Gun safes?
- Thread starter Beav
- Start date
I have a Liberty safe that was pretty reasonable ($800). If you go the cabinet route, I'd suggest Homack over the others (like Stack On)- the doors are double locked and the locking bars lock in both the x and y axes (horiz and vert). Mine survived a pretty determined break-in attempt when we were burgled a few years ago. Trust me, better to have one's jar on the floor pricing/buying a safe than when comnig home to see your stuff gone, at which point, like me, you'll go out and get one anyway.
Cheap way to secure guns:
Two eye "bolts" screwed into some solid wood (like a 2 x 4 stud), some distance apart.
Run a plastic coated cable through BOTH eyebolts and then through guns (trigger guard, lever, etc) and padlock together.
Cable through both eyes prevents eyebolts from being unscrewed.
Not perfect, as cable can be cut, but better than nothing.
Two eye "bolts" screwed into some solid wood (like a 2 x 4 stud), some distance apart.
Run a plastic coated cable through BOTH eyebolts and then through guns (trigger guard, lever, etc) and padlock together.
Cable through both eyes prevents eyebolts from being unscrewed.
Not perfect, as cable can be cut, but better than nothing.
Check out WalMart. They have Sentry safes there which have combo locks and a 14 gun capacity for about $399 last time I looked. They also have 10 gun safes for about $289. They aren't the cheap cabinets but actual safes with locking bolts when you turn the handle, anti pry doors and they're made out of decent thickness steel. Here's a link to them www.sentrysafe.com/guns.cfm? The R3910 is the model I was talking about. For the price you can't go wrong mounting one of those to the wall and floor. You can also find places that sell these on the web. Just do a search.
Tallpine;
I tried that cable method. I used a teflon coated heavy cable and a super duty pad lock. The key was lost.
I tried to cut the cable with tin snips -- no luck. I rented a lrge boltcutter and tried again. The jaws kept slipping because of the teflon. I cut the teflon away with a pocket knife . I then rented the largest bolt cutter I could find -- maybe three feet long. I finally got through the cable. I spent hours.
Mike H
I tried that cable method. I used a teflon coated heavy cable and a super duty pad lock. The key was lost.
I tried to cut the cable with tin snips -- no luck. I rented a lrge boltcutter and tried again. The jaws kept slipping because of the teflon. I cut the teflon away with a pocket knife . I then rented the largest bolt cutter I could find -- maybe three feet long. I finally got through the cable. I spent hours.
Mike H
dick w. holliday
New member
Try this---Take one of the 60" Knaak tool boxes that you see at contrusction sites....carpet the inside and stand it on its end....cost about 275.00....the JobBoxes pr Greenlees that Home depot and lowes sells also look good......Dick
Why? Add up the cost of the money you (plan) to spend on guns. Add into that total the cost of any other valuables you will put in it (jewlery, cameras, etc). Figure out the time (and money) it will take to replace any important papers (birth cert, insurance policies, SSN Cards, etc). Add in any other costs of items that you'll keep in the safe.
What is your total? My guess.... a lot more then the cost of even a large safe (i.e. $2K +).
A safe can be a once in a life time peace of mind purchase (if you get one larrge enough that will accomidate furture purchases).
While you may have to put off the purchase of a gun or two or three for a while to get a safe it is better then having the ones you already have (and the other stuff) stolden and have to start over.
Oh, and I learned the hard way. Figure out the size safe you need, then buy the next larger size... or for that matter, buy the largest safe you can reasonably get into you house. I initially bought a small safe... 8 gun or so I think. It was full after I got it and put the guns in and my wife added the other stuff. When I moved I sold it and got the largest one AmSec makes. Haven't filled it up.... yet.
I kinda had a hard time too...
with the cost. Like the guy at the store said.."If your guns were stolen, I bet you'd pay more than $800 to get them back"
If you're like most shooters, you'll have at least 1 gun that's worth more than $800.
You probably pay more than that for car insurance every year
You don't have to worry about relatives or kids getting into your guns. If you get a fireproof one, you get "double coverage"
Be sure to get a heating rod to drive out the moisture. Helps keep rust away.
Easy savings plan. Pay for everything you get daily with bills and save all your change. Throw it in a jar when you get home. In 6-9 months you'll have enough for your safe and won't even miss the money.
ADT and a safe give a lot of piece-of-mind.
with the cost. Like the guy at the store said.."If your guns were stolen, I bet you'd pay more than $800 to get them back"
If you're like most shooters, you'll have at least 1 gun that's worth more than $800.
You probably pay more than that for car insurance every year
You don't have to worry about relatives or kids getting into your guns. If you get a fireproof one, you get "double coverage"
Be sure to get a heating rod to drive out the moisture. Helps keep rust away.
Easy savings plan. Pay for everything you get daily with bills and save all your change. Throw it in a jar when you get home. In 6-9 months you'll have enough for your safe and won't even miss the money.
ADT and a safe give a lot of piece-of-mind.
Be careful about that walmart safe from sentry. I have a sentry and like it a lot. I got mine at a gun store, they sold them for 399 plus tax, I had them help load it and I was off. Mine has 5 locking bolts.
The ones I saw at walmart only had 3 locking lugs, but were still 400 or so plus tax. I would see if you can find one with more lugs for the same price, maybe prices went up since I got mine last year.
I had some of the cheaper lockers when I was a mechanic, they do what they should but I place the sentry way above them.
I do plan to build a spot in my house for a real heavy solid safe, I want to make it so it is near impossable to remove and it is protected except for the door that has to open.
Till then the sentry makes me plenty happy, and while not as good as some of the bigger safes it also did not cost as much and is something I can move myself when empty.
The ones I saw at walmart only had 3 locking lugs, but were still 400 or so plus tax. I would see if you can find one with more lugs for the same price, maybe prices went up since I got mine last year.
I had some of the cheaper lockers when I was a mechanic, they do what they should but I place the sentry way above them.
I do plan to build a spot in my house for a real heavy solid safe, I want to make it so it is near impossable to remove and it is protected except for the door that has to open.
Till then the sentry makes me plenty happy, and while not as good as some of the bigger safes it also did not cost as much and is something I can move myself when empty.
I second Sentry safes for a relatively cheap alternative. I didn't want to move my big safe to where I'm living now for work (in a second floor condo). I chose instead to get the Sentry 3911 (Calif compliant version of the 3910). Picked it up at the local gunshow for $340. When I retire and move back home, I've got a second safe for storing all the milsurps I'm starting to collect since I caught the bug. 
Walmart cuts corners
I seen Sentry safes at other stores and they are $249 on sale, and they have the 5 locking lugs and 14 gun cap., Walmart will get the manufacture to make a cheaper model for them and charge you full price, I seen it with guns, etc. Carefull what you get there, Wallymart is not a bargain store.
I seen Sentry safes at other stores and they are $249 on sale, and they have the 5 locking lugs and 14 gun cap., Walmart will get the manufacture to make a cheaper model for them and charge you full price, I seen it with guns, etc. Carefull what you get there, Wallymart is not a bargain store.
WalkerTexasRanger
New member
You will never regret the purchase of a safe (unless you buy one too small). Just buy about 50% bigger than you think, you will have room to fill up with new purchases.
OK. I thought I had a deal with a range buddy to buy his Liberty Lincoln model for $900, until I found out it was unlined and not fireproof. Every dealer (or wheeler-dealer) I've talked to over the last several days said it's not worth more than $500. Those opinions also come from TFL members whose opinions I well respect. And my range buddy won't go under $700 (his call).
I just can't shell out $1000 or more right now for a safe. Is the Sentry series really just an entry-level safe? Both the Sentry and the Liberty use 1/8" or 3/16" steel. Both have four or five deadbolts. Both have internal hinges. The Sentry has some sort of fabric lining (no big deal). And it looks like I could fireproof the inside of either later on.
I don't see any mention on Sentry's site of the safe having a Sargent & somthing lock (Sergeant and Beetle?). I know that's a good quality lock. How does Sentry's compare?
$450 for a Sentry versus $700 for a 12 year-old Liberty?
I figure I have a window of a couple of weeks (birthday coming soon). After that, then there's no using birthday points to score something new without the usual marital reciprocity.
I just can't shell out $1000 or more right now for a safe. Is the Sentry series really just an entry-level safe? Both the Sentry and the Liberty use 1/8" or 3/16" steel. Both have four or five deadbolts. Both have internal hinges. The Sentry has some sort of fabric lining (no big deal). And it looks like I could fireproof the inside of either later on.
I don't see any mention on Sentry's site of the safe having a Sargent & somthing lock (Sergeant and Beetle?). I know that's a good quality lock. How does Sentry's compare?
$450 for a Sentry versus $700 for a 12 year-old Liberty?
I figure I have a window of a couple of weeks (birthday coming soon). After that, then there's no using birthday points to score something new without the usual marital reciprocity.
Monkeyleg
3 months after my wife and I bought our house
we were burgled they took 3 pistols and all my wife's jewelry much of it bought in Australia for her by my Mom (plus dug through the jewelry case got the keys for the trigger locks and left them on the bed)
coming home was the worst feeling I have ever had
I felt violated and maddened that the guns I bought to protect my family were now on the street
Get a safe ,or a Gun Vault, or even a little Senrty if you cant afford a real safe right now (I got a 1.5 cu/ft Sentry model until I bought my BROWNING PROSTEEL)
Dont go through what I did
3 months after my wife and I bought our house
we were burgled they took 3 pistols and all my wife's jewelry much of it bought in Australia for her by my Mom (plus dug through the jewelry case got the keys for the trigger locks and left them on the bed)
coming home was the worst feeling I have ever had
I felt violated and maddened that the guns I bought to protect my family were now on the street
Get a safe ,or a Gun Vault, or even a little Senrty if you cant afford a real safe right now (I got a 1.5 cu/ft Sentry model until I bought my BROWNING PROSTEEL)
Dont go through what I did
OK; once again, a shameless plug for what I consider the best deal on a new safe.
www.libertylock.com
Check 'net special; it's a Cannon "house brand" for retailers.
60x30x24 I believe; fire lined. About $700 plus drop-ship.
If you call, speak with Brian; a fine yong man, or Maureen; if available (manager). Next batch due in a week or so; usually must pre-order, but some go unspoken for.
(BTW, theywon't know me by my screen name.)
www.libertylock.com
Check 'net special; it's a Cannon "house brand" for retailers.
60x30x24 I believe; fire lined. About $700 plus drop-ship.
If you call, speak with Brian; a fine yong man, or Maureen; if available (manager). Next batch due in a week or so; usually must pre-order, but some go unspoken for.
(BTW, theywon't know me by my screen name.)
Well, I looked at the Sentry's, and while they are good, they aren't quite as good as the Liberty. The biggest one I saw weighed maybe 240 pounds, which would be easy for two burglars to carry out.
So, I called my range buddy and leaned on him. He's going to sell it to me for $575. A bit more than some here have said I should pay but I can finally say I have a safe!
So, I called my range buddy and leaned on him. He's going to sell it to me for $575. A bit more than some here have said I should pay but I can finally say I have a safe!
Monkeyleg,
That is great. Now, if you want you can line it yourself if you want. All you need is drywall. Remove the interior and line the safe with it. Put back the interior (this will require trimming down the shelving). The fabric of the interior can be put back in using spray adheasive.
That is great. Now, if you want you can line it yourself if you want. All you need is drywall. Remove the interior and line the safe with it. Put back the interior (this will require trimming down the shelving). The fabric of the interior can be put back in using spray adheasive.