OT: Gun safes

[Skydog77]

I have never owned a gun safe in my life, but now my kids are getting older and the top shelves of my closet won't do anymore. Besides, if someone breaks in while i'm gone i want it to be a ***** to get my guns.

I don't really know what to look for. I need to store a couple scoped deer rifles, three shotguns, a few rimfire rifles, two pistols, and a Mini 14. I'd also like room for some guns I don't have yet, but will.

What is a quality brand? How much fire protection is enough? What other features should I consider? Should I have it installed professionally? Bolted to the foundation? Price?

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[AlSwearengen]

I have very basic knowledge of them, mainly b/c we have been shopping for a new one lately. We made the common mistake of buying too small with our current safe. Always buy bigger than you think you will need. You can always use it for things other than guns. Liberty seems to be one of the top brands. One feature that I am interested in is a digital pad instead of the spinning wheel thing for the combination.

As far as bolting it to the foundation, I don't think you would need to do that, especially if it is a big safe.

According to the guy at the Liberty store in mobile, the fatboy (?) I think it is called is the most popular safe they have. It is a wide body safe, but is a little on the short side I thought, at least for what I want. If you just want to put alot of guns in it, then that particular safe might be a good choice.

 

[was21]

Move if you're worried about somebody breaking in your house.

 

[chainedup_Dawg]

I have a Liberty safe that was given to me a few years ago. I wouldn't own anything else. You don't have to worry about bolting it down if you get a bigger one. Mine took four guys to get it in the house with an appliance dolly and that was while it was empty. I had the same concerns as you with kids and someone breaking in don't have a worry at all now. If you are looking for a deal, Mossy Oak in West Point has a Liberty sale every year and have great deals. Sale should be coming up towards the fall

 

[Dental Dawg]

Call discount gun safe in pearl. You can finance for a year no interest. Do electric keypad. I hated spinning the dial.

 

[SkullCandy.sixpack]

Totally agree with electronic keypad. Buy a hot rod, heat stick or some other dehumidifier to keep your stuff from rusting. I have a Liberty and its great, but I've heard they aren't what they were 4-5 years ago. My second safe was a Fort Knox, and I love it. I didn't add any of the accessories except the keypad, electric dehumidifier, and felt lining to cushion the guns. You can spend a fortune on extra thick steel, extra fire padding etc but the base model is more than adequate

 

[jwbigcreek]

As 2 of the other posters said, Liberty & Fort Knox are both supposed to be some of the best. I went cheap & got a Stack On (fire rating was actually better than a smaller Liberty that cost $600 more; plus I got in on sale for $200 off & WalMart set it down in my garage & unpacked it). Just came in today. I like the look of it. Going to bolt it down tomorrow with a friend. I got a 36 gun (even though I ain't got near that many), cuz I always heard they won't hold as many as they advertise & I will be divorced July 26th (so plan on buying whatever damn firearms I want in the future).

ETA: Bolted mine down today. Think it weighs about 550 #. A good crook could get that on a truck in a heartbeat. Wish I'd had a hammer drill. Slow going drilling into concrete with an 18V standard drill. Now to hang the dehumidifiers & load it up with guns (I wish I had enough to load it up).

 

[GANGBANGDOG]

Same here, kids are growing up. The liberty is awesome. Had it for almost 2 years, wouldn't trade it for any safe I've had in the past.

 

[Dental Dawg]

If gun safe says it holds 36 then divide that number almost in half. Especially if your guns have scopes.

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

The #1 complaint I hear from people is that they didn't buy a big enough safe. There's a few things you need to be sure on before you get to purchase one but its pretty simple stuff. Make sure it's going to fit, if you want to fit 25 guns get at leat a 35 gun safe, make sure you have some strong friends to help you put it in. If its in your home it's no necessary to bolt it down, that's mainly for business owners, the lightest 25 gun safe is going to be over 300lbs so it ain't goin anywhere. If you're not wanting to break the bank and don't want something as big as the fat boy go with something in the timber ridge series of libertys. If you're wanting a door panel I'd go ahead and get a safe that has one factory made because the ones you install yourself hang loosely and aren't as nice. You're going to want lights in it too if you need to use it in the dark and you HAVE to get a dehumidifier

 

[ShrubDog]

Gun safes are a great investment. Like everyone said the bigger the better.

I am currently looking at getting a custom Q-Line security shelving system to store some over flow firearms and other things.


http://youtu.be/1pYqquG27pg

 

[cowbell88]

I have a 8 gun closet safewith no fire rating, but am wanting a good fire safe. Back during early turkey season Lakeway Archery in Grenada was having a super sale on Liberty safes. Think a 25 gun with electric keypad was going for less than 1K. That included delivery and setup with 75 mile radius (I think). I fiddle farted around and didn't get one. Don't know if sale is still on or not.

 

[Dawgbite]

I have a 60 gun Cannon that i caught on sale at TSC for $1200.00. It will hold about 40 long guns plus some handguns on the shelf. It has the digital keypad but I would prefer the dial combination lock, less to go wrong . Used an appliance dolly to get it in the house and magic furniture sliders to move it through the house because I had to move across ceramic tile. If you use a dolly on tile you run the risk of cracking it due to all that weight concentrated on the wheels.

 

[GreaterCowbell]

I love my Liberty Fatboy

I got one with the dial combo so I wouldn't have to worry about lighting strikes or Electromagnetic Pluses keeping me out of the safe.

Moving Hint: Buy several 1 inch hardwood dowels and cut them in one foot lengths. Use them to roll the safe into place.

 

[downwarddawg]

Moving Hint: Buy several 1 inch hardwood dowels and cut them in one foot lengths. Use them to roll the safe into place.

Or golf balls.

 

[Sutterkane]

No place is 100% safe from break-ins or home invasions.

 

[Hellsyeah]

I have a 60 gun Cannon that i caught on sale at TSC for $1200.00. It will hold about 40 long guns plus some handguns on the shelf. It has the digital keypad but I would prefer the dial combination lock, less to go wrong . Used an appliance dolly to get it in the house and magic furniture sliders to move it through the house because I had to move across ceramic tile. If you use a dolly on tile you run the risk of cracking it due to all that weight concentrated on the wheels.

I'm also looking for one. Got about 10 guns but just inherited a Belgian Browning from my granddad. Main reason I want to buy a safe is for that one gun. Are the Canons a decent safe?