Looking For Suggestions On Gun Safes

[WBBP]

I have been thinking of buying a gun safe for the last several years, but never got around to it. Now, after I had some guns stolen from my farm, I have decided to buy a safe. I have never had a safe and have no experience with them, but I am aware of the sizes, types, thickness, locks, fire ratings etc...Like most, I have seen them advertised in Cabelas/UL's and other stores, but I am looking to members on this forum for recomendations based on their experience with safes they have purchased, etc....

Thanks for your help.

K

[Multidigits]

Browning safes are as good as they get. Several options--firebricks, etc. You get what you pay for.

[300 Ultra Mag]

I have a Browning and Liberty safe, love them both and cant complain about either of them. But you do get what you pay for and it could get expensive. If ur going to go through the trouble of getting one, go top notch:)

[skin_dog1]

To add to this post - Anybody ever suffered a house fire that had a firesafe? Just curious how things turned out? I guess in a fire, most of my guns wouldn't matter. I'd rather save pics of my daughter and my hunting photos, but atleast one of my guns has very special meaning. Did your guns and other valuables in the safe survive? What type of safe was it, was the safe in the vacinity of the fire? How long did the fire last?

[trust me]

I haven't suffered a house fire(thank the Lord) but I've fought enough of them. You have to figure what kind of fire protection you have. If you live in the sticks and no fire service can get there in 5-10 minutes, you are probably looking at a fully involved fire that will fall to ground level and stay hot for several days. No safe can protect from that. If you have decent fire protection and the crews can arrive in the critical 10 minute period, you may see a save or a partial save in which the temps won't reach 1300 F and stay there. It may spike there for a few minutes, but the boys can probably get some water on it and get it cooled down. Safes with fire ratings can probably handle that OK.

Don't blame your local volunteers. Kentucky is too rural to ever have effective fire service for everyone.

The thing about fire ratings is the gypsum (drywall) that they use for insulation. It is indeed a great temp insulator, but when it gets hot, it releases moisture, so your guns endure a steam bath. Even without fire damage, high temp steam will destroy or at least damage your stuff.

In my opinion, a dedicated gun nut is best off to do this: build a safe room in your basement with block walls, and the voids filled with concrete. Pour a reinforced slab roof on top and secure it all with a steel door. That will give you good fire protection. Inside this safe room, place your gun vault that is bolted to the wall. This gives you some theft protection. Run some juice inside so you can have light and run a dehumidifier of some type.

Bank vaults are constructed of precast hardened concrete sections for walls and roof, and a big honkin steel door with locks and alarms. You can simulate this at home, but it will cost.

Old ATM machine safes are available that have 1/2 or 3/4" steel construction and combination locks. They are usually 2 ft or so square, so a rifle won't fit, unless you take the barrel off. These will hold all the handguns you have, and some de-barreled shotguns. They can be had for a couple hundred bucks if you can find them.

If you buy a big expensive safe, it can give you the theft protection it promises. However, if you and the wife are gone all day, the neighbors are gone and somebody drives up with a fully equipped work truck, he WILL GET your guns, because he has the tools, and the time.

I know a store owner that said, "If they are man enough to haul my safe off, they can have it!" You can guess what happened.

[WBBP]

Trust me: Thanks for your thoughts and technical details on the safe referring to fires, temps, etc.......

Per our earlier conversation, I still think you missed your calling as an engineer. :)

[Multidigits]

Most of the safe out fits sell just a door and frame for those wanting to build a vault of some sort.

[WBBP]

Thanks, I looked at those. Thanks for your help on ordering a safe also. Most of all, thanks for letting me use your credit card.

K

[Multidigits]

If you used my credit card, hell will freeze over before your safe gets here. :cool:

[limbhanger]

Do you run the dehumidifier 24/7, or would it be ok to put it on some sort of a timer? If putting it on a timer, how long on/off?

[Tylden]

Whatever safe you decide on, I would make one suggestion. Get one that is a lot bigger than what you think you need. Trust me, safes have a way of getting filled to capacity faster than you think. Get the biggest one you can afford and fit into the space you have....and don't forget to measure your door openings first LOL.

[moreammoplz]

Several things to consider.... First Browning, Remington, Winchester has someone make their safes for them. Also as far as fire rating you have to see how they tested the safe. Was the safe on its back or standing up. Was the temp slowly brought up to 1,200 degrees or was it set in 1,200 right away???? Also the thickness of the steel and weight of the safe must be considered. I almost bought a Liberty, but I thought the Cannon had more BANG (pun intended) for the buck.


I did a lot of research and went with a CANNON. Lifetime warranty and they will replace the safe if someone trys to get in it. Picked mine up for $1,050.00 and then $250 to have it delivered from Lexington to Louisville and taken into my basement.

Both Fayette Firearms in Lexington and Bud's in Paris have great deals on safes, but it might cost you a lot more on shipping. I noticed that Whittaker's shows he sells safes, which might be a better bet.

I recommend the Cannon. I really like mine. GOOD LUCK, it is a great investment......

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v702/moreammoplz/safe.jpg