RE: Gun Safes
I had posted a question about storing guns a month back. Last response was 1/18 if you want to look back at it. A particularly good response came from Elkampmaster, thought I'd share it in this post. I decided on a smaller safe, I can buy two for the price of some of the biggies. Fire protection wasn't a primary concern for me. A size that I can easily move and put in a normal depth closet out of site were the key deciding factors.
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Gun safes are the way to go and some degree of fire protection is a plus. Here are few thoughts I didn't see addressed that may "weigh" in your decision:
(1) I'd recommend that you be discrete with your gunsafe and keep it out of sight rather than strutting it in your living room or den because there are at least four benefits of doing so:
(2) First benefit: if your home is robbed and they don't come prepared for a gun safe, then it is HIGHLY unlikely they will get it open. If they know its there (it is in your living room/den - word of mouth, friends, acquaintances, parties, etc.) and they come prepared with a Mikta grinder with a cutoff wheel, then you WILL loose your guns unless the neighbors hear them cutting.
On my brothers estate we had 3 safes and no combinations. Safecracker got two open using s stethoscope, but couldn't get the "best" one open. The cut off wheel went through it like a knife through butter!
(3) Second benefit: a "plain jane" safe will protect just fine against fire and theft and if its discrete you can save big bucks by getting the "ugly" econoline finish since no one is going to see it but you.
(4) Third benefit: you can buy two gun safes! Rather than getting the "grand daddy of them all" that will hold all the guns you might ever buy, you can take a more realistic and economical approach of getting a safe for your current needs and if you buy more guns latter, then buy another safe later - the main thing is to get something NOW, not someday. (Plus it harder to break into two safes than it is just one.)
(5) Fourth benefit: when you move to a new home, it will be easier to move two smaller ones than one huge one. The safe people have specialized motorized stair walking dollies, your moving van company won't.
(6) Basements: If you are putting your gun safe in the basement, then consider elevating it a foot or so off the floor on a heavy platform. Why? You safe can protect against fire but it can't protect against water and flooded basements happen. Fortunately most are a mess but not too deep (few inches), so give your guns a sporting chance that you will discover the flood before its too late.
(7) What is a safe? If they can pry open the door with a crowbar, possibly from your own garage, it isn't safe!
(8) For any safe over 300 pounds pay the money for delivery and stand back! You can get hurt easier than you think moving one of them into your home! For bigger safes, consult with the deliver man as to whether you need to do any reinforcing (like basement stairs).
(9) Its been mentioned but its a great tip so worth repeating, anchor the safe so they (or you or the kids) can't tip it over. The safes themselves involve an element of danger.