I am looking into buying a gun safe and would love to hear your opinion on which brand to get. As of right now I only have about a dozen long guns and a dozen handguns but have some other small items to secure as well. Size needs to be about 60"x30"x24" but all of that is negotiable. Under $1000. Mush under would be nice! Most of the ones I've looked at have really cheesy particle board interiors and I'd like some strength instead. Also, the door pouches are nice. What do you have/like and why? Do you know of any good places to buy from? i.e. sales, service, etc. Thanks!!!
Which gun safe to buy?
- Thread starter jgodfrey
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04ctd
Well-Known Fanatic
the Tractor Supply ones are trash.
general handling in the store has destroyed most of the interiors.
Dicks has some, seem better.
most local locksmiths have some, and need to free up some cash sometimes, check with them.
many threads on all the gun forums, but i can't sense enough of all the threads to buy one
general handling in the store has destroyed most of the interiors.
Dicks has some, seem better.
most local locksmiths have some, and need to free up some cash sometimes, check with them.
many threads on all the gun forums, but i can't sense enough of all the threads to buy one
Checking with locksmiths for a deal on something in stock is a great idea! Thanks! I'm more concerned with theft than fire, so it doesn't have to be super heavy and fire retardant but needs to be secure. I've been cruising craigslist for awhile but every good deal gets scooped up. Used would be great too if anyone on the forum is looking to upgrade! Hint Hint! 
Tigerstripe
Well-Known Fanatic
academy has safes
they have to get everyone in the store to move them, but they have them.
they are also the cheaper ones. you will pay more for a nicer one.
is it "personal protection" in boiling springs? they have them and the new indoor range on the ashville hwy has them. when i was there they just opened and only had 1 winchester. 2500 bucks
they have to get everyone in the store to move them, but they have them.
they are also the cheaper ones. you will pay more for a nicer one.
is it "personal protection" in boiling springs? they have them and the new indoor range on the ashville hwy has them. when i was there they just opened and only had 1 winchester. 2500 bucks
bigfutz
Well-Known Fanatic
Anybody heard of Steelwater? Appears to be a safe manufacturer located in SC.
http://steelwatergunsafes.com/
http://steelwatergunsafes.com/
Thanks Tigerstripe. I look at the ones at Academy about once a week when I'm there buying ammo. One problem I have is that several of them seem to be made by the same manufacturer. I don't want to just pay for a name if that's the case. Cannon seems to have the best warranty but the interior shelves feel like they would buckle under anything heavy.
LiveFreeorDie
Well-Known Fanatic
FWIW-I bought mine from the retailer I linked for you below. Best selection I found, competitive prices, and very well satisfied with customer service and delivery. Looked locally and couldn't find what I wanted, as I required some fire protection. Very happy with my safe, but I will make one recommendation after having bought one; buy a safe with a larger interior capacity than you think you'll need. By the time you store all your guns, ammo, and other assorted things you'll find you like having in your safe, you'll run out of room. And, if a safe is advertised as holding X number of long guns, don't count on it. Mine is supposed to hold 16 and there's no way in the world anyone can put 16 long guns in there! Happy hunting, and if you buy one, PM me later if you need a safe mover. Finding someone is difficult, and I know a guy who did mine, showed up on time, did a great job, and charged much less than I expected.
http://www.safeandvaultstore.com/category/gun-safes
http://www.safeandvaultstore.com/category/gun-safes
Tigerstripe
Well-Known Fanatic
i just got an "extra" safe from them
it was the short fat Cannon not the 6ft tall one.
took out the flimsy shelves, its huge. all that height is not needed.
it was the short fat Cannon not the 6ft tall one.
took out the flimsy shelves, its huge. all that height is not needed.
04ctd
Well-Known Fanatic
watch the videos on YouTube, you can move a safe with one guy:
PVC pipe to roll, or even a box of BB's
one guy can put your 800lb safe in a truck in a few minutes, by watching the videos.
http://youtu.be/IikKTLNs5XU
http://youtu.be/IikKTLNs5XU?hd=1
one fella on another forum, said they would take a tractor to your house, and pull your safe thru the wall, and then carry it off in the front loader. he seemed legit, so FWIW, i would go BIG, and anchor it securely, with a border of 2x4's to keep from hooking a rope or anything around the back of it.
and if you get to thinking along that line, you end up with your safe only being able to be in a few places in your house.
it's gives me a headache to think about securing it.
let us know what you find/figure out.
http://www.youtube.com/user/steelwatergunsafes
PVC pipe to roll, or even a box of BB's
one guy can put your 800lb safe in a truck in a few minutes, by watching the videos.
http://youtu.be/IikKTLNs5XU
http://youtu.be/IikKTLNs5XU?hd=1
one fella on another forum, said they would take a tractor to your house, and pull your safe thru the wall, and then carry it off in the front loader. he seemed legit, so FWIW, i would go BIG, and anchor it securely, with a border of 2x4's to keep from hooking a rope or anything around the back of it.
and if you get to thinking along that line, you end up with your safe only being able to be in a few places in your house.
it's gives me a headache to think about securing it.
let us know what you find/figure out.
http://www.youtube.com/user/steelwatergunsafes
mark_b
Well-Known Fanatic
If you are in the Columbia area, check out the safes at Sportsman Warehouse. They have a pretty wide selection. In Anderson, Grady''s has a good selection too. From my experience, you tend to get what you pay for. To get the price down, companies use thinner metal, less or smaller locking bolts, etc. Some safes have bolts on all 4 sides of the door, the lowest have them on one side only.
The Steelwater safes seem to have a good mix of features, but I don't know anywhere you can see one. I am not sure if you can look at them at their office. According to the web site you can't pick them up there. For me, that is a lot of money to spend on something without seeing and touching it.
Has anyone seen a Steelwater in person?
Mark
The Steelwater safes seem to have a good mix of features, but I don't know anywhere you can see one. I am not sure if you can look at them at their office. According to the web site you can't pick them up there. For me, that is a lot of money to spend on something without seeing and touching it.
Has anyone seen a Steelwater in person?
Mark
tigerfan00
Well-Known Fanatic
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- Jan 23, 2011
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I have ZERO experience with other brands...but i have been EXTREMELY happy with my Champion safe
I got it on sale a couple years back for ~$1100 and it's roughly the size of a fridge
Interior seemed to be finished nicer than other brands I looked at
I got it on sale a couple years back for ~$1100 and it's roughly the size of a fridge
Interior seemed to be finished nicer than other brands I looked at
