I am looking for a gun safe. I have whittled if down to a few choices. I am looking in the 500 to 600 dollar price range. Here are ones that I am considering. In that range the storage is what I need and provides room for growth. I am mainly a pistol shooter. I like the half and half set ups I have found for ammo storage on the oposite side. If anyone has opinions on what is listed I would appreciate the feedback.

Amorguard 24 gun electric lock 30 min fire rating at 1400 deg. Weight 361 lbs. 6 locking points 3 taped bolts and 3 dead bolts and attached holsters on the inside of door Made by stack on. On sale for 524. 9.25 cu feet area.

Stack on 24 gun combination lock 30 same fire rating 5 bolts, no door storage 418 lbs 11.95 cu feet area $522.

Stack on wood land 40 gun electric lock 30 min fire rating at 1400. 5 1.5 in bolts and 3 dead bolts awesome door storage 16.86 cu feet 500lbs. $649. Consideration on this one because of the price of 80 bucks off.

Input is appreciated.

Not familiar with any of those, but I will say safes are never big enough.

Consider shopping Craigslist for a used one, save 1/2 the cost and you can get your money back when you need a larger safe.

Bigger is better. A 40 gun safe will not hold 40 guns unless you are very creative when you stack them in there. While stack on is not the top of the line and others may provide better security it all depends on how much ability the person who wants in the safe has. Very few that I could not empty in well under an hour, but I spend a lifetime in the metal trades.

A $600 safe you can afford to own is better than a $3000 safe that you are savings for when a thief or worse an inquisitive child gets his hands on your guns.

Check the sale on now at tractor supply. They have some Winchester models which not the best, are better than Stack On, in my opinion.
Good luck, you will buy more guns, but don't want to buy more safes.
tb

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frontsightnsqueaz

Just remember that in a lot of cases, you get what you pay for:

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So many S&W's, so few funds!!

Costco on line has safes in your price range with free delivery.

I work Crime Scene Investigations. The fact is, if someone wants in (be it your house, business, or safe), they'll get in. The best advise I can give is get the best you can afford. Don't sacrifice quality for space! I'm not a safe expert, just someone who's seen numerous safes pried open and beaten into submission by determined criminals. As someone else said, check the classifieds for a good used one if a new high quality model is financially not possible. Also, I recommend keeping serial and model numbers on a list in a separate secure area in the event of theft. Your weapons can be put on a national data base immediately and are more likely to be returned to you.

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Support Israel!

Wow that's good info to have. I appreciate the helpful information. I would like to have a $3000 safe but that would take a long time to save for. Another issue is getting it down 7 stairs even at 500 lbs it's gona be fun and still cost me beer and pizza. Lol Anyone have a safe made by liberty? did some research and checked out an 18 gun safe. The interior was cheaply done but I know that is not the purpose of the safe.

Thanks for the real world experience from seeing it 1st hand. I checked craigs list in CO all that was found was mainly over 1k and one that was priced right but didn't have the combo. All serial numbers are logged and stored in savings deposit box if they disappear they can be entered into ncic. Yeah nothing is impossible to get into.

Used is the way to go. I just picked up this one for a fraction of what a new one would cost. It is an older Hall's safe with a Sargent Greenleaf lock. Not only is the quality of the safe important but so is the lock.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You might consider a used bank safe. I found a Mosler key/combo lock, fire resistant safe for $450 back in 1982. The Bruck Safe Co. near me deals in new and used of all sizes. They delivered it for a reasonable fee but I had to design and fabricate rifle racks and a shelf for interior use. 28"W x 36"D x 62"H. Not as pretty as one of those decal laden beauties you're looking at, but it's sturdy. I realize you're miles away, but for the fun of it, check out Bruck's website..........Westerville, OH.
Dave

The attached document may be valuable for you in making your decision.

Just like many of the other forum members, I bought a safe that was over-rated (as they all are) in terms of capacity and it did not have the future capacity growth that I need. Now I am faced with the choices of a) trading it in on a larger one, b) trying to sell it, or c) buying a second one. None are viable options.

I decided on a mechanical SG lock and not the popular electronic lock.

I also bought a Liberty safe - made in America, Lifetime warranty, and built like a brick outhouse!!!

Liberty Safe Lincoln Series - #1 Rated Safe in America!

If you lived in the Atlanta area we have a great Liberty dealer who could install your safe going down the stairs and never break a sweat!

Update - I'm not sure where you live in Colorado (if I am correct), but here's some information on Liberty safe dealers in that area. They may have a used one, close to your budgeted price, that someone has traded in for a larger one that has your name on it - Liberty Safes - Find a Dealer Results for 81211

Attached Files

Gun Safe Buyer's Guide.pdf (906.7 KB, 75 views)

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That's what we do!

Costco has the Sports Afield Safe line .. anyone familiar with any models of these ?? They have this one on sale for 699 with free shipping .. 200 bucks off .. has the door storage and inside electrical strip, 22.5 cubic feet of storage .. 1200º rated for 40 minutes .. 10 year warranty ..

I don't think I would so quickly term Liberty safes as "cheap".

I have a Liberty Lincoln 50 and i can assure you the interior is anything but cheap.

Yes, the do have beginning price point units. Most manufacturers do.

At your price point, I think you're expecting an awful lot out of a safe.

I would agree that the last thing you should do is sacrifice quality for price.

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Un-Reconstructed Southerner

BTW,

Please don't think that even if you keep your serial numbers that your chances of recovering your weapons should they be stolen increases.

Bottom line is, f they're stolen, they stand little chance of being returned.

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Un-Reconstructed Southerner

The interior was cheaply done. I don't really care about that. I just the best security bang for my buck.

Yes the the Lincoln 50 is def a sweet safe and does look like the lexus of safes.

Yes there is little chance. A buddy of mine had his old duty 5906 stolen from his house it turned up 8 year latter in Aurora on a traffic stop and was returned. He was one of the lucky ones.

I have a Stack-On Elite 24 gun safe. It's basically this one, but in green which is now discontinued. https://www.stack-on.com/categories/...s/products/231

It's decent for the money. The door storage is nice. Six pistol holsters, several magazine loops, and three storage pouches for other items. I used to have one side set up with shelves for ammo storage until I got too many long guns to fit them all on one side. Now I have to keep most of my ammo elsewhere.

Would I like to have a better safe? Sure, but this is better than no safe.

Not to offend anyone, but say no to Stack On and anything you can buy at Walmart, Costco, or Sam's Club.

They look decent but are not.

I've been working on safes for many years. We recently received a shipment of six Winchester safes that a buyer bought from Costco. He bought them at a discount because they were damaged or the combination was missing. Two had damaged digital locks.

Opening them was easier than it should have been. Repairing them wasn't. Each one was different. After seeing the inside of the safe, specifically the lock and the bolt works, you couldn't give one to me.

We have also repaired or attempted to repair Sentry and other cheaply made safes.

Nothing like helping a pissed off customer that can't to their guns or passports.

Watch the videos. To some $600 is a lot of money. But if you buy a safe that is this easy to get into, you just wasted $600.

Please keep in mind that this is my professional opinion. I urge you to save and buy a decent safe. Buy one for life. Be comfortable when you leave your home knowing that your investments which probably cost more than your safe, are indeed safe.

Liberty is my first choice. Cannon, Fort Knox, Amsec, and a few others are a good choice.

This Liberty Centurion 24 gun safe is $749.00 delivered here locally.

I bought this Liberty Franklin 35 gun safe a few months back. $2600.00 delivered.


I realize that you have more handguns that long guns. You can always buy or build more shelves to accommodate them.

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Life Is A Gift. Defend it!

Stack ons are cheap, but for a 'lockbox' for guns they aren't too bad. Someone with a drill and a saber saw can peel one open in minutes. I think Liberty Safes are a better value.

Hint: Buy much more safe than you think you need because you can't just reach in and get any rifle without unstacking the others. Often there is little room for bolt guns or scopes.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Aloha,

Slightly OT,

If you're Married, I suggest that you get an identical

safe for the Wife for her toys.

Make sure that they both have the Same combination.

Doesn't cost that much more.

I did and the Wife is Very Happy.

She keeps HER guns, jewelry, the Wedding Album and anything else she values in it.

Keep one thing in mind here:
"Free delivery(Shipping)" means curbside delivery and moving your safe that weighs hundreds of pounds the last 50 yards or so is a real pain.
Jim

See the video above. Made in China, very easy to break into and that fire rating isn't very impressive.

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So many S&W's, so few funds!!

The guy hosting this video is a bit of a dork, but the guy he interviews knows his stuff about gun safes! Well worth the time to watch.

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So many S&W's, so few funds!!

Two safes bolted together take twice as long to break into as one and they can be unbolted when you move to take them down stairs. I'm in the construction business and I've seen how fast plasma cutters and circular steel saws can cut so I don't have much confidence in the high dollar safes. Most burglars are non professionals and don't want to spend that much time or hassle so I would feel confident with a cheap safe if my gun collection is worth under 5 grand, especially if I have gun insurance and a monitored alarm system.

I have a Liberty gun safe. I also have an alarm system for the house. If anyone enters the house with the intention of breaking into the safe, they will have a limited amount of time before a Sheriff's Deputy arrives.

Attached Images

Gun Safe-2.jpg (35.8 KB, 31 views)

is everybody mounting these to the slab with bolts? ... or just sitting loose.

4 bolts, one in each corner, through the slab with expandable anchors on the ends. If the safe doesn't come with pre-drilled holes, use a steel bit to drill through the safe and a masonry bit to drill through the floor, using a hammer drill. Of course you need to remove the bottom interior of the safe first. On the bolts, use a couple of fender washers (oversize washers) to spread out the force and make it more difficult to pull the bolt head through the floor of the safe.

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So many S&W's, so few funds!!

hammer drill... well, I don't have one of those.

let me ask you this... walking thru gander mtn awhile back its seems like some of those safes are enormous.

I think a typical residential interior door is only 2'6'' wide... are all these safes 30'' deep?

I guess it could be but I use an inexpensive furniture dolly from Harbor Freight all the way to its first floor location. I keep two in the garage for moving all kinds of things around.

Haul-Master Item 39757 30 In x 19 In 1000 lb. Capacity Hardwood Dolly

18 In x 12 In. 1000 lb. Capacity Hardwood Dolly

My safe from Costco came on a pallet and removing it was the most difficult part.

Once removed, tip the safe, slide in the dolly, wiggle a little and it's on. When you get to a door threshold or other transition like the edge of the garage, tip the leading wheel up a bit and then the back. Sorry but I fail to understand why people make such a fuss about moving a safe. YES, they are heavy but get the right tools and it's not so bad. Even steps, so long as they are well built, are less of a challenge with a proper heavy duty appliance hand truck that has both wheels and back edge "rolling track" that can be rented from UHaul for next to nothing ($10 in my area).

Apply the physics they taught in high school

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Really? U saw it in Wikipedia?

Very nice video, well worth the time spent to watch it.

I now need a new safe...

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Jorge

Thanks for posting this video it was awesome and really provided me some very helpful information. So with that being said I am going to spend the extra money on an investment and go with the Liberty 24 gun flex vault. With the combo lock.

Thank you all for the information and imput.

Jorge - is that safe (singular) or safes (plural)?

My dealer in the Atlanta area charged a flat $200.00 to deliver my Lincoln Liberty 35 (just under 900 #) from his store to my home, which is about 45 miles away. He had all of the required thick plywood decking, equipment, and experience that was required to move it from the curb in to my basement, which is some 250' away. No damage to my yard, my home, or more important to me, the two men that were doing the work.

I would think that a 900# safe has the mass to severely (or even fatally) injure someone who is attempting to do this for the first time. No trips to the ER for me either!

On a really hot afternoon in the high-humidity Atlanta area, it was well worth every penny to all of us. It was a turn-key price - after the safe was correctly installed he set up the lock, my combination, and completed all of the other required tasks. My Liberty safe includes a "golden rod", electrical outlet inside the safe, and full LED illumination around the inside of the door. It even illuminates automatically when I walk up to it - high technology never ceases to amaze me!!

Attached Images

Liberty Safes.jpg (122.5 KB, 40 views)

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That's what we do!

Hammer drills can be rented, but there's a good possibility someone you know can lend you one. They aren't absolutely necessary but work far better than trying to drill concrete with a regular drill motor, plus you still need the proper masonry bit. One thing I forgot to say is drill the hole in the safe a tad larger than the masonry bit to avoid screwing the bit up on the steel.

As for size, they come in different depths, but you are right, you need to measure every door frame you plan on taking it through to make sure it will fit. Most interior doors are 30", which can make for a tight squeeze.

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So many S&W's, so few funds!!

My biggest concern with the Liberty 24 is that the body steel thickness is 14 gauge which is .0747" thick.

While it would keep out someone who wants to rip and run, it doesn't seem that it would resist a determined attack.

I'm no expert on safes so I am only bringing this up to learn more.

Centurion Specifications

Security

Security Rating Non-UL
Door Type Composite
Door Thickness 4" total with 1" composite door front
Door Bolt Sides 2-Sided Military Style locking bars
Body Steel Thickness 14 Gauge
Total Body Thickness .75"
Lock UL Listed, Sargent & Greenleaf™
Lock Type S&G UL Listed 6741 mechanical lock standard (NO key locking dial) with optional upgrade to NL electronic lock
Relocker Type Fail-Safe™, Punch and Drill
Hardplate Lock Protection Single RC63 hardplate
Bolt Locking Type Direct Cam Drive
Bolt Diameter 4" Military Style Locking Bars
Bolt Protector Type Single Hardplate

Fire Protection

Fire Minutes 30 Minutes
Fire Rating 1200°/30 Minutes
Fire Temp 1200°
Layers 3 in ceiling and door, 1 on sides and doorjambs
Door Seal Heat-Activated, Expanding Palusol™

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642-1, M&P15 TS

You might want to look at Cabela's, they carry an extensive line of Liberty safes.

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John. SWCA #1586

I realize I can look all this info up... but in the interest of generating conversation, doesn't fire retardant material have a corrosive effect on guns? seems like ive read that somewhere..

Ha, you are a mind reader I assume...

Right now I only have one 36-gun safe and it's way to small.

I'm not sure if I should invest in 1 big one or rather two smaller ones. My thought is to use one for firearms and the other one for ammo. Maybe a third one for electronics and documents?!

Guess I need to go to the casino next weekend... darn money...

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Jorge

Yes sir that's what I did this weekend. I am big on doing to much research on products, I should of picked it up when I looked at them. I do like that they are made in the US.

Another "thumbs up" for Liberty safes.

I had seen where a Guy had taken a old upright Freezer and converted it into a nice Gun Safe.It had a Factory door lock and it just looked like a old Freezer He had in His Basement.

I'm under the impression it's damp sheetrock

Well for those with an unlimited budget:
I hve a friend who had an upscale house built several years ago. He had a re-enforced concrete room built in his basement(Note the ceiling was re-enforced as well.) He managed to find a used bank vault door and had that installed as the entry. I think that this may be the most secure home system I've ever seen.
Jim

I bought a 24 guns safe,just a simple combination lock, FIELD & STREAM 1871.

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Life is short,live it fully.

A cheaper safe can be a 'stopgap' solution and when you replace it you've still got a cheap safe and you aren't out much. The reason I call the Stack On a 'lockbox' is that it's really a heavy steel box with a combination lock. The main reason was to keep my kid and his friends away from the guns. It serves that purpose though the sides could be cut back with a drill and a saber saw in about 15 minutes.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Somebody on this forum said that crooks stole a septic tank truck, crashed into the part of the house that had the safe, hoisted it up and drove off. They didn't even HAVE to get into it. Not until they were in the luxury of the chop shop anyway.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Trust me, if I could live my life over again, that's exactly what I would do. It would serve as my safe, reloading room, tornado shelter and panic room. And it would contain a 25ft range for ammo trials.

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So many S&W's, so few funds!!

Perhaps I'm in the minority, but I think doing something as far as gun security goes is better than nothing. I'd much rather have my firearms locked up in a Costco gun safe, than just stashed in the back of a closet. I don't know of many people who have the financial ability to afford the kind of gun safes that are really optimal. My main concern is defending against the smash and grab type of thief, which you are most likely to encounter, rather than the sophisticated, or professional thief.

Take simple precautions - don't tell people you have a gun collection or a gun safe, bolt the safe down securely, try to hide or mask the safe, rather than have it displayed prominently in your garage or living room. True story - I once knew a guy who had a nice, large gun safe that he had prominently in one of the car bays of his garage. To make things worse, he always left his garage door open. Yep, he left on vacation and when he came back, thieves had entered his garage door, used his tools to open his gun safe, and taken their sweet time in robbing his safe and home. Also, as others have mentioned, you might want to check with local locksmiths to see if they have any used safes for sale.

Good luck,

Dave

This is what my long time friend up in Ohio did. It's BEAUTIFUL.

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Really? U saw it in Wikipedia?