What’s a decent gun safe

[luberhill]

It needs to hold 12 long guns and some paperwork etc 

 I saw the YouTube vids showing  most are very thin sheet metal .,and can be opened easy 

[Shoots100]

I went with the SnapSafe Titan and my brother bought the Titan XL after seeing mine.

One reason I like the SnapSafe, is that you can take it apart and move it to an upstairs or hard to get to area, that you can't get other safe's into.

https://www.gunsafes.com/SnapSafe-Titan-Closet-Vault.html

[Nomad]

Personally I’d go for Sturdy a nice mid range actual safe .

https://www.sturdysafe.com

The ones you see in the box stores are not really “ safes” .
 

One needs to balance what you want it to do vs. what you got in it . Many won’t spend a few grand to protect a couple grand in guns . Do you want to, protect guns from kids and sneak thieves ,or protect many thousands of dollars of guns ,cash, jewelry , gold from more knowledgeable thief’s ? 
 

One problem with “ safes” is guys load them up like Easter baskets , all their guns , jewelry ,cash, cameras , high end binos , all in one spot ,where before the safe it’s all spread out in the house .

Most box store safes can be entered with a angle grinder in minutes . Or pried open .

Whatever you get keep it out of sight, if I know the brand YouTube will tell me the best way in , and bolt it down in a corner .

Oh for nine years I built safes .

if you want an actual safe look for TL30 and above .

Edited February 25, 2021 by Nomad

[suburbanfarmer]

In essence if you want to store 12 guns neatly you need a 20gun safe. A 14 gun safe will usually hold 8-10 at most. 

[luberhill]

11 minutes ago, suburbanfarmer said:

In essence if you want to store 12 guns neatly you need a 20gun safe. A 14 gun safe will usually hold 8-10 at most. 

Yea that seems to be the case ,,, why they get away with overstating I don’t understand 

[suburbanfarmer]

1 minute ago, luberhill said:

Yea that seems to be the case ,,, why they get away with overstating I don’t understand 

Here is a somewhat decent one

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mesa-Safe-30-Gun-MBF6032E-Fire-Resistant-Safe-with-Lock-Black/21553930?athcpid=21553930&athpgid=athenaItemPage&athcgid=null&athznid=PWVUB&athieid=v0&athstid=CS004&athguid=c21ea1bc-007-177d720e8a13ec&athancid=null&athena=true

[rachunter]

I'm going with a good safe and a solid security system on my house.

[sbuff]

Couldn't be happier with my Cannon 

https://www.cannonsafe.com/category/gun-safes/

[SpacemanSpiff]

Rhino gun safes are well made. Take a look. 

[luberhill]

55 minutes ago, sbuff said:

Couldn't be happier with my Cannon 

https://www.cannonsafe.com/category/gun-safes/

Yea I looked at Cannon , very light weight sheet metal

The door alone is just bent sheet metal ,,

Sides are even worse ..

I want steel , like 3/16” min

Thx

[sbuff]

Mine is steel but its an older one . I thought 10ga steel but I would need to look for paper work 

Edited February 25, 2021 by sbuff

[luberhill]

10 minutes ago, sbuff said:

Mine is steel but its an older one . I thought 10ga steel but I would need to look for paper work 

They are 12 gage steel which is sheet metal ..

I want it plate at least in the door .

I just want a us made quality ..

I have a Redhead now which is basically the same as the Cannon

They are fine for keeping kids out and most thief’s 

[Nytracker]

I have 2 browning silvers . Heavey bastards. As far as gun safes I like them . Really liked the liberty safes until my BIL got one . He beat the hell out of a wood stock  dragging  gun in and out . There is a raised lip on the floor .  

[Five Seasons]

My parents bought me one for christmas the year my oldest was born. I think it's a 12 gun field and stream and it's all I really need for durability. But when you tack on scopes and stuff, it's nowhere near 12 gun. I'd recommend you always get bigger than you think you need because you WILL get more guns and add things like important paperwork or shelves for ammo etc.

[luberhill]

34 minutes ago, Belo said:

My parents bought me one for christmas the year my oldest was born. I think it's a 12 gun field and stream and it's all I really need for durability. But when you tack on scopes and stuff, it's nowhere near 12 gun. I'd recommend you always get bigger than you think you need because you WILL get more guns and add things like important paperwork or shelves for ammo etc.

I’ve seen some guys say stager them muzzle up and muzzle down

[sbuff]

I'd never do that I'd be concerned about the crown. 

I do recommend getting a golden rod of some type .

[luberhill]

3 minutes ago, sbuff said:

I'd never do that I'd be concerned about the crown. 

I do recommend getting a golden rod of some type .

Yea it wouldn’t hurt the crown ...many guys store this way so oil won’t run into the wood stock 

[Five Seasons]

9 minutes ago, luberhill said:

I’ve seen some guys say stager them muzzle up and muzzle down

I have no science to support this, but I'm not sure I could store my gun with the muzzle down. Just seems wrong and maybe that's because doing so in the field IS wrong... idk. Couldn't do it lol.

[luberhill]

8 minutes ago, Belo said:

I have no science to support this, but I'm not sure I could store my gun with the muzzle down. Just seems wrong and maybe that's because doing so in the field IS wrong... idk. Couldn't do it lol.

Yea I don’t do it but I don’t have that many guns

[moog5050]

13 minutes ago, Belo said:

I have no science to support this, but I'm not sure I could store my gun with the muzzle down. Just seems wrong and maybe that's because doing so in the field IS wrong... idk. Couldn't do it lol.

I would be worried about damaging the crown and impacting accuracy.  Not likely but why risk it.

[luberhill]

10 minutes ago, moog5050 said:

I would be worried about damaging the crown and impacting accuracy.  Not likely but why risk it.

The crown setting on padded carpet would be fine

[hueyjazz]

I do store guns alternating up and down in safe to maximize capacity.  But everything in the safe is in a gun sock to prevent safe rash.  As far a capacity what other say here is quite correct.  I have no idea what gun they used to establish capacity.  It must have been those 22 cal. Crickets.

My safes are Sentry.  I know not top of the line but when I bought them they were made just down the road from me until Master-lock bought Sentry and screwed all the employees.  I think they are made in Mexico now.  I won't buy another.

A lot of safe make a big deal out of fire rating.  It's very unlikely in a fire that your safe would heat up unless fire is in the room and around your safe.  Most decent size safes have to be a decent floor.   Mine all weigh over 500 lbs. The basement or ground floor is often the location.

 A bigger problem is water damage.  Fire men will pump enough water into a house to fill a basement.  A watertight seal in door is a benefit

I didn't get my panties in an uproar about break-ins.  As long as it would take an angle grinder to get into I was OK with that.  Most thief are targets of opportunity and not master criminals.  The pit bull security system in my house works quite well.

 

[moog5050]

15 minutes ago, luberhill said:

The crown setting on padded carpet would be fine

Have at it.

[Bolt action]

I also have a Sentry. When they were local they would have periodic inventory reduction sales. I grabbed a pair of the 10 gun models that weigh in around 400 lbs apiece. I was sad to see them move the shop. They used to be located close to the old Beikrich's gun shop that has since closed up. 

I stagger mine as well. The carpeted floor doesn't seem to do harm. Also a dehumidifier is a good idea to remove moisture in the safe. That actually reminds me that I should check mine today.

[sbuff]

51 minutes ago, moog5050 said:

I would be worried about damaging the crown and impacting accuracy.  Not likely but why risk it.

Agreed