Which Gun Safe

just-shoot

Ready to make that gun safe purchase, trying to stay under $1,100. tax, delivery included for roughly a 30x24x60. Appearance is not too important and I'm undecided on the fire proofing. Local gun store has an American Security, Cascade model for $998 + tax/del. till the end of Jan. Beautiful safe, with a long list of warranties. ( I hate warrenties, my experiance has been, their not worth the paper their printed on).Sturdy Safe, Fresno CA - sent my an offer for $938. delivered. Same size, not as attrative, no fire insulation. Ceramic fire insulation (not sheet rock) is $357 more. They also sent me a detailed discription on the construction of their safe to show why it's a better safe, no BS warrenty.Cross Roads gun show is coming in mid Feb. Maybe I should just wait and go with cash in hand for a good deal. Any other safe you feel stongly on recomending? What advise do you experts give. As always I look forward to your thoughts and oppinions. Thanks.[This message has been edited by just-shoot (edited 01-27-2002).]

bsebast

There was a very informative thread about 3 weeks ago on gun safes. Look back and see if you can find it.With $1100 to spend, you will be able to buy a good one. Take your time. Read, look and study to determine what you "really need" regarding fire protection and size. Check out the gun show deals too before buying.

wundudnee

Ditto on the gunshow idea. My son got one at Tulsa this spring with a slight water damage on top for a really good price. It took the dealer about three minutes to load it on my boy's truck and it was on it's way to Alabama. Get the largest safe you can handle because you are going to fill it up. I have the American Security without all the bells and whistles. Meaning pretty paint and shiny hardware. It has the same locking mechanism as the more expensive models. I think you will find that most of them have Sargent and Greenleaf mechanisms.

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"If stupidity got us into this mess, then why can't it get us out?" Will Rogers

ThePaladin

Or build your own. There have been magazines with articles allowing you to do just that or do what I did. Frame up and lace rebar and pour 5"walls to make a fireproof room. Seconds as a tornado/hurricane shelter, big enough for the guns, and family for several days. I managed to get several sets of doors that were being torn out of a bank. Sold some, used the other.

muley

Shoot-me......For some reason I couldn't see what state you are in. If you are in Kal, the new safe needs to meet the following standards. Local gossip has it that some dealers are still selling safes that don't meet these DOJ requirements. If you aren't in Kal....consider yourself lucky and forget everything I said.muleyRegulatory Gun Safe StandardsDOJ regulatory standards require that a gun safe: Shall be able to fully contain firearms and provide for their secure storage. Shall have a locking system consisting of at minimum a mechanical or electronic combination lock. The mechanical or electronic combination lock utilized by the safe shall have at least 10,000 possible combinations consisting of a minimum three numbers, letters, or symbols. The lock shall be protected by a case-hardened (Rc 60+) drill-resistant steel plate, or drill-resistant material of equivalent strength. Boltwork shall consist of a minimum of three steel locking bolts of at least ? inch thickness that intrude from the door of the safe into the body of the safe or from the body of the safe into the door of the safe, which are operated by a separate handle and secured by the lock. Shall be capable of repeated use. The exterior walls shall be constructed of a minimum 12-gauge thick steel for a single-walled safe, or the sum of the steel walls shall add up to at least .100 inches for safes with two walls. Doors shall be constructed of a minimum of two layers of 12-gauge steel, or one layer of 7-gauge steel compound construction. Door hinges shall be protected to prevent the removal of the door. Protective features include, but are not limited to: hinges not exposed to the outside, interlocking door designs, dead bars, jeweler's lugs and active or inactive locking bolts.

bikrprchr

I just bought an American Security Teton 6032. It is 60 X 30 X 21, and fire insulated weighs in at a little over 550 pounds. Also got the electronic lock. Paid $785.00 out the door. Two of us with a pickup and an appliance dolly, and it was in the bedroom in no time. Look around, but the American Security units are pretty prime. Good luck.

pops401

I have a Fortess, 60x30x25. Ordered it at a gun show. It's a high gloss dark green with silver lettering. Very nice piece of furniture as well as a safe. The whole bill, including del. was just over $1100. The same one in the splatter paint is a few hundred less. By all means go to the show & deal.

JimmyJack

Look at the door when it is open and thelugs are in lock position. A good safe will be designed so the lugs do not hit and nick the frame of the door when it is accidentally closed. The fire department told me it only paid to have a fireproof one if you were minutes from the FD. Home temperatures are way over the normal rating andif you live away from protection it will be useless. I saved my money, as theft and liability are probably more important. Sentry makes an inexpensive one (about $400) that weighs 330 pounds and holds 14 guns. A great buy. I have also a Browning and it is a piece of furniture, love it.

nmyers@home.com

If I ever replace my Treadlock, I'll look closely at the Zanotti. It disassembles into 6 pieces, making moving it a simple job.Neal

rhmc24

I had an outfit that makes dump truck bodies make me a box out of one eighth inch sheet iron with half inch by two inch strap inside around opening. Not much for pretty but hell for stout! Security depends on the kind of locking system you put in it. Most any kind of serious lock will defeat the average break in.