high degree of insulation to protect it against fire or a blow torch, (thief). The last thing is you want to drill holes into the floor and bolt it down from the inside. Another video I saw showed one guy moving an 8' safe around like a lawn chair using a crow bar and a 3/4" PVC pipe. Bolt that sucker down. I got the mechanical lock as I've read the key pads eventually fail at some point. YOu can get both though for some extra dough.

 

[Big Sheep81]

1. You aren't going to find many used safes. People that own them keep them.

2. Have an American Security I paid $1k for in 1998. Really like everything but the gold dial. Hard to read in low light. 18 guns but holds less.

3, Bought another one from Bass Pro Red Head brand. Made by same folks that make Browning. Great safe, easy to read and open. 26 Guns but holds less. (scopes and such take up space)

4. One in house, one in shop. Can split up guns in case something happens to one or the other. Small arsenal.

5. Don't buy electronic. The dial is ancient but always reliable in a good safe. Hide combination in several places. You will forget it and getting it from the company will be a cast iron *****.

6. For the money, the Bass Pro Redhead safes are a good buy. Hard to go wrong. Be sure it has the door hangers for pistols, extra mags, knives, etc. Remember just because it says "30 Guns" doesn't meant you can fit a gun in all 30 slots. Inside configuration and other stuff your family wants to store takes up space (Bibles, report cards, coloring books, buttons, photos, pregnacy tests, etc. Remeber all that **** is valuable and your parents and in-laws will want some space). Again, that's why I have two.

 

[greenbean.sixpack]

I'd love y'all's input on this subject. I'm looking to stay at $1000 and under, realizing that price range eliminates the Cadillacs and "true safes". I prefer mechanical locks vs keypads and am not looking to store documents (safety deposit box handles that). I also do not own an arsenal, but am looking to expand some in the coming years as my boys get older. I'm also not afraid of used, but there seems to be a drought on the used market for now.

I've researched them ad nauseum, and would love to hear some real world input. I've got room upstairs where I could build one, and will gladly take suggestions on that, but not sure how practical hauling steel plates up there would be.

A thread search came up empty, and thanks in advance.

The most important thing is finding one that will fit the space you have picked out. I needed one that was slightly shorter than standard to fit under a shelf in my closet. I ended up getting a smoking deal on one from Dicks (Sentinel?) that fit my space. I wasn't worried about getting one that could withstand 4 billion degrees for 4 years, I live in a neighborhood, in the very unlikely event of a fire the Rez Fire Dept will be here in a couple of mikes. Also, I'm not overly concerned about buglers, they are mostly grab and go types, they're most likely not going to spend half a day trying to get into a gun safe and probably wouldn't have the proper tools anyway.

Considering rifles with scopes, gun safes usually hold about half the guns claimed.

 

[1msucub]

All good input...to be clear, it's going downstairs...

upstairs would only be if I built a "safe room". I'm looking at a Brwoning Yukon Gold 20 at Sportsman's Warehouse (DeSoto Co.) for around $750 at the moment. Mechanical lock, and a pretty nice safe. Like greenbean, I'm not looking for a impenetrable fort.

 

[DreadNought.sixpack]

Just curious, if you aren't concerned about theft or fire, why buy a gun safe? Is it just to keep kids from playing with the guns? If so, then that makes some sense. If you really want to protect valuables from theft or fire I think you are going to have to spend more than $1000.00.

 

[karlchilders.sixpack]

And further more

Don't tell anybody that you have it.

And Bolt it down.

There is a reason for this: Never trust Nobody!

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

Liberty. There really is no question. I use to be a dealer. Lifetime waranty. No questions. Their d drive lock is actually a mechanical lock even though it's electrical. Sounds weird, but true. Don't even look at anything else. Go to liberties website and watch some videos of their safes vs the competitions.

 

[1msucub]

Good question...so let me clarify a little.
I'm concerned with both, but can't afford the type of protection I'd LIKE to have. That's 3-4K and up it seems. Isn't JUST to keep the kids away, but that's pretty high on the list as a parent, of course.

 

[Yossarian39]

Winchester Silverado: http://winchestersafes.com/Silveradosafes.aspx At $1,200 - $1,299 for a 24 gun model it is a little over your budget, but the best bang for you buck out there. 2 Hour @ 1,400 degree fire rating & 10 ga. steel. Available in manual or electronic lock. The only complaint I have with mine is that I wish I had bought a size larger. Great safe

 

[cowbell88]

Buy one for theft protection, not for fire rating. In 2008, I lost many items in a fire at my deer camp during hunting season. While sifting through ashes, I found my rifle with leopuold scope. The glass from scope had been completely melted. The glass from my Leica range finder was still semi round but obviously had gotten malleable during fire.

So what temp does glass melt? Depending on composition any where from 900°F-2200°F with quartz melting around 3000°. Most safes I researched had rating from 1000-1600° rating at 30-45 min. So, fire rating to me is not important when considering protection. Seems like a sales ploy to me, since house fires can easily get hotter than fire ratings.

I am going to get a safe with at least 8 probably 10 locking bolts, but until then my Homaks from Walmart and insurance policies will hopefully be enough.