Gun Safe or Not

[FITASC]

The policy at my house covers the guns in the same category as the TV or couch

There is usually a limit of about $2500 on such policies. That wouldn't begin to cover one of my shotguns, let alone everything else. You would either need to add a rider or get a supplement from one of the companies that insures collections.

Remember, no safe is totally fire or burglar proof and NONE ever hold what they say they can; that is especially true when you add in factors like scopes, AR-type handgrips, etc. so take the number you have and double for the here and now, then double it again fir future additions and you might be close to having enough room.

 

[Dashunde]

The policy at my house covers the guns in the same category as the TV or couch

Thats not really a good thing without a separate rider, and even then be wary of fine print.
Firearms, particulary rare or exceptional items will appreciate over time while Glocks and other common items will usually hold their value over time because the new price keeps climbing slowly.
Your couch and TV's values tank and the insurance company will likely try to depreciate your guns like anything else per the policey description.
And they'll definitely depreciate all accessories. That 10 year old still like new scope will bring about 1/3 what you paid for it.

Of course, insurance companies and the fine print in their policies vary...

If you have more than a few quality firearms I'd suggest a completely separate policey with a pre-established insured value, and review it every year or so as their value increases and/or you add items.
That carrier may also give a significant dicount for storage in a quality safe, possibly paying for the safe in the long run.

 

[kilimanjaro]

Gun safe? Answer is yes.

If you're in your last house, build a gun room in the interior of the house and put your safe(s) inside of it.

If not in your last house, they really aren't that tough to move. Empty it, and if you can't do it with a buddy, call a moving service, they'll do it for a couple hundred bucks.

 

[Husqvarna]

two guys can move a really really big safe aslong as they have a dolly.

I am required by law to have a safe but i'd have one anyway

not about the value but rather how bad i would feel if guns stolen from me were used in a crime...

 

[Paul B.]

I have three safes. All are bolted to a concrete slab. House is also alarmed.
Paul B.

 

[Dragline45]

Like the poster above said, you can modify the cheaper safes and hide them.

I am younger than most on here and until I pay off school loans I can not really afford a nice safe, well that's not entirely true because when I have enough saved up I usually end up buying another gun instead But I came up with a way to stash away a steel lock box with my more expensive guns in it. I hollowed out a section of my queen size box spring and mounted this box into it. It sits perfectly flush and when I put one of those elastic mattress sheets on top of it you would never know it was there. I can fit my AR, a bolt action rifle, about a dozen AR mags and a few handguns. I keep my cheaper guns and ammo in a gun locker in my closet. My thinking is anyone breaking in will go for the gun locker with the cheap stuff and think that's all the guns I have. Even if they looked under the mattress you would never know there was a lock box in the box spring.

 

[johnwilliamson062]

There is usually a limit of about $2500 on such policies

Thats not really a good thing without a separate rider, and even then be wary of fine print.

Safeco has a rider that eliminates the sub-limit on firearms and several other collectibles AND puts coverage at replacement cost. I do not know of another company that does so.
I wouldn't buy an HO-3 without a replacement cost endorsement.

 

[rtpzwms]

Lets try something different. First I have a safe now. It holds everything I have in the form of firearms, its not big enough. Now that you understand that forgetting the "value" of firearms. Imagine how you would feel if your firearms were used in some sort of illegal activity. Imagine how you'll feel telling the police "Oh yea that gun that you looked down the barrel at it was mine." I say that because I know from experience just how that feels. Its not pleasant to say the least. I did nothing more or less than many on this forum in the way of wrong doing. I had carpet replaced in my home with the whole family there in the house and they got away with 6 pistols and a couple of rifles. I filled out the reports and had all of the serial numbers of each and every firearm stolen. I went to court and testified against one of the persons found in the possession of one of the pistols and thankfully no one was hurt with that pistol. I am still missing the other 5 pistols and 2 rifles and I hope that no one pays for my lack of action with their life.

The insurance paid to replace all of the stolen property so in that sense I was made whole. That did not replace the love I had for some of those firearms. My first pistol was among then and even since buying a replacement of the same make and model its not my first pistol. Do everything you can to secure your hardware someone else's life may depend on it. 1000 dollars is cheap to rest easy.

 

[Dragline45]

Lets try something different. First I have a safe now. It holds everything I have in the form of firearms, its not big enough. Now that you understand that forgetting the "value" of firearms. Imagine how you would feel if your firearms were used in some sort of illegal activity. Imagine how you'll feel telling the police "Oh yea that gun that you looked down the barrel at it was mine."

Honestly it wouldn't weigh too heavy on me although all my guns are locked up when I leave the home. I didn't tell said scumbag to break into my house to steal my guns, I didn't tell said scumbag to sell my guns on the street, and I didn't tell the other scumbag to buy my stolen guns and use them in a crime, that is 100% on them. If it wasn't your illegal gun bought on the street to be used in a crime it would be another. If someone steals my car and runs a bunch of people over I wouldn't in any way feel responsible for the actions of another.

 

[hornet41]

Don't limit your thinking to just guns! Wills, property deeds, jewelry, any "important" personal papers!! Safe deposit box at bank?? What do you do when the bank's close?? Gun safe is a multi function item!!
Get the biggest you can afford!!!

 

[Wild Hare]

The problem I see is when someone is home. If a burglar puts a gun to your wife or child’s head and says “open the safe” then what?

Yes, I know they should never make it that far, but 65% of the burglaries happen during the day.

 

[kilimanjaro]

So, what are you going to do, wait until they shoot the wife and then open the safe?

The same scenario can be posited for a secure room, a steel locker, or just your car keys and wallet. You're going to give it up, whatever it may be, and damn quickly, too. Which is as it should be, it's your wife and kids.

Don't get an alarm installed either, someone may hold your family at gunpoint and force you to disarm the system. And for sure, don't ever have any assets, someone could kidnap your family and demand a ransom.

 

[Tony Z]

Double layer of 5/8" fire code drywall, on walls & ceiling, with a fire rated door, built alongside an exterior wall inside your basement. Dehumidifier will help. Build as large as you want, though long and shallow is very easy to decoy.

 

[rickyrick]

Lets try something different. First I have a safe now. It holds everything I have in the form of firearms, its not big enough. Now that you understand that forgetting the "value" of firearms. Imagine how you would feel if your firearms were used in some sort of illegal activity. Imagine how you'll feel telling the police "Oh yea that gun that you looked down the barrel at it was mine."

I now live in a UBC state, the above scenario is not possible.... Due to the law...

 

[Guilty]

Responsible firearms ownership includes securing your firearms and with the amount of guns that you have you should own a safe. Gun cabinets are nice to be able to look at your guns, but they provide little or no security.
Consider coming home and finding your front door kicked open and you don't have your firearms stored in a safe. Do you think your guns would still be there?
When you decide that you need to buy a safe, buy one larger than you think you will need because they have a way of filling up quickly. Lastly, the $1000 budget will not be enough, figure spending a minimum of $1500.

 

[kilimanjaro]

'Guns in high teens' means, say, 18 firearms. At $400 each, you've got over $7,000 in value right there, and I'll bet it's more than that. Few guns run less than $300 nowadays and most are over $500. Toss in mounted slings and scopes, your $7200 can be $8,000 very easily even at just $400.

A large safe will cost about $2,000 in round numbers. Put 50 guns in there, that's $40 each for lifetime safe storage. Cheap at twice the price. If your kids or grandkids enjoy firearms, add another lifetime to the equation, now it's only $20 apiece.

Let the next couple of gun deals go away for a while, and spend the money on a good quality, large capacity, gun safe. You will not regret it.

Even better, think about your gun purchase habits and plans, if you can afford it, buy two identical safes now.

You can buy one or two guns a year for the rest of your life and build a great collection, but just one thief will take all that away and you will never get to rebuild what you had.