Gun storage safes

rameleni1

I have invested a lot of money in my gun collection in the past 2 years. I am looking for a safe to keep them in. I am looking to spend about 300.00 or so if possible. I would like it to store about 6 long guns, and a few pistols. I can't bolt it to the floor because I have radiant heating in copper tubing in my concrete floor. I will have to bolt it to wall studs. I'm sure if someone wanted my safe bolted to the studs, they could rip out my wall. Any suggestions if the wall studs are a good idea or not would be great.I have never personally heard of a gun theft of this kind. Any suggestions of a name brand would also be appriciated.

Rameleni1

Nighthawk

Regardless of the name brand their all made by one of three manufactures.Bates is the most common and as far as securing it to your wall studs that should work.Most crooks dont even bother if they see a safe.Its going to be hard to find one in the $300.00 price range,unless you find a used one.Make sure you use a dehumidifier to prevent excessive moisture,that could cause your guns to rust.

Best!!

Rugster

cbxjeff

Yes, $300. is pretty low for a real safe as opposed to a sheetmetal gun cabinet. While I was waiting 3 months for my ordered safe to arrive a year ago, I began to realize that I still needed room for ammo and accessories. Let me be the first to say that you will outgrow whatever you buy! At that price range and if you are serious on limiting you collection, head for your nearest Walmart. I bought a Sentry brand 14gun (somewhat of a joke) model for - I believe - $375.
I outfitted it with extra shelves to store ammo and hi-cap mags. I don't think you can beat it for the money. I actually plan on buying another to store some long guns of lessor value (see what I mean about outgrowing). It will, however easily hold your current collection.


cbxjeffIt's too late for me, save yourself.

jonk

Don't overlook the simple sheet metal gun cabinet. I don't know your situation or what your guns are, but in terms of protecting them from crooks, they are still effective so long as you get a good one with solid locks. Only drawback is they aren't fireproof.

"...hit your enemy in the belly, and kick him when he is down, and boil his prisoners in oil- if you take any- and torture his women and children. Then people will keep clear of you..." -Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher, speaking at the Hague Peace Conf

nmyers

Good advice from Rugster. But if the choice is between inexpensive and nothing, consider the Stack-On lockboxes (not good enough to call them "safes") sold for about $150 at the big box sporting good stores.
At least that should keep the kids out of your guns, and may be enough if you have other security measures (mean dog, alarm system, etc.)

Since your house is on a slab, be sure to put plywood or lumber under any safe; concrete always gives off moisture that will rust your safe from the bottom.

Bolting a safe to studs will discourage all but the most determined burglar. I didn't bother; the weight of my safe, guns, and bags of lead shot probably is > 800 lbs.; it would take piano movers with a block & tackle to get it out of the house.

Neal

rameleni1

I am interested in the Sentry safes. Sportsmans Guide sells them for 300-500$. The thing that sux is the shipping, 120.00. I looked up Sentry on the internet, and found they are located in Indiana. I live in Illinois, and would pick it up myself to save the shipping. I went to their website, and they only refer dealers. They list Home Depot, and a few others. I looked on their websites, and they only sold the wall safes "small". Cbxjeff, if your not happy with yours, email me what you want for it, and the exact model ect. Like I said I live in Illinois, so I would have to pick it up to save bux.

Rameleni1

GreenLantern

Did someone say go to 'your nearest Walmart'?

rameleni1

All Wallmarts are not built the same. The one's in my area don't even sell guns. I went to a kmart across the street from me last week. I was looking for gun cleaning patches, they had nothing. All they have in stock are BB guns, and paintball stuff. I can remember 10 years ago kmart, wallmart and Sportmart having big displays of handguns, rifles, shotguns and ammo. All are gone now. The first gun I actually bought was from Service Merchandise in 1990. It was a Marlin 30-30. I went to the store to pick it up, after the wait time. The gun clerk carried it up to the register for me, and left. The lady there was so nervous, her hands where shaking. Times are changing. Be happy with the stores you have now. I have no idea why this kind of thing is happening here. I have to drive over 100 miles to shoot anything other than a handgun round. How many of you have to do that?

Rameleni1

cbxjeff

Rameleni1, No I am quite happy with my Sentry and will buy another when hunting season gets closer. Walmart doesn't stock them the year around. These things are a cut above the sheet metal cabinets. All welded construction and fairly hefty. Of coarse a locked cabinet is better than nothing especially if you are talking about young kids. I don't know where in IL you are from (I grew up in Peoria) but I can tell you of a Walmart 60 miles inside the IN/IL border on I-74 that has them.

cbxjeffIt's too late for me, save yourself.

PJ

IIRC the Stack-On price includes shipping.
Pete

"Be kind to your neighbor, he knows where you live."

101AIRBORNE

r1,

As you live in IL, you may perhaps have a basement? An alternative to an actual gun safe would be a "safe room". A closet, reinforced, welded hinges, the list goes on. Rugster has some good advice re: golden rod. Safes are expensive, but then again are your arms and responsibility. Save the money and buy a good safe. There are actually
123 manufacturer's listed for safes. You can do a "safe room" w/ knowledge for less but I still prefer safes. Fire protection is a consideration. Safe manufacturer's use a gypsum/dry wall enclosed lining. The "Sportman's Guide" is really too expensive. Actually a "joke". Do not closet them or put under the bed. 101

punchie

Don't know how close to a large metro area you are, but check with the commercial safe dealers in your area not just the gun/sportsman shops. Every now and then they get a trade in on a commercial safe that they have a hard time re-selling and you can get a real good buy.

Try to figure how many guns you are going to have 5 years from now. Check for the appropriate size and then buy one twice as big. It will still probably be too small but it is a good starting point. The first safe I bought was a Liberty 35, number two another Liberty 35, now I need another one. I should have built the 'safe' room as suggested in one of the other posts.

AN ARMED SOCIETY IS A POLITE SOCIETY

Alpine

A lot of things to consider. If price is an issue, just keep in mind what you guns are worth, and what it would cost to replace them. Next consider that the sheet metal safes will not protect your guns from fire, so you may want to consider a fire rated safe. Even bolting it to convential floor is a plus, and missing copper in floor pipes can be done with "stud finder" type tools with advanced features.
I just bought and installed my third Cannon Fire safe.
Now I have more room for more guns!

"If you ain't got pictures, I wasn't there."