Buying a gun safe

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Odnar

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I'm looking at the larger safes available in some of the box stores. I'm on a pretty tight budget ($1000 - $1500 including tax and delivery) and right now I'm leaning towards this one. I'm have no doubt that there are better safes available, but better ones of the same size for the money? I'm more concerned with theft than fire.

Anyway, here's my concern. It's listed as "Freight Only" and says the following about that:

The freight trucking company is not responsible for unloading the item from the truck or carrying the item into the building. Your item is likely to be heavy and large; therefore, we recommend that you have someone with you to help you unload the item and bring it inside.

About how much would a safe like this weigh, and how many people will I need to have available to unload it? Has anyone else had any experience with having a safe delivered to their house "Freight Only"? Am I really on my own to get that thing brute forced off the back of a truck? Keep in mind, this is a 45-gun, W 43 in; D 26 in; H 59 in safe.

p2755652dt.jpg
 
Stack-On's website lists the weight of that safe at 751 lbs.

I purchased a much, much smaller safe from Dick's. It was fairly heavy but the bigger problem was the bulk. My dad and I got it into the house okay, but we had a difficult time getting it into the room I wanted because there were spots where it was impossible to tilt the dolly back to the desired angle.
 
Most trucking companies will allow you to make arrangements to pick it up at their dock where a forklift is available or, for a fee, will load it on a lift-gate equipped truck for drop off at your location (curbside delivery).
 
I've helped move safes before, but I've never helped get one off of a truck. That sounds like a bear of a project. Mine was delivered on the pallet and was lowered to the ground on a lift, and then the delivery guy used a pallet dolly to move it where I wanted it.

Which brings me to a plug (I am in no way affiliated with the following company):

I don't know anything about the safe you are looking at. I'm also no expert, but I highly recommend Sturdy safes.

http://www.sturdysafe.com/

They are 7 gauge steel, the service was great (I spoke to the owner of the company or his daughter every time I called, and they were both very knowledgeable), and (here's the best part) it was delivered into my garage right where I wanted it. If you aren't located in CA, there is no sales tax.

Whatever you do, I'd find a company that will at least get the 700+ pounds to ground level before you have to move it.
 
It all depends on the truck... most of them have lift gates. if thats the case your fine, just rent a pallent jack and wheel it into the garage until you have a few more guys to give you a hand getting where you want it. If not you have 3 choices, rent a lift, rent a truck with a lift gate and pick it up at thier dock, or throw a BBQ and invite lots of people.
 
When i had a safe delivered, and picked up and returned (because it was a POS) the driver wheeled the save of a pallet into my garage. It seemed that the two drivers i dealt with had no issue moving the safe into the garage, but that's about it. I do not know about the company you are looking at, but i will advise do not buy a safe without seeing at least one example in person. I made that mistake with Pentagon safe/sportsman steel. Took me 3 months with a inoperable safe and countless emalis and calls to finally get my money back. In your budget a American Security BF series is worth a look, and i have heard many good things here about them, plus i do believe they (the BF series) are made in USA. The LP series is made in china, like i suspect the Stack on is.
 
I brought mine home from Sam's Club. It was 600 lbs and a real PITA to get into the house. Man, I thought moving refrigerators, pianos, and hide-a-beds was tough, hoo-hah. Make sure you got some burly buds. And make double sure the beers are afterward!

It's great, though, made by Granite Security.
 
I second the advise to avoid Sportsman/Pentagon and also for the AMSEC BF reco. That is where I landed after the Sportsman hassle. If the safe is really heavy get a bucket of golf balls and keep feeding them in front of the safe as you roll it to its destination. You can't make turns too well rolling it on pipes. If you don't have a hard surface (slab, etc.) then rip 1/2" plywood sheets in half to make a runway. Just a note, don't try golf balls on ramps.
 
I wouldn't buy any safe unless I had made arrangements to get it to its final resting place. Safes are a PITA to move. Make sure you are prepared BEFORE you buy one.
 
Thanks for all the information. I'll be sure to contact the trucking company to ensure that I can have a lift gate truck arranged before I order.

As for positioning, I'm lucky that it's going on the first floor, and there's nothing but concrete floors and no point less than ten feet wide between the street and the destination.
 
I haven't looked lately, but I seem to recall seeing safes that were shipped in pieces and then assembled in-place. When closed and locked they could not be taken apart.
Do they exist? Worth a look?
 
I worked for UPS freight (the big rigs not the little brown trucks) in the office one summer. Here are some tips (but I'd clarify all this with the store and find out who they use).

- with big stuff like this they usually call you to set up an appointment, so they aren't showing up and no one is home. They may have a time to shoot for on a certain day, but usually its a 3-5 hour delivery window. So don't hope they make it on your lunch break- make sure you have your buddies there and ready to hang out and kill some time waiting around. * note if you are not there when they show up, you can be hit with a $75 re-delivery charge. :barf:

- generally, the rig DOES NOT back into your driveway. Putting an 18 wheeler on a drive way doesn't work. However, sometimes you can inquire if they have a "pup truck" (smaller truck) they can bring in. UPS Freight had one they used on a first-come basis, and it could back into a drive way.

- delivery is curb side. But some drivers will use a pallet jack to wheel it towards a garage, etc. But you have ONE driver, and help is appreciated.

- ask if they can bring a LIFT. It is a lift on the back of the truck that lowers heavy stuff down. Again, every company is different but you had to request this at UPS freight.

- I also had people call in who preferred to meet the driver down the block at a parking lot of a big mall, etc, and transfer something to the back of a pick-up truck (for example if getting the truck in front of your house is going to be a problem). So keep in mind you may have options. * Someone else mentioned picking it up at the local depot- that is an option and the warehouse guys will help you load onto your truck from a ramp or dock.

- you will need a dolley to get it down stairs (if it is going in a basement). But beware. I had a buddy put his safe in his basement... and it was such an ordeal he vows when he sells the house the next owner gets the safe thrown in.


* Are you ordering from Dick's? A little head's up. The Dick's website is really GSI Commerce- a huge corporation that runs, stocks, and operates the web sites for about 50 companies.

http://www.gsicommerce.com/index.php/en/ourpartners

This isn't a bad thing, but keep in mind they have pretty much nothing to do with Dick's the store. So if you have a question about the shipping, call the web site don't call the store. At one point GSI used a really horrible freight company, Sure Way, which could screw up a cup of coffee. I think they have since stopped. But if I were you, I would call up the web site, 1.877.846.9997, and ask who they use for freight deliveries to where you live (the state). Then if need be, you can call the local freight company and ask their policies.

In this case, the more homework you do ahead of time... the less headaches you'll have later.
 
One other point. As I already said, GSI runs the web sites for various online places, so they offer the exact same safe at about 20 different sites.... at different prices. :scrutiny:

So for example, if you buy from Sports Authority you could get the same safe for $50 less... but it is coming from the same warehouse in Kentucky.

http://www.sportsauthority.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2253407

Same with fogdog (which is also GSI) or MC

http://www.fogdog.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2253407

http://www.mcsports.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2253407

Do you guys notice how simlilar the web sites are?

One other note- usually there are online coupon codes for money off and I think if you sign up for fogdog's online mailing list you can get 10 percent off on one purchase- which in this case would be a big deal. (ammo money!)

PM me if you have more questions.
 
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Check out Sams Club on line. They used to have several sizes. I bought both of my Winchester safes from Sams. They can be set up for handguns, rifles or both.
 
That's a lot of good information, buck. Thanks a lot. If I can get it on a pallet jack on the ground then I'm good to go.

Thanks for the GSI heads up. Since my original post, I've found it at another place for $170 less than Dick's. I noticed that the site was strangely similar to Dick's site. It's on the GSI partners list as well. :)
 
@Buttermilk: I looked earlier today. They only had about five safes, and the largest I saw was a 14-gun unit. Unless I'm looking in the wrong place...
 
I think the previous responses have answered your questions but here's my input.
1. I purchased my safe from a gun store and paid someone $150 to pick it up at the store (30 miles away) bring it to my house and move it to a location in my basement. I have an older house with a narrow stairway to the basement. I know you are on a budget, but to me, the money was well spent.
2. Someone mentioned safes that come disassembled then you put them together at your location. The name that always comes up is Zanotti.
http://www.zanottiarmor.com/
Looks good but I've never knew anyone who actually had one. I considered these but never could find a distributor or prices on them.
3. Lastly, here's a video I came across of two guys opening a safe in less than 2 minutes with a crowbar and prybar. I know many safes aren't as secure as we think they are, but this demonstration was a bit of shock to me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67JNmaNPf88
 
Odnar;

In my experience, a liftgate equipped truck delivering to your curbside is about a $75.00 adder to the basic freight charge. From there, a pallet jack is your very good friend. Ripping the plywood for a runway is also a very good idea.

If you need to put your new unit up, or down, more than a step or two, hire a professional. Check & find a SAVTA associated locksmith near you & have them do it. That's much cheaper than herniated discs, runaway safes, injured buddies, etc. Also, be prepared to shim your safe so the door does not swing open or shut by itself. Little fingers may be known as "stubby" for the rest of his or her's life otherwise.

Then, yes, do take a good look at the AMSEC BF series. I feel that they are a far better unit than a Stack-On, so does Dave.

900F
 
I'm at work so I can't give you a link: but if you search the "general gun section" of THR for : dakota safe, I reviewed it there. I recommend them for your casual gun needs. They also have expansion kits for the growing collection...

-Kitchen
 
I am also looking at getting a safe in a similar price range to the one your looking at. I wouldn't even consider installing it myself. I am buying it from Bass Pro Shops and they contract with a local safe mover. I think it runs around $150.
 
safes

Just recently my wife and I purchased a real nice Cannon safe.It has the 3 spoke handle and digital number pad lock.It's a 18 to 36 gun safe.The finish isn't the typical auto paint job but it's real nice.We paid 1150 for it.I rented a pickup with a lift gate and a pallet jack,took about 10 min to put it in my garage.About a week later my brother bought the same safe on line no tax and dilivery for a bit over 900.As far as dilivery goes they just loaded it in his garage to as they stipulate they won't go up any steps.I'll try to see if I can see where he got it at.
 
dad bought a 36 gun safe from dicks last week.....and guess what i got to help go get it/unload it
at dick's one guy came out to help us load this thing and my dad has a broke leg (fell out of the attack)anyway the dick's loader and i got the thing on the back of the truck......called a friend to meet us at dad's house
.....i'm here to tell you getting it on the truck was allot easyer than getting it off.......we had to lay cardboard,under a rubber matt on the patio to ease it off unto....then we took pvc pipe to roll it into the back room of the house
i'll tell you what i hope he never wants to move that thing again
i'm just glad my NRA insurance will cover "most"of my firearms
i have one of the stack-on sheet metal 14gun cabnets
 
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