Gun Safes ...need help !!!

[Nessmuck]

Just need some input on brands and styles . Never had a gun safe before..but looking into getting one. I need it tall enough for some Black Powdah guns with 42 " barrels ...about 5-6 rifles and some S&W pistols (4). Thanks ..need more function than looks and bells and whistles.

 

[Gunsnwater]

Whatever size you buy will fill up. Look at the one with the lazy Suzan in it. Nice to be able to reach everything. Watch YouTube videos youll see how safe some arnt. Doors that can come off are better for moving inside the home. Sargent and green leaf dial lock is the way to go, no alternate key.

 

[Nessmuck]

Do gun safes come with a heating rod ????

 

[Buttercup]

I like the Liberty safe lines like "Franklin" and "Lincoln" which are made in the USA. I also prefer dial locks. And remember...whatever size safe you buy is too small and you will be looking for a second one soon!

 

[loknload]

I have a Liberty and love it. Just choose your size and buy the next bigger one.
You will out grow it.

 

[CatSnipah]

I just got myself a Liberty Franklin 35 back in July. Awesome safe.

Yes, I added a heating rod to help with humidity control.

And i went with the dial lock after talking with the vendor who ended up installing it (I custom ordered). Too many bad stories about the digital locks. Easy, quick access, but the failure rate alarmed me.

 

[loknload]

Yes I have the Golden Rod in mine as well. I also have the standard combo dial as well which also has the day lock.
Funny story about mine is the dealer ordered two safes for me. One was the size I wanted but they were afraid they couldn't get down in my basement,so they order the next smaller size for me as well. One way or the other I was getting a safe. I got what I ordered but my son and I helped get it down the steps.
The dealer offered me the smaller one at a good price since he didn't want to stock it. Sad thing was I didn't take it and no have outgrown the original.

 

[JH1951]

I am a fan of Champion safes. Do your calculations for space needed, then multiply by at least 2. Seriously.
There are a lot of YouTube videos giving advice. Most of it is pretty good. If you want true security from thieves and fire, the units, no matter what brand you buy, are expensive. Many 'safes' are easily compromised. Learn about internal and external hinges, fire/heat insulation, thickness of construction materials, locking systems, etc. Keep in mind, most of us really do not have units that are really classified as a 'safe', but rather a 'residential security container'. Some states (Cal for instance) have gun safe requirements. Likely a good place to start when considering a baseline for what you want/need. Here is some info on that:
Regulatory Gun Safe Standards | State of California - Department of Justice - Kamala D. Harris Attorney General
Good luck. It is an interesting journey if you spend time researching the issue.

 

[RubEric]

Buy the 6 foot model with a digital lock. If you are putting it in your garage, get the cream color. Most everyone will assume it is a refrigerator - the elegant black and dark-colored safes we love stand out way too much. Put lights inside. It is likely your wife will want some space in your safe. Women love safes. Give it to her.

 

[Kanewpadle]

Buy a Liberty. Get one with the traditional combination. Not the digital push button. Buy one size bigger. Have it delivered and installed.

 

[P&R Fan]

My Mom and I both bought Zanotti safes after my Dad died. Mine has the standard combination lock, hers is a keypad one with a plastic collar around the dial. You spin it several times and it powers up the lock. These are the safes you have probably seen advertised in all the gun magazines. They come in 6 sections: The top, two sides, the back, the floor and the door. They are pinned together with an L shaped pin. You would swear it is welded. Took a friend and I 24 minutes to put together. I have a client who I advised should get a safe. They are made in Iowa and I went to the factory. The owner said they are on a 6 month back-order. Seems a lot of people returning from overseas military service are buying a lot of them.
My client and I went to a John Deere dealer. Her late husband retired from Deere's so she got a discount. They sold Liberty safes, and she paid about $450 for a full sized one. It has the standard combination lock, and I had to show her how to open it. She also forgets the combination sometimes, so I have to remind her what it is. Yes, she totally trusts me. She decided to buy another safe from Menards. It is a Honeywell and has the keypad. Not near as good as the Liberty, but it serves her needs.

In my view, Zanotti is the best. Liberty is a close second.
Jim

 

[Nessmuck]

Thanks Folks for the replies !!!!

 

[JJEH]

Depending on you budget you can have many choices. One thing I recommend is to buy bigger than you need, b/c you will need it soon

 

[gdnagle]

Buy bigger then you think you need. Look into a scratch and dent sale for value if you don't mind scratches. I like the Patriot brand and they give discounts to LEO military EMS etc.. You need to decide if you want Flood, Fire, Theft, resistant safes or just a safe to lock you stuff up in.

Just remember if you think you found the right safe buy then next bigger size . You will also have to decide where you will put it and how it will be place there. A safe isn't light.