Gun Safe Advice Please

[joe_security]

I need a gun safe, but my funds are very limited. So far, i have looked at the GunVault 5900 (list $500) with its cheap "no eyes lock", and a Sentry brand small floor safe ( also $500) with a cheap, gritty fealing combo lock. I looked at these at the local gun shop. I need to store 3 -4 long guns and about 7 pistols, though my collection seems to expand when i least expect it ! Help ! Recommendations please, Thanks Guys !

 

[MinnMooney]

Buy the best that you can afford (& bigger than you need!)

I bought a "Stack-On" that is fire-rated so it's about 450 lbs. It is supposed to hold 14 guns (& it does with a shoehorn) . I like the safe for the money ($350) but the electronic lock only blinks "OK" about 40% - 50% of the time. I've tried everyway concievable to punch in the numbers but it doesn't seem to matter. For a repair, I have to disassemble the door and mail the lock in and probably wouldn't get it back for 2-4 weeks. Not what I had in mind when I bought it.

Moral : Ya get what ya pay for.

P.S. Buy one 2-3 times bigger than what you think you need. The extra space is great for other valuables while waiting to buy more long guns and pistols. ha
And remember, the "advertised capacity" is if you really cram your guns in like without the bolts and remove scopes.

 

[jnyork]

Sound advice to buy a safe quite a bit bigger than you think you need. Trust me, you'll need it later.

I hope you can come up with a way to spend a little more money and get a really GOOD safe, with a good lock and a good fire rating. You can save a boodle by getting one with just a plainjane finish instead of the fancy paint job. If you have to go the Credit Union or something and borrow some bucks, or sell something you arent using, or whatever else you can think of , you should try to spend about twice what you have in mind. Then, when you get it home, bolt it to the floor!!

A good safe is indeed a lifetime investment, it will be just as good 50 years from now as it is today. If you think of it as something that will serve you as long as you need it, the extra cost is a little easier to justify.

 

[dmazur]

I have heard that some of the fire-rated safes aren't really designed for guns, or, if they are, they aren't worried about causing rust with the gel used in the lining to get a higher rating. (!)

If you get one of these, I understand it is really important to keep the interior above dew point, which can mean an electric heater like a Goldenrod.

It isn't as critical an issue with the RSC's that don't have a lining, other than to be careful bringing guns stored therein into a warm damp house from a 20°F garage...

 

[P95loser]

+1 on the bigger safe. I bought a sentry 14 gun safe and it doesn't hold nearly that much. I've had that one 2 years and need a bigger safe already.

 

[CB900F]

Joe;

Take a very good look at the locking mechanism of whatever container you're inspecting. My advice, which Minn's post supports, is to stay far away from the bargain-basment electronic locks. The mechanicals aren't going to be high-quality either, but they're almost certainly going to be more reliable for a longer period of time.

Most, if not all, of the mechanicals will be direct wheel-pack units that are a real P.I.A. to change the combination on compared to the better industry locks such as S&G or LaGard. But it's highly unlikely you'll see those brands, for real, on a container in the price range you're indicating. If you think you've seen one of those logo's, take a very close second look. It's probably as close as they can get without getting sued.

900F

 

[O C]

Gun Safes

Has anyone used a large Jobox that I see at construction sites? Why wouldn't one of these suffice for security only? O C

 

[joe_security]

Its looking like i am going to have to allocate more money to this safe thing. The last thing i want is to pay out big bucks for a locksmith to open my cheap safe because the cheap lock failed.

 

[ARTiger]

Killing two birds . . . .

We're building a combination safe/saferoom/gun locker/tornado shelter.

A lot can be done cheaply with threaded rebar, cinder blocks, fiber reinforced concrete, some plywood and 2x4 molds and a bit of 3/8" plate steel.

Giving up 1/3 of garage/workshop space that was otherwise devoted to junk, but returning safety in many regards.

 

[frogger42]

I went through this research recently. I ended up with a Champion Safes Sport 23. I got it for $850 + tax. I think it is worth the difference. Here's a link...

http://www.championsafe.com/sport.html

Mine came with a LaGard E-Lock for that price.

 

[Defensory]

Posted by OC:
Has anyone used a large Jobox that I see at construction sites? Why wouldn't one of these suffice for security only?

Not a bad idea.

Some Pros: Wouldn't have to worry about the cheap combination locks on low-end safes, that love to lock up on you, requiring a safe professional to come open it.

No combination to worry about.

Would hold quite a few weapons, providing you kept them in cases.

Optional storage tray would be good for handguns, ammo etc.

Some Cons: Just as expensive as a low end safe. Figure on at least $400 to $500 for one large enough to hold longarms.

They're not very heavy. Even with several guns in them, two or more decent sized guys could just carry one out the door. So you'd have to drill holes in it and bolt it to the wall.

Protection from fire/heat/smoke would probably be less than a low-end safe with a decent fire protection rating.

No shelf/rack system available, such as you find in gun safes.

 

[a1abdj]

The last thing i want is to pay out big bucks for a locksmith to open my cheap safe because the cheap lock failed.

HEY!!!

If everybody stops buying these inexpensive "safes" that lock up all of the time, how am I going to put gas in my boat this summer?