Gun Safe

[bassdocktor]

Hey guys I figured this would be a good topic given the current handgun thread.

I'm looking to buy a safe probably at the beginning of 2011. There are no kids in the house or in the family to worry about but I'd like to have somewhere to keep the growing collection protected and in one place.

I was hoping you guys could offer some recommendations. Trying to spend under 1k (I know you get what you pay for). Not looking for a huge safe. mostly gonna have handguns so shelfs are a must as I'm in the city so thats what most ranges allow.

Any brands or models to look at or stay far away from would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks guys.

[Dan:]

Check your local Dick's on Black Friday, or stop in before Black Friday and get the Black Friday deal price(but you will have to wait until after BF to get the safe).

[bassdocktor]

I tried my local Dick's and most of their safes were the non-fire resistant Stack On's or ones by Field and Stream. Wasn't too sure about the F and S ones and I want something with some fire protection.

[Micro]

As for brand, I have a Heritage Safe.  I like it very much.

 

One thing you will need to do is determine if you need fire protection. 

A fireproof safe can be several hundred pounds heavier than the same model without fireproofing.  This can make it virtually impossible to move on your own, and can limit where it can be put in a house.   My safe has fire proofing and I can't budge it on my own.  I had to call the store where I bought it to move it when I bought a larger house, and it wasn't cheap. 

Fireproof safes also don't provide complete protection against fire.  Usually, and especially in the price range you are considering, it may not provide adequate protection in the event of a burn down.   A small, short duration fire yes, but a prolonged fire, probably not.  The more fireproofing you get, the more protection you will get, and the more you will spend, and the heavier your safe will be. 

Why do I think this is important?  If you have a homowner's insurance policy, check out the coverage it provides for firearms.  For instance, my policy providers full protection in the event my guns burn up in a fire, but limited coverage ($5,000) in the event they are stolen.  I have way over $5,000 in guns.  So my thought was if they burned up in a fire, so what.  I have full coverage (replacement cost).  But if they were stolen, I wasn't going to get the full value of my guns.   Therefore, a safe to protect my guns from fire was very secondary to having a safe that protects them from theft or unwanted access.  If I had it to do over again, I would have bought a safe with no fire proofing.  I could have gotten a larger safe for the same money.  That would come in handy because it is inevitable that you will put stuff other than firearms in it.  I would have also had more choices on where I could have put it in my house since it would have been lighter (or bigger and just as heavy but with a bigger base and weight spread over a bigger area). 

You need a safe to protect your guns from unauthorized access and theft.  The ability to protect them in a fire is marginal in the event of a significant fire.  So assess your need for fire proofing.  Going with less, or no fireproofing, makes sense if you are insured against fire. 

BTW, a safe prevents hacks and kiddies from reaching your guns.  A experienced thief can get into just about any home gun safe.   I am an insurance claims adjuster and I've seen claims where safes have been axed into, or cut open with metal cutting blades on skilsaws.   So make sure you have adequate insurance against theft, too.  I bought a rider on my homeowner's policy so now I have full replacement cost coverage regardless of how I might loose my guns. 

[Dan:]

I tried my local Dick's and most of their safes were the non-fire resistant Stack On's or ones by Field and Stream. Wasn't too sure about the F and S ones and I want something with some fire protection.

As far as I can tell, the Field and Stream safes are made by Stack-On. Look for a F&S fire resistant model and ask to see some paperwork on it. I believe the F&S safes will have Stack-On manuals. That being said, I don't know how good of a safe Stack-On makes when compared to other brands.

Micro's got some good input. I can tell you from experience that the fireproof safes are a b*$ to move. Chances are you are going to pay a huge fee to have them delivered to your house. It's much cheaper to get one that is either small enough to move or not fireproof.

[bassdocktor]

Thanks Micro that's some good information I hadn't thought about. I'll have to talk to my dad about the insurance policy at home.

I'd just like to have some fire protection. The safe is gonna stay in the basement., so movement isn't a huge issue for me. I may leave the safe with them so my dad can have it and I'd buy a new one. That's true I would get alot more safe for the money without fire protection.

Keeping them away from unauthorized access (theft) is my main worry, there are no kids around. I'd like to know if someone wants to steal them they will atleast have to work for them. Plus this way there isn't stuff all around, it'll be in 1 place.

I'll look into all that, thanks.

[Micro]

I've got semi-important documents in mine, too.  Sometimes keep money in it.  Sometimes jewelry.  I wish I had a bigger safe. 

Also remember that a fireproof safe will protect metal and wood guns longer than paper in the event of a fire.  It won't take much of a fire to ruin family photos or paper documents in a fireproof safe in the event of a fire.  Very important documents should be kept in a safe deposit box. 

[SPEEDBEAD.]

I have a Liberty 48 gun on order to be picked up sometime around the beginning of the year.

Gander Mountain is selling the Liberty Fatboy Jr for $899 on Thanksgiving Day or Black Friday. You didnt hear it from me. ;D

[bassdocktor]

Micro and Dan: you guys bring up some good points and are making me do some thinking. Pretty much what I was hoping for and why I put this here.

SPEEDBEAD sadly there are no Gander Mountains near me. But, thanks for the heads up.

[Dan:]

I have a Liberty 48 gun on order to be picked up sometime around the beginning of the year.

Gander Mountain is selling the Liberty Fatboy Jr for $899 on Thanksgiving Day or Black Friday. You didnt hear it from me. ;D

Ugh, those 30+ safes a responsible for a fair share of my mistake days...I try not to sell them!

[SPEEDBEAD.]

I have a Liberty 48 gun on order to be picked up sometime around the beginning of the year.

Gander Mountain is selling the Liberty Fatboy Jr for $899 on Thanksgiving Day or Black Friday. You didnt hear it from me. ;D

Ugh, those 30+ safes a responsible for a fair share of my mistake days...I try not to sell them!

Grow a pair...  ;D

[Siebert Outdoors]

Bass Pro?  Cabelas?

There are alot of good safes out there.  Like micro said the Fire proof ones are heavy.  I delivered one a couple weeks ago.  it was a Champion.   Nice safe, fire proof and in your price range.

[Dan:]

I have a Liberty 48 gun on order to be picked up sometime around the beginning of the year.

Gander Mountain is selling the Liberty Fatboy Jr for $899 on Thanksgiving Day or Black Friday. You didnt hear it from me. ;D

Ugh, those 30+ safes a responsible for a fair share of my mistake days...I try not to sell them!

Grow a pair... ;D

I don't get paid enough to grow a pair.  ;D