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I am thinking of purchasing a safe. What is the best safe can I purchase with about $1200.00. What about fire protection, do I need more protection than 1200 degreese for a half hour? I now nothing about safes. Thanks in advance.

Check out a gun show. The show in my area had a few companies lines represented. It was a good chance to compare the different models. I've seen the suggestion to try to make a deal on one of the floor models, and have them drop it off after the show closes. Guess that'd only work if you lived close to the show.

the higher fire protection the heavier the safe this may be a factor for you .also note the higher the price for 90min vs 30min,but check with our local fire department for advice i have heard some heavy safes on second floors colapsing and warping the seal of the safe if this occurs you belongings will be damaged by water or fire. and if u go with the heavy safe in the basement- flooding can be a issue and humidty is a high facter harder to control.

ralph anifiotis

I don't have a gun safe but was looking into it. Have you checked Remington's line of gun safes. Go to there wed site www.remington.com/default and check under accessories. They cover some questions that Ranitor had brought up. You can also go to www.sentrysafe.com/guns.cfm? for more information. This information may help in your choice.

Check out the Browning line or Liberty models. I have a old ProSteel vault who is or was making them for Browning.My ProSteel isn't fireproof but the Liberty is fireproof.My Liberty model is the Jefferson 23 which was a new model last year when I bought it.I caught it on sale for 900.00 MSRP is around 1200.00 if I remember right.BassPro has several different models and runs sales on occasions.Buying a safe is a lifetime investment.Make sure you get one that will allow your collection to grow.They seem to shrink very quickly.Sam's Club carries a Remington (Made by Granite sp? safe company.) It's fireproof and runs around I believe 900.00 or 995.00. Looks like a well made safe.It could be the best money you ever spend.
Ruger Redhawk

..... A Proud NRA Life Member since 1977 .....Ruger Redhawk

Edited by - ruger-redhawk on 02/10/2003 17:16:43

handloader1...Do you have a SAM'S CLUB near buy? I was at one yesterday and they have a Winchester safe for $799.00! I thought it was a good deal...<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

Hunt Safe!

Jack

There are alot of good safes out there. The majority have the same features, and they all will tell you they are the best. Personally I have an American Security safe. Check www.scottsoutdoors.com for them. I think Natchez sells them too. Hard to beat for the money. The only thing I can recommend is get one bigger than you think you'll need. You'll be glad you did.

I have a medallion and do like it. But since my house has been on fire before, it is a worry for me. The local liberty dealer near me got ahold of a liberty safe that has been thru a house fire and the inside is unharmed but the outside is toasted. If I had it to do over, I would have got the 45 min. liberty safe. It costs an extra 400 than your budget but wish I did that. It would have cost me an extra 150 dollars over the medallion.

i have a john deere safe made by liberty. it is fire proof for 1200 degrees for some period of time. weighs 550 lbs and very nice. this will cost you about $1200 plus a delivery fee.much better than browning and doors made better. i was looking at a browning before buying this one.

I recently checked into some and I like the Cannon safes.
* The steel was thicker
* The door had more lugs
* Hinges are on the INSIDE

Now get this one

** The other brands Fire Proofing insulation starts at the bottom of the safe and stops a foot from the top.
OK, I have been a firefighter for 18 years but I bet you know where the safe will be the hottest in a structure fire.

Check out Champion Safes. The guy(s) who started Liberty Safes run the company. They are built better than Liberty and less $$.

PaJack:

I looked at the Winchester safe at Sam's today it seems like a well made safe. I need to do more resarch.

Please keep the info. coming all your posts are really helping. Thanks

Just my $.02 I have a Fort Knox safe, and it is a wonderful safe, not sure what the fire rating is, hehe. I am also a firefighter. In a typical house fire the minimum would be sufficient. Now, if it was a good house fire, one where say the house goes to the ground, you better get the best that you can buy cuz it will get to be over 1500* in there for a long time. Also depends where you live in proximity to the FD, if you have a fire alarm (quicker response time from the FF's). I would not put a heavy safe on the top floor of your house, the garage would be good and there are many ways to secure them, most have holes in the floor to secure through concrete. Also I have that golden rod in mine and it is in the basement (very humid) and have had no probs with humidity. Anyway, I used to sell Liberty safes (four years ago) and they are a very nice safe, mostly the difference in price on them is the combo lock and the pretty outside. I dont know if they have changed in teh last four years or not. You cannot go wrong with Fort Knox or Liberty.

PS: Make sure that it is heavy enough that it cannot be carried off with the dolly in your own house!

Why am I sittin here on this stupid PC when I could be huntin'

Edited by - ARBowHntr on 02/11/2003 18:47:51

Oh yea, I forgot about Champion. Very nice also Webicle, the dealer near my house that sell the libertys also sell them.

Roman, I did alot of homework on this. And also have redone part of my safe on the inside. Its a browning Medallion and the fire proofing was all the way to the top. So was the libery. I am very fimiluar with Omega labs and Metlabs, seeing how they test our equipment in the fiber optic world. They claim they test the safes standing up in a matter that it would be in the real world. Just curious on what safes you were referring too.

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.
__________________________________________________ __________________

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.

Big Country,

I must say I didn't have the facts as you do. I was quoting the salesman . Will I ever learn not to do that?
Thanks for the info.
I really appriciate the ideas and info i'm reading here.

DG:

I wish I could build a built in safe, but I live in an apartment.

A lot of good information keep it coming. Thanks.

Edited by - handloader1 on 02/11/2003 23:39:26

Roman, your probably right on some brands. Just curious on which. You won't believe the tricks companies play in passing tests. Including my own. We do a totally different test with my companies gear. RF radio stuff. But they perform the fire tests and all in the same facility for other companies.

They lay the safe flat on the ground according to some technicians. And thats the only way they pass. Which we all know is not real life scenios.

Big Country,
I think we need to remember that these ratings are only a guide. Out town had a structure fire yesterday and the main part of the house is in the cellar. If they had a gun safe I can only assume the contents are far from salvageable.
I won' t try to list the brands of safes that could have lesser amounts of insulation because it relies on a salesmans spew and ANY safe would have failed at the fire I mention prevoiusly.

I found the one that I have at a gun show and the delivery was free it is a Cannon and will hold around 17 long guns nothing fancy but a good safe. I paid around $900 for it 2 years ago shop around for the best deal and see about the delivery on it some guys charge for it.Good luck;)

Bought mine at Sam' s Club for less than $900 and it compares favorably with ones I have seen up to $1,500. Mine says Winchester on it, but my friend bought one that was the same and says Remington. I can' t remember the actual manufacturer, but I' ll bet they make both safes and just put on different decals.