I'm buying a house which is going to put me in the market for a safe. I'm watching all the Black Friday deals and wondering if that's the time to do it. Problem is there's so many safes, product lines, claims, etc. I can't tell what's well made or what's just made to look like it's well made and what's cheap junk vs what's a good deal.

About the only part I understand is buy bigger than you think you need. Can anyone give me a crash corse in what to look for in a safe, particularly one tat will leave me less confused than some of what I have read online these last few days.

Since I'm sure someone's going to ask I need for about half a dozen each of rifles and pistols.

What're your guys recommendations?

A cheap safe or the safe you can afford is better than no safe.  Personally I prefer commercial safes re-purposed to be gun safes but that's just me.

 

In the realm of residential gun safes they run the gamut from average quality to "Damn that's expensive" quality.  IMO any of the big names available at Tractor Supply or Costco are reasonable without breaking the bank.  Are you going to stop a bank robber? No.  But what are you really protecting against?  In my estimation, most home burglars are more casual smash/grab whatever they can carry types.

 Are you going to stop a bank robber? No.  But what are you really protecting against?  In my estimation, most home burglars are more casual smash/grab whatever they can carry types.

 

Pretty much how i see it, any guy breaking into my place with a grinding wheel, sawzall and pry bar may have the means to access my average quality gun "safe". They really aren't safes but just enhanced gun cabinets, most of the time being made out of 12 guage steel, with some sheetrock inside to fireproof it. But for 99% of the home invaders, they wont have any way to get the bolts out of the floor or open it up.

 

Just make sure if you do have those tools in your house you dont store them next to your safe!

On quality: your decision is "place to keep curious people out?" Or "place to never ever ever ever have them stolen?"

 

On size: the gun number means nothing. Look at the picture of the Field Stream 10 gun and you see they only have three long guns in it. So know what you're buying size-wise

http://gunsafereviewsguy.com/

 

Read this guy. Then decide what level of protection your collection requires.

One thing to do also, especially if you're looking at safes in the $300-$600 or so range - when you narrow your selection down to a few safes, go to youtube and search on the safe manufacturer and model #.  There's some videos out there showing how some common "cheap" safes can be opened with tricks like using coat hangers.  Try to avoid getting one of those.

I'm also hoping to buy a safe over the Black Friday / cyber Monday . If anybody finds more deals PLS let us know ...

Gunsafereviewsguy was actually what led to some of my confusion, as much of what I see seems to be inferior quality. I have read his stuff but not really heavily yet.

 

My basic need is right now my storage involves a cheap keep the curious out pistol safe and a lot of locked rifle cases. It's far from ideal but the co-op had absolutely zero room for more then that.

 

If anyone's set on looting my house with a blowtorch and a sawzall I probably have bigger problems to worry about. Most of my breaking and entering type tool stuff wouldn't be in the house, but with the truck so that at least should be a help

I'm also hoping to buy a safe over the Black Friday / cyber Monday . If anybody finds more deals PLS let us know ...

 

go to bfads.net and click on Dicks & also Tractor Supply for Black Friday deals!

If your spending almost a grand on a safe you might as well go all out. I'm waiting on a nice deal for a fort Knox. They are costly but its something I will have forever and after owning a 500 dollar cheapo stack on I see no reason to buy a bigger version of it. There are videos of guys breaking into these safes and its actually not all that difficult. A cutting wheel will open the side of the safe up in under 10mins. What you want is thick walls and door. And not the hollow doors that appear to be 2 inch's thick. Thick steel plate. Drill resistant locks. Everything else is just a want, those are the needs.

Don't buy, invest in a gun safe. Words to go by from my local dealer. Search for the weapons education safe video on YouTube. Very informative.

Formula.... If it says it holds 24 rifles. Figure less than half. Gun Safe companies have not deviated off that since flintlock rifles I think. That number is for typical long guns. No Add ons. Goodies added all over your rifle will end up making it tough to get them side by side.

 

Try these folks. I have one and it is fantastic. Great service and warranty. Beautifully made. Great fire ratings and they even finance.

http://www.patriotgunsafes.com/

 

These folks are also great. Not cheap. Their rotating safe will hold the amount of guns it says. Great people, will finance.

http://www.pendletonsafes.com/

 

Good luck...

 

I went with a Cannon from Tractor Supply. Was on sale for $499. Buy what you can afford that will meet your needs and make you happy. I wasn't worried about a profesional thief breaking into my hunble abode. I wa concerned with keeping my kids and kids friends out.

 

The employees at Tractor Supply were friendly and helpful. Even assisted with loading it into my wife's SUV.

One thing to do also, especially if you're looking at safes in the $300-$600 or so range - when you narrow your selection down to a few safes, go to youtube and search on the safe manufacturer and model #.  There's some videos out there showing how some common "cheap" safes can be opened with tricks like using coat hangers.  Try to avoid getting one of those.

There is a quick fix for those cheaper safes. The way burglars open them in seconds is sliding in a flat piece of metal and hitting the code reset button on the inside. Just open to reveal the wiring and disconnect it and you're good. Now it's a cut and pry job to get it open. Also stay away from the small $50 bunker hill types. I showed a bunch of Cabelas employees on how to open it with a simple slap to the top. The larger cheaper types are safer from this "slap" trick.