Bought a new safe today!

[wardog]

Finally broke down and upgraded from a Homak steel cabinet to a safe.

Got a fire-rated AMSEC 6032 from Galyan's for $629.00 It was $699, but when you sign up for their charge card (no payments or interest for 12 mo) they give you 10% off any purchases that day. (except guns and ammo ) For the size/protection/warranty/money, I don't think it can be beat.

It'll be delivered Monday. I can't wait!

 

[Mike Irwin]

Dog,

What are the specs on it?

How many guns? Room for handguns?

I need a safe that's primarily for handguns, but I'm having one hell of a time finding one.

 

[wardog]

It's 60" high, 30" wide, and 21" deep, 545 lbs. Black textured paint with silver colored combo lock and handle.

It comes with a top shelf, then the bottom is divided in half. Half is for long guns (8), the other half has 3 more shelves. The top shelf on the right side has cut outs (14) for long guns. So, you'd just take out the lower shelves to hold all long guns (22). Or, add shelves to the other side instead for all handguns.

www.amsecusa.com

I've been looking at safes for a while, and I don't think you can get a fire-rated safe in this size by any other manufacturer for this price.

I was also going to look at the 6040 model for $999, but they didn't have any in stock. That one is also fire-rated, and 60"X40"X26".

 

[4v50 Gary]

Good buy and that was smart to pick up their credit card for a major purchase. I could use one, but don't have the space.

 

[wardog]

Yep, I'm pretty happy with that deal. I shopped all the gun stores / locksmiths about a year ago, and found that you seem to get more for your money with AMSEC. I think the nicest are Liberty, but the $$$$$! Also Champion looked like the best super-high security (glass relockers, etc...) for the money.

If space is an issue, they've got an AMSEC 59"X24"X18 model 5924 that is 375 lbs. Fire-rated is $629.99, non-fire 429.99 at Galyan's. Made for 8 or 16 long guns.

They also had plenty of non-fire Stack On 10-gun safes. 55"X21"X13" 184 lbs for $229. Combo lock, deadbolts.

For a "mall-type" sporting goods store, Galyan's is pretty good. I won't buy guns there though as I can get them from my local shop for much less.

 

[4v50 Gary]

I bought a small 12 gun recently and almost all the space was claimed before it arrived.

 

[glockenstein]

I bought the 5924 model (smaller) from Galyan's myself recently and got the 10% off no payments/interest for 12 months plan too. I enlisted some friends to drag it into my apt. I'm happy with mine.

 

[VaughnT]

Anyone else thinking about that Sentry 10gun model the Tractor Supply Co is selling for $250? I can't recall the exact model number (G6211?) but it looked like a good safe to me. TSC is notorious for ignorant sales help so, but I might have to stop in after I get over a $1600 car repair bill.

 

[CB900F]

Fella's;

None of the above mentioned are safes. They are Residential Security Containers. Check out www.brownsafe.com/faq if you can't bring yourself to believe me. I'm a locksmith & sell safes for a living.

Unfortunately, you bought a marketing label, 'safe'. RSC's do not meet U.L. criteria for safes. They are, however, better than nothing, but not much.

The very high-end AMSEC's are true safes & a very good product. But they cost & weigh quite a bit more.

The problem(s) with RSC's are manifold & becoming very well known among the better burglary set. You get what you pay for.

I'm not really trying to rain on your parade. IMHO, you need to know what you do, or don't, have. A false sense of security is pretty thin protection.

900F

 

[.45&TKD]

RSC's do not meet U.L. criteria for safes.

So, how easy is it to break into a RSC?

 

[4v50 Gary]

15 minutes is good enough for someone who knows what they're doing. The store bought stuff is good for local burglars who are unfamilar with them.

 

[CB900F]

.45

I'm certainly not going to tell someone on-line how to open an RSC. However, as I stated previously, it's not at all hard. The 15 estimate by another poster is a couple of hundred percent generous. The U.L. label on the RSC's is only for the door too.

The thing that really irritates me about the high-end RSC's is that the price is pretty close to that of a true safe, but the protection is laughable. For a very few hundred dollars more than a 'premium' Liberty or Browning, it's possible to get a SAFE.

900F

 

[glockenstein]

Fine... But what I bought is many times over better than what I had (Homak cabinet). I've heard your arguments before and I'm aware that what I have is not technically a "safe." I think most people use the term in the generic sense. I live in a very small apartment so I'm not going to spend thousands of dollars on something that weighs thousands of pounds.

 

[.45&TKD]

Thanks 900F.

I did not know the difference prior to this thread and I'm "in the market" for one or the other.

 

[coylh]

I'm still not clear on what a "safe" is. What's the definition?

 

[CB900F]

Coylh;

Go to: www.brownsafe.com/faq. There, independant from my definition, is a good site that describes what a safe is.

True, anything is better than nothing. And it is possible to get a true safe that handles long guns without going over 1000 lbs., but it's not easy.

However, if pistols & break-down guns like either an O/U shotgun or AR type is what you are securing, it's perfectly possible to get a two-hour fire rate, B level burglary AMSEC safe for around $1600.00 and under 1000 lbs. I have one in the store at this time.

900F

 

[coylh]

I found the info at http://www.brownsafe.com/crackingsafes.html

I checked out my Liberty EG-17. It's considered a Residential Security Container. It's good enough for my needs, one of which is that I be able to move it (I rent). If I ever settle down permanently, I'll look into the ratings a little more; good info.

 

[Lightsped]

Alittle off topic, but I was able to successfully buy a Glock 30 and Kimber Pro Carry the same night at Galyans after applying for their credit card. I got 10% off total purchase price saving well over $100 bucks. Unless the rules have changed since September, you should be able to get 10% off of guns too.

Ok, now back to safes.

 

[Mikul]

Dick's Sporting Goods has been offering a Remington 21-gun safe for around $650. It is UL rated, but Remington doesn't say WHICH rating is has. I have an e-mail in to them. It is also fire protected and has a 4 tumbler combination lock.

 

[CB900F]

Mikul;

I'll bet you dollars to dead rats that it's an RSC, and not a particularly good one at that.

There are U.L. ratings for RSC's, most rate the door ONLY. The standard is something like; 'withstands a 10 minute attack with household tools' - on the door only. The tool qualification means common household claw hammer & screwdriver type tools. On an RSC that cheap, the other 5 sides are probably 16 gauge sheet metal, very thin stuff.

As for fire 'protection', think about it. A wet newspaper is fire protection. The important questions are: how hot for how long under what exact test conditions?

Again, I'm not trying to run anybody down here. What I'm trying to do is show how deceptive the current marketing practices are in this field.

900F

 

[EricO]

CB900F, I for one appreciate your info. The safe business is indeed misleading. Some people, because of circumstances, may just not be able to purchase a "safe." Price, size, etc, may limit their decisions.
A question for you: Are you familiar with either Pentagon brand safes, or also, the "portable" Zanotti safe (RSC?)? What are your opinions of these? Also, if someone was only going to purchase say, a "safe" using funds under $800, and not a particularily large one, what advice would you have as to the best (using criteria of security) model or brand? Do you have any tips as to mounting the safe, i.e., bolting down?
Thanks for any info.
EricO

 

[straightShot]

FYI:

Sam's Club has a Winchester safe, made by Granite Safe in Texas, for $699. I believe that Granite was the one of the first to get fire rated. The safe weighs 635 lbs.

 

[Beren]

Just a little story for you about gunsafes.

Once upon a time, I owned a small safe I bought used but in excellent condition from a trusted source. After placing some valuables inside, I proceeded to lose the combination and not notice for about six weeks. Eventually the time came when I wanted to get into my safe so I could, you know, go to the range again. After calling around the area, noone was willing to help open the safe if I didn't know the combination. They referred me to a man who I hesitate to call a locksmith because to do so would not convey how impressed I was with his skills.

I arranged to visit the man's shop, provided the serial number for my safe, etc. (I assume he checked to see if it was "hot.") A very impressive shop it turned out to be! He examined the safe, and we negotiated over the price for five or ten minutes.

He had my $600 Mielink safe open in less than thirty seconds, using nothing more than one hand to manipulate the combination dial.

He took the mechinism apart afterwards, set a new combination for me, etc. It was really interesting to get a look at how a safe is put together.

I trust my safe to keep the guns locked away from kids, random burglars, and myself when I'm drunk. That's it.

 

[CB900F]

EricO;

Anything is better than nothing. Just try to make sure you're getting the most for your money. I'm not personally familiar with the two brands you mentioned. Look for the thickness of the metal on the other 5 sides of the container, fit of the door to the frame, & a group II U.L. lock.

Beren, I'm not surprised. You never had the combo changed from the factory setting after you purchased the safe, did you?

For insurance purposes in commercial settings, 750 lbs is regarded as minimum weight unsecured to structure, by most insurance companies. In a practical sense, if two guys with a fridge cart can tip & control the safe, you need to bolt it down.

Most assembly line safes are hung from the line & actually are built up-side down. There's a hole in the bottom filled with a plug, use that to bolt into your home's structure.

I recently ran into a new stack-on RSC, purchased in a discount box store. Made in Red China, shoddy - shoddy construction & design. Looked good at first glance though. The door was very heavy, the rest of the container was very light. Imagine your kid trying to look into the upper shelf & hanging from the door.

900F