SafeTFirst
Member
Time for a new safe so I’m looking for recommendations on brands and vendors. I need an electronic lock. Preferably fire rated.
Gun Safes - Recommendations?
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bamabiker
Member
I've been happy with my Liberty but it has the manual lock.
I read the post title and had a recommendation in mind, based in part, on information from a locksmith friend.
Then, I read your post text.
Sorry that my comments might not help you. But, maybe they might be of interest to some of our fellow members?
My understanding is that something like 95% of service and warranty issues for safes involves the electronics.
Then, there was the recent media attention about one (or more?) of the major safe manufacturers that build in a “back door” code for electronic locks to bypass your combination. I’m sure they all do it.
No Thanks!! But, what do I know? I still listen to vinyl records!
Best wishes!
PS: Just did a quickie search to remind myself. Saw a pile of news stories, including this one from the NY Times:
“Liberty Safe Backlash: How a Gun Safe Maker Angered Gun Owners”!!
And, from Recoil:
“ Your Gun Safe Might Not Be Safe: Liberty Safe Surrenders Access Code To FBI”
And, from Newsweek:
“ Liberty Safe Customers to Sell Gun Safes Over Outrage at FBI Raid”
Then, I read your post text.
Sorry that my comments might not help you. But, maybe they might be of interest to some of our fellow members?
My understanding is that something like 95% of service and warranty issues for safes involves the electronics.
Then, there was the recent media attention about one (or more?) of the major safe manufacturers that build in a “back door” code for electronic locks to bypass your combination. I’m sure they all do it.
No Thanks!! But, what do I know? I still listen to vinyl records!
Best wishes!
PS: Just did a quickie search to remind myself. Saw a pile of news stories, including this one from the NY Times:
“Liberty Safe Backlash: How a Gun Safe Maker Angered Gun Owners”!!
And, from Recoil:
“ Your Gun Safe Might Not Be Safe: Liberty Safe Surrenders Access Code To FBI”
And, from Newsweek:
“ Liberty Safe Customers to Sell Gun Safes Over Outrage at FBI Raid”
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Buy a Liberty.
Don’t worry about them giving access. What people don’t know is that most safe companies will do the same. And this isn’t the first time. I remember it happening many years ago.
What most people also don’t know is that most if not all electronic locks have a secondary “back door” combination. The information is only for use by manufacturers and third party vendors such as locksmiths and safe technicians.
Electronic locks are also much easier to bypass IF you have the equipment and know how.
Electronic safe locks will never last as long as a rotary dial lock. I’ve worked on safe locks that were 80 years old and still going strong.
So no, I don’t like electronic locks. But I understand the desire to have one. Some folks have a hard time remembering the dialing sequence or have arthritic hands.
I opened many safes with electronic locks for people that needed access immediately only to wait until I got it open. They needed their hunting guns, insurance papers etc…… They weren’t happy at all.
Buy one size bigger than what you think you will need. Buy a dehumidifier too.
Install the safe in a place where the temperature is always constant. The frequent rise and fall of temperature inside the safe is a death sentence eventually.
Use gun socks. During a fire temperature inside the safe can reach 1000 degrees or more in extreme circumstances. Paper, film, pictures and such starts to burn at around 300 degrees. Plastic gun parts start to melt at about 500 degrees.
Gun socks are critically important. During a fire the fire department will hose down your house. The fire seal around the door on a gun safe is designed to expand when it reaches a certain temperature. After it cools it will contract allowing moisture inside the safe. It may take days to get the safe opened.
Again, buy a Liberty. I’m on my second one. I have a dial lock. No problems. There are other great safes available. But having worked with Liberty, I can tell you first hand that their service is the best. No, I’m not a paid spokesman.
Send me a PM if you have any questions.
Don’t worry about them giving access. What people don’t know is that most safe companies will do the same. And this isn’t the first time. I remember it happening many years ago.
What most people also don’t know is that most if not all electronic locks have a secondary “back door” combination. The information is only for use by manufacturers and third party vendors such as locksmiths and safe technicians.
Electronic locks are also much easier to bypass IF you have the equipment and know how.
Electronic safe locks will never last as long as a rotary dial lock. I’ve worked on safe locks that were 80 years old and still going strong.
So no, I don’t like electronic locks. But I understand the desire to have one. Some folks have a hard time remembering the dialing sequence or have arthritic hands.
I opened many safes with electronic locks for people that needed access immediately only to wait until I got it open. They needed their hunting guns, insurance papers etc…… They weren’t happy at all.
Buy one size bigger than what you think you will need. Buy a dehumidifier too.
Install the safe in a place where the temperature is always constant. The frequent rise and fall of temperature inside the safe is a death sentence eventually.
Use gun socks. During a fire temperature inside the safe can reach 1000 degrees or more in extreme circumstances. Paper, film, pictures and such starts to burn at around 300 degrees. Plastic gun parts start to melt at about 500 degrees.
Gun socks are critically important. During a fire the fire department will hose down your house. The fire seal around the door on a gun safe is designed to expand when it reaches a certain temperature. After it cools it will contract allowing moisture inside the safe. It may take days to get the safe opened.
Again, buy a Liberty. I’m on my second one. I have a dial lock. No problems. There are other great safes available. But having worked with Liberty, I can tell you first hand that their service is the best. No, I’m not a paid spokesman.
Send me a PM if you have any questions.
Buy a safe 2x bigger than what you think you need. First, whatever the safe is “rated” to hold is a lie. Second, safes fill up. It is a law of nature. I actually had to sell 2 lever action rifles recently … to make room for other lever action rifles that just keep showing up!
I have a Champion and have had Browning safes.
I have a Champion and have had Browning safes.
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One thing to consider..........all "safes" listed above are in fact not safes........they are considered "residential security containers".............
A real safe will cost you 2 or 3 times what one of these will cost........not bashing any of them, I own a AMSEC for my firearms.............but it's not a safe.........
A real safe will cost you 2 or 3 times what one of these will cost........not bashing any of them, I own a AMSEC for my firearms.............but it's not a safe.........
I've got a Cannon safe with a mechanical lock that I've had for probably 35 years, no issues at all. At the time it was $1500. I'm with the above posters, I wouldn't have an electronic lock, they're an answer to a non existent problem.
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FWIW, it looks pretty easy to swap out an electronic lock for an old school S&G dial lock, for those interested.
It’s easy most of the time if you know what you’re doing. But not always.
I recommend you stop and look around. Do you have a room that you could turn into a gunroom? Check the FEMA site to view plans and complete material list to build a storm room. If a 2x4 moving 60MPH can't get in, I doubt most thieves could, in a reasonable time.
My biggest regret is a gun collection jammed into safes, rather than out where I can enjoy them.
Something to think about.
My biggest regret is a gun collection jammed into safes, rather than out where I can enjoy them.
Something to think about.
I like my Fort Knox. It is my second one. I gave the first one to my son because it was too small. The second one is now too small too. +1 to everyone who recommends getting a bigger safe.
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I am also a Liberty fan. I have a Presidential 50 and will keep it until.....
I recently had an issue, not directly safe related but rather with an accessory They stepped up and helped me much more than I expected. Customer service was awesome.
Absolutely buy one or two sizes bigger than what you think you may need. The bigger you go, the more expensive. If dollars are an issue, wait a little longer to get a little bigger. Things secured seem to grow, quickly reducing the available space.
I recently had an issue, not directly safe related but rather with an accessory They stepped up and helped me much more than I expected. Customer service was awesome.
Absolutely buy one or two sizes bigger than what you think you may need. The bigger you go, the more expensive. If dollars are an issue, wait a little longer to get a little bigger. Things secured seem to grow, quickly reducing the available space.
Octagun
Member
I have a safe built by a company called Sturdy Safe company. They are 100% American made and from what I can tell a family owned business. They aren’t the the fanciest looking safe out there but they build to order and have options to add various thickness of solid steel to door, sides, etc. Their prices include drop shipping to your home. I called them and got the owners daughter on the phone who took time to not only explain their different packages to me but also pointed me to some information so I could research myself. I’d buy again with no hesitation.
DUSTYDOGDAN
Member
Liberty safes have treated me good. I bought them at Cabelas during the holidays. They have good deals on them during the the black Friday and Christmas sales.
bedwards
Member
Have a AMSEC w/dial and a Winchester w/Elect. The AMSEC is better hands down. I am on my 3rd Winchester electric lock, but this one seems to be working fine. If it goes bad again, will try converting to dial.
I also have a Cannon I bought in 1990 and it has a dial tumbler lock and a key also. I have a Remington that also has the S&G dial type lock. I’ve never had a problem with either safe. I also have a full size Legend safe and a Stack-On, 40” tall, Pistol Shooter Safe (their name) and both have electronic locks. I replace the batteries about once a year in both of these and they have not caused me any problem so far. The 2 with electronic locks are 7-8 years old. The 2 electronic safes also have a method to gain entry in case the electronic locks fail.
SWFan27
Member
Go to Tractor Supply. Winchester must have a deal with them, and they are very hard to beat when it comes to bang for the buck gun safes. Check out their 26/45 or 36/45 safes. I have a 26/45 and I don't see 26 long rifles fitting in there if I had it configured that way. But it holds a ton of stuff, and it is more safe than most people will ever want or need. The 45 minute fire rating is a huge plus too. I think I got mine for $549 a year or so ago. They are around a hundred dollars more now but go on sale quite often. When I was in the market for a safe and asked around, I was surprised how many people said go to Tractor Supply. I had never stepped foot in there before I bought my safe.
I bought battery powered LED lighting with a motion sensor, and a no-power required dehumidifier for my safe from Amazon. And all of that was around an additional $50. I highly recommend checking out Tractor Supply. YouTube has review videos of their Winchester safes as well.
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgM3orMqvmw&t=459s"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgM3orMqvmw&t=459s[/ame]
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUuAbPYSVsw&t=200s"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUuAbPYSVsw&t=200s[/ame]
I bought battery powered LED lighting with a motion sensor, and a no-power required dehumidifier for my safe from Amazon. And all of that was around an additional $50. I highly recommend checking out Tractor Supply. YouTube has review videos of their Winchester safes as well.
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgM3orMqvmw&t=459s"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgM3orMqvmw&t=459s[/ame]
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUuAbPYSVsw&t=200s"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUuAbPYSVsw&t=200s[/ame]
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Ugh...this thread has me thinking.
Do you have a dry basement, where perhaps you already have two concrete walls? That would give thieves no access to at least two walls. You would only need to build two storm shelter walls. Then you can go as crazy, or not, on the ceiling. Heck, install an HVAC and tell the wife it's the family panic room!
Do you have a dry basement, where perhaps you already have two concrete walls? That would give thieves no access to at least two walls. You would only need to build two storm shelter walls. Then you can go as crazy, or not, on the ceiling. Heck, install an HVAC and tell the wife it's the family panic room!
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