Entry level gun safes

[Narragansett]

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

 

[rockquarry]

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.

 

[dave1918a2]

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'.

 

[Onomea]

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.

 

[robvious]

leave yourself room to grow..

 

[CALREB]

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...

 

[TIMETRIPPER]

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

 

[johnbeaver]

Electronic lock safes are quick to get into.
But dial locks are the only way I will go. Now.
When the electronics go out, sometimes you may have to drill out the locks. No fun. Experience.

 

[whitestang]

You might want to look at a Stack On or Cannon. Both have models that are not overly expensive and may fit your needs.

 

[mtgianni]

All safes should be looked on as deterrents. You need to decide what level you want to protect to.

 

[meaneyedcatz]

Look at academy sports. Online they have a large selection of what you are looking for.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Tractor Supply Co. has a variety and some good sales. They've a store in N. Kingston.

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/catalog/gun-safes

Sent from my motorola one 5G using Tapatalk

 

[Smoke]

I mention this in every one of these discussions but look in your want ads or sale page ads. We got a $600+ Liberty Centurion for $325 used doing that.

 

[walkin jack]

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.

 

[Auburn4]

Join Costco, go to website, ck out safes, free delivery. Have nice selection.

 

[hittman77]

Kodiak.

Any gun safe is better than none.

Put a new 9v battery in the keypad once a year.

 

[Golddollar]

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

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.

 

[Kanewpadle]

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.

 

[Tom Beavert]

Stack on's have worked for me for components, ammo ect.
TB

 

[Beemerguy53]

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.

Protective Cases. USA Made and Waterproof. | Pelican

 

[chief38]

If you are looking to strictly keep out children and not concerned with a major house fire or thieves who know how to break in, you can usually get an inexpensive model at one of the large chainstores like Bass, Costco, Walmart, etc. Again, these are only entry level but to keep out kids they should be fine.

 

[6518John]

The prime idea is to keep them safe from children. . . 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

Pete—I am a firm believer that as soon as a child can talk and walk, it is time to start teaching Cooper's basic gun safety with a demilled or "blue" handgun and longgun. His first rule is modified to all guns are loaded, so never touch a gun without your mom or dad or grandpa present.

If you have a failure with your security or they are exposed to a firearm at a friends, they know how to handle the situation. Moreover, you have laid a foundation of safety when they start handling firearms and shooting when old enough.

 

[Narragansett]

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.

Protective Cases. USA Made and Waterproof. | Pelican

6 handguns, and 6 long guns should be good

 

[chief38]

The important thing to remember when buying an entry level safe.....

REMEMBER, entry level models are to child proof firearms and NOT a very effective method to secure them against thieves and a roaring fire. Many times the owner slowly and falsely trusts the safe more and more (because no break in was attempted) and he starts placing more and more valuables inside for so called security. This now concentrates all your valuable in one neat little package and if you get hit by burglars you can loose everything all at once.

Yes.... UL burglar rated and UL fire rated safes are quite expensive, but they will at least give you quite a bit worth of more protection than the entry lever big box store models. IMHO one should get the best and highest rated model they can afford!

SUGGESTION:

Used jewelry store safes can always and relatively easily be modified with racks to hold guns. Jewelry safes are by far much more secure, carry much better fire ratings, heavier and stronger. While they usually don't have the bling paint jobs and the gold plated wheels, they are way better where it counts - under the hood. They can be purchased used at good prices and in general blow the "gun safes" away, dollar for dollar. Don't put your safe "on display"!! Hide it in a closet behind something that will not make it immediately noticeable to everyone who walks around your home. If possible, alarm the closet (with a separate alarm code and keypad) to Central Station and refrain from showing the average Joe where your safe is and whats inside!

 

[Truckman]

A local pawn shop recently had three blocks of bank safe deposit boxes (the slide out drawer type) for sale, each keyed separately...I thought it might be good for a handgun collection, although the separate keys might be an inconvenience as well as a deterrent...They still had one left last time I looked......Ben

 

[CALREB]

With safes I kinda figured its an all around approach, when I lived in the big city, I had a medium security, decent fire protection safe. It was 1100 lbs empty, placed inside the house. I had neighbors, at home, 30 yards away in all directions, a 5 ft brick and iron fence/with a locked gate, and a dog.
I wasnt worried about a "crackhead" with a screwdriver, getting into the safe, or someone spending 45 minutes dumping the safe on its side so they could work on it with power tools. Also it was in an area of the house, where no workers or anyone else could see it.
Now our situation has completely changed. We live 25 miles out in the boonies, only 1 house can even see our home. There is a fence and gate over 100 yards away from the house. The house is small, so the safe is easily seen. The house has so many windows and doors, with glass, even with keyed deadbolt type locks, it would be easy to get in. We do always have at least 1 vehicle sitting outside, and we have signs posted. Luckily most people in the area got used to seeing my (really sweet) but protective doggie charging the gate and acting like he was possessed, if they even slowed down in front of the house. But alas he has departed also, I left the BEWARE of dog signs up in honor of him, HA.
So the requirements of the safe changed, followed the old saying "BUY once, CRY once" got an AMSEC almost 2 ton UL safe. Cost me a very nice 1948 Colt 38 super with original box/docs etc., for it delivered and set up. But I dont worry too much about the "Meth heads" getting into it. Notice how if you move only the type of druggies change. Also I think there is a bit more respect or actually fear of the inhabitants, here, than in LostAngeles.

 

[StakeOut]

Look in Costco.
My local Costco has inexpensive gun safes that are often on sale.

 

[cherrypointmarine]

I agree with the idea of Costco . I've bought 2 from them . I didn't listen to you guys about thinking ahead , but then I didn't think I'd go so far down the S&W rabbit hole . My second is a Cannon Executive Series , a 50 gun safe if I remember right . Funny thing is I looked at the bill of lading and it cost the same to deliver , from Cali to Fl , as it did for me to buy it , a little over $600 .

 

[Baxter6551]

I bought a Liberty Revolution safe at Gander Mountain for $500 years ago. They sell Liberty at Tractor Supply now. It is a smaller safe with a regular combination lock. Bolt it down. I wish I had bought a bigger one as it is really crammed full but like others here I would recommend your son buy a safe, not a metal cabinet that looks like a safe. I also am leary of the electronic locks but have no personal experience with them.

 

[djohns6]

It doesn't matter what you ask for , somebody is always going to tell you that's not what you really want .