Winchester Safes at Sam's Club - Buy or not to buy?

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Splat Shot

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I know that these are RSC's and not a full-fledged "real" safe like previously discussed here but at 625 lbs for $699, 10 gauge steel and the features listed below, they look pretty good. Am not too concerned about the fire protection, I live across the street from the fire department. Made by Granite Security in Ft. Worth. Anybody own one - what do you guys think of these?

http://winchestersafes.com/

Specs:
• Underwriter Laboratories Listed Burglary Protection - U. L. listed residential security container and gun safe. Winchester safes exceed rigid U.L. test standards.

Fire Protection - Safe interior does not exceed 350ºF for 32 minutes when subjected to a 1200ºF fire.

• U.L. Listed Group 2 Combination Lock - With a key locking dial

• Laser Cut Door - Provides the tightest fitting door in the industry.

• 10 gauge (.1345â€) - thick steel body construction

• 1/4†(.250â€) - thick solid steel door

• 1†Thick Door Jamb - Solid steel, not formed sheet metal

• 1†Diameter Locking Bolts - Assures complete lock-up of door

• Door Length Dead Locking System - Assures 100% mechanical lock-up of door on the hinged side of door.This prevents opening of the door even if the hinges are cut off in a burglary attack.

• External Hinges - Adjustable, ball bearing, external hinges allow 180º of door swing, unlike internal hinges that allow approximately 80º - 85º of door swing.

• Bolt down Holes - 3 pre-drilled 7/16†diameter holes for 3/8†anchor bolts

• Dehumidifier access hole

• 4-in-1 Interior - 11 gun Left-hand, 11 gun Right-hand, 22 gun, or All shelves

• Dimensions - 60†H x 30†W x 24†D

• Color - Hunter Green

• Weight - 625 lbs.
 
RSC = Residential Security Container. A 'real' safe is something of a higher grade, more professional, and a lot more expensive. From what I've read, a real safe can't be had for less than three grand!

Splat, I don't you'd go wrong with the safe. It might not be a "real" safe, but it's a sure sight better priced. Like you, I live down the street from the VFD and am more worried about someone stealing my guns than them burning up.

Do you know if Sam's will deliver that to your doorstep? Would they help move it in? Can you get a better price elsewhere in town?
 
If the safe is large enough for your needs, then I would tell you it's a good price and a good safe.

It has a good lock on it and adquate fire protection. The warrenty is top notch also.
 
I priced one and talked to sams folks about it, they load it on your vehicle or trailer and it is yours from there on. And if you bring something like a van or suburban you may be on your own loading it since they bring it on a forklift on a skid from what I recall.

Some stores will have a list of folks who are interested in helping you move it. Talking to some of the bigger boys at sams, the high school or college football players doing work to keep their muscles, resulted in my finding a cheap way to move it about if needed. They knew big friends who worked cheap and what not.

For insurance reasons and what not this is not at all stores and it can vary by who you ask.

Same as asking the truck guys loading and delivering furniture if they have a different name on their truck from the store they are loading stuff from. The store often contracts them but they work cheaper on their off days and do this stuff all the time. A bit of cash can go a long way.

Overall, great safe for the money.

As mentioned, if you want fire and everything protection you don't clear one or two thousand, you often cream 3 thousand bucks before taxes.

Some research into drywall or whatever will teach you about fire protection. I planned to build mine into a closet/wall thing and surround it with lots of stuff to help keep the heat from it, including a swinging door to repel heat.

Of course a used safe popped up and having a big engine cherry picker let me get it at a similar price for a better chunk of metal. So I never delt completely with sams.

Overall, ask around and see what they can recomend. At worst you can call some professional movers and see who moves safes and let them pick up your safe and deliver it to you. I sort of planned on this till I had a flatbed pickup that could handle the weight and what not.

Many locksmiths know who can move big stuff, and if buying used I always have the combo switched so they are happy to get something moved since they get some business when it is done being moved. Heck, in some cases I have asked about upgrading combo dial locks as well.
 
Well, I bought it and it is nice. They loaded on my friends truck on its back so we could slide it off when we got to my place. Tell you what, we had three guys (including me) to offload this thing when we got to my house and it took all the strength we had. I'm in my 50s for cryin' out loud. I will NEVER attempt to lift, shove or move 625 lbs around again. It is awkward and you can get seriously hurt. My shoulder is sore as hell, back is slightly tweaked and I strained my achilles tendon. I think a lost a couple of pounds just sweating. We got the job done though. I put it in a large closet, had to remove the door jam then rebuild it after the safe was moved in. It ain't coming out of there easy. I owe my buddies big time.

Guys, if you are thinking about moving a safe of this weight or more, please consider hiring it done. If I had to do this over again, I would have paid the 100 bucks. By the way, the thing has a S & G lock, did not know it had that. I am happy and it is amazing the feeling you have when your guns are more secure. Regards, Splat.
 
Splat, you just have to go slow and slide it over plywood. My safe weighs in at 675, and I move it by myself. I cannot negotiate stairs, but with a heavy-duty appliance dolly and 2 pieces of plywood, I can negotiate a single step. It's mostly technique, as there are plenty of fellow board members that have met me in person and I'm no bigger than your average guy. I have moved it twice by myself, including bringing it home from Costco.
 
The guys that brought my safe moved it by using iron pipes/rods...maybe 3"-4" or so diameter (something big that rolls over padded carpet real good). They had several of them and as the safe rolled over one they'd pick the back one up and place it in front and so on. They were real good at moving the safe. However.........up the stairs (7 steps, platform, turn, up 7 more steps) was a different story. I told them I had stairs and they charged an extra $40 but at one point in time I thought I was going to have 2 very dead guys on my hands. I rue the day I move and have to have someone bring the safe down the stairs!!!!!
 
Glad you like your safe. Do the Winchester safes have a cutout for a dehumidifier like a golden rod?
 
Bacchus, cutout is there along with holes for anchor bolts for bolting to the foundation. Shelves and interior finish is very nice. Splat.
 
I just bought one online. Being delivered "curbside" which is at the end of the driveway. I have 3 to 4 weeks to figure out how i will get it in the house. Guess i better start working out :D

Any chance of a heavy duty dolly being of any help?
 
I have the biggest safe Liberty makes. Two guys unloaded it and moved it into one of my bed rooms. My house is on a slab. They used a heavy duty furniture dolly and that was it.
 
One more secret to moving safes:

The doors come off most of them. not exactly half the weight, but a good chunk.

Take the door off and make the move. Bring the door in on the second trip.

Makes it much easier to move the big ones.
 
Thanks for the post and link - I have been considering a "safe" in this price/weight range and I will have to check out the Winchester next time I am in a Sam's.
 
Get the dry rod! And back it up with a few packs of dessicant. You can verify the dry rod is working by checking the dessicant packs. If the dessicant packs stay loose then you're OK-if they get really firm and tight then the dry rod is not working. The bottom line is that you have purchased a product that is likely gonna prevent your firearms from being pilfered. And that's a good feeling!:D
 
I bought a Winchester safe from Sma's almost 2 years ago.....it surves the purpose of protecting my guns from thieves....as for fire, the location in your residence will greatly determine how hot and for how long it would be exposed to high temperature.....it is a good safe for the money.....I had it loaded flat on it's back at Sam's in my pickup....once I got home I simply backed into the garage and slide it out and uprighted it....my wife and I slid it to the wall beside the deep freeze and I anchored it to the concrete floor with masonry bits and anchor bolts....it's not going anywhere.....I have had trouble with the combination ...it is all gold and hard to read ( might be ny 47 year old eyes too ) and I make several attempts sometimes before getting it open....I am thinking of replacing the spin dial with an optional keypad accesory now available.....all in all, good value for the money....
 
For future reference:

I had purchased Sentry's larger safe from Sam's. They do offer home delivery which is the route I went through as I did not, at the time, know anyone with a truck, did not have an appliance dolly, any experience in moving heavy items, etc. Sam's contracts private movers close to your area and they will drop it exactly where you want it.
 
I also have purchased a new Liberty Colonial series safe. I hired three
Mexicans too move it into my residence for me. Using their truck, gas,
and muscle it cost me a mere $100. The safe is fantastic, its a dark
forrest green with gold/brass trim and goes real well with all of the
furnishings inside my home. Plus, it keeps my 18 month old grand-
daughter from being so nosey~!:uhoh: Best investment I've ever
made.:D
 
I have been looking at the same safe at Sam's for some time now. I plan on getting one with my income tax return unless something else comes up.

I look at it as it is much much better than a closet with a key lock door knob.

I like it a lot better than the Sentry line of RSC's just because of the size and better locking mechanism
 
Sam's safe

I just bought on one these safes and I am very pleased with it.
I did quite a bit a research before hand and came to the conclusion that this was the safe to buy. They are made by Granite Safe in Ft. Worth.
The equivilent Browning safe is 100lbs. lighter $100 higher and is made in China. The safes that Academy sells are made in USA but I didn't care for the electronic locks that they have on them. The Granite safe from Sam's has a lifetime warranty and I was told (when I called the company for more info) and it's in print that if theives ever try to break into it and damage the safe that if you get it to them they will repair it for free. $581.00 USD in west Texas Sams.
Sam's doesn't offer delivery in my area. A friend and I were able to handle the 575lbs. without too much problem. It's all there too brother.

Just my humble opinion.
 
I have had to move these around a good bit, usually with just one other guy to help.

Biggest help I found was an appliance dolly with a strap on it. Inflatable tires are a real plus if you're going to have to take it through the yard. Worth it to rent one if you don't have it.

Dumbest thing I ever did was take a 700lb safe down a flight of stairs with my 60+ year old Father. Do not do that! I'm lucky I was younger and survived that experience.
 
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