Been considering a Stack on safe since it is affordable and better than nothing. My hang up is do I opt for electronic or combination lock? The 14 gun firesafe Models # FS-14-MB-E and # FS-14-MG-C are what I'm considering.
Stack on safes
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I would get a normal combination lock and stay away from digital but I really don't know about the Stackon brand. Some of the cheaper safes have a really crude, draggy combination lock but I guess it should work OK if you don't want to spend the money for a nice one.
Here's mine, purchased only based on price, I think it's the same model that you were asking about. I'll share a few thoughts after a couple years of experience.
1 I'm not sure it really qualifies as a safe, more like a reasonably secure cabinet. Very thin gauge steel all around and minimal fire protection. Definitely must be bolted down.
2 Divider configuration doesn't really maximize the cabinet volume. I ran out of room quickly. I just added the door back hangers this week (had to cut down all of the shelves to make those work), and I've taken to storing rifle mags and all ammunition in a separate cabinet.
3 On several occasions (maybe 5 or six, mostly when it's very cold) the electronic keypad has failed to recognize any button presses. Every time this has happened I just kept trying the code and within a minute or two it started working again, or there's always the override key. I keep this safe in the garage anyway and a small biometric pistol safe by the bed so I can live with occasional unreliability, but I wouldn't store my primary home defense in it.
Hope this helps.
1 I'm not sure it really qualifies as a safe, more like a reasonably secure cabinet. Very thin gauge steel all around and minimal fire protection. Definitely must be bolted down.
2 Divider configuration doesn't really maximize the cabinet volume. I ran out of room quickly. I just added the door back hangers this week (had to cut down all of the shelves to make those work), and I've taken to storing rifle mags and all ammunition in a separate cabinet.
3 On several occasions (maybe 5 or six, mostly when it's very cold) the electronic keypad has failed to recognize any button presses. Every time this has happened I just kept trying the code and within a minute or two it started working again, or there's always the override key. I keep this safe in the garage anyway and a small biometric pistol safe by the bed so I can live with occasional unreliability, but I wouldn't store my primary home defense in it.
Hope this helps.
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Comrad
Member
Have you looked at Sentry, they have some inexpensive non electronic models.
I have a 25 gun "Elite" model with electronic lock. The Elite is a bit heavier duty than their basic line. It has been trouble free for about two and a half years now. I did bolt it down to both the floor and the wall. It's not the most secure safe in the world, but it will discourage the majority of thieves. A real professional crook can break into any safe given enough time.
If you get the electronic lock it comes with a backup key. Change the 9v battery once a year with the ones in your smoke detectors and you'll be good to go.
If you get the electronic lock it comes with a backup key. Change the 9v battery once a year with the ones in your smoke detectors and you'll be good to go.
DeathGrip
US Veteran
Your thumbs down tells me what you already know.
I use my cheapo for bait. I made my own build ins. Good luck.
I use my cheapo for bait. I made my own build ins. Good luck.
photobiker
Member
One advantage to the electronic lock is it is faster and I can unlock it without turning the lights on. But I think if I had to do again I would get a combination but I can't tell you why. Old school I guess.
I have a Stack On and I like it. I don't know if it is as good in a fire as my American Security, but it will keep a thief out.
Do not buy the electronic lock...they fail. When they fail you have to have the safe drilled open and then you will have a combo installed anyway. Been there, done that, never again. If you need to get in it fast you can close it and turn the dial 4 or 5 numbers away from the final. Just turn it back when you want in. Always write the combo down in some hidden spot...you will forget and have the paper with the combo on it that comes with the safe locked inside...like everyone else. The combo lock on my Stack On is a nice one, I cant tell it from any other combo safe I have tried or felt. Buy with confidence.
Do not buy the electronic lock...they fail. When they fail you have to have the safe drilled open and then you will have a combo installed anyway. Been there, done that, never again. If you need to get in it fast you can close it and turn the dial 4 or 5 numbers away from the final. Just turn it back when you want in. Always write the combo down in some hidden spot...you will forget and have the paper with the combo on it that comes with the safe locked inside...like everyone else. The combo lock on my Stack On is a nice one, I cant tell it from any other combo safe I have tried or felt. Buy with confidence.
A thief with a crowbar will be in that safe in a matter on minutes.
Up to you. But if you truly need something secure, buy a Liberty Safe.
Rastoff
US Veteran
Cheap electronic locks are dangerous. If they have an override key, why have the electronic part? Could just use the key, which of course can just be picked.
Yes, StackOn is better than nothing. About .0001% better.
For the record, nothing a normal person will buy meets the qualifications to be a safe. They are residential security containers.
Yes, StackOn is better than nothing. About .0001% better.
For the record, nothing a normal person will buy meets the qualifications to be a safe. They are residential security containers.
Same reason..
I was looking into storing my guns elsewhere but the cheapest storage I could find was $40/month. So I got a stack on safe. I got the combination lock because they are less trouble and I felt they were secure against very clever probing fingers.
It works, but under a lot of opening and closing which I do to keep the guns locked up I wonder how well it will stand up. I guess if it breaks I can get another one for less than an expensive one.
PS ALWAYS get one bigger than you think you need. Scopes and bolts don't always fit and you have to take them all out to get to one in the back. I think I got a 10 gun and that suits me just fine. I could use more handgun space than long gun space now.
I was looking into storing my guns elsewhere but the cheapest storage I could find was $40/month. So I got a stack on safe. I got the combination lock because they are less trouble and I felt they were secure against very clever probing fingers.
It works, but under a lot of opening and closing which I do to keep the guns locked up I wonder how well it will stand up. I guess if it breaks I can get another one for less than an expensive one.
PS ALWAYS get one bigger than you think you need. Scopes and bolts don't always fit and you have to take them all out to get to one in the back. I think I got a 10 gun and that suits me just fine. I could use more handgun space than long gun space now.
It's not quite that cheap.....
It's not quite that cheap. I'd say it'd take 20 minutes for somebody determined, energetic and skillful. The door has large lugs top, bottom and sides that lock in pretty solidly. For cheap, it's pretty good. Easiest way would be a cutting torch on the side since they aren't very heavy. I'd like to have a nicer safe, but this does the job I need it to.
PS Alternative method. Cut a hole in the side with a hole saw. Use a saber saw to cut outward from the holes in four directions. Peel open and enjoy.
PPS: I was looking at the Liberty safes and they do look a good sized step up in quality without breaking the bank. If I even need another one I'll look into those.
It's not quite that cheap. I'd say it'd take 20 minutes for somebody determined, energetic and skillful. The door has large lugs top, bottom and sides that lock in pretty solidly. For cheap, it's pretty good. Easiest way would be a cutting torch on the side since they aren't very heavy. I'd like to have a nicer safe, but this does the job I need it to.
PS Alternative method. Cut a hole in the side with a hole saw. Use a saber saw to cut outward from the holes in four directions. Peel open and enjoy.
PPS: I was looking at the Liberty safes and they do look a good sized step up in quality without breaking the bank. If I even need another one I'll look into those.
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Rastoff
US Veteran
That's funny. Obviously you've never seen someone really determined attack a safe. 20 minutes? Try less than 2 minutes:
In the video they are attacking a decent gun "safe". We're talking about a "safe" that is 20 times less secure than what's in the video.
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My thoughts are :
Don't buy a Stack-On safe as they are not much more than glorified Gym lockers. Yes they are cheap - and very easily broken into.
I don't understand guys & gals who tell you they can not afford a good gun safe, but have 30+ 40+ 50+ guns in their collection - time to hold off on a few gun purchases and buy a descent safe to store them in.
Not only should you be interested in burglar protection, but you should be interested in fire and water protection as well.
I have personally seen locks fail on cheap safes requiring a Locksmith or the owner having to break into his own safe to get it opened.
To sum it up - - - - Cheap is usually expensive , in the long run!
Liberty brand safes (the President and the Lincoln) are a very good value for the money but are the least amount of acceptable quality I would ever recommend to someone. Fort Knox higher end safes are a bit better than the Liberty's but MUCH more expensive. Not saying there aren't other good ones out there but these are the two most popular brands of descent "gun safes". If you are handy and ambitious, you might pick up a used Jewelry Store safe and modify it for guns. Those kind of safes are usually much more secure and much heavier and thicker than the so called gun safes. They might not have the fancy pinstriped paint jobs or the gold plated wheel, but a hell of a lot better in security, fire protection and flood protection.
MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL: Make SURE whatever safe you wind up with that it is securely bolted to the floor or ground. Some safes only come with two pre-drilled holes for bolts but I'd strongly suggest drilling two additional ones so the safe is secured in every corner. This makes it much harder for a thief to pry it opened in the upright position. If you can hide the safe in a closet and alarm that closet - all the better! Out of sight = out of mind. IMHO a safe is NOT something to show off to the visitors, workman or neighbors who are in and out of your home! MAKE SURE that if you are getting a safe delivered and or installed you use a BONDED Company and request (insist) that the truck they use be unmarked and that the safe be either wrapped up in plain packaging or disguised in an old refrigerator box or something similar. The less people know you have a safe the safer you are.
Don't buy a Stack-On safe as they are not much more than glorified Gym lockers. Yes they are cheap - and very easily broken into.
I don't understand guys & gals who tell you they can not afford a good gun safe, but have 30+ 40+ 50+ guns in their collection - time to hold off on a few gun purchases and buy a descent safe to store them in.
Not only should you be interested in burglar protection, but you should be interested in fire and water protection as well.
I have personally seen locks fail on cheap safes requiring a Locksmith or the owner having to break into his own safe to get it opened.
To sum it up - - - - Cheap is usually expensive , in the long run!
Liberty brand safes (the President and the Lincoln) are a very good value for the money but are the least amount of acceptable quality I would ever recommend to someone. Fort Knox higher end safes are a bit better than the Liberty's but MUCH more expensive. Not saying there aren't other good ones out there but these are the two most popular brands of descent "gun safes". If you are handy and ambitious, you might pick up a used Jewelry Store safe and modify it for guns. Those kind of safes are usually much more secure and much heavier and thicker than the so called gun safes. They might not have the fancy pinstriped paint jobs or the gold plated wheel, but a hell of a lot better in security, fire protection and flood protection.
MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL: Make SURE whatever safe you wind up with that it is securely bolted to the floor or ground. Some safes only come with two pre-drilled holes for bolts but I'd strongly suggest drilling two additional ones so the safe is secured in every corner. This makes it much harder for a thief to pry it opened in the upright position. If you can hide the safe in a closet and alarm that closet - all the better! Out of sight = out of mind. IMHO a safe is NOT something to show off to the visitors, workman or neighbors who are in and out of your home! MAKE SURE that if you are getting a safe delivered and or installed you use a BONDED Company and request (insist) that the truck they use be unmarked and that the safe be either wrapped up in plain packaging or disguised in an old refrigerator box or something similar. The less people know you have a safe the safer you are.
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Thanks for all the feedback! Figure most safes are only going to deter the smash and grab type of thief, for a pro it probably doesn't matter what you have they're going to get in.
We live a private community so I'm not too concerned with a burglary but more so a curious kid. As of now our long guns are locked in a closet and I'd have better peace of mind knowing they were locked in something a bit more secure.
Going on the hunt Monday to find a place that has safes on display to check them out in person. Most places I've been to have security cabinets on display and the safes are by order only.
We live a private community so I'm not too concerned with a burglary but more so a curious kid. As of now our long guns are locked in a closet and I'd have better peace of mind knowing they were locked in something a bit more secure.
Going on the hunt Monday to find a place that has safes on display to check them out in person. Most places I've been to have security cabinets on display and the safes are by order only.
Agreed! Not many know have any firearms and I stress to our son never brag or tell anyone, friends included, about them.
Thanks for your suggestions, may have to check into a Jewelry safe, friend of mines Step-father is a jeweler, never thought about asking him about safes.
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There are plenty of the Jewelry safes around from stores that went out of business. Contact a few local safe company's to ask.
I actually helped my friend open a Stack-0n safe a few months ago when his relative died and he had to get into it. He did not have the Combination. I brought a Milwaukee corded drill and a Sawzall - it took under 5 minutes! NOT KIDDING - and I am not a Pro! Didn't even bother with the crow bars - simply started a hole with the drill and the Sawzall's metal cutting blade zipped right through the thin sheet metal. I was amazed!!
I actually helped my friend open a Stack-0n safe a few months ago when his relative died and he had to get into it. He did not have the Combination. I brought a Milwaukee corded drill and a Sawzall - it took under 5 minutes! NOT KIDDING - and I am not a Pro! Didn't even bother with the crow bars - simply started a hole with the drill and the Sawzall's metal cutting blade zipped right through the thin sheet metal. I was amazed!!
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Fat Frank
US Veteran
I'm not sure I'd consider that safe in the video a "decent gun safe". The door lugs are only on the opening edge. I wouldn't consider owning a safe that didn't have locking lugs on all 4 sides of the door - open edge, hinge edge, top and bottom - as a bare minimum. JMHO.
There have many discussions here involving gun safes. So much of this gets repeated.
Someone breaking into your safe isn't the only consideration.
A GOOD gun safe is an investment.
Brands such as Stack On, Sentry, low end Winchester Safes and pretty much any other brand you see at a big box store or Walmart are not good quality safes.
They look good with all the paint and such but underneath is a different story. They are mass produced in China. The steel isn't as strong and the welds are a joke as well as the poorly designed locking system.
I've taken many of these brands apart to change the combination or repair them. It is then and only then do you see just how poorly designed and built they are.
Choose wisely.
Buy bigger than you think you need.
Bolt it down.
Take care of it.
That was WAY less....
That was way less than two minutes.
Any, the purpose of my safe is to keep 'unauthorized users' (read 'kids') away from them and it does good for that.
That was way less than two minutes.
Any, the purpose of my safe is to keep 'unauthorized users' (read 'kids') away from them and it does good for that.
chaparrito
Member
Seems to me a safe like that just screams "Hey look here's where the guns are".
Thin metal all you need is a strong screwdriver and a hammer.
Punch the point of the screwdriver threw that light gauge material and once in hit the side of the blade with the hammer.
Repeat side hits a few times in a couple vital directions and GUESS WHAT you now are in like Flint!
RJJ 1971
Member
I agree with the Stack On safes being what several have mentioned already... storage cabinet, gym locker, kid or smash and grab deterrent.
Btw - any safe can be opened if a thief has TIME and KNOWLEDGE.
So it helps if you have nosey neighbors.
Btw - any safe can be opened if a thief has TIME and KNOWLEDGE.
So it helps if you have nosey neighbors.
I agree with the Stack On safes being what several have mentioned already... storage cabinet, gym locker, kid or smash and grab deterrent.
Btw - any safe can be opened if a thief has TIME and KNOWLEDGE.
So it helps if you have nosey neighbors.
Partially true.
I can open most any safe by drilling one hole and use a scope to open it. So, you must have the right tools and knowledge. And it's not quick and easy.
Thieves don't have this knowledge. If they did they certainly aren't going to go for the average gun owners safe.
The point is to make it more difficult for them.
Partially true.
I can open most any safe by drilling one hole and use a scope to open it. So, you must have the right tools and knowledge. And it's not quick and easy.
Thieves don't have this knowledge. If they did they certainly aren't going to go for the average gun owners safe.
The point is to make it more difficult for them.
Not to be a wise guy but your looking at it as a professional locksmith and want to do a neat job.
Me I'm looking at it as a 40 year construction worker/ welder that has many years of bending, cutting, drilling, welding and other methods of working or mutilating metals of all sizes and consistence's. If neatness and noise does not count much I will get in and most times rather fast!
Fishslayer
US Veteran, Absent Comrade
Better than nothing and as has been pointed out, if a pro wants in badly enough... whatever ya get though, bolt it down. You would be surprised just how easy they are to roll away if you know what you're doing.
If you have a local Tractor Supply go have a look. They have Cannon ridiculously cheap. The model that's twice as big as mine is about $200 more than I paid...
If you have a local Tractor Supply go have a look. They have Cannon ridiculously cheap. The model that's twice as big as mine is about $200 more than I paid...
Philadelphia Patriot
Member
I have a stack on gun cabinet. It's not so much to keep my guns out of thieves' hands but rather keep my guns secured for when my cousins' kids come over. I think burglar alarms are more important than gun safes, but don't get me wrong, gun safes also play a huge role if your house catches on fire too.
My son and his friends......
My teenage son and his friends would be into the guns , period, if they weren't really locked up. I wouldn't put it past one of his friend to actually steal them. That is my main motivation for getting one. I do have a burglar alarm for the outsiders.
My teenage son and his friends would be into the guns , period, if they weren't really locked up. I wouldn't put it past one of his friend to actually steal them. That is my main motivation for getting one. I do have a burglar alarm for the outsiders.
RJJ 1971
Member
That is honestly my biggest fear (others peoples kids) getting into my firearms.
Girl/Boyfriends aren't allowed over while we aren't home (no matter how much we like them).
That is why no one is allowed in our bedroom. No one has a key to my safe but me (and it's always on me). Even when I don't drive, my keys come with me.
If true "thieves"wanted to get into my safe - it probably wouldn't deter them very much.
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There was a single guy East of us out in the country who had an impressive gun collection with some VERY collectible guns. He wasn't afraid to show em' to a lot of people because he had very big and expensive, top of the line gun safe. But one day he was gone and someone stole a septic tank truck and rammed it through the side of his house and winched it up and drove away.
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