help with safe

[Librarian]

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.

But even those will keep out your toddlers - I bought one as a gift for my grandson.

[raff661]

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.

All this is good info thank you so much

[raff661]

Any safe is better than no safe...

High and dry is good.

[raff661]

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: [ATTACH]807156[/ATTACH]https://www.deansafe.com/gun-safes.html


[ATTACH]807157[/ATTACH]

[jeffyhog]

When it comes to safes, you get what you pay for. I know this video has been posted multiple times on calguns, but is a good demonstration of how easy a cheap safe can be compromised, especially if it's not bolted down.

https://youtu.be/B8ViUdd-2LM

The more steel, the better. The heavier, the better. The BF series is worlds better than the Liberty Fat Boy. Budget is always a leading factor, but an Amsec BF series is the minimum I would consider for a $10K collection. I think the Sturdy Safes are also a good security value and have a lot of steel, but there is much debate on the fire lining that they offer. Sun Welding also makes good safes and will build in as much steel as your wallet can afford.

The commercial bank vaults are a great option if you can find a good deal on one. The TL-15 listed above in the craigslist ad would be great if you cut out the compartments inside and built a gun interior. A TL-15 is 100x better than any RSC, but many don't have fire protection.

A quality safe can be a lifetime investment. They can carry huge upfront cost, but will be very inexpensive amortized over many years. A true example of buy once, cry once. Buy the best you can afford.

[tsmithson]

[tsmithson]

The credit union at work moved and I got the TL30 safes for free. I just had to pay the safe co to move them. $800 for the first safe and $200 for the 2nd. They weigh about a ton each.

[jrl760]

Check out vault pro. Amazing quality for the price & hand built. There is a wait time but it's worth it. I took a tour of their shop & was lucky to find a floor model I liked.

https://www.vaultprousa.com/

[raff661]

UPDATE! Ended up going with the Liberty 1776 series 36 gun, in gloss white (to keep the wife happy)

[tsmithson]