Choosing a Gun Safe

[magnanimous_j]

I don't know why, but it seems like gun safe manufacturers have the worst websites of any product. They seem especially wishy-washy on how many many guns the things actually hold. I want to buy a gun safe and I'm trying to plan ahead and get one that I can grow into. I know there is a ton of experience with this stuff on here, and I'm hoping you guys can help me out.

Here are my requirements:

1) Be able to house about 12 long guns, at least 10 pistols, and 1 shelf for jewelry, important documents,  fake passports/money in various currencies/ unregistered pistol with sound suppressor (for when you've got to leave town in a hurry  ).
2) Fire rating of about 30 min.
3) Here's the kicker: It's going in condo building, so it has to be light enough not to damage the floor.

What do you guys think?

[Boss .300 winmag]

What the address and I will send the safe police right over too help you measure your space, and check load limits on the floor.   

[MP123]

Get a big one!  When you lock guns up in the dark they start fooling around and pretty soon you've got a whole litter of new ones going!  Seriously.

The 30min fire rated one I have isn't super heavy, I dragged it home and put it in myself.  Maybe 300 pounds or so empty, I don't think it would be a problem in a condo.  The metal isn't very thick though, you could probably cut through it with a grinder or sawzall if you had the time and really wanted to.  I think it was sold as a 14 gun model but I've pretty much got what you've described above stuffed in it. 

[Special T]

I would check out the liberty safe dealer in eatumclaw. They seem to have the options dialed

[Rainier10]

I was at the sportsman show today and there were a ton of safes in all different sizes and shapes, prices seemed reasonable too.

[Fl0und3rz]

Expect about 2/3 stated long gun capacity, especially if ARs are in the mix.  I'd go with a mix of smaller safes for more flexibility.  You can always buy another safe. 

[Stickerbush]

I too am looking for a safe, am I right in assuming that if i get a smaller 12-18 gun safe I would definitely have to bolt to concrete floor but with a monster heavy one I don't have to?

[BULLBLASTER]

I wouldn't trust a 30 min fire rated safe with important docs... They will burn up in a house fire.

[yorketransport]

Expect about 2/3 stated long gun capacity, especially if ARs are in the mix.  I'd go with a mix of smaller safes for more flexibility.  You can always buy another safe.

This is good advice. When I lived in an apartment I went with a few smaller safes to help with the limited floor space available. If you have 10-12 long guns, a 20 gun safe will fill up pretty fast. 2 smaller safes would allow you to make the most of the space you have without worrying about one big safe falling through your floor.

The most important advice I can give when people are safe shopping is to make sure that it's TALL enough if you have any long barreled rifles. A lot of safes (even big ones) don't give a lot of room for rifles with 26"+ barrels. I just bought one big (48 gun) safe to replace 2 of my smaller safes and I can only fit a few long barreled guns in there depending on the internal configuration. It's just something to consider.

I wouldn't trust a 30 min fire rated safe with important docs... They will burn up in a house fire.

I keep the really important stuff in a small fire safe inside of the bigger safe for this reason.

Andrew

[BULLBLASTER]

good call on the small fire safe inside the safe. same I do..
also the fire isn't the only worry with docs. gun safes aren't waterproof most times either so the water will ruin things. I have heard of more rust issues on guns from a housefire than burned up guns...

[lucky7]

Theres a company out there called snap-safe. I think they said the heaviest part was the door@90 lbs for homeowners who want to get a safe upstairs.they have a website.Supposedly snaps together and then becomes fire-proof. Don't know anyone who has one though. You might check them out. I have to agree with the other HuntWa guys, I rather have 45 to 60 min. Fire station is close by, but response, setup and water on the fire could take more than 30. Good luck.

[trophyhunt]

I don't drink the kool aid, but I heard Costco is a good place to buy a gun safe.

[sled]

I would check out the liberty safe dealer in eatumclaw. They seem to have the options dialed

  nw safe in enumclaw. Best place to buy, and customer service.

[ghosthunter]

Look at the door lugs. How far do they go to lock in? 1 inch can easily be pried open.

Liberty has a safe with 4 inch wide locking bars, a lot hardor to pry.

Week spots on safes corners and bottoms.

Knew a guy who had his safe hauled out of his house by low life's. Found later with bottom cut out of it.

Anchor them down. In a corner good spot.

[lee]

I bought my Liberty Safe 15 years ago and when doing the research I was advised to stay away from the electronic push button style keypads. I went with the "tried and true" S&B tumbler and have never had a problem with it.

Maybe they have improved the electronic one's not sure just thought I would throw this out there.

[Russ McDonald]

I would check out the liberty safe dealer in eatumclaw. They seem to have the options dialed

  nw safe in enumclaw. Best place to buy, and customer service.

I got a 42 Summit Teton there. Awesome safe.  Also look in their scratch and dent back room.  You can get great deals and some of the safes you can't even tell where the problem is that put it in scratch and dent.  For bolting you safe to the floor.  It shouldn't matter what size it is.  Bolt it to the floor.

[Widgeondeke]

Farm & Feed stores are a good place to look also. I like have seen the Canon 48 gun safe at Del's for $900.

[magnanimous_j]

Expect about 2/3 stated long gun capacity, especially if ARs are in the mix.  I'd go with a mix of smaller safes for more flexibility.  You can always buy another safe.

There's an idea. I never even thought of that.

Look at the door lugs. How far do they go to lock in? 1 inch can easily be pried open.

Liberty has a safe with 4 inch wide locking bars, a lot hardor to pry.

Week spots on safes corners and bottoms.

Knew a guy who had his safe hauled out of his house by low life's. Found later with bottom cut out of it.

Anchor them down. In a corner good spot.

I plan to bolt it into the wall. But to be honest, I'm not that worried about theft or fire. The place I live in now is poured concrete and I've got fire sprinklers all over the place. The building is already controlled access, you need to swipe a keyfob 3 times before you get to my front door. And all my guns are very much 'consumer grade.' No heirlooms or customs (yet).

I want a quality safe, but it's mainly for liability. The weight is my biggest concern, for structural safety. I've got a pretty big fishtank going as well.

[Knocker of rocks]

If your building is modern concrete construction on all floors, consumer grade weight is no issue

[Bofire]

My safe is 3'X3' and very heavy. holds about 20 long, 10-15 short easily plus ammo and "stuff". For important papers put them in a fire rated box and put that in the safe. Better organized and easier to get to anyway.
You can build your safe in to a closet or someplace with a small amount of framing and sheet rock, easily doubling the fire rating.
My safe sets on 9 square feet, if your floor is rated for a 50lb live load(common) that is 450 pounds on 9 sq.ft. design load.
Sounds like most any safe will work for you.
Carl

[Boss .300 winmag]

If your building is modern concrete construction on all floors, consumer grade weight is no issue

 

Those concrete floors will hold more than you will ever load them, unless you stockpile large amounts of gold or lead in a pile. 

[Stump]

Most floors are designed at #50 psf, so to help with the weight buy a 1" thick  ply cut to span a few joist and it will spread he load out. You should be fine. It will also help to be near a bearing wall, exterior or interior. Good luck!

[Knocker of rocks]

He says he lives in a condo with concrete floors.  That would indicate PT slabs if the building is of recent construction.  There better not be any joists.

Your recommendations would apply if it was a condo of modest height, built of wood with gypcrete floors

[Wacenturion]

I would check out the liberty safe dealer in eatumclaw. They seem to have the options dialed

  nw safe in enumclaw. Best place to buy, and customer service.

Highly recommend.  Call them or go there and tell them your situation, and they'll have exactly what you need.

[Boss .300 winmag]

Did you buy this one? 

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,168764.msg2235890/topicseen.html#new

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

I would check out the liberty safe dealer in eatumclaw. They seem to have the options dialed

  nw safe in enumclaw. Best place to buy, and customer service.

Highly recommend.  Call them or go there and tell them your situation, and they'll have excactly what you need.

 

[magnanimous_j]

If your building is modern concrete construction on all floors, consumer grade weight is no issue

 

Those concrete floors will hold more than you will ever load them, unless you stockpile large amounts of gold or lead in a pile. 

The place I'm living in now is concrete, but we're trying to buy a place at the end of this year, so I don't know what that building will be made of.

[Mongo Hunter]

Try Cabala's. their safes are made by Liberty and are the Franklin series so you can check more specs on their website. They also have "Cool" pouches in the door that have a foil liner so they will have a little extra protection from heat. also the interior is somewhat flexible so you can add or remove shelves as needed. So now a couple bits of advice;

1. Take the amount of guns you have and the ones you plan to buy in the near future. now double that number, that's the size you should probly look at. Im not kidding, scopes and pistol grips take up more room than you would think. 1 AR with a scope takes up 3 slots for the most part. just keep that in mind.

2. BOLT IT DOWN! if your land lords will allow of course. first thing thieves do is push the safe down so they can get more leverage on the door.

3. Buy from a company that gives you a good warranty against break in, damage, fire ect.

4. do not buy the cheap sheet metal safes at Costco. you can literally get through them with tin snips, false sense of security.

5. get a good dehumidifier. if you have it inside and temp is fairly consistent its not as big a deal but keep your investments rust fee and spend the extra money on a good one. I bought the liberty Gold rod, its 110V so no batteries or chems to change.

6. This is optional but considers lights. they just come in hand and now that I have them I don't know how I ever did without. plus they look cool showing off  .

Best of luck to ya!

[Rich_S]

If you have a Skilsaw with carbide blades, put the blades in the safe. A carbide blade mounted backwards in a Skilsaw will cut through most residential safes like a hot knife. Not sense in supplying the BG with the tools. Also, keep your cutting torch tips in the safe. Where applicable, of course.