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Posted: 5/8/2012 4:52:31 PM EDT
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I'm long overdue on purchasing a gun safe, and am a bit overwhelmed at all the choices. Due to current financial constraints, my budget is $1000, maybe $1200 tops. In a few years, I'd be able to afford a $2000 safe, but don't want to wait that long. I need a safe that will fit up to 25 long guns, and 20 handguns. So far, all I have been able to come up with is a Bighorn Classic 36ECB on sale for $1000 (plus about $80 for tax) with curbside delivery included.
Can anyone recommend another safe within my price range? Any comments on Bighorn safes? Also, what is the best way to move an 800 lb beast? The location is a first floor condo with about 6 steps to descend. Thanks! |
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If you're in a condo with 6 steps and you're buying an 800# safe, you need a professional safe mover. Unfortunately, that will add at least $200 to your bill. And since a $1,000 safe isn't likely to be a very good safe I would probably just get a storage locker like Sentry until you can afford a real safe.
Alternatively, you may consider a Snapsafe or Zanotti style modular safe. They are right at your price point and since they are modular they can be installed just about anywhere by anyone without any special equipment. However, I personally would not trust a collection of more than a couple thousand dollars in such a contraption. |
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I am not much of a safe guy, had a crappy Sentry for some time until I built my own open storage rack in a secure room. I posted about the SecureIt Tactical approach to weapons storage, they now offer their law enforcement line. If you have a safe though.......I hear they are coming out with a retro fit kit that you can turn your safe into an effective storage application utilizing their components. I picked up the TGS 1824 at show price and also had a look at a standard gun safe that was retro fitted to fit their components at a minimal cost. I am trully impressed with their products.
In regards to moving a heavy safe, if you are hiring people.....beware. I would personally ask friends close to you, you dont want other entities to know why you are have such an expensive safe. To an average hired hand they think "big bucks" are hiding in the safe. Dont open yourself to a security risk for you or the family. Not many people know about my weapons or by what means of storage, unless I forum about it. |
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@ symantix - I checked out what Snapsafe offers, and what they have is just too small for what I want. I also looked at the Zanotti modular safes and while I like their ZA-2 (I think it was), it's slightly smaller than the safe from Costco I'm debating on and also WAY more expensive. The 6 ft ZA-2 they said will run over $2000 and wouldn't be ready till Feb 2013.
@ mamertine160 - I hear you about not wanting people/safe movers to know you have a safe. I feel like I have no other option though. While I can definitely recruit a few friends to help, none of us are professionals and have ever moved anything super heavy, let alone a 790 lb safe! I'd have to do some major research first before I make my final decision on who will move it. I'm under the impression that all it will take is an appliance dolly rated for moving 800lb objects, and some strong people with moving knowledge. Easier said than done though I'm sure. Oh yeah, the storage lockers from SecureIt Tactical are not what I'm looking for. I did call one safe mover and they quoted me $400 which sounds outrageous, definitely going to shop around on the price. If I did hire movers, I wouldn't want to go over $250. At $250 for a moving price, my out the door total would be roughly $1330. Thanks for your insight guys! |
| Costco seems to have a safe flavor of the month type of deal. A few months ago it had a Cannon Scout wide-body 48-firearm safe for $799 delivered. Not the best safe for sure but bolted down, it beats leaving guns laying around or in a Sentry locker which, to me, is the same thing. |
| I've pretty much made up my mind on the Bighorn Classic 36ECB from Costco. No one has really presented me another viable option. For $1080 shipped, plus another $100 total for a 1200 lb capacity hand-truck rental and a few friend's help will turn out to be a great deal in the end. Gonna pull the trigger on this deal in this next two weeks, and I'll post up some pics when it arrives. |
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Quoted:
My buddy has that model and I have the 6039EL, we're both very happy with them. Once I get somewhere perminant, I intend to upgrade to a sturdy or something of the sort. Nice! Finally a positive testimonial to reinforce my choice of safe.  Was it a bitch to move or what?
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I'm in the safe business... I don't sell them, just service and open them when needed. Been doing it 26 years. So I know "just a little" about safes, but I've never heard of Bighorn. In looking at the specs, it looks like a real good safe for the price... except for this - "Commercial grade UL Listed electric lock". Do yourself a favor... find out who the nearest safe-tech/locksmith is, and start sending him birthday cards, Christmas cards, etc., now... then in a year or three, when he has to come out and drill open your non-functioning "Commercial grade UL Listed electric lock", he might give you a break on the price. I've bought myself some real nice guns recently, with the money I got from drilling open safes equipped with "Commercial grade UL Listed electric locks" that were "toast" in a few years. But hey, I actually love them... they're my job security. 
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Quoted:
I'm in the safe business... I don't sell them, just service and open them when needed. Been doing it 26 years. So I know "just a little" about safes, but I've never heard of Bighorn. In looking at the specs, it looks like a real good safe for the price... except for this - "Commercial grade UL Listed electric lock". Do yourself a favor... find out who the nearest safe-tech/locksmith is, and start sending him birthday cards, Christmas cards, etc., now... then in a year or three, when he has to come out and drill open your non-functioning "Commercial grade UL Listed electric lock", he might give you a break on the price. I've bought myself some real nice guns recently, with the money I got from drilling open safes equipped with "Commercial grade UL Listed electric locks" that were "toast" in a few years. But hey, I actually love them... they're my job security. What was the average age of the safes with electronic locks that you had to drill open? Also, were the owners opening their safes several times every day? Can you recommend a quality dial lock to replace the electronic one with? Rhino sells a 5 year extended warranty on the lock for $59.99. I would definitely jump on this for peace of mind! At the end of 5 years I'd probably change it out for a dial lock, or whatever type of lock is all the rage mid 2017. LOL Super Edit: I found this post on thefiringline regarding SecuRAM locks (type that comes on the Bighorn model I'm checking out). Roy states that: "The failure rate of our products are better than all other electronic manufacturers. SecuRam lock failure rate is LESS than 1%. Competitors lock failure rates are 2%-3%. When it comes down to dependability I personally put a high value on testing which is what we pride ourselves on as well. We put our products through extensive testing. If anyone on The Firing Line has any questions regarding our products please send me a PM or call (805) 988-8088. " |
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Quoted:
I'm in the safe business... I don't sell them, just service and open them when needed. Been doing it 26 years. So I know "just a little" about safes, but I've never heard of Bighorn. In looking at the specs, it looks like a real good safe for the price... except for this - "Commercial grade UL Listed electric lock". Do yourself a favor... find out who the nearest safe-tech/locksmith is, and start sending him birthday cards, Christmas cards, etc., now... then in a year or three, when he has to come out and drill open your non-functioning "Commercial grade UL Listed electric lock", he might give you a break on the price. I've bought myself some real nice guns recently, with the money I got from drilling open safes equipped with "Commercial grade UL Listed electric locks" that were "toast" in a few years. But hey, I actually love them... they're my job security. I just ordered a Bighorn a week ago through bulldogtuffsafes.com because he's got them on sale through the 19th. All Bighorns seem to come standard with an electronic lock, but manual locks are available (may be for an extra charge) and Bighorn also, as mentioned, has a fairly cheap extended lock warranty. |
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I noticed that we had a discussion on SecuRam locks so I thought I would drop in and personally offer any and all advice direct from SecuRam. Give me a call or respond back to this post if you need any information or have questions regarding our locks.
Thanks, Roy Technician SecuRam Systems (805) 988-8088 |
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Dial locks can fail too. They also suck ass if you get in your safe 20 times a day. This also leads to failure, and dial combos can be quite fragile if you meathook them around getting in them.........20 times a day. If you are paranoid, get a double door safe with two locks. It isn't that hard to get into most RSC cabinets, therefore, should not be too costly. Buy what you want. |
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My Bighorn Classic 36ECB finally arrived today. Moving it was not too bad with 3 people. Took a total of maybe 30 mins and that was us moving very slow. We had to descend 9 easy stairs which wasn't an issue since the appropriate dolly was used. Total cost for the move was $75 ($30 for the dolly rental, and $45 for friend's lunch), vs the $400 quote I received from one safe mover
The safe looks very nice! I will post some pics in a few days, but right now I'm busy studying for a PITA financial accounting test 
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