Gun Safe search

[briar rabbit]

I am looking to buy a gun safe in the next couple of weeks and would like to get some advise on what Make/Models that you have bought. I will bullet point what is important to me and welcome any feedback I can get. I am going for the best bang for the buck and can not afford the top named safe manufacturers.

[*]Spend up to $3200

[*]High fire rating (1200 degrees for close to an hour)

[*]Need storage for 40 plus long guns with scopes (most safes seam to hold at least 20% less than what is stated)

[*]Made in USA

[*]Like the weight to be over 1000 LBS

I have the Rhino 7142 XP that are made in Idaho as my first choice and the Browning SR 42 Silver Series as my second choice.- what else is there?
Thanks.

 

[Dr. Vette]

I would highly recommend the Amsec BF series:
http://www.amsecusa.com/Gun_Safes/BF_Series_Gun_Safes/

I did a lot of investigating before I purchased mine. The walls are filled with DryLight insulation (aka concrete) and it's both heavy and secure. Do some YouTube searching on this line if you want to see some of the other benefits.

For a no frills safe that is still highly rated look at the Sturdy Safe:
Gun Safes : Fire Safe Manufacturer : Sturdy Gun Safe

The Rhino you mentioned was also on my list but I went with the Amsec.

Oh, and as you already know if you have any rifles, a 42 gun safe doesn't really hold 42 guns. Honestly, to hold 40 you'll need at 60 gun sized safe, and next time I'd buy two smaller ones instead.

 

[varmintH8R]

I have a Rhino and like it. I also agree with the above poster on getting two medium safes (probably not at once!) vs one huge one. I have two and if you have the room it makes things more accessible and easier to organize.

 

[SidecarFlip]

This is my opinion. Why spend 3 grand on a safe at all. Guns in a safe aren't readily accessable and a gun safe draws a potential thief like a magnet plus a good theif can access just about any gun safe in about 2 minutes.

Worried about fire, why worry. So they melt. I have all my firearms insured for actual replacement value including optics and accessories through the NRA and it costs me about 200 bucks a year. 200 hundred a year equals 12 years to equal the fancy gun safe. I can't see it at all.

I do have a cheap non insulated gun safe that I keep pistols and long guns in but I never lock it. I keep them in there so they aren't laying about, however, I do have various firearms about the house, all loaded and all with a round in the chamber in case someone uninvited drops by, no I don't have children but even if I did (too old for that crap).... I'd teach my children to keep their hands off.

In reality, gun safes shouldn't be called safes at all. The should be called storage units. Nothing 'safe' about any gunsafe.

If you really want to feel secure, give me the 3 grand and I'll spend it for you...securely.

Gun safes are a bunch of fooooey.

 

[varmintH8R]

Sidecar,

I always enjoy your posts. Talk about a contrarian position on gun safes. Bunch of fooey? That is awesome.

I think your line of thought has some merit, and I might very well be an idiot, but here is my counter:

The odds of a skilled theif pulling an Oceans-11 style heist on my house are pretty low. Most of the B&Es we hear about (I'm in SE MI also) are meth heads, transients and general losers looking to grab some stuff quick and split. With my alarm screaming they are likely not going to work on my safe, and they sure as hell aint getting it upstairs!

My other big concern with unsecured guns are them being used against me or my family when we come home. Again, good thief pulls a caper he is getting my goodies and getting the hell out. A loser meth-head transient may stack my guns up around himself, make a sandwich, and then space and fall asleep on my couch. When my wife wakes him up coming home I'd end up bummed . . .

As far as fire, I'd have to agree. Rather be insured than insulated. Guns are finicky enough without having them cook in an oven for a few hours at below-melting temp.

 

[SidecarFlip]

Sidecar,

I always enjoy your posts. Talk about a contrarian position on gun safes. Bunch of fooey? That is awesome.

I think your line of thought has some merit, and I might very well be an idiot, but here is my counter:

The odds of a skilled theif pulling an Oceans-11 style heist on my house are pretty low. Most of the B&Es we hear about (I'm in SE MI also) are meth heads, transients and general losers looking to grab some stuff quick and split. With my alarm screaming they are likely not going to work on my safe, and they sure as hell aint getting it upstairs!

My other big concern with unsecured guns are them being used against me or my family when we come home. Again, good thief pulls a caper he is getting my goodies and getting the hell out. A loser meth-head transient may stack my guns up around himself, make a sandwich, and then space and fall asleep on my couch. When my wife wakes him up coming home I'd end up bummed . . .

As far as fire, I'd have to agree. Rather be insured than insulated. Guns are finicky enough without having them cook in an oven for a few hours at below-melting temp.

No burglar alarm here, just an NRA sign in the front by the road. Sort of like 'Guard Dog on duty'.....

My wife carries and so do I. We never leave home without our guns so an intruder suprised is guess what... and usually, one of us is home plus there are three not too friendly pups in the hoiuse... all like fresh meat.

I've found over time that women are much better shots than men, especially in drama situations. As much as I don't like Biden, his suggestion that women have a shotgun or two isn't all bad but it should be a male thing. Most home invasions where a male is the shooter, the perp is shot everywhere because the guy is praying and spraying......

SE Michigan, you probably know me then......

I'm real close to our favorite emporium on M50.

I keep a close eye on my anhydrous tanks....... 'Cause you are right, Meth is a big thing here. That and not so medical, medical mary jane.

I bought a cheapie at TSC as a repository for my stuff that I don't need sitting out. The guns I hunt with mostly.

I don't lock it, in part, because I forgot the combination.....lol

 

[Dr. Vette]

This is my opinion. Why spend 3 grand on a safe at all. Guns in a safe aren't readily accessable and a gun safe draws a potential thief like a magnet plus a good theif can access just about any gun safe in about 2 minutes.

Gun safes are a bunch of fooooey.

I suggest you investigate the ones I linked above as well as Fort Knox and other similar quality brands before making such a broad statement.

For the $1000-1500 models you see in most stores you are correct. However, you do get what you pay for. Pay attention to wall thickness, materials, and other factors. Most of the ones made with drywall walls (aka "fireboard") are junk.

 

[SidecarFlip]

I suggest you investigate the ones I linked above as well as Fort Knox and other similar quality brands before making such a broad statement.

For the $1000-1500 models you see in most stores you are correct. However, you do get what you pay for. Pay attention to wall thickness, materials, and other factors. Most of the ones made with drywall walls (aka "fireboard") are junk.

You can buy a lot of years of Armscare insurance for even 1500 bucks. I look at it this way. You have them in a safe with the door closed, they are basically not available in an instant if you need them, in my case handguns...and, if your dwelling burns, it still gets hot in the safe so are the firearms still serviceable? Good question. How much heat will a snot stock take or a wood stock prior to degradation? How much heat will optics take before the internals go wacky? I don't know but with arms insurance, you don't need to know.

Much easier to replace them with new ones or take a cash payment, actually, that might not be all bad. Kind of a 'gun buyback' program but ACV instead of mandated by the gummit.

With Armscare other than being a member of the NRA, you don't have to list each individual firearm unless the aggregate value is over (I believe $2500.00). Under 2500, it's on your word.

The driving force for me was checking my homeowners insurance and seeing what they pay upon scheduled loss. My carrier pays $2500.00 total. That covers maybe 2 units. Not enough by a long shot.

I don't want to loose any but if I do, at least they are insured. You know about insurance, you live in Michigan like I do.

I consider any and every insurance policy just that unless you need it. Sort of a just in case scenario.

I just can't see spending a couple grand on a gun cabinet, I don't want to say 'safe' because the only thing safe is the firearms are safely out of your availability should you need them quickly.

IMO. a large sheet metal linnen cabinet would work fine for me. Just so happens I have a specially designed and built closet with storage.

 

[Dr. Vette]

I have them insured too. Best of both worlds.

 

[midmo]

Get a liberty safe. they are awesome and have a great warranty. made in the us.

 

[SidecarFlip]

I have them insured too. Best of both worlds.

A wise choice but over on your end of the state, the only issue is central Muskegon and thats not much.

We have Toldeo to the South and Detroit to the north, almost forgot Dearborn.

Most everyone around here has central station alarms, we do. No wailing siren, just a call to the state police and county sherriff.

 

[dogdinger]

I like your style flip.......much the same myself. I have game cameras on my place that record comings and goings.....and i have a backhoe. nuff said.

we are getting to be way to concerned about being politically correct. i understand that those of you who live in the big metro areas have to do things a bit different. safes are probably a smart thing, but please remember to keep one locked and loaded and handy, and you might as well buy the cheaper unlined models, cause if you have a real fire, none are going to protect your assetts. trust me , i know.

 

[SidecarFlip]

I like your style flip.......much the same myself. I have game cameras on my place that record comings and goings.....and i have a backhoe. nuff said.

we are getting to be way to concerned about being politically correct. i understand that those of you who live in the big metro areas have to do things a bit different. safes are probably a smart thing, but please remember to keep one locked and loaded and handy, and you might as well buy the cheaper unlined models, cause if you have a real fire, none are going to protect your assetts. trust me , i know.

Actually, I'm in the middle of a remote area though going south 15 miles puts you in Toledo and north about 60 miles is Detroit. I'm 1.5 miles off the paved road on a dirt road with no neighbors to speak of so if a car comes down the road, it's usually a local and we all know who drives what. Just 2 miles south of Cabelas in Dundee. Close enough to poor.

I have a backhoe too. Case Extenda-hoe.

I've always wondered about the 'fireproof' safes. I have a Diebold Jewelry safe for the wife's stuff and it's walls are at least a foot thick as well as the door. You open it up and look at the small space inside, about big enough for a cigar box. It weighs at least 700 pounds, maybe more and it's only 3 foot high x 3 foot deep by 3 foot wide. I would imagine it would survive a fire with no issue....but don't want to find out. It's more of a burgular thing. She has lots of nice stuff....including me.

Most of the fireproof gun safes I see advertised have a one hour fire rating. I don't see where 60 minutes is enough and whats the temperature inside after 60 minutes? Wood (as in stocks) ignites well below the melting point of metals, I think, could be wrong but around 600 degrees???

 

[XMC]

I have one of these and I'm happy with the quality... "Armory" Tall 45 gun safe 2 hour fire 1880 2013 L.E.O Special