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No safe is burglar proof, but a safe will buy time -- time is what the average burglar doesn't have. He wants to break in, steal something of value, and get out as quickly as possible.
-- Holt Bodinson
-- Holt Bodinson
That page, at the bottom, has the direct links to twenty five (25) manufacturers' web sites, where anyone can explore the models available. Information at those links can help you answer questions like "How does X compare to Y?"
For further questions along those lines, it would be really helpful if you would provide the brand name and model number, and even better to provide a link to the manufacturer's web page for that exact safe.
The next link is on the above page, but Brown Safe Manufacturing has a page (among many others on the web) that explains the safe ratings for burglary and fire resistance. Lots of other info at Brown Safe, so browse a bit.
Some important terms in safe theft-resistance:
* Net Working Time - This is the UL term for testing time which is spent trying to break into a safe using tools such as diamond grinding wheels, high-speed drills with pressure applying devices, or common hand tools such as hammers, chisels, saws, and carbide-tip drills. If a safe has been rated with a 30-minute net working time, (TL30), the rating certifies that the safe successfully withstood a full 30 minutes of attack time with a range of tools.
* Theft resistant - This rating means the safe provides a combination lock and minimal theft protection.
* Residential Security Container rating (RSC) - This UL rating is based on testing conducted for a net working time of five minutes, on all sides, with a range of tools.
It costs the manufacturers money to have Underwriters' Labs certify their products. It is a manufacturer's business decision whether to spend that money for that purpose, and the lack of a UL rating is not necessarily a negative indicator.
------ Brief FAQ ------
Should I anchor my safe?
Generally, YES. If someone can move it in, someone else can move it out.
You need to worry about whether your landlord will complain about holes in the wall/floor, whether there are utilities under your concrete floor, whether the concrete is thick enough, whether the concrete is a tensioned slab, whether your safe already has anchoring holes.
You need to worry about whether your landlord will complain about holes in the wall/floor, whether there are utilities under your concrete floor, whether the concrete is thick enough, whether the concrete is a tensioned slab, whether your safe already has anchoring holes.
Can I put my safe in my garage?
Generally, YES. If temperatures fluctuate inside the safe, you may need desiccant or something like a Golden Rod to keep moisture away from your guns.
There are also issues of visibility and access to your tools which may be used to open your safe!
There are also issues of visibility and access to your tools which may be used to open your safe!
Can I put my safe upstairs?
MAYBE.
Depends on how big it is - whether it will go up stairs or in a freight elevator, whether it will fit through halls and doorways.
Depends on how heavy it will be, loaded.
Depends on the kind of construction of the building.
Depends on how big it is - whether it will go up stairs or in a freight elevator, whether it will fit through halls and doorways.
Depends on how heavy it will be, loaded.
Depends on the kind of construction of the building.
Why can't I find Safe X on DOJ's Roster of Firearm Safety Devices Certified for Sale?
If it's a safe-sized box, it does not have to be on that Roster. DOJ says safes can be acceptable unlisted:
Residential Security Container;
2. Is able to fully contain firearms;
3. Provides for the secure storage of firearms.
2. Is able to fully contain firearms;
3. Provides for the secure storage of firearms.
How big a safe should I get?
Folk wisdom is "twice as big as you think you'll need". That doesn't always make economic sense, of course, but the number of guns - and other valuable things which fit in safes - tends to grow rather quickly.
Should I get a manual dial or an electronic keypad lock?
If you get a good one, it seems to be a tossup.
See Electronic Keypad VS Dial Combinations from Valuesafes.
Which does lead to "what is a good one?" Sargent & Greenleaf and Kaba/La Gard are the best-known reputable lock manufacturers. So-called "commercial" grade electronic locks are designed for more use, so tend to be more reliable.
It also appears that there are some models that keep the control electronics outside the safe, leaving the lock vulnerable to simple outside manipulation. Since S&G and La Gard locks are commonly available, there's no good reason to settle for less.
EMP (Electro-Magnetic Pulse) damage is certainly possible, and if it were to occur might disable the lock. Given the actual frequency of EMP events so far, few locks are designed to resist it.
If that really worries you, you can spend $1,000+ on an X-09.
Just as no thickness of safe wall or door is guaranteed to keep out criminals, no lock is perfect either.
See Electronic Keypad VS Dial Combinations from Valuesafes.
Which does lead to "what is a good one?" Sargent & Greenleaf and Kaba/La Gard are the best-known reputable lock manufacturers. So-called "commercial" grade electronic locks are designed for more use, so tend to be more reliable.
It also appears that there are some models that keep the control electronics outside the safe, leaving the lock vulnerable to simple outside manipulation. Since S&G and La Gard locks are commonly available, there's no good reason to settle for less.
EMP (Electro-Magnetic Pulse) damage is certainly possible, and if it were to occur might disable the lock. Given the actual frequency of EMP events so far, few locks are designed to resist it.
If that really worries you, you can spend $1,000+ on an X-09.
Just as no thickness of safe wall or door is guaranteed to keep out criminals, no lock is perfect either.
California Law and safes
Once you have selected and installed a safe, or acquired a 'lock box', it is sometimes possible to satisfy California's firearms safety device requirement by submitting a 'safe affidavit' when purchasing a firearm.
See also the wiki section on locks and safes.
See also the wiki section on locks and safes.
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