Gun Safes: Recommendations?

pioneervato

pioneervato

Lunatic Member
I'm looking to buy a gun safe that is designed to handle 36-45 guns with a good fire rating as well as security. I only have a few guns and will mostly use it to protect my cameras, lenses, and personal documents. Any recommendations on a good gun safe that won't break the bank? I know that safes can be broken into with enough time and the proper tools but what is out there that does the job well? There is a gun show in town next month that I'm thinking of attending to see what offerings in the gun safe department will be there but would like to hear some thoughts from you AK members that have experiences in this area.
 
Register to hide this ad
I kinda went the other way. I built out some attic space hidden behind a closet and added shelving and racks for my guns and other valuables. It's not fireproof nor as secure as a safe, but it is well hidden and somewhat secure and conditioned. I could have reinforced it more, but I think it will suffice.

When you get your safe, I can highly recumbent the RifleRods to save space. I have lots of rifles and shotguns (>50) and they really make it a lot easier.
 
I think whenever you put "gun" in front of a safe, you add a premium to the price. The only thing that makes a safe a gun safe is usually the Easy-Rider Gun Rack attached somewhere.

I was looking on CL one day and spotted a safe about 30 miles from here that was free if you could move it. I called the guy and found out it was sitting in a corner in his garage, on 3 casters. We loaded up my shorty forklift (will fit through a garage door) and off we went.

Picked it up, tied it to the mast, drove up on the trailer, and home we went.
 
pioneervato said:
I'm looking to buy a gun safe that is designed to handle 36-45 guns with a good fire rating as well as security. I only have a few guns and will mostly use it to protect my cameras, lenses, and personal documents. Any recommendations on a good gun safe that won't break the bank? I know that safes can be broken into with enough time and the proper tools but what is out there that does the job well? There is a gun show in town next month that I'm thinking of attending to see what offerings in the gun safe department will be there but would like to hear some thoughts from you AK members that have experiences in this area.
Click to expand...

Not sure about gun shows in your area, but from all that I have been to here, don't think I've ever seen a Gun Safe on display, not even the small wally world type jobs.

But most decent Gun Shops have such, usually a few different brands. Another place I've seen Gun Safes sold at here in this little Podunk town, is Truck and Tractor Supply.

Gun Safes can easily run from a few hundred, to $4K-$5K and up, depending on how large, and sophisticated. Browning comes to mind as some real beauties, and of course there's a number of others. These higher tier modles usually are fireproofed as well. And to gain access to them, you'll basically have to have the expertise of a safe cracker, Colonel Douglas Mortimer (like in the Clint Eastwood Spaghetti Western "For a Few Dollars More") LOL

I take it that since you have so few guns, yet wish a safe so large, is that you intend to protect other valuables, such as photographic gear, etc, so I can understand the need of a large cubic foot space to hold all.

For very important paperwork, cash, jewelry, and even handguns, one other alternative is a bank deposit box at your local bank.

One can no doubt do a search on Gun Safes, read reviews online, etc, as some Safes do have shortcomings, things like apparently thick steel doors, which are actually nothing more than thin steel, and are laminated to foolingly appear heavy-solid.

Even if you were to do a search at walmart.com, you'd be surprised at how many safes they do sell, but of course do not stock, and can be ordered.
Mark
 
I doubt you will find many at a gun show. They would be awful heavy to drag around. Pretty much everything at our local shows is way overpriced anyway.
 
After doing some research and speaking with a few owners that are very happy with their safes, I have a Patriot safe on my short list. I don't need one quite as big as you do but my needs are similar. With the gear that you will be protecting, I suggest that you do some research about fire protection materials that safes use and the moisture control issue that will be essential to protect your gear. These two sites below provide a lot of good info but there is a LOT more out there.

Be very careful about very inexpensive safes. Also, consider carefully where you put your safe. If there is a major fire it is likely that your safe will fall through an above grade floor and end up partially submerged in water.

http://www.patriotsafe.com/

http://www.libertysafe.com/
 
LED Tapelight is nice too!

I buy the reusable dessicant packs. Keep them in all my ammo cans as well. If the storage space is well conditioned then humidity shouldn't be bad, but in a basement it might.
 
squirrelnest said:
Make sure you use a good Dehumidifier in your safe......
Click to expand...

Most safes are fireproof because they are lined with fire rated drywall. We have two smaller Sentry fire safes that even state not to store important documents or pearls in them as the drywall hold moisture. This has been a problem for me with our newer Sentry safe and I have to make dessicant packs out of Wally World crystal cat litter (silica gel) and air out the safe a lot.

Note: I do not recommend the Sentry safes for security as they are easy to cut in half with a saber saw in about 90 sec. (You Tube video), I got mine free. For my guns I have a gun safe bolted to a concrete wall.
 
I agree with eteller. I think that storing expensive camera gear and guns in a safe that is lined with drywall is very risky. I am sure that there must be cautions about doing so on various photography forums. It sure would be a shame to ruin a great camera and lens by trying to protect it.
 
I looked at the big box store offerings from Costco and Lowe's. I was originally gonna go with the "Fatboy Jr." but none of my local Lowes had them in stock and you couldn't order them online. Apparently, according to the assistant manager, some of their offerings will no longer be available. The hardware manager was able to only find two of the safes in Sacramento and I would have to pay $130 to have them ship it to the store and then another $79 for home delivery. I have been considering a safe for awhile and did a lot of comparisons among the plethora of offerings and pros and cons about many of them. Many of the ads you read are very misleading. For example, the Cannon CS45 safe from Costco looks like a good choice and their ad has you to believe that their door is 4" thick. What they don't come out and tell you is the door is a composite with a thin 12 gauge steel skin. The other half of the thickness is nothing more than a frame that houses the inner workings of the door. The other thing I did not like about the Cannon model is that the door only has locking bolts along one side of the door. None at the top, bottom, or hinge side. And so I went to a local safe dealer today and found a safe that I believe beats my earlier choices hands down for not much more. I went with a Summit Rainier 35 cf safe that weighs 800 lbs. and has a solid 1/4" steel plate door and twice the fire rating and comes with an S&G mechanical combination lock instead of a digital lock. With locking steel bolts on all 4 sides and measuring 60"Hx27"Dx36"W I think this should fit my needs rather well.

As to the concerns and issues with humidity I don't think that will be much of an issue where I live. However, I may throw in a couple cans of desiccant just for good measure.

Thanks for your input and advice in this matter and it is appreciated.

attachment.php
 

Attachments

  • rainier.jpg
    rainier.jpg
    78.4 KB · Views: 91
That looks like it will be excellent! A safe dealer is far more likely to be able to help you select the right product for your needs and provide a superior product. The dealer can also support it after the sale, far better than any big box store that just sells them as a commodity.

The moisture issue comes from the insulating material that absorbs it, especially when it is new. I am sure that the dealer gave you good advice about dealing with it. The desiccant sounds like a good idea but it only has a limited life span if you don't dry it out periodically. If your safe has a port to allow for a powered dehumidifier rod (heater), they provide long term protection by making the interior just slightly warmer than the exterior. That helps the trapped moisture to migrate out, not in.

Great choice! Enjoy! :thmbsp:
 
I have a Treadlock. IIRC, it was made in Roanoke. I ordered it w/o an interior, I made one out of 3/4" plywood, which I covered w/thin carpet. I also mounted industrial grade wheels underneath it.I keep my important papers, guns & coins in it. Only me, Lauriann & Bethany know the combination to it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom