Need a safe, have Q

[FATHERFORD]

I had the mindset I was going to spend 2k on a safe. Then I realized one day, that having them in a closet, with the equivalent of two sheets of paper for skins, in a house built 20 years ago, wasn't protecting jack shit. So, my options were to continue storing them in the closet until I had the $$$ for one of these fancy safes that would take a professional safe cracker to get into would that be 6 months, 12-24 months, who knows. Or, pick up something that fits my budget, my space, and adds some security? Which, for a lot of people, that is what it comes down to. We aren't all multi millionairs who can just stroll down and plop a bag of hundreds on the table, waive our hand around and say, "give me the best you have!" I did some research, a lot of the features of this safe are better than others available in the price range, bigger bolts, more bolts, bolts on all 4 sides of the door. Where I located it, it will take some work to get into it. Not much room to pry it open, almost enclosed. Sure, if they bring their sledge they can bust through the brick, tie on to it, and rip the safe and the bolts out of the slab.

I would rather gamble with something people consider a sub par safe than a door that can be punched through by an 8 year old and offers some kind, even minimal, of fire protection.

In reality, that is where most people are going to go. So, instead of shitting on the threads with the whole, forget your petty budget, if you aren't ready to drop 6 figures on a safe, it is pointless BS. Give some constructive feedback, not the typical elitist dribble.

LOL

I had nice safes when I was only making $22 an hour out of college. I view safes as investments, not just objects to store my firearms in. This isn't an "elitist attitude," it's called smart investing and protecting my investments.

I don't feel comfortable personally putting my investments in a cheap Chinese safe. I bought my first nice safe on a 0% credit card for 18 months. It was a little over two grand after tax. I was able to put $500 down, then pay the rest out of 18 months (actually paid it off early in under a year).

A lot of people just assume I got money from my parents passing. I did get a good lump sum mainly because of life insurance, to which I don't have to "save" anymore. I worked through college and paid for most all my education while in school. I lived at home with my parents. As stated before I started out at $22 an hour. At the time of their passing, I was making $100 an hour + time and a half, and get bonus on top of that. Hard working and smart investing got me to where I am today, not mommy and daddy's money....

[fordracing19]

You get what you pay for. How much is your collection worth to you. If I were in the market I would look hard at a Amsec BF HD series.

[Roscoe]

I've got an AMSEC BF series safe and would recommend it to anyone. Are they expensive? Yes. Will I ever need another safe for the rest of my life? Probably not.

I've got far more than guns in my safe and have utter peace of mind that it is safe at all times, both from thieves or fire.

[jakesford]

You get what you pay for. How much is your collection worth to you. If I were in the market I would look hard at a Amsec BF HD series.

At the end of the day it is the value of what you are trying to protect (monetary or sentimental). If your gun collection has no significant cost or rarity, have a rider on your homeowner's policy to cover the value. Secure them as necessary to keep out kids/smash & grab burglars and be done. Now if you have an expensive/rare collection then yeah it makes sense to have equal security.

As far as fire protection, you are going to have to pay to get it. If your house burns down, be prepared to replace what you had in the safe. At the end of the day I would have insurance on everything, just be sure the policy is up to date.

[juiceweezl]

At the end of the day it is the value of what you are trying to protect (monetary or sentimental). If your gun collection has no significant cost or rarity, have a rider on your homeowner's policy to cover the value. Secure them as necessary to keep out kids/smash & grab burglars and be done. Now if you have an expensive/rare collection then yeah it makes sense to have equal security.

As far as fire protection, you are going to have to pay to get it. If your house burns down, be prepared to replace what you had in the safe. At the end of the day I would have insurance on everything, just be sure the policy is up to date.

I'm in the market for a safe now, and I've come to very similar conclusions. To try and truly protect the value of everything I would like to put in it, I'd basically buy a nice used car -- a very nice one. To offer a little more peace of mind than what I currently have and to prevent my kids/neighbors' kids/smash and grab from getting into it, I can spend way, way less. I'm going to end up with less safe than what I'd like to have if the budget was unlimited (and I'm not financing one for any reason/rate), but what I feel is enough to do what I want.

One thing I have noticed is that I have yet to find any safe I've looked at actually cover the contents for theft or damage. They cover the safe, but not the contents. My insurance is built to cover that though.

[Mopar63]

I am looking at a Steelwater 39 gun Xtreme Duty - 2 Hr Fire - HD593924.
After watching videos of them systematically dismembering one without it failing it looks like a good unit for less than 2k with free shipping and garage delivery.
It wont stay in the garage.

[IHaveAMustang]

I purchased an AMSEC FV6032E5 from a member on here and am very pleased with it.

But more than the safe is the location of said safe. I keep mine in my Laundry room in the corner. In the event of a fire, it's backed up to an exterior brick wall which will keep the temperatures lower (assuming the fire didn't start in there)

And if someone were to break into the house, it took 4 big guys carrying it through a narrow doorway from the garage into the house just to get it in. No chance in tying something around it and yanking it out without taking a chunk of the house with it.

But it does eat batteries like candy.

[barronj]

I ended up with a ProVault Liberty 12 gun which holds my 6 comfortably. Definitely a starter safe.

I got it from Cabelas, and was pleased with the deal. I think it listed for $399? It was a floor model and the last one they had, so it was $349. Then they gave me a non-employee/vendor discount and brought it to $329, then a $20 off coupon, then $20 for signing up for the Cabelas card (which gives you points as well, but i'll just pay off & keep for the benefits).

I was originally planning to spend $500-700.

We have an alarm, and the kinds of robberies in my neighborhood are just smash & grab jobs when they happen.

Wife is happy. I will be happy after I bolt it down this weekend.

[loc712]

So you both criticize and recommend liberty and amsec?

Your list is a little confusing. I have a Champion trophy 50, and I've been very happy with it.

Didn't criticize just missing punctuation
Thought I could get by without punctuation forgot where I was posting
That's why there's only 108 now