Moving to an apartment soon and need something basic to prevent theft and prying eyes should maintenance need to come in when I am not home. It would need to fit in a semi walk in closet so looking at Winchester, Sure Lock, or a Sports Afield due to size and also cost. Has anyone had any major issues with these brands?
“Cheaper safes”
- Thread starter Axis II
- Start date
westernrover
Member
- Joined
- May 4, 2018
- Messages
- 1,613
Why pay for one of those instead of a less costly Stack On "security cabinet" ? What more will it do?
A little bit of fire and theft prevention.
westernrover
Member
- Joined
- May 4, 2018
- Messages
- 1,613
I wouldn't expect too much.
Some people could hope to have more fire and theft protection with a Fort Knox or a high-end Liberty, but I think it would be more effective to focus on fire and theft protection around the safe than within it. That might not be practical in an apartment where the occupant has no control over the neighbors. For the same reason, I doubt a cheap safe would protect the contents much better than a plain steel cabinet.
Some people could hope to have more fire and theft protection with a Fort Knox or a high-end Liberty, but I think it would be more effective to focus on fire and theft protection around the safe than within it. That might not be practical in an apartment where the occupant has no control over the neighbors. For the same reason, I doubt a cheap safe would protect the contents much better than a plain steel cabinet.
Lo-Profile
Member
I would just change the handle on the walk in closet to a keyed one. Cheaper than any gun cabinet / safe with about as much protection as they have.
Jonah77
Member
- Joined
- May 13, 2023
- Messages
- 147
For what I paid I am satisfied with my basic 12 gun Winchester (grn\brn?). 35 minutes at 1450 degrees I think? (Note that “12 gun” is a pipe dream unless you are talking 12 single barrel break-open shotguns).
Feels solid, door shuts nice and tight. Heavy enough not to be easily moved-especially loaded.
Having said that, I just bought their 20 gun (black) and it felt noticeably ‘cheaper’. Same ratings but the door lock up was not nearly as nice.
But again, considering what these sell for (especially on sale) not sure there is anything better available.
My goal was having something I could move myself empty, but would be really difficult for even two guys to move full. Yea, I KNOW these can be broken into, but it would take longer and probably be heard by someone.
Not trying to stop the Pink Panther…just the Punk Locals.
Feels solid, door shuts nice and tight. Heavy enough not to be easily moved-especially loaded.
Having said that, I just bought their 20 gun (black) and it felt noticeably ‘cheaper’. Same ratings but the door lock up was not nearly as nice.
But again, considering what these sell for (especially on sale) not sure there is anything better available.
My goal was having something I could move myself empty, but would be really difficult for even two guys to move full. Yea, I KNOW these can be broken into, but it would take longer and probably be heard by someone.
Not trying to stop the Pink Panther…just the Punk Locals.
CapnMac
Member
An apartment complex ought to be pretty secure from fire as is--International Building Code mandated sprinkler protection long ago for all but the smallest and/or oldest complexes.
So, like as not, the primary focus--to my thinking--would be anonymity. The less a thing looks like it has valuables in it, the better.
A good notion, but, in many modern apartments one that can get you evicted, and/or lose security deposit, sadly. Apartment living has gotten complicated, at least in the big cities.
westernrover
Member
- Joined
- May 4, 2018
- Messages
- 1,613
Gun count ratings are consistently inflated. I would expect by a factor of 3. If it says "12" it will be 4. "18" means 6. More could be fit, perhaps 2:1 rather than 3:1 if the guns don't have optics or if it's tolerable to have them touch or knock the adjacent guns.
Lo-Profile
Member
I don't understand why, it's not that hard to do and can be reversed easily.
CapnMac
Member
It has to do with how complex owners hire out management, and then hire out maintenance. "Tenant modifications" is something of a large envelope anymore.
It's almost like an HOA in some ways. They can regulate what door mat you have outside your door.
Arkansas Paul
Member
I was in the same situation.
I just got the cheap Stack-On cabinet.
However my main goal wasn't theft prevention. My daughter was getting old enough to poke around and be curious about everything, and I knew as well as that happening it wouldn't be too long before other kids were over to play with her. So my main objective was locking guns up to where curious children couldn't access them. The Stack-On does that fine. I'm not under the illusion that it would prevent an adult thief from getting into it. You'd likely need to spend a little more money to achieve that.
I just got the cheap Stack-On cabinet.
However my main goal wasn't theft prevention. My daughter was getting old enough to poke around and be curious about everything, and I knew as well as that happening it wouldn't be too long before other kids were over to play with her. So my main objective was locking guns up to where curious children couldn't access them. The Stack-On does that fine. I'm not under the illusion that it would prevent an adult thief from getting into it. You'd likely need to spend a little more money to achieve that.
Depends. I removed all of the dividers. I kept one top shelf, but the bottom 90% of the safe is just open. I can put quite a few more guns in it than it is rated for. Yes they touch each other, and yes I have to take several out to get to the ones in the back. But it doesn't hurt anything. The ones most used are in the front.
BTW, bolt guns take up less space if you leave the bolts open. I've seen guys squeeze in a few more by alternating the direction they are stored, every other gun is muzzle down, between 2 that are stored muzzle up.
I have 2, neither is particularly expensive. My goal was to keep the guns away from my kids when they were growing up and away from grandkids now. If a thief REALLY wants them they will get them.
What I did
Got a 2-year job contract on the opposite coast and wanted to take some pew pews with me.
My apartment had a deep closet with shelving and a man door, not a bifold door.
I replaced the doorknob with a deadbolt and the hinges with tamper proof hinges with non-removable hinge pins.
The door was solid, so I didn't need to do anything there.
The maintenance man gave it a strange look when he was in the apartment fixing my dryer.
I eventually built a standup loading "shelf" in there.
When I left, I put the knob and shelves back in, but left the hinges...
Getting my guns out there (legally) was the bigger challenge, that and dodging the local Barney Fife because I had Florida tags living in Oregan.
jmo,
.
Got a 2-year job contract on the opposite coast and wanted to take some pew pews with me.
My apartment had a deep closet with shelving and a man door, not a bifold door.
I replaced the doorknob with a deadbolt and the hinges with tamper proof hinges with non-removable hinge pins.
The door was solid, so I didn't need to do anything there.
The maintenance man gave it a strange look when he was in the apartment fixing my dryer.
I eventually built a standup loading "shelf" in there.
When I left, I put the knob and shelves back in, but left the hinges...
Getting my guns out there (legally) was the bigger challenge, that and dodging the local Barney Fife because I had Florida tags living in Oregan.
jmo,
.
Yes, those dividers are usually thick/carpeted particle board just so they can claim/advertise a heavier weight.
Buyers think the weight is more steel, not partical board that's taking up valuable space!
That and a higher fire rating is achieved by adding a layer of drywall.
The same drywall that's on the walls of the closet.
Not much more than a 4x8 sheet that costs $18 and eats up even more internal valuable space.
jmo,
.
Last edited:
Those Stack On cabinets lag bolted to the studs in a closet work pretty well. I used one for a short while for extra space. Fire ratings are for selling purposes on gun safes sold today. If a fire gets hot enough it won't matter much and the water intrusion wont help. There are many examples out there about what happens to safes and their contents in a fire...
Jonah77
Member
- Joined
- May 13, 2023
- Messages
- 147
It depends a lot on what really worries you. Keeping your kids out or someone else's kids out that came over to play is easier than fire protection or protection from determined thieves.
You might want to look at a sturdy tool box or other metal cabinet that does not shout "guns inside".
I would not concern myself with fire protection. Apartment buildings tend to be fairly fire resistant, and the ones that are not what fire resistance you get may not help much.
You might want to look at a sturdy tool box or other metal cabinet that does not shout "guns inside".
I would not concern myself with fire protection. Apartment buildings tend to be fairly fire resistant, and the ones that are not what fire resistance you get may not help much.
Remington1911
Member
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2022
- Messages
- 1,513
What I would do is just get the "cheap" cabinet, then get yourself a wyze camera or two to "keep an eye" on it.
Get in the habit of checking it often, and when ever maint. needs access to your apt.
Hard to argue with video of the plumber coming out with a rifle.
Also take the time to do little things to make sure you can ID your rifle. I like to take off a butt plate and put some tape with my name on it, then screw it back on.
Get in the habit of checking it often, and when ever maint. needs access to your apt.
Hard to argue with video of the plumber coming out with a rifle.
Also take the time to do little things to make sure you can ID your rifle. I like to take off a butt plate and put some tape with my name on it, then screw it back on.
PWC
Member
Sentry has a dial lock and stack on cabinets have keylock
The Night Rider
Member
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2022
- Messages
- 2,147
Most apartment leases that Ive ever seen avocado so in them but you can't change or install any new locks in the apartment..
The Night Rider
Member
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2022
- Messages
- 2,147
Wouldn't having a record of the serial number suffice?
Last edited:
CapnMac
Member
In the abstract, what can look like a good answer is something like bedvault https://www.gunsafes.com/TruckVault-BedVault.html
Those tend to be spendy, and it's a big box to lug up to one's apartment. But, usually, there are two issues.
One is an apartment bedroom with the space to actually open one of those, while also having other needed bedroom furniture.
Two is that most apartment dwellers are already using under-bed storage for the things that will not fit apartment closets as is.
You want to invest in at least the one set of 6" bed risers, and you want an extra-long "Dust Skirt" for the bed, too.
This can work, but, that's a maybe. But, given apartment floor areas a Full size bed can fit better than a queen, even thous a queen-size is likely a better bed. But, that extra couple of feet can be a tough trade.
Life is a series of compromises.
Those tend to be spendy, and it's a big box to lug up to one's apartment. But, usually, there are two issues.
One is an apartment bedroom with the space to actually open one of those, while also having other needed bedroom furniture.
Two is that most apartment dwellers are already using under-bed storage for the things that will not fit apartment closets as is.
You want to invest in at least the one set of 6" bed risers, and you want an extra-long "Dust Skirt" for the bed, too.
This can work, but, that's a maybe. But, given apartment floor areas a Full size bed can fit better than a queen, even thous a queen-size is likely a better bed. But, that extra couple of feet can be a tough trade.
Life is a series of compromises.
Remington1911
Member
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2022
- Messages
- 1,513
It would, however I have quite a few old 22's that don't have them.
I have seen enough human error entering SN's to last a life time. And they are a pain in the butt to fix.
Probably not.
Fire and theft protection, other than marketing claims by manufacturers, really only has meaning if there's a UL type rating on them. Here's some good reading on the topic. http://gunsafehaven.com/ul-rsc-gun-safes/ https://www.safetyfile.com/pages/ul-fire-and-impact-ratings
Last edited:
No what I'm saying is that those fire ratings don't mean a thing if it is in the fire itself. The heat from the fire and the water used to fight it will wreak havoc on your firearms. You may still have your firearm but there will be some serious damage..
Similar threads
- Locked
