Posted: 10/9/2005 4:04:20 PM EDT
I've decided it's time to upgrade my smaller non-fireproof safe and multiple locked cases, to ONE larger fireproof safe. I'm looking for something that can put at least 14 longguns on one side, and have a whole other side of shelving that can be converted to another 14 longgun storage if need be. I want it fire rated at 1200 degrees for 30 minutes (or better). And I'd like to keep the price in the $600 - $800 range, if possible. Dick's has a Stack- On 13-20 gun safe on sale right now for $499, but I checked it today and it's much smaller than I'm looking for. I checked Cabelas today as well, and they had one in the price range made by Cannon Safe Co., model = American Eagle. It looked nice, but I don't know much about them. I've checked Gander Mountain as well, and they have some nice ones, but mostly Liberty which are out of my price range. I figured a lot of you guys have bigger safes, so I was hoping I could get pointed in the right direction as to were to buy one. Or is the big three (Cabelas, Gander and Dicks), my only hope? Any help would be greatly appreciated. For what it's worth I'm ready to buy now, and hoping to have it in my home before the end of the month. I also have a truck/trailer (or even a semi-truck, and forklift if needbe) at my desposal, so local pickup is possible. |
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For the money the Cannons are hard to beat. Cannon does offer the best warranty you will find. One thing to ask yourself is if you want the electronic lock with the key pad (which is what you will find on the Cannons) or the dial style of a lock that you find on the Libertys at Gander Mountain. Watch the ads for Fleet Farm as their house brand (Resolute) is a Cannon for a good price when on sale. |
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How often do you plan on moving? I've got a Zonatti Armor. It comes in 6 pieces that you assemble so it makes it real easy to move. They are made in Iowa and the owner of the company is super nice to deal with. Freight to my door was $100.00. |
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when i struggled with the same question, the guy at the safe store raised some interesting points.... Are you looking for real security or are you looking to prevent the kids and crack headed punks from getting at your stash? If it's the former, then very few safes are fully secure - any safe cracker worth their salt can get through a stock vault. If it's the latter, then you need to figure out how much fire protection do you really need? As for me, I have a security system, so I can guarantee that the fire dept will be on site within 15 minutes...but even if they are late, it's going to take a while more than 30 minutes for the temperatures around the safe to exceed 1200 degrees...especially since the safe is in the basement surrounded on two sides by concrete wall and nothing in front of it. in short, think practically about how much fire protection you really need and then buy a safe with 1.5 to 2 times the amount of space that you actually think you need....guns are as addictive as anything. The other thing - buy a mechanical lock - far more reliable over longer periods of time. just my .02. -Chris |
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Not sure if they make safes the size you're looking for, but American Security is what I have. It's one of the brands they sell at Galyans (Dicks now?) down in Minnetonka. It was a VERY good price for a real (read not stackon/homak sheetmetal) safe. Also, a safe that big will be very hard to move around as it will likely weigh 700-1000 pounds. If you can afford a rigger to put it in place it'll be worth it, otherwise get alot of friends over to help. |
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Champion rocks.... As far as kepad versus dial... I have a friend who is a locksmith. He told me that he has been called out to three homes that have had electronic locks/kepads bashed in with a big ol hammer or whatever... You and me know that that aint going to open it, but unfortunatly the idiots who burg' houses are not smart enough to figure it out. So instead of comming home to a broken in home with a safe that is untouched (like you will with a dial lock) you come home to a still locked up safe that needs a smith to come out to fix or even open it. Might be covered under waranty but ya got fire insurance too and ya still dont want your house to burn down. Its just another headache you dont need to have. If two men can move your safe in or out of your house it aint no good...For burgs anyway... It will keep your kids and their friends out of it though. Another thing about kepads... In a world that has so many people fantasizing about shit hitting the fan scenarios, they always seem to be talking low level threats and such... Crazed germans or angry hungry mobs... But what about the big boys? Whats an EMP going to do to my dial lock? How bout a flood? MTC.... ... |
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Well, the safe went into the house Wednesday. Considering most delivery company's were curbside only, and we'd still have to get it into the house, a couple buddy's and me decided we could do it all ourselves. It wasn't as bad as I thought (we had FOUR BIG guys, and a couple of wives as spotters), but I will say I don't want to do it again anytime soon! |
| I guess DPMS quit carrying their safes. They WERE kind of spendy. However, I picked up my safe from a local here in Becker that made them for DPMS. I have to say, I really like it. I have pics and can email them should anyone be interested. It has a small door for a couple of handguns and two big doors that open full. Little chance of stuff banging into each other. |