I'm torn between two new toys

[Big Stu]

I can't decide which to buy... A new pocket pistol for CCW or a safe to keep my "Toys" in. The bottom line is I really want both and will probably buy both so the question I ask is which should I buy first. The safe is about $400.00, and we all know that pocket pistols vary greatly but I'll try to keep it in the same general price range. Decisions... decisions... :roll:

 

[roylt]

I struggle with the safe question too but have desided to get a new gun instead. My guns are locked up already just not in something that is fire/water safe.

If your guns are protected some how now I say gun.

But yeah, get both!

 

[revhigh]

What decent safe can you get for $400 ?? Unless you're just getting a fantastic deal, I'd think you have to spend at least $200-300 more to get a worthwhile safe.

I know Dicks runs one of their maximum security safes on sale every once in a while for $599, but that's the cheapest worthwhile safe I;ve ever seen so far.

If it's a good safe, I'd get the safe for sure. You can always buy a new gun at any time, it will be a world of hassles to replace a bunch of stolen guns or have an accident happen.

REV

 

[Rat76]

What revhigh said. A non fire resistant gun safe is just a metal box to cook your guns in.

If that $400 safe is fire resistant & is not tiny jump on it. That's a good price. My 14 gun Sentry was around $600 IIRC.

 

[WayniacKT]

gotta get a good safe. I have a Champion which is one of the best. I did pay $1200 for it (which was a great deal for what i got) it is fire proof and bad guy proof (for the most part). It only takes one time to loose everything in a fire or a bad guy stealing your stuff for you to say "shoulda, coulda, woulda".
Not to mention all the other personal things you can put in it to keep safe.
I know its a money stretch for most of us. I had to save and save to get it, even had some family pitch in at Christmas to help. :) But it is important.

 

[DGW1949]

I'm having a problem understanding your problem.
To start with, one's carry gun aint a "toy". I wouldn't think that the safe storage of one's firearms (or valuables) realy fit's into the "toy" caregory neither. So with that in mind, the only way I can help with your delima is to suggest that you first set about trying to identify what your most imeadiate need is.

Personaly, I'd arm myself first. Then I'd spend whatever amount of money I had to, in order to become profecient with my gun. And that goes for any/every gun that I was planning to tote-around on my person.

But that's just me.

DGW

 

[revhigh]

I have one like this, and a Browning as well ...

http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3385837

Was on sale at Dick's for $599 (it goes on sale regularly). It's a pretty good safe. It's the MINIMUM I'd go for. No matter what .... get a combination lock ... don't get one of those 50 cent electronic things on the front of your $600 gun safe. Preferably S&G or Seargent and Greenleaf.

REV

 

[oilcangary]

I agree with revhigh except I like my electronic lock. I can get into my safe really quick.

 

[Big Stu]

What decent safe can you get for $400 ?? Unless you're just getting a fantastic deal, I'd think you have to spend at least $200-300 more to get a worthwhile safe.

I know Dicks runs one of their maximum security safes on sale every once in a while for $599, but that's the cheapest worthwhile safe I;ve ever seen so far.

If it's a good safe, I'd get the safe for sure. You can always buy a new gun at any time, it will be a world of hassles to replace a bunch of stolen guns or have an accident happen.

REV

Ok, just to set the record straight, I don't need a safe for my long guns,(both of them) so the safe I am looking at is a medium security fire/burglary safe that is relatively small. (about .75 cubic feet) It is just large enough for my important papers and a few handguns. Not the best safe... not the worst. For me I know a safe is merely a deterrent, and if it is hard enough to get into, then the average burglar will just move on. The safe is actually also a decoy, as the really valuable stuff will be elsewhere. I have a home alarm system, so a thief will only have a few minutes to get in and out anyway. I don't have any children in the house so gun safety is not much of a concern beyond my general safety habits. My guns are not of much monetary value, but I don't want to lose them, nor do I want them to get into the wrong hands. I currently carry an SR9c, but I find it a bit bulky and heavy for CCW, so I am looking to add a "New Toy" to my gun family. (Yes I called it a "Toy" and I even said it was in a family) no need for semantics. I am fully aware of what guns are, and what they are for.

 

[DGW1949]

Didn't intend to offend you about the carry-gun thing.
That said, on to the safe and burgular thing;
Experienced house-burgulars will be in and out of a house in less than 2 minutes. They know exactly what they are doing, what they are looking for and where to look. I knew one that used a cordless skill saw to cut an opening into the side of safes and most will simply carry a small safe with them when they exit. Your other valuables will leave wrapped inside one of your own pillow cases, or maybe inside a shirt from your closet.
Bugulars often work in pairs.
A big heavy safe is better than a sheet-metal safe.
Bolting one down is better than not.

An alarm might help, might not. In my experience a LOUD audible alarm works better than silent alarms....not only for the deterent effect, but if the neighbors hear it too, (maybe) they'll call 911 themselves. If that happened to be the case, odds are the cops would get the message faster than if the alarm company (only) calls them.

Hope you find something here to be usefull.

DGW

 

[Big Stu]

The decision was made today!! I bought a brand new Ruger LCP. The safe will just have to wait a little while longer, and I'll have to do a better job of hiding stuff until then. I will try to fire it tomorrow and report back. Thanks everyone for your input.

 

[BulkAmmo]

My advices would be to do the responsable thing and get a proper safe. Since you don't have one already and they are really nice to have.

What I've did when I was in your shoes was put off buying a safe until I had no room for anymore. Even then I just kept stacking them up until I need a huge safe. Now I'm finally going to pick one up.

I would say it depends on your situation. If you have a couple dozen firearms it's probably time to get something proper.

_________________
bulk pistol ammo

 

[welder]

I would say it depends on your situation. If you have a couple dozen firearms it's probably time to get something proper. QUOTE

I wrestled with the safe question for a few years. Kept putting it off. Finally found a Remington on sale for $649.00, 100 bucks off regular price and bought it. It was a good choice for me, and I feel my guns have a decent level of protection. Any safe can be breached by the determined, but the safe will help greatly in a fire I'm told. Mine is rated for 1200 degrees and 30 minutes. My fireman buddy tells me that that is probably sufficient if it is on an outer wall, (it is) and he shows up on time.

But I can recall several times when I came home with a new Ruger instead of a safe, when I had left to get a safe in the first place. :P :P :P

 

[Big Stu]

My advices would be to do the responsable thing and get a proper safe. Since you don't have one already and they are really nice to have.

What I've did when I was in your shoes was put off buying a safe until I had no room for anymore. Even then I just kept stacking them up until I need a huge safe. Now I'm finally going to pick one up.

I would say it depends on your situation. If you have a couple dozen firearms it's probably time to get something proper.

_________________
bulk pistol ammo

The old addage..."If you know how many guns you have, you need more"

I don't personally own a full arsenal of guns, but I do have two long guns and four pistols. I have seen a few really nice safes but the better they are the more expensive they are. I may just save up and get a good fire/burglary safe, and then I can keep everything of value in it. The Magna Vault series of safes by Hayman safes seem to be very good and they come highly recommended by two different locksmiths.

http://www.haymansafe.com/pages/mv

http://www.haymansafe.com/pages/Gun_Safes

 

[exavid]

Hey Big Stu, enjoy your new toy! :lol: :lol:

 

[Big Stu]

Thanks, I will try to report back as soon as I get a chance to fire it.

 

[Thunderhawk]

What decent safe can you get for $400 ?? Unless you're just getting a fantastic deal, I'd think you have to spend at least $200-300 more to get a worthwhile safe.

I know Dicks runs one of their maximum security safes on sale every once in a while for $599, but that's the cheapest worthwhile safe I;ve ever seen so far.

If it's a good safe, I'd get the safe for sure. You can always buy a new gun at any time, it will be a world of hassles to replace a bunch of stolen guns or have an accident happen.

REV

Got to agree with Rev on this. Get the safe first, but make sure you get a good one.

 

[ArmedinAZ]

Just brought a safe home from Cabela's yesterday. I asked about it being breached with a grinder. Was told a good deterrent to that is to have a sticker made that says

WARNING: CONTAINS BLACK POWDER. NO SPARKS OR OPEN FLAME.

 

[OpsMgr]

Just brought a safe home from Cabela's yesterday. I asked about it being breached with a grinder. Was told a good deterrent to that is to have a sticker made that says

WARNING: CONTAINS BLACK POWDER. NO SPARKS OR OPEN FLAME.

Outstanding idea... 8)

 

[george preston]

Get a safe as soon as you can. Don't have to be new, off the showroom floor. I picked one up off craig's list. double door, combo lock, 6' tall,and heavy as hell. I know 5 guys can't pick it up and through it in the back of a pickup truck. I had to have a "safe mover" pick it up for me and put it in the house. The best part, only have about $600 in it- including the cost of the mover....The deals are out there! BTW, congrat on the new LCP. Had mine about 3 months now and love it. I forget it's in my paints sometimes!

 

[Big Stu]

The safe is going to be my next big purchase. I have been searching daily through Craigslist and I know it's just a matter of time before I find the deal I want. I will be taking the new LCP to the range tomorrow for a "Break-in" session. I'll report back when I'm done.

 

[Big Stu]

Well, I just got back from the range and here is what I think of the LCP.

WOOO HOOO!! :D :D

I put about 150 rounds downrange and it was absolutely flawless! 100 rounds of WWB ammo and no problems at all, 50 rounds of magtech and everything was perfect. The casings seem to go where they want, no consistancy with the ejection direction, but who cares. The bullets were easy to keep on the paper, but not very easy to keep in the black. I was shooting at about 25 feet and I was having trouble keeping the goupings tight. I think it is mostly because there are no "Real" sights on the gun. I will have to try and paint the front sight (if you can call it a sight) with some white epoxy paint. I was not able to see the sight at all in low light like we had at the indoor range. I was able to put my bullets on target with a fast draw and shoot though, and that is what the gun is meant to do. The trigger pull is stout and it has a long travel but that is the only safety so I don't think I can make an issue of that. This is not a target pistol by any means, and as snappy as it is, most people wouldn't want to shoot it a whole lot either, but I feel very confident that this pistol will do exactly what is ie meant to do, and that is; sit in my pocket and be there if I should ever need it. Now for a good cleaning and lube job.

P.S. This gun was fired right out of the box, without being cleaned of the manufacturers assembly lube. I think it is very impressive that it would work so well right out of the box. Way to go Ruger!