Gun Safe

[NJ Diver]

I am interested in information pertaining to gun safes. My wife and I are in the market for our first gun purchases. Most likely It will be a total of 2 hand guns and possibly two (most likely one) shotgun. While there is certainly the potential for these numbers to grow, at first I am thinking of starting out with something small.

What recommendations do you have for what I've identified above? I read a lot of info that the safes offered at places like Dick's Sporting Goods aren't very good. Is that true?

Thanks for any information you can provide.

Chris

 

[diamonback68]

It all depends on how well you want to secure them. The more secure and the more fire safe, the higher the price. Safes can run any where from $300 to $5000.
How secure is your area is another consideration.

 

[SmokeStack Lightning]

Here's my two cents:

Buy the largest safe you can afford cuz you will be amazed at all the important stuff that 'migrates' into it.

 

[DGT]

Most folks that have bought safes will tell you the same thing, buy one bigger than you think you'll ever need. Don't worry about unused space in the safe, you'll find they are great for jewelry, important papers and other valuables.

 

[Hack]

Safe's can vary in price, and you really do 'get what ya pay for'.

Personally, with only a couple pistols and perhaps a scattergun, I'd just get a small gun cabinet for under $200. This is all dependent on information you haven't posted. As in, children in the house (your's or other's), crime rate, home alarm system, where you intend on storing the guns. And a whole lot more.

I have no small children in the house. My grandson is the only small visitor to my house. I keep all my guns locked up in the basement (with the exception of SHTF pieces), in two gun cabinets I got from Dunham's and Dick's. I have a whole house alarm.

Works for me.

 

[NJ Diver]

Wow.. quick responses! Thanks.

Hack - Fortunatly, I live in a very safe neighborhood and safe town overall. Currently no children of my own at this moment, but I did take that into account as there may be in the future, plus my wofe and I do have small nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends kids. My initial thought is to have the safe in our master bedroom, perhaps in one of the closets if it is a small enough one.

No whole home alarm at the moment either, but we do have a large rather intimidating German Shepherd.

Sorry if this is a silly follow-up question, is there any reason no not store the ammo in the gun safe (assuming room in the safe isn't an issue)?

 

[16thVACav]

Check out Liberty Safes - best value in gun safes IMO.

As mentioned earlier - buy the biggest you can afford, and be sure you bolt it to the floor.

 

[427mach1]

Another vote for Liberty. Great safe, great price... See if there is an authorized dealer near you and check their prices against the internet price. I got mine delivered from a local dealer for less than the internet price....

 

[shamuscull]

I own a Browning so far so good. Good customer service and cool door storage features.

 

[kozmic]

This is one of those "bigger is better" moments you hear about. You will fill your safe with all manner of stuff.

Quality will vary from glorified gym locker to full blown bank vault. You need something in between (leaning towards the later). I would stick to the major manufactures. There are fairly good sales periodically through the year. I would never buy a safe for the MSR price.

Remember to include some sort of dehumidification. Things will show rust and pitting in a no time if conditions are too "wet"!

Make sure you consider shipping and delivery in your price comparisons!

FYI, I've seen some good values on our local craig's list if that route is of interest to you.

I have no reservation about storing ammo and guns in the same safe.

BTW, if you go to the bottom of any thread you'll see similar forum threads listed in yellow. Or you can do a forum search if you click the search button on the top of the page. This has been a popular topic and you might find some additional info in this or other topics at both locations.

 

[gdnagle]

Sorry if this is a silly follow-up question, is there any reason no not store the ammo in the gun safe (assuming room in the safe isn't an issue)?

You can store anything you like in a safe including ammo. Most of us have too much ammo to put in a safe and there is really no reason except to keep it out of hands you don't want it in like kids. Remember it's a safe put whatever you like to keep safe in it. Buy bigger then you need and can afford.

I like Patriot Gun Safes they also give military-leo-discount, (Anyone who has ever served!).

 

[Hack]

...is there any reason no not store the ammo in the gun safe (assuming room in the safe isn't an issue)?

Not that I can think of. I've got lots of ammunition stored inside one of the two cabinets. The rest is all on a shelf, but should be in a cabinet. Just haven't found one I like.

Here's the Stack-On I got at Dick's for $160 (already at capacity):


I didn't install the shelf, as I only intend to put long guns in there.

The other cabinet I've got is a two door Homak which I acquired a good fifteen years ago. It's got mostly pistols/revolvers inside, and a few long guns. I use the shelves on the smaller side to store ammo, and a few handguns. Here's a generic photo:


I have also run out of room, and will need to get another cabinet before the end of this year. Surprising how fast they fill up....

 

[diamonback68]

I got a Sentry safe for about $340 from Wally World several years back. Don't have long guns, so I put in a couple extra selves for handguns. We don't have a break in problem in this town. I mainly use it to comply with Florida law that all guns must be locked up whenever a child under 18 is in the house. Works when the great grand and grand kids come down.

 

[Smitty357]

IMO for what its worth. And since i deal with these on a regular basis. As im a certified locksmith whom delivers and sets up gun safes for various companies in our area. As well as im also a certified technician for numerous safe companies. So when something fails i'm the one they send out in my area to fix the problem.

Never buy what u "think" u may need. Always buy something a little bigger or perhaps the one that u think is a little too big, lol. I know this sounds stupid but its true. I know MANY people who bought what they thought was just the right size. 6 months later they realize they dont have any room left in their safe. Space fills up fast when u realize u know how something thats big enough to fit most of ur valuables in......Too much room is always better than "oh no, i dont have any room anymore".

Keep in mind, the prices of gun safes are steadily going up year after year. The material to build them is going up, so the manufacture ends up going up on their prices. So next year the safe u buy tomorrow will probably cost a few hundred more if not another 500 more.

Buy something with some weight to it. Take ur fist and knock on the "side" of the safe, see what it sounds like. Does it sound solid? Or does it sound like ur knocking on a beer can? Dont buy the one that sounds like a beer can. The door is always the most secure part of the safe (so dont knock on the door). If u knock on the side and it sounds solid, i can promise u the door is way more solid.

Fire proof, do u need it? Or do u need just burglar? Yes there is a difference between them and there is also a price difference. A BF (burglar fire) rated safe cost a considerable amount more than just a Fire rated safe.

American Security (AMSEC), Browning, Liberty would be my top 3 picks and in that order.

For what its worth, if u are a first time buyer and dont want to spend a ton on a descent safe. I'd look into a Liberty and u will get a good bang for ur buck. They make a great safe at a very reasonable price. And i very rarely have a customer that has a problem with theirs. Ur average criminal will "may" get lucky enough to beat the lock off the front of the safe. But lets face it, he just made his job 10x's harder than it was to start with.

 

[Farmer17]

I don't know why everyone here always says to buy a much bigger safe than you think you need. I say buy what you think you need then if the collection grows, buy another safe. There is no law that says you can only own one, and two safes are twice as hard to steal or cut open.

 

[rwsmith]

I got the combination lock

The combination lock on my Stack-on ($350) suits my needs just fine. +1 on everybody saying get one bigger because usually they are made to stack rifles on top of each other and they are hard to get to. The safe is plenty sturdy, my only concern is that the lock mechanism holds out over the years.

 

[Jessie]

I don't know why everyone here always says to buy a much bigger safe than you think you need. I say buy what you think you need then if the collection grows, buy another safe. There is no law that says you can only own one, and two safes are twice as hard to steal or cut open.

You can do it that way but its cheaper to get one large one instead of two smaller ones( given same make ) plus one big one is much harder to haul off.
JMO

 

[feralmerril]

I wont get into whats best, I think there seems to be safe manufacturers
that build and sell locally. You cant overbuy in the long run. Even if you never have a attempted robbery they are worth every penney for the peace of mind. I was single for many years and not home much, my job was my address due to OT. Besides not being home much if Ie ver did get two days off together I didn t spend it at home. When I came home after being gone a couple days I would be holding my breath. Once I got a good safe it was peace of mind and worth the investment just from that standpoint.

 

[jaykellogg]

Regarding theft, pretty much any safe will work for that assuming it is bolted down. If you get a determined thief, nothing will keep him out.

Regarding fire, longer is better and as others have said it is a good secure place to store insurance policies, wills, car titles, and real estate titles.

 

[Rangerpat]

My son just bought a small Liberty gun safe for $400 at Lowe's, it fits in his closet and is bolted down to the floor. He is just starting out like you, two handguns and two rifles. It also has a shelf for ammo, jewelry, etc.
You get what you pay for so buy the best you can afford, think ahead a few years and do it right the first time.

 

[Smitty357]

I feel sorry for the thief who comes in my house and thinks he can get into mine. I'll just go ahead and say. He better bring a lunch and his own case of beer. Because i be damned if he's going to eat my food and drink my beer while he's trying to get into my safe.

Even with the proper tools and equipment on hand. It still would take me an average of 3-4hrs to do the job. And thats knowing exactly how and where to attack the safe. A person with the proper tools and no knowledge of the safe would be all day or longer trying to get into the safe. And thats assuming they dont fire the relockers, LMAO........I wish them luck.

 

[Kanewpadle]

IMO for what its worth. And since i deal with these on a regular basis. As im a certified locksmith whom delivers and sets up gun safes for various companies in our area. As well as im also a certified technician for numerous safe companies. So when something fails i'm the one they send out in my area to fix the problem.

Never buy what u "think" u may need. Always buy something a little bigger or perhaps the one that u think is a little too big, lol. I know this sounds stupid but its true. I know MANY people who bought what they thought was just the right size. 6 months later they realize they dont have any room left in their safe. Space fills up fast when u realize u know how something thats big enough to fit most of ur valuables in......Too much room is always better than "oh no, i dont have any room anymore".

Keep in mind, the prices of gun safes are steadily going up year after year. The material to build them is going up, so the manufacture ends up going up on their prices. So next year the safe u buy tomorrow will probably cost a few hundred more if not another 500 more.

Buy something with some weight to it. Take ur fist and knock on the "side" of the safe, see what it sounds like. Does it sound solid? Or does it sound like ur knocking on a beer can? Dont buy the one that sounds like a beer can. The door is always the most secure part of the safe (so dont knock on the door). If u knock on the side and it sounds solid, i can promise u the door is way more solid.

Fire proof, do u need it? Or do u need just burglar? Yes there is a difference between them and there is also a price difference. A BF (burglar fire) rated safe cost a considerable amount more than just a Fire rated safe.

American Security (AMSEC), Browning, Liberty would be my top 3 picks and in that order.

For what its worth, if u are a first time buyer and dont want to spend a ton on a descent safe. I'd look into a Liberty and u will get a good bang for ur buck. They make a great safe at a very reasonable price. And i very rarely have a customer that has a problem with theirs. Ur average criminal will "may" get lucky enough to beat the lock off the front of the safe. But lets face it, he just made his job 10x's harder than it was to start with.

To add to Mr Smitty's post, I am also a certified locksmith. Please stay far away from anything made in Taiwan/China which leaves out everything Walmart sells.

It's an investment. Invest wisely.

 

[gdnagle]

I don't know why everyone here always says to buy a much bigger safe than you think you need. I say buy what you think you need then if the collection grows, buy another safe. There is no law that says you can only own one, and two safes are twice as hard to steal or cut open.

It's cheaper to pay say $400 more for a safe that holds 24 long guns then buy two 12 gun safes for $1800 each. One big safe weighs lots more then a 12 gun safe so you add the weight and it makes it a little harder for easy times crook to steal. Mister pro will take it no matter what you have.

One thing I didn't mention is the bigger safe you the heaver it is going to be. You need to figure out how you will get it where you want it. Even with the door of it will still be heavy. That would be a reason to get a smaller safe.

 

[sipowicz]

Just don't get a safe that is so fancy that you need to put it inside another safe.

 

[JM4151]

Safes

I have a large Heritage safe, that I am pleased with. It has the Sargent & Greenleaf keypad digital lock, that is easy to open, if you have the combination. I had a safe with the old dial and if you were off one line, you had to start over again. Very frustrating. The Heritage is made in the USA.
Cannon has a free booklet called Seven Tips for purchasing a safe. Call them at 800 242 1055 for a copy.
If you keep income tax records in your safe it can be written off on your income tax. Check with your tax professional.

 

[Smitty357]

To add to Mr Smitty's post, I am also a certified locksmith. Please stay far away from anything made in Taiwan/China which leaves out everything Walmart sells.

It's an investment. Invest wisely.

Amen brother, thats what i try to tell em all. Look at it as in investment not just a gun safe. And I recommend the American made ones because IF u ever need parts, they can be sent over night and replaced tomorrow morning. No waiting a week or 2 for parts to come in from China.

Another reason mine was made in Fontana, Ca.

 

[Marine Corps Air]

Safes

Chris,

I'm with all of the other forum members who prefer Liberty safes. I did a lot of research before I purchased mine, and IMHO, Liberty safes (with their life time warranty and being made in the U S A) are the "gold standard" for gun safes. I would go to their website (Liberty Safe Lincoln Series - #1 Rated Safe in America! ) and read about their safes, then use that information to evaluate your possible choices.

I have attached a buyer's guide which should provide some excellent information on the criteria to be used. I have the Lincoln model, and just like the other members, I wish that I had bought one much larger. The best ones are somewhat expensive, and it's not something that you want to try to sell on E-bay or Craig's List. I also looked at the ones at the big box stores and they're just steel boxes that don't meet the best standards.

Safe real estate is valuable. I use Stack On metal cabinets (about $80.00 from Amazon) for my ammunition. They are well built and have key locks.

I also want to ensure that no one has access to my firearms other than me. There are no small children in our home. I believe in CA the owner is responsible for the unauthorized use of a firearm. I'm sure that NJ will soon pass a similar law.

 

[hittman77]

Here's my two cents:

Buy the largest safe you can afford cuz you will be amazed at all the important stuff that 'migrates' into it.

This guy nailed it.

And ..... spend more than you originally planned. You'll never regret it. Mine is a Liberty .... best on the market as far as I can tell and, made in America.

My safe holds guns, ammo, car titles, family photos back 3 or 4 generations, jewelry, spare keys, junk that means something only to me, hunting knives, etc.

 

[NJ Diver]

Thanks for all the information guys.

 

[SmokeStack Lightning]

Also,

If you want a safe w/quick, no hassle access you should look into getting a bio-metric model.

I own 4 safes, 1 floor model w/combination lock, 1 long gun safe w/digital push-button lock, and two pistol safes both w/bio-metric locks.

The floor safe w/combination lock has to have a light source to see the dial.

My long gun safe w/digital push button opens quickly w/no light source needed.

The bio-metric pistol safes can be accessed and opened in 2 seconds w/no light source.

One of the pistol safes is next to my bed for quick access if needed, the other is in my F-150 cabled to a seat strut. It's been in my truck for 3 years now and I've yet had to replace the batteries.

The next long gun safe I buy will be bio-metric also.

No combo to remember, no key to lose (which I do, often).

Both bio-metrics DO come with a key in case the batteries go dead, but both have low battery warning systems and in 3 years of use, I've not encountered a problem.

Edit: Another good feature of a bio-metric safe is that as many as 30 different fingerprints can be entered into it's memory. That way you can program more than one print for yourself (I did 4 of mine) and anyone else you allow into your safes w/o giving a key or combination.
No un-authorized users allowed!! (Unless they break into it)