GUN SAFES

[CharlieinKansas]

  I have been reading all I can on the net about every safe company that makes these residential security containers (RSC). After stuying the available info I am still unsure as to which one of these "peace of mind" lock boxes to buy. I have found that some are made with cheap imported Chinese steel, and then some of the smaller little known companies use Rockwell 60 treated 1/4" steel plate. You can get them with tumbler locks or with electronic key pads or even with remote controls. They can be configured differently internaly to hold both guns and or other important prized possesions.
  What I would like to know as well as others that may be looking also is what are the experiences of you out there that have one or two of these (I have learned to buy more safe than you think you will need) RSC's so that we who are trying to make a decision can be more informed than just going out blindly and getting whatever looks good. Please let us know of the pro's and con's of what you know.

                                                                                                       Thank you, CharlieinKansas

[KN]

The way I look at it is that any good quality safe will do its job. Most burglars are not interested in staying around long enough to cut into your safe. Too much time involved. If some one is after your guns they will more likely steal the whole thing and break it open later. So for me the most important things are weight and fire rating. An avareage size quality safe will weigh around 700lbs min. You also want to bolt it down or to a wall. The harder it is to move the better. As for locks, thats a personal preference. I have the std dial S&G locks. I know a couple of people who have the electronic ones and they seem to like them. My fear of those is if the @#$$ ever hits the fan, That will be the time the battery is dead or it won't work. I talked to a dealer once about replacing mine with electronic and he advised against it. He said he has seen too many problems with them to recomend them. But that was about 10 years ago so they probably have gotten much better by now. I have a couple of safes, one a Cobalt 3060, and the other a Liberty about the same size. The Cobalt is definitly a better safe but at twice the cost. The Liberty is more of a no frills safe. Hope this helps.   KN

[bearfat]

Weight is a major deterent, I'd say most recommend a minmum safe of 500 pounds. The concept being 2 guys ain't just picking it up and walking out. 

Fire safe(s) seem to have those that love them and those that say waste of money. Either way if fire hot enough you will have internal water vapor in the safe to contend with. If I recall correctly from reading a technical article about fire safes, your guns, negatives, backup CD's, etcetera will look like someone sprayed water inside on them.

If I were to do it again I'd forget the frills and fire proofing and the rest of it and get the biggest internal size my money would buy.

I have (2) five hundred pound fire safes and (1) three hundred pound fire safe. I brought the 500 pounders in myself on a dolly. I had all I could do and I'm used to handling extreme weight. I took off one door knob in the process, snapped it clean off and barely touched it...watch your hands!!! I seriously doubt even 2 crack heads could handle getting them out with a dolly. And if they do the guns are fully insured under a floater with my house insurance. Which I might add also covers theft in the field and or loss of firearm say from a boat capsizing etcetera.

Before the safes I had false walls I hid my firearms behind.

Do something though. I have run into a few guys at the range, particularly, those that live in the boonies, that have been broken into? (doors not locked!!) and had firearms stolen. The thieves simply walked out with the guns in their hands. It was like stealing candy from a baby. No protection, in the open, on full display for any loser to only have to take 5 mins from the time they pull into the driveway, walk into the open house, quickly scan all the rooms, gather up a armfull of rifles, and pull out of the driveway.

I have a Sportsmans, Liberty, and a Brinks. They're medium? priced basic fire safes. They all come with carpet and shelfs, but I ended up tearing out some of the shelfs in all of them for more space. Never seems to be enough space in them.


They fill up very fast. This internal design sucked for firearms, but the other two I have are no better. I think the best would be just a fully wide open space the bottom three quarters of the safe, but as you can see where do I put my papers, film, etcetera? I need a fourth safe just for them. The wife would kill me!!!!!

[CharlieinKansas]

  Guys, I appreciate your help. I  bought a Cannon American Eagle 60x30x22 and well over 900lbs with all my goodies in it. I will probably still bolt her down to the floor, even though she a'int going nowhere. It took three of us to get it in the house after I took the front door off just for safe (no pun intended) measure, and we used a appliance dolly to boot. I feel a little more secure now, hopefully it's not false security. Thanks again!

[bearfat]

You'll love it. Sounds like you got a nice one from the git go.

I wouldn't give the combo out to the wife, leave it in the will in the safety deposit box at the bank along with the extra keys.

They can beat my wife for the combo but she don't know it. 

Haaaa...the jokes on them!!

I'm not kidding you know, really...I'm not. Why are you laughing?

[Hairtrigger]

The fire rating was a concern for me.
Any safe can be entered. I have mine hidden behind a rotating bookcase. If a thief cannot find my safe he cannot pick the lock

[SDS-GEN]

I've got bad news about fire ratings.  If your house burns down the only thing that will protect your guns is 4-6 inches of concrete.  The local gun shop burned down in Moline a few years ago and everything in the safe was lost.  The fire marshall told the owners that anything more than a minor house fire will destroy the insides of the safes, even if the stuff doesn't burn it gets hot enough to do damage.  The new gun shop has a concrete room in the basement with a vault door on it.

[bearfat]

If I were to do it again I'd forget the frills and fire proofing and the rest of it and get the biggest internal size my money would buy.

That's pretty much what I've read too. I did hear sheet rock was fire proof and wondered if a guy simply lined the safe with it what would happen. Once the internal temp reaches a certain point though the water steam codensation will get everything wet inside.

I did do a blow torch test to sheet rock and indeed it did not burn but it crumbled instantly when I touched it.
The fire proofing sounds good but it's a feel good sales pitch I fell for.

[SDS-GEN]

Try a peice of tile backer 1/2" thick, its much heavier than sheetrock and not made of gypsum but concrete.  I don't think the problem is with things actually burning but heating up to several hundred degrees or more.

[ga41]

I bought a Ft Knox about 7 years ago. I bought 1 size larger than I thought I needed, Ishould have bought it 2 sizes larger. I did get the fire proofing for whatever it's worth, It can't hurt and it is water over the dam at this point anyway. It weighs 1000 lbs empty, so I'm not really worried about it "walking" out. Buy the biggest best safe you can buy, it will last your lifetime and yours heirs lifetimes we hope. Amortised over a hundred years, the extra cost isn't that bad