Entry level gun safes

Narragansett

Narragansett

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Hi, I am looking for suggestions on entry level safes. The prime idea is to keep them safe from children. Not looking for input on high dollar models.

Thanks!!!!

EDIT: Probably should have also mentioned that this is for my son to keep guns away from 5 year. He can buy real security later, on his own dime when he is better able to do so. I have a 35 YO Browning Silver series for my own stuff

Posted by Beemerguy :

Narragansett, you don't mention how many guns your son needs to secure, but if the only thing he's concerned about is a child accessing a few guns, and cost is a consideration, one of Pelican's cases should be more than sufficient.

Answer: 6 handguns 6 long guns should be fine
 
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I haven't looked at safes in many years. Probably the cheapest would prevent access by kids, but would be little more than a school locker rather than a true safe.
 
Almost any child can figure out how to open any entry level safe. As 'Entry' is the main topic with a gun safe. The best locking systems are found on the best safes mostly. Get the best locking system You can find and You should be Safe. Something less "fuhgeddaboudit'.
 
I think a steel storage cabinet with a cylinder key and lock would do the job. Thieves could break into it, or a determined teenager with a crowbar, but, I think in terms of keeping young children in the household away from guns it would work well.

I used that set up in a friend's garage for a few years.

Depending on the number of guns to be stored, you could add trigger locks.

The high cost of good safes, designed primarily to thwart adults intent on theft, should not be a deterrence to securing guns in the home from children.
 
Might depend on type and amount of guns you have to store. There are many safe available that provide more than enough security ( with a dial or electric lock) a key could be found by kids especially as they get older. Also you get a bit of fire protection, and with a 30 dollar rod some rust prevention. All for less than the price of one gun. Check out any sporting goods , Tractor supply type store...
 
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I bought a small Liberty safe at Lowes about ten years ago. It's their Centurion Model and has a combination lock and a certain degree of fire protection
Right now I have 16 rifles and a half dozen hand guns in it. In the past I stored nearly 30 handguns by installing several storage shelves of my own simple design. The safe has tracks that use adjustable shelf clips that allow for different configurations.
Bought it on sale for less than $300. Now they go for over $400. I like the combo lock. A friend had some issues with a safe that had a digital keypad type lock. The batteries went dead and he had a real hassle resetting things. I prefer to keep things simple.

John
 
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I recommend this. It is a gun CABINET. As was mentioned above no gun safe is fool proof. I watched a video of a guy that got into a very high dollar safe in less than 1/2 hour.

This one is made out of sheet metal and has a steel 3-bolt key lock locking system. It was under $200.00.

Not much protection from a hot fire but it will keep inquisitive youngsters out.
 

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Narragansett said:
Hi, I am looking for suggestions on entry level safes. The prime idea is to keep them safe from children. Not looking for input on high dollar models.

Thanks!!!!

EDIT: Probably should have also mentioned that this is for my son to keep guns away from 5 year. He can buy real security later, on his own dime when he is better able to do so. I have a 35 YO Browning Silver series for my own stuff
Click to expand...

My suggestion is to go to the web site for Champion Safes and download and print off their catalog. That way you can have at your fingertips the various models, the measurements of each, the specifications for each model and particularly the fire rating for each model of safe. I just looked up the catalog and saw that their lowest end model still has a fire rating of 60 minutes in a 1350 degree fire. That means it takes an hour for a 1350 degree fire to raise the interior temperature of the safe hot enough to char paper.

For your perusal I am attaching pictures of the last safe I acquired. Their safes are really beautiful, almost works of art. This one is high end because of its size and fire rating. With the catalog in hand you can decide how much size, structure and fire rating you need when you go to the dealer and price out a safe. Hope this helps.
 

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Pete, I would under no circumstances buy a cheap safe. Especially from Walmart or Costco. They look nice but that’s all.

Have him buy a Stack On gun cabinet or equivalent. Not fireproof but more than adequate enough to keep youngsters out.

I could go on about my 30 years of safe experience but you get the point. I would hate to see him waste his money on a cheap safe that WILL have problems eventually. Ask him to save for a good American made safe that he will buy once.

I had to do the same years ago. Had a Stack On and it sufficed until I could save for a Liberty.
 
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