What's your opinion on this gun safe?

[Armybrat]

Thought I'd give this to one of my sons so he could keep his few guns out of the hands of little kids & casual punk burglars.

A $3,000 good quality big safe is out of the question because of financial & space considerations.

http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/browning-prosteel-ltd15-18-gun-safe/pid-938905?color=Textured+Black&N=626381016

[Bawanna]

Should do the job. I have a larger version Browning my mommy bought me for probably the same reasons long long ago.

Only think on that one I'm not nuts about is the button combo. Probably needs a battery.

I personally much prefer the old dial combo. No power needed and when you can remember the combination it opens every time.

Seems like a decent price on that too. Been a spell since I check on em. I'd like to get another myself and my son now needs one badly. He's got more laying around in his room than I do anymore.

[VN Vet]

While this is not a big safe, it'll get the job done well for most firearm owners. If I had that amount of money to spend, I get one at that price.

Good luck to you and happy successful shopping.

[jocko]

My 21 cents. U only get whatu pay for in safes and then smetimes not even that. For that kind of money, IMO ur not getting much, but it also beats keeping stuff in a box in the attic.U have some degreeof protection there, not much. The dial combination is realy the best, no doubt about it. the battry models if that unit goes bad, which most safes only carryt about a 2 year warranty on the push button dials, if it goes bad most have to have a qualifed safe person to get that door open.

If it was me I would wait and spend more and u get more. This is a one time investment that will last u a lifetime. That safe is definitely light enough for any pair of persons to actually move it out of your home place. Bolting it down helps to a degree. I am very surprised Brownig even puts their name on such a low grade safe.

Not knocking u for asking fgor like I said it beats a wooden box .

[AJBert]

The only part that I'm not crazy about is the 30 min rating for fire. Of course, the higher the fire rating the higher the cost.

I'd do a little more shopping around to find a larger capacity safe for pretty much the same amount. Look at Cannon, Liberty and others. Don't be afraid to look at Bass Pro or Cabela's, if there are any near you. I'm sure there will be some big sales coming up this week and for the rest of the year.

[Bawanna]

Good point, the local locksmith we use says you just pay for the name when you buy Browning or a couple of the others.

I'm more concerned about thieves than I am fire. Could happen.

I think moisture is more of an issue with a fireproof safe than non fireproof but I don't recall how that idea got into my head.

[wsgrady]

Any safe can be defeated by the determined thief, and most can be opened with a skill-saw and carbide/diamond saw blade. (just cut your own door) However most that burglarize don't take the time to try and crack any safe in a private residence, so I think it's much better bet than storing in the closet or in between the mattresses. I've had a Cannon safe with e-lock that's been going fine for 8 years. A locksmith will open your safe cheaper than you can buy new firearms in any event, and of course all should be locked up around children anyway and especially in todays climate. Other than being a little on the small size it's a safe..

[TucsonMTB]

Please allow the cheap, old guy from Tucson to suggest an even less expensive (currently $400) option. A few years ago, when we needed a somewhat secure place to store long guns. A visit to the local Home Depot (http://www.homedepot.com/p/SentrySafe-14-Gun-59-in-Combination-Lock-Gun-Safe-G5241/100196980) yielded one of these. That link is to their current version, which has gone up in price only a little since we bought ours for $359.99.
http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/productImages/1000/13/1391a0c5-6514-4858-baca-3e9373cdedae_1000.jpg
Yeah, it is no larger than the safe you are considering and the fire rating will not win any prizes either. But, it has a mechanical combination dial to please both Bawanna and myself. Better still, it came home on the bed of my neighbors pickup truck. Instant gratification is nice!

So . . . look at the non-traditional gun safe outlets, like Lowes and Home Depot. It may be worth your while.

Best of luck . . .

OK, all you guys with the deep pockets can now weigh in with the deluxe models. :p

Edited to add: Here is a comment from the Home Depot web site from another owner with more guns to store than we have.

"It will not hold 14 long guns if they have scopes but it has a good bit of room. I have probably 10 long guns due to some having scopes and four or five handguns."

[LorenzoB]

I've been heavily researching safes of all calibers for about a year now. I have it narrowed down to what I want/need, but I need to save up for that (plus my collection keeps getting bigger). ;)

Lowes has the Liberty Centurion 24 gun safe in about that same price range but it is only 1200 deg for 30 min.

Tractor supply has the Winchester 24 gun safe for just a tad more. It has a LaGard lock made of metal (not plastic). LaGard is a good lock brand. It has 1400 deg for 30 minutes, so it MIGHT be better there, but the way they fire rate these is all over the place, so it is a difficult number to trust. For actual fire protection, you need to spend much more. I went to my local Tractor Supply and looked at the Cannon and Winchester... Winchester quality was much better. It was also heavier (which is better). I bought it and intend to use it as my secondary safe for less important items. This safe is a TS22 (see next post for burglary ratings and what this number means).

If you get a safe that is about 500lbs, it really is not that bad for two averaged sized guys to get out of the truck and into a garage. That is where I parked mine. Going into a house or up or down stairs would have been impossible for us, so keep that in mind with this purchase.

If you want to store a few inexpensive guns, eliminate smash and grab, or slow down some determined guys, and get a little protection from a small fire (or you live close to a fire station)... then these inexpensive safes will work fine. To stop very determined thieves or protect from a large blaze or total burn down, you will need to spend thousands. It really depends on what you plan to put in the safe and how much "peace of mind" you are willing to pay for.

[LorenzoB]

This is from UL's website about what Burglary Classifications mean... Below are just two more common classifications you will see in this price range and a bit higher... My cheap safe above is right between these ratings here...

Burglary Classification TL-15

Combination-locked safe designed to offer a limited degree of protection against attack by common mechanical and electrical hand tools and any combination of these means.

Successfully resisted entry for a net working time of 15 minutes when attacked with common hand tools, picking tools, mechanical or portable electric tools, grinding points, carbide drills and pressure applying devices or mechanisms.

Burglary Classification TL-30

Signifies a combination-locked safe designed to offer a moderate degree of protection against attack by common mechanical and electrical hand tools and any combination of these means.

Successfully resisted entry for a net working time of 30 minutes when attacked with common hand tools, picking tools, mechanical or portable electric tools, grinding points, carbide drills and pressure applying devices or mechanisms, abrasive cutting wheels and power saws.

[LorenzoB]

P.S. My safe is already packed and there is still more stuff to try to smash in there. The moral... Buy bigger! For me this is ok for now, because it fit the bill for the time being while I save up for another safe. That, and my wife kept nagging me about getting a safe. :D

[downtownv]

They always OVER rate the gun capacity.
Always buy bigger that you think you need.
Fire rating is over rated as well. How many house fires were there. where the house burned clear down to the ground?
I have:
1 safe for Long Guns
1 Steel lock-up cabinet for Ammo
1 safe for Documents (That's the one with a high fire rating.
As well as dementia. so i can't open any of them! :behindsofa:

[muggsy]

Any safe is better than no safe. A safe will keep an honest man out, but no safe will stop a determined thief. Having said that, if your son doesn't like it send it to me. I'll find a use for it. BTW, I agree with Bawanna. I prefer combination locks over electronic locks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D33T4GOtB-U

[laserfish]

Gee, I wish I had all of you guys space. I was like the OP, limited funds and limited space. I purchased the Bighorn from Costco. Finished out much nicer than the Winchester or Cannon which I also looked at. Holds everything I need, not everything I want though. It was the only size I could buy to fit in the space allotted in our small house. Would love to have bigger and heavier, but the Bighorn fit my needs to keep kids and most burglars at bay.

[muggsy]

Laserfish, along with more guns and bigger safes comes higher costs and more worries. Never covet your neighbors property. Most times simpler is better. Beware of the man with only one gun. He knows how to use it. So endth the sermon.

[garyb]

Looks like a good safe to me...but kind of small. I agree....buy bigger. I have the Cannon Patriot 48 gun safe. I wish I had two of them. I built a closet around it when I built my home and added it to the home security system. There is no way to steal the safe unless you tear down walls. Then it is bolted to a concrete floor. The safe is packed with stuff. We also keep important papers in it, along with the wife's jewelry. You will be surprised how quickly they get packed with valuables....essential valuables.
1. Buy the largest safe you can fit and get into your home.
2. Pick a location (like a closet) where the safe is out of sight and out of mind.
3. Have help lined up for the delivery. You will need it.
4. Before you purchase a safe, think it through... What EXACTLY are you putting in it? Figure on important papers, jewelry, rifles, handguns, ammo, etc.... The safe manufacturers claim it will hold a certain number of rifles, but don't count on it. You will need part of the safe for shelving storage (papers, jewelry, knives, optics, ammo, loading supplies, etc...). I use 50% of my safe for "stuff" and the other 50% for guns.

By the way, mine has the digital security lock. I've had the safe for about 10 years and changed the battery once. It has worked flawlessly. I would not be at all concerned about it being digital. However, the simpler the better, so the manual dial combo might be more reliable in the long run. The Cannon Patriot did not come with that option.

I hope this advice helps you make a good decision.
Best of luck.

[340pd]

Even scarier.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erGOJxQIf5c

[garyb]

Any safe is better than no safe. A safe will keep an honest man out, but no safe will stop a determined thief. Having said that, if your son doesn't like it send it to me. I'll find a use for it. BTW, I agree with Bawanna. I prefer combination locks over electronic locks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D33T4GOtB-U

Can't do this with my Cannon Patriot. No reset switch access. Just saying.

I suppose it is possible to break into any safe somehow if you can crack a safe. Reality is that most home robberies are not done by safe crackers, but by thugs. They get in get what they want and get out. That's why I built a closet around my safe...not in their direct vision, and even if they open the basement closet it is tucked back out of the way from lines sight. The extra two layers of sheet rock in the closet wall also serves as more fire barrier to the safe (in a basement with floor drainage). The safe is as much as a fire barrier as a theft deterrent....but there is nothing reasonable in existence that is a 100% guaranteed security and fire protection. Just did the best I can.

[laserfish]

Garyb, you speak the truth. Not breaking the 10th commandment, just have a few more I would like to have to fill certain roles. Another thing to consider is door opening. You need room on the hinge side to open the door a little more than 90 degrees. Mine will only open 90 and it is a pain due to the door thickness and a wall on the opening side. Definitely purchase the largest one you can afford, the space inside disappears in a hurry. My son and I moved the 28 gun in from the garage where the delivery man left it. Put it on a moving blanket and pulled it in. Not bad with two people but I would want more help with a larger safe.

[Tilos]

Instead of going BIG, consider going SMALL X2.
It's what I did, and they fit on an end wall in a closet, hidden by clothes, in 2 different rooms/closets, bolted to the wall/floor.

Pull out the lame shelving thats thick/heavy/carpeted MDS that's just there to add weight, and avoid tip over when the door's open.
Build your own selves out of 3/8th plywood, handguns stored in the case/box they came in take up way less space.

Rifles stored alternating barrel up, barrel down, racked along both sides and the back wall of a safe, gets way more in a safe that are easily accessable without removing any to get to others.
Saddly, my safes are empty since my boating accident on the Snake River:(
jmo
Ken

[getsome]

I needed a safe and being on a tight budget I ended up with a nice made in USA Liberty safe with a manual combination lock from Lowe's...Paid $350.00 for it and it looks just like TucsonMTB's post #8....Very happy with it and it seems very well made and secure for the money....Only complaint is the numbers on the tumbler is hard to read in low light and you have to be very precise in lining up the numbers to get it to open but thats fine.....Over all it's great for my use and before the boat sank with it in the bow it held 4 long guns and 6 handguns very nicely ....

If you need a well made simple no frills safe for a good price this is a good one...

[muggsy]

Any safe should be bolted to the floor. If they can't get to your guns they'll take the entire safe and open it at their leisure.

[jocko]

My sons libery weight 880 pounds, they aint gonna take it anywhere, but normally the weakest part is the back of the safe, so bolt it down. also put a couple black powder labels on the safe to. Let um guess if they have a torch

[LorenzoB]

.....also put a couple black powder labels on the safe to. Let um guess if they have a torch

That's awesome!

[TucsonMTB]

Instead of going BIG, consider going SMALL X2.
It's what I did, and they fit on an end wall in a closet, hidden by clothes, in 2 different rooms/closets, bolted to the wall/floor. . . .
+1 . . . Ken nailed it. In addition to the safe for long guns mentioned earlier, we have a couple of smaller safes at opposite ends of the house for pistols and revolvers. The way they are hidden and bolted down should discourage anyone from carrying them off.

We are not really that far sighted. We originally bought the smaller safes, one at a time, as the need for storage space grew over the years. That said, they are very convenient and offer additional fire power close at hand, should you need it, in any part of our home.

The safe containing the 1911's actually has a fairly decent fire rating because it is sold as a safe for documents. Probably because they are smaller, neither seemed terribly expensive at the time of purchase. Life is good! ;)

So . . . what kind of a label for black powder would be both recognizable by a crook and easy to procure. I like that idea!

Edited to add: Oops! . . . Tilos is right. Never mind! :o

[Tilos]

Black Powder label might send the firemen running too:9:

[LorenzoB]

Get a smaller label. The firemen won't get close enough to see it.

[muggsy]

Both my son and I got our safes through estate sales for less than half of what the original owners paid for them.

[garyb]

Instead of going BIG, consider going SMALL X2.
It's what I did, and they fit on an end wall in a closet, hidden by clothes, in 2 different rooms/closets, bolted to the wall/floor.

Pull out the lame shelving thats thick/heavy/carpeted MDS that's just there to add weight, and avoid tip over when the door's open.
Build your own selves out of 3/8th plywood, handguns stored in the case/box they came in take up way less space.

Rifles stored alternating barrel up, barrel down, racked along both sides and the back wall of a safe, gets way more in a safe that are easily accessable without removing any to get to others.
Saddly, my safes are empty since my boating accident on the Snake River:(
jmo
Ken

Good point Ken. However, I'd modify what you said a little. "Instead of going big...consider going BIG X 2". Some how, a safe never has enough room in it. To those purchasing a small safe...you will soon see (if you have not found out already).