gun safes: what type should I get?
I live in California, have small children and need to buy a closet gun safe. I would like your input. I have a few handguns and rifles. I also want to store some other items in it.
Do I get a safe with just a combination lock or a combination and a key lock?
Are there any "better" manufacturer's or are they basically all the same, with different brand names?
What else do I look for?
Thank you for your answer.
There are a few factors that everyone forgets.
Safes are heavy. Being in California I know they built a lot of homes with elevated floors. If this is your case keep in mind that most safes weigh more that 500 pounds.
You may need to reinforce the floors joices where you put the safe.
Now with that said.
Safes are like insurance, the cost of the safe determines the amount of protection you get. (for the most part)
A security cabinet will keep honest people honest.
A safe with dial, or key and dial, or a touch pad will slow down a determined crook.
If a crook has to spend more than 15 minutes breaking in then they will be more likely to get caught.
You also need to remember, safes are not fireproof.
You can add layers of fire rated drywall (sheetrock) to the inside to add fire resistance to them.
When you select your safe ( I like the cannon safes myself ) make sure you place the side of the door that opens against the wall. This inhibits the ability to pry the door open.
Also, bolt it to the floor.
Part of your select process should also be, find the size you think you need and buy the next bigger size.
you will be amazed the "stuff" that you put in the safe.
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Safes made for pistols and rifles are super. I don’t think you need a key and combination safe tho…simply for the fact, that you just don’t want your kids to get in trouble, but you still want to be able to access them in a quick hurry if need be. Even the digital ones that have the keypad are better. Just remember, the bigger, the heavier, the more of a pain in the rear. Check Cabella’s and Gander Mtn. and see what they have. We have a Dunnhams in Wisconsin that usually has some decent deals on safes. Good luck to you in your searches!!
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I have two safes made by Ft. Knox. They both have combo/key locks and have fire proofing. These safes are worth their weight in gold.
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You want to get one with a double key lock. It will have one lock near the top, and one closer to the bottom. Both need to be recessed and covered so the locks can’t be drilled out.
Browning makes nice safes, and there are others out there that are just as good. Make sure to check the temperature rating (how fire resistant it is) and also that when you get it installed, you have it anchored to your floor so someone can’t steal the entire safe.
If you can’t anchor it to the floor due to pipes below it or something, you can buy several bags of lead shot to weight the safe down to make it immobile.
If you have a wooden floor with a crawl space, or plan to put it upstairs, make sure you consult the safe installers as to whether or not the floor needs to be reinforced to support the weight. A decent safe will weigh 600lbs and up.
References :
My uncle’s a safe dealer in Oklahoma, and I have a few.
I have a Browning Pro Steel I bought about 20 years ago. It isn’t huge but it is big enough (probably too big for a normal closet but small enough for a walk-in). It is a combination dial lock with a key to lock down the dial if I want. The safe will prevent all but the most determined.
Stay away from the thin stamped metal ones they sell at Wal-mart if you can. The security they offer is pretty minimal. However, they do keep the small kids away and are very affordable.
Just remember, even a medium sized quality safe can weigh around 500 lbs.
References :
There are a few factors that everyone forgets.
Safes are heavy. Being in California I know they built a lot of homes with elevated floors. If this is your case keep in mind that most safes weigh more that 500 pounds.
You may need to reinforce the floors joices where you put the safe.
Now with that said.
Safes are like insurance, the cost of the safe determines the amount of protection you get. (for the most part)
A security cabinet will keep honest people honest.
A safe with dial, or key and dial, or a touch pad will slow down a determined crook.
If a crook has to spend more than 15 minutes breaking in then they will be more likely to get caught.
You also need to remember, safes are not fireproof.
You can add layers of fire rated drywall (sheetrock) to the inside to add fire resistance to them.
When you select your safe ( I like the cannon safes myself ) make sure you place the side of the door that opens against the wall. This inhibits the ability to pry the door open.
Also, bolt it to the floor.
Part of your select process should also be, find the size you think you need and buy the next bigger size.
you will be amazed the "stuff" that you put in the safe.
References :
Make sure it’s CA Department of Justice approved. I see that information a lot on gun safes at places such as Gander Mountain and Home Depot.
References :
Gun Vault has a huge selection of gun safes. You can get one that can be opened by a touch pad shaped like your hand or opened by a key. It alerts you if someone tries to jimmy it open or after several unsuccessful attempts. My friend is an avid gun enthusiast and owned his for several years and swears by it. If you have children, this is the one you definitely have to buy. Check out the website http://www.gunvault.com and find one that suits your needs.
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