lipofsky
Single-Sixer
I am looking to upgrade my current safe need to store 24-30 firearms about equal number of both log guns and pistols. decent fire rating, De-humidifier. about $1000-$1500.
Need Gun Safe Recomendations
- Thread starter lipofsky
- Start date
Like with a lot of things in life ….. get one bigger than you think you need and more expensive than you want to spend.
My 25 year old Liberty is great.
I've also got a cheaper "Kodiak" thats pretty nice. I like the swing out rifle rack with it.
My 25 year old Liberty is great.
I've also got a cheaper "Kodiak" thats pretty nice. I like the swing out rifle rack with it.
I agree with hittman, bigger than you need. If your budget is $1500, I would humbly suggest waiting 6 months and seeing if you can afford more and bigger.
Have you considered redoing the interior of what you have? Or buying a second small one? I’ve redone a number of 18 gun Liberty safes and can get 80-90 handguns in one, all separated and only supported in the barrels. Long guns can be 20+ in the same small safe using the rods down the barrel with Velcro supporting them from the top.
Just a thought for you before you buy the big monster. Plus multiple safes really help you keep organized. You may find a new life in what you have.
TomD
Just a thought for you before you buy the big monster. Plus multiple safes really help you keep organized. You may find a new life in what you have.
TomD
I'd suggest buying bigger than you need. I have a 35-gun safe I bought from Cabelas (Liberty) using my accumulated points. I need a bigger one, closer to 50. Lights, golden rod, and you'll be all set.
JohnL
Buckeye
Make sure it is anchor bolted to the foundation. If it can be delivered it can be removed.
contender
Ruger Guru
I found a great company called "VaultPro" at the SHOT Show that has an excellent reputation. Jeff Quinn & I discussed safes,, and he went to see them. He bought a safe from them.
One thing that impressed me was that while they carry a fairly standard fire rating,, they have not paid the HIGH fees to do a more extensive test. But they did an informal testing & their safes exceeded the "standards" by a lot.
Not cheap,, but top quality.
One thing that impressed me was that while they carry a fairly standard fire rating,, they have not paid the HIGH fees to do a more extensive test. But they did an informal testing & their safes exceeded the "standards" by a lot.
Not cheap,, but top quality.
black1970
Blackhawk
I have a Browning that I bought in 1988. Made in Provo, Utah. 1100 lbs. biggest at the time. Nothing but quality. Most gun safes now are nothing but high priced eye candy. Investigate and learn before you spend money.
When the Democrats decide its time to send the jack booted government thugs into your home to seize your firearms, having all your guns in one location will certainly make their job easier. Maybe several smaller safes, some located annonymously and away from your home or business makes sense as a hedge against government confiscation.
Well, there are safes and there are safes and there are safes. All sizes, all types, all prices.
A question one needs to ask oneself is: "what do I see as the function of the safe?"
Are you just wanting to secure your guns from kids and other folks, not necessarily wishing to be theft-and-fireproof.
Answering this question will steer you toward the type and price ranges you seek. Be honest with yourself.
I fully agree with the considerations toward size.
A question one needs to ask oneself is: "what do I see as the function of the safe?"
Are you just wanting to secure your guns from kids and other folks, not necessarily wishing to be theft-and-fireproof.
Answering this question will steer you toward the type and price ranges you seek. Be honest with yourself.
I fully agree with the considerations toward size.
The smaller ones sure, and they are often stolen when perimeter security is not adequate. However, the larger ones that are delivered and need a truck w/tommy lift, hydraulic lifts, wide dolly, etc...are rarely removed or targeted. The typical thief is usually not prepared for that type of intrusion/theft. They also usually want stealth. Can't be very stealthy removing larger safes.
As for anchoring that is a yes. Myself, I can't get a large expensive safe into my house. Instead I have five 18 gun capacity safes (Metal cabinets by Homak/Stack On) bolted to studs and anchored. Each one has a handgun safe bolted to the top of them and secured to a wall. There is also one typical wood gun cabinet, however it only contains muzzleloaders and air rifles. If a thief should break in, removing the "safes" would take time. If they really wanted to they could cut them open but again that would take time and be noisy. But as many investigations I have been a part showed....if they want them they can probably get them. I more set up for exterior security, as much as possible. Exterior integrity to prevent interior mischief. My main goal with what I have is more related to secure storage/organization and since I had kids in the house and now a Grand child a priority is preventing access from curious little hands. For that it starts with a secure man cave/gun room door.
The "jack booted thugs" would need to be 100% willing to comply......I don't think there would too many that would. If you think the division here on this forum is bad when the liberal Dem members start whining about their views not being accepted, you should hang out a get together with the "jack booted thugs"....just like here, there is a couple who have a "different" view, and it can get brutal. VERY few I know support Dems and would participate in their warped ideas. Those very scarce commercials you see of a Police Chief supporting them? Those don't go over well either.
Wow, they do have an impressive offering. Mostly the big, heavy-duty stuff.
https://www.vaultprousa.com/
Last edited:
contender
Ruger Guru
Yep,, VaultPro is top quality. And having spent time talking with Tony,, the owner,, I was impressed with their products. Closer tolerances, better materials, and well thought out designs.
KS25-06
Single-Sixer
If you are going to store 30 long guns, you better buy a 40-60 gun safe because the spacing is so close that the bolt handles will be rubbing on the stock nest to them. I have many guns that were in perfect condition until they have been taken out and put back in a safe several times. I like my Browning and Liberty safes really well, except for the above feature. They are very well made and great paint jobs on them. The insides are nicely carpeted, and the dials are smooth and tight with no flop. However, you will have to spend more money for the larger safes.
I had purchased a Liberty Safe about 18-20 years ago and since it weighs 800 lbs., I had to leave it back in Ohio for my adult kids. I am now getting a Steelwater safe that weighs about 750 lbs. and I think it is one of the best safes available. You can compare them at Steelwater safes.com.
Forgot to say...mine weighs 800 lbs. empty. Now, it’s probably closer to 1500 lbs. Anchor set came with it. Too heavy to move full.
I've got a nice Liberty that has undergone several interior remodels. I'm at the point that if I need a larger safe I'll just buy a second one. Maybe one for rifles, one for handguns.
My only wish is that I had spent a little more and gotten a Fort Knox or an AmSec. The AmSec has a 1/2" solid steel door plate and a steel inner liner with concrete poured between the inner and outer layers. My current safe weighs over 800lbs empty. The AmSec I was looking at weighed about 1600lbs. I know my floor wouldn't support that…I'd have to build a foundation in the crawl space.
Now that you’ve got me thinking, I may buy a smaller AmSec for my collectibles and leave the rest in the Liberty.
My only wish is that I had spent a little more and gotten a Fort Knox or an AmSec. The AmSec has a 1/2" solid steel door plate and a steel inner liner with concrete poured between the inner and outer layers. My current safe weighs over 800lbs empty. The AmSec I was looking at weighed about 1600lbs. I know my floor wouldn't support that…I'd have to build a foundation in the crawl space.
Now that you’ve got me thinking, I may buy a smaller AmSec for my collectibles and leave the rest in the Liberty.
Hankus
Buckeye
I have a mid-sized Winchester safe bought at TSC during a Black Friday sale in 2012 for $499. The original electronic lock died after a month due to a bad diode that was leaking current. I ordered a replacement lock under warranty and THAT one caused the 9V battery to leak after a couple of months, ruining it, so I secured it with heavy chains and padlocks. During my next move I removed the 200 pound door and took it to a locksmith and paid him $175 to replace the electronic look with a good dial lock from Liberty Safes. The safe weighs close to 500 pounds empty and well over 800 pounds loaded. I epoxied studs into the floor and secured it. It’s not going anywhere unless it is opened and the contents removed, then the hardware holding it down needs to be moved from the inside. I really need a larger safe, or to add another one but don’t have anywhere to put one on the ground floor as my little home office is only 8x8 and I have a large desk and bookcases in there too. I might have to take a corner of my wife’s office next to my detached garage, BUT that building is separate from the house and not easily secured…
Anyway, I would either stay away from electronic locks OR have a locksmith replace it with a mechanical lock if you buy one…
Anyway, I would either stay away from electronic locks OR have a locksmith replace it with a mechanical lock if you buy one…
Obvious solution . . . move your office stuff out to your wife's office thus leaving room for another safe in your GUN ROOM.
Priorities, man, priorities.
Hankus
Buckeye
Unfortunately, I work from home quite often, and my wife works from home every day. I would constantly be interrupted with honey-dos or “Look at this funny dog video”, or having to listen to her complain about her stupid customers… In other words I wouldn’t be able to concentrate on MY work!Obvious solution . . . move your office stuff out to your wife's office thus leaving room for another safe in your GUN ROOM.
Priorities, man, priorities.
Last edited:
I know the mech lock is most secure- but the rapid access afforded by the electrical lock is desirable. I wish there was a way to have an electronic "day" lock and a secondary mechanical "away" lock. I might have to look into that…sounds like a fun design project.
Edit: took about 2 minutes of thinking. If I come up with a proven workable design I’ll let you all know.
I'm not convinced that in the scheme of things the time difference to open will be a big deal.
At least for me, I'm not going to be going for a gun in my main safe if someone is breaking into my house.
But I'm interested in what you come up with.
Cheers,
Tom
I like the gun safe doors. I’d like to build a gun room, solid concrete, reinforced steel, and get either a gun safe door, or a bank vault door.
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2017
- Messages
- 411
I’m building a safe room as a storm shelter but also to store my goodies. The safe will be placed in there. Fire safety is a concern, so I’m adding fire-rated drywall to the interior walls. Between that and the rating on the safe itself, I feel better about it. Most home fires will only generate about 1400 degrees F for maybe 20 minutes, and rarely 1800 degrees, but placement in a lower level of your home can extend the heat for much longer. Think of it as wood burning in a fire pit: the top and sides of the pit may be cool enough to stand nearby, but the center will keep coals going for 1-2 days. As the upper levels burn and collapse, they will feed material to the basement level. Also worth considering: if your safe is in the lowest levels, consider placing your safe on a raised concrete floor. Any water sprayed by firemen or home sprinklers would pool up a few inches before trying to drain out. And that might be enough to get inside the lowest point in your safe’s door.
KIR
Sparks, NV
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2022
- Messages
- 2,771
Think real hard about what size safe you buy, because no matter what size you get, you will regret not getting a bigger one. Don't forget where are you going to store your ammo too, for each firearm that you potentially might want to purchase. Oh, and the magazines you want to keep on hand for each firearm too. Trust me, whatever you get, it won't be big enough! THINK big, Bigger, BIGGEST!
Hardest part- that I'm still working on- is having the mechanical lock override the electrical lock. I'm trying to keep the one 3 spoke wheel as the only access point.
Years back I did have a cheapo safe that I put a secondary deadbolt into. I could open the main locking system, and then use the keyed deadbolt for rapid access/lockup.
Last edited:
This is true. I started with one and now I have three. Finally bought one big enough to last me for awhile. I'm more worried about fire I think than I am anything else. I don't boot mine to the floor because I'm on poured concrete. I keep the shipping feet on mine so they are 4" off the floor.
The last one I bought from Tractor Supply. I like it even though it's electronic.
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/cannon-64-gun-60-min-fire-rated-convertible-safe
