Gun Nuts...Need a gun safe

[FallenHero]

So I'm looking into gun safes and the more I research, the more I realize how shitty the vast majority of gun safes are when being attacked by an axe. So, I have some questions for you all.

1) Sturdy Safe keeps coming up as the safe to have, especially for the price that you can get one at. Anyone have any experience with them? http://www.sturdysafe.com/

2) I realize that thicker steel is better for a safe. I get that the lower the gauge number the thicker the steel...but 12 gauge to 7 gauge steel doesn't seem like a massive increase to me. Does steel strength increase exponentially as it gets thicker? 12 gauge supposedly can't resist an axe attack, but 7 gauge can, but the thickness to my simple mind wouldn't make that much of a difference. Can someone at least explain the science behind some of it?

3) My price range is between 1000-2000 for a safe. Any other recommendations besides sturdy safe for me to look at?

And before anyone goes all technical on me, yes I realize that gun safes are really just "residential security containers" and only serve to slow down thieves, not completely stop them. Just trying to understand some of the science and get the best bang for my buck here.

 

[KK]

Go to your tractor supply store and look at their 6040 safe. It goes on sale though-out the year for 699. you can't beat it for the price.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/cannon-ts6040dlx-wide-body-safe-48-gun-capacity-3910204

 

[JackBurton]

Here you go. Good luck getting into that thing with an axe.

 

[spidey07]

Everything I've read says stay away from any composite door and the thicker the steel the better. 2k seems the starting point for a "good" safe.

Liberty and Heritage seem to make a quality safe.

Try to find a place you can bolt into concrete and crooks can't knock it over.

 

[Sluggo]

http://www.jedi.com/obiwan/jeep/misc/gaugeconv.html

7 gauge is 3/16" which is pretty sturdy.

For instance, I can easily bend 20 gauge steel with my hands, but 16 gauge is difficult to bend by hand unless you have a large piece of it.

This video is fairly long and boring, but the guy has some good info on safes.

 

[NL5]

Our local costco has had some killer deals on safes. Might want to check them out.

 

[Jeeebus]

Go to youtube and search for something like "the truth about gun safes." Half hour video by a local guy, ex-cop, very informative.

 

[DrPizza]

Go to your tractor supply store and look at their 6040 safe. It goes on sale though-out the year for 699. you can't beat it for the price.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/cannon-ts6040dlx-wide-body-safe-48-gun-capacity-3910204

We were considering that safe for after the bedroom remodel - part of the walk-in closet, and with the space in it, we'd keep important documents, valuables in it, in addition to firearms.

 

[jpeyton]

Our local costco has had some killer deals on safes. Might want to check them out.

Most of Costco's safes are imports, very low metal content inside a large composite door. Not really a good buy.

 

[DrPizza]

A safe we used to have where I worked - it was a fairly thick steel safe, with quite thick walls. Apparently, when it was delivered, it was hollow. It was placed, then filled with mortar/concrete. That thing weighed a friggen ton. There's no way in the world an axe was going to dent it.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Go to your tractor supply store and look at their 6040 safe. It goes on sale though-out the year for 699. you can't beat it for the price.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/cannon-ts6040dlx-wide-body-safe-48-gun-capacity-3910204

Man, 580lbs is pretty light for a safe that size. What's it made of? Tinfoil?

 

[jpeyton]

Man, 580lbs is pretty light for a safe that size. What's it made of? Tinfoil?

When they don't list the thickness of the steel, it usually means it's nothing to brag about.

 

[FallenHero]

A safe we used to have where I worked - it was a fairly thick steel safe, with quite thick walls. Apparently, when it was delivered, it was hollow. It was placed, then filled with mortar/concrete. That thing weighed a friggen ton. There's no way in the world an axe was going to dent it.

My guess is that was probably a TL rated safe. One I am looking for will need to be moved down into my basement and eventually, back up again in 25 years when I retire and move.

 

[KK]

Man, 580lbs is pretty light for a safe that size. What's it made of? Tinfoil?

You think a 700 dollar safe is going to have 1" thick steel? :hmm:

 

[pontifex]

never heard of Sturdy Safes

Liberty are pretty good. Fort Knox are the premium safes.

 

[FallenHero]

never heard of Sturdy Safes

Liberty are pretty good. Fort Knox are the premium safes.

Yeah leaning towards liberty for now and going to put it in the corner in my basement. Then a couple years from now block off one side of it with a heavy duty safe from Sturdy or Fort Knox so it takes away any side attack, or sell it outright for the better safe. Thanks all for the input.

 

[jpeyton]

You think a 700 dollar safe is going to have 1" thick steel? :hmm:

No, but you can buy an American made $1000 safe with 1/4" steel, which is twice as much steel as a $700 made in China safe.

 

[NL5]

This video is fairly long and boring, but the guy has some good info on safes.

That was quite informative. Thanks!

 

[skyking]

I'd build one in place if you want a serious unit. Design it so you can put it together and then protect all the fastenings when you lock the door.

 

[clamum]

http://www.jedi.com/obiwan/jeep/misc/gaugeconv.html

7 gauge is 3/16" which is pretty sturdy.

For instance, I can easily bend 20 gauge steel with my hands, but 16 gauge is difficult to bend by hand unless you have a large piece of it.

This video is fairly long and boring, but the guy has some good info on safes.

Nice video, thanks!

I didn't really get the difference between the safe he showed with the buttons as an alternative to a digital lock safe in a self-defense situation when one gets the jitters and racing heart and whatnot. Seems like you'd be able to hit the digital buttons just as well (or badly, haha) as the "analog" button safe.

Anyway, very informative vid.

 

[KK]

No, but you can buy an American made $1000 safe with 1/4" steel, which is twice as much steel as a $700 made in China safe.

most definitely if you can find a 1000 dollar safe with 1/4 inch it'd be an awesome deal.

 

[FallenHero]

I'd build one in place if you want a serious unit. Design it so you can put it together and then protect all the fastenings when you lock the door.

I don't know any professional welders, I'm sure they aren't cheap.

 

[WackyDan]

I don't know any professional welders, I'm sure they aren't cheap.

Nah... by build in place you can buy a standard safe of your choice, anchor it, and build a cinder block wall (optionally reinforced with an inner pour and rebar) on one or both sides of it to greatly limit pry access.

Had a buddy with a big basement, build a cinder block room with a steel door and inside the room was his safe, anchored to the floor. Casual thieves would not come prepared enough to get in to both in a reasonable amount of time. Bets are most break ins are looking for the snatch and grabs.

One thing I want you all to keep in mind though. Firefighters fucking hate safes on anything but a concrete floor. For all the obvious reasons.

 

[Pheran]

If you haven't already, make sure to check this Wired article, which will show you a number of gun safe companies that are utterly incompetent and should be avoided.

 

[skyking]

Nah... by build in place you can buy a standard safe of your choice, anchor it, and build a cinder block wall (optionally reinforced with an inner pour and rebar) on one or both sides of it to greatly limit pry access.

Had a buddy with a big basement, build a cinder block room with a steel door and inside the room was his safe, anchored to the floor. Casual thieves would not come prepared enough to get in to both in a reasonable amount of time. Bets are most break ins are looking for the snatch and grabs.

One thing I want you all to keep in mind though. Firefighters fucking hate safes on anything but a concrete floor. For all the obvious reasons.

Something like that. It would be nice to be able to get a decent door and frame package for just that purpose. Those 700 pound safes are a real bastard to move around; I had one on a moving shipment I hauled to TN several years ago, it took a crew to get it off the truck. Luckily I was not involved with getting it out of the home.