Getting another Gun Safe/ Feedback Recommendations

[BAM-BAM]

Looking at getting another "Gun"/general purpose safe for the new place on the lake......................... looking for pros and cons, Feedback and personal experiences with your safes.

Been to three 'dealers"...... a Liberty Safe Store, Local gunshop and a local locksmith. Seen brands from Liberty, Champion,Fort Knox, Superior and a couple more that escape me at the moment.

I know "buy one size bigger than I think I'll need" ....... l'm looking at a 50 gun size box: all approximately 40x29x60high. Will probably add a second when we build the house.

I'm only a couple of miles from the local volunteer fire company. Might have heard of it .... Shanksville Pa.????

The building is a Garage/barn/ Carriage house (apt upstairs). Safe will be on the lower floor. Good locks, locking garage doors and Simply Safe w/ a neighbor who will respond with at least an AR

I have 4 year round residents living in sight of the Carriage House .... one is a Dept of Corrections officer another is a reserve Sheriff deputy ...... both well armed and observant.

Not interested in Chinese/ Big Box store offerings.

Looking for your experiences.

Thanks.

 

[Kanewpadle]

I've worked on a lot of gun safes over the last 30 years. I'm partial to Liberty. But several others will do just as well.

Cannon, Fort Knox, Browning, Gardall, American Security, National Security, and Champion are brands that I would not hesitate to buy. This is just a short list.

I would Go with the best deal delivered and installed.

I commend you for not going cheap. I could write page after page of horror stories about big box store safes. Buy from a reputable safe company. And, many big box stores use third party contractors to deliver and install. Normally the cheapest.

A privately owned safe company will have the proper equipment, experienced people, and liability insurance.

Have fun shopping!

 

[Babysitr]

What He said!...love my liberty

 

[Farmer17]

I was wanting a Liberty but I had enough credit card points to get a safe free from Cabelas so I researched it and their Redhead house brand was made by the same company that makes Browning safes and it has the all important S&G dial combination lock so that's what I got and am quite happy. I personally would not want a safe over 350 lbs because I can move that myself with a helper and I don't want to pay some company 500 bucks to move it for me.

 

[oneounceload]

Amsec, Graffunder, National Security (Liberty's now top of the line)

 

[johnbeaver]

Get one with a combination dial lock. Electronic locks won't last forever.
I have a Browning i really like. Not sure who makes them but it seems well made.
Went through quite an ordeal getting into a Cannon that the electronic lock that on. Had both changed to dials after that.

 

[BAM-BAM]

The Locksmith spent about 15-20 minutes giving me a lesson on safes before ever showing me what he had for sale..... no showroom just a warehouse. He showed me a couple of Big-Box-Store safes that had been broken into and how to open one with not much more than a hammer and metal clothes hanger


He was clear that the electronic locks were prone to issues and recommended sticking to a manual lock. Cheaper and better.

So far the best deal is a Champion GR40 for just over $1600 delivered and installed...... about $700 less than either of the others for a same size Liberty.

Locksmith has low overhead.... and buys overruns and year end closeouts on models..... he has a big sale once a year. Has his own delivery guy vs the others that "refer/recommend" a third party delivery/set up.

 

[peyton]

I am glad your doing research. I took my wife to look at the Fort Knox safe I picked for her approval, she looked around the sales floor and told the manager, "That one over there is the one he is buying." I was the biggest one in the store! After delivered and I put all my guns and other valuables in it I was almost out of space!!

 

[hittman77]

I have a 20 year old Liberty 35-gun safe and it's excellent.

Now that it's over 100 miles to get a Liberty I went with a Kodiak for my 2nd safe just last year. This one has a "swing out" that holds about a dozen or so long guns and makes access to them quite easy.

No, the Kodiak doesn't have the fit and feel of the Liberty but is was also only in the $950 range on sale.

 

[Marine Corps Air]

One more vote for Liberty, plus they're made in America! If it hasn't changed, they have a lifetime warranty.

I also learned a lot from other forum members, especially Kanewpaddle, based on his many years of experience. I also read several posts on this subject on this forum, then I talked with several locksmiths and gunsmiths before I bought my safe. A mechanical lock is a great choice.

In addition to the brand name, look at the construction (both inside and out), the finish, and the features. My Liberty safe has an electrical outlet already installed, plus it includes interior lighting, and a Golden Rod. The interior lights illuminate when I walk up to it. I tried to tell my wife that it is personalized and knows who I am, but...............

Another option to save $$, go to the Liberty dealer showroom and ask if there are "Trade Ins".(Trade Ups). Very often buyers buy too small on the first round, and then need to buy a much larger one to meet their needs. I am considering this option to save money. My safe is just as clean and perfect as it was the day that it was installed by the dealer four years ago!

Bill

 

[Amp]

Locksmith has low overhead.... and buys overruns and year end closeouts on models..... he has a big sale once a year. Has his own delivery guy vs the others that "refer/recommend" a third party delivery/set up.

I shopped a place like that near Monroeville.
Bought a liberty Lincoln and its great. Anchor it down.

 

[BAM-BAM]

I shopped a place like that near Monroeville.
Bought a liberty Lincoln and its great. Anchor it down.

The locksmith I'm talking with is up towards Butler.

 

[Amp]

You could check with Nick's Bullseye in Homer too

 

[WardenRoss]

Love my Liberty!

Tip: My safe dealer charges $100 for delivery and set-up. BEST $100 THAT I'VE EVER SPENT!