help with safe

[raff661]

just looking for any advice if anyone has had experience with liberty safes or amsec, im currently in the market for one, i mainly want it to protect my guns from burglars, i know these may not be the best but i think they will do fine along with the security system i have in place, im looking into the liberty safe colonial or Amsec BF6024 any input is greatly appreciated.

[bigmike82]

I've heard good things about Amsec.

You really do get what you pay for. A good safe isn't cheap.

Definitely plan on bolting it to the floor. The bottom of the safe can be extremely vulnerable.

Look for the UL rating. A rating of RSC means it's very, very low security. The safe may look imposing and be super heavy and have nice big locking bars, but if it's only rated RSC it's no good.

Well, correction. Not that it's 'no good', but it's not really designed to resist more than five minutes, I think?

https://www.safeandvaultstore.com/pages/burglary-ratings

Think about your threat profile right? If this is going in your garage on a home with a burglar alarm and cameras, an RSC is probably ok.

If you're storing tons of family heirlooms or really valuable guns (or if you're a LEO and have 'fun' stuff your department really can't afford to have fall into the wrong hands) you want something stronger (Amsec makes both TL-15 and TL-30 rated safes). Again, though, these things are going to cost correspondingly more.

[raff661]

I've heard good things about Amsec.

You really do get what you pay for. A good safe isn't cheap.

Definitely plan on bolting it to the floor. The bottom of the safe can be extremely vulnerable.

Look for the UL rating. A rating of RSC means it's very, very low security. The safe may look imposing and be super heavy and have nice big locking bars, but if it's only rated RSC it's no good.

Well, correction. Not that it's 'no good', but it's not really designed to resist more than five minutes, I think?

https://www.safeandvaultstore.com/pages/burglary-ratings

Think about your threat profile right? If this is going in your garage on a home with a burglar alarm and cameras, an RSC is probably ok.

If you're storing tons of family heirlooms or really valuable guns (or if you're a LEO and have 'fun' stuff your department really can't afford to have fall into the wrong hands) you want something stronger (Amsec makes both TL-15 and TL-30 rated safes). Again, though, these things are going to cost correspondingly more.

yes you are right, im looking to spend about 1600-2500 somewhere around there, im sure it won't be the greatest but it what i can do right now and as far as whats gonna go in there it will just be firearms maybe 10k worth more or less, and documents like birth certificates and other important info but thats about it, and it would be going up stairs in my closet in the master bedroom and i would definitely want it bolted down and even to the wall if possible.

[VolvoWrench]

I have a Liberty Fat Boy Jr. and love it. I have extensive security throughout the house.
Just remember, buy a safe one size larger than you think you'll need. When we go out of town for more than a couple days, we put all sorts of "valuables" in the safe. ie. laptops, jewlery, etc. so, need extra space.

[raff661]

I have a Liberty Fat Boy Jr. and love it. I have extensive security throughout the house.
Just remember, buy a safe one size larger than you think you'll need. When we go out of town for more than a couple days, we put all sorts of "valuables" in the safe. ie. laptops, jewlery, etc. so, need extra space.

ive been looking at that one and thought it was to big but youre right it will probably end up being to small one day haha, and when we do leave town for a couple of days i have my brother or close relatives stay in the house so its never really alone for a day, and i have vivint so the house has a couple of cameras

[bigmike82]

If it's going to be in your bedroom, and you have a burglar alarm and cameras, you're probably good with getting any RSC from a reputable manufacturer. It's more to keep out pyring eyes and kids at that point I think.

If it's going up the stairs, you probably want to keep an eye on the weight too.

Check out these guys:

https://www.deansafe.com/gun-safes.html

They can probably get you some good recommendations. Otherwise, scope out Craigslist and see what's there. I got my relatively crappy one from CL for cheap, delivered.

[hermosabeach]

Buy a used commercial rated safe from Craigslist.

You can get a safe with a 15-30 minute tool rating.

The safe cost $50k and up new

They are heavy but they are a safe...

[hermosabeach]

Above the budget

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/bfs/d/san-fernando-diebold-cashgard-safe-tl-lh/6893465350.html

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/bfs/d/tujunga-safe-duo-combination-safe/6897476646.html

[hermosabeach]

Craig’s list has new stuff all the time

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/bfs/d/valencia-chubbs-data-safe/6884810380.html

[drdanno84]

Dean"s Safes

Check out Dean's safes, I bought a Fort Knox safe from them a few years ago,
they have a great selection of new and used safes, they can deliver and install anywhere in the house. Here's them delivering my 1600 lb safe: 915.jpghttps://www.deansafe.com/gun-safes.html


916.jpg

[Win231]

I've had a large Canon safe with the electronic lock for 20 years. No problems with the lock. I bought it from Dean Safe. And when I needed it moved to different locations, they did it at reasonable cost.
I recently visited both of their stores & they have a large selection.

[sg6969]

I have an AMSEC BF7240 & BF7250. And would buy them again. Their customer service is top notch as well.

[splithoof]

Amsec makes a good product.
So does Sun Welding in Simi Valley.
Like others have said, you get what you pay for.
Avoid Costco Bighorn; low-grade chink junk.

[Rivers]

... whats gonna go in there it will just be firearms maybe 10k worth more or less, and documents like birth certificates and other important info but thats about it, and it would be going up stairs in my closet in the master bedroom and i would definitely want it bolted down and even to the wall if possible.

When you look at the fire rating, that's going to be a measure of how well constructed and insulated the safe or RSC is. Papers will incinerate long before a firearm will. To be safe, don't keep a firearm loaded with one in the chamber. If a fire did happen, when that round cooks off, it won't just "pffft" as it burns the gunpowder. Being in the chamber, the bullet will propel down the barrel just like you'd pulled the trigger. It happened to a friend who had a motor home fire. The .44 Mag revolver lit off a round during the fire that hit the dirt embankment where all the occupants had gathered to watch the vehicle burn down. (After the bullet hit the dirt, they continued to watch but from the far side of the dirt berm. A semi-auto could possibly have chambered another round.)

Realistically, you're going to be in the RSC category. How do I know this? "Going upstairs in my closet..." A true safe like a TL30 is going to weigh well over a ton BEFORE you fill it. Unless your "upstairs" has been reinforced by an engineer, you're limited to an RSC structurally. I certainly wouldn't be eager to be on the first floor with a TL-30 resting on wood framing directly above me!

From your later description about house-sitting relatives and your home security, bolting a good quality RSC like an AmSec into an upstairs bedroom closet should be fine. If it's bolted down after being maneuvered into a position that inhibits using prying tools, even better. If your alarm is already going off before the bad guys can even get to the safe, it's doubtful they'd take the time to break the RSC loose and try to force it open.

[wpage]

Any safe is better than no safe...

High and dry is good.