Can anyone recommend a cheap safe

[user name]

there are a few used ones for sale RIGHT now in the non-firearms classified on this board.

BUY THE BIGGEST that you can afford.

I messed up and bought too small now I'm shopping.

My dad will get my smaller one he's a 1 shotgun,1 riffle man

[ConcernedCitizen]

I mounted my cheap Sentry 5 in a corner next to the bedroom pier unit. Between the wall and the pier unit, there's very little room to get any leverage on a crowbar. The safe and the entire multi-piece pier unit is screwed to the wall for security and earthquake protection respectively. It aint much, but it meets my needs for now. I only close it when I leave home or when the grandkids are over.

[RealBarber]

Not sure how much you want to spend, but about 2 weeks ago I ordered a 14-Gun Sentry Safe on Amazon. It was on sale for $402 w/ free shipping/delivery. It arrived within 7 days.

-mike

i was looking at getting that same safe off walmart.com, its 388 with shipping

[Skidmark]

Right here on CalGuns, Forum number 74 is all about Safes: http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/f...aysprune=&f=74

[ElToro]

Cheap guns = cheap safe....Expensive guns get a good safe and usually means more than $400. I understand budgets and most anything is better than nothing, but the way I looked at it when I bought my first safe was: If they stole JUST my M1A and one 1911 how much would I be out ($1100 at the time) so that was my safe budget.
.

for real. when 1 or 2 guns in your collection exceeds the cost of a safe its time to buy security. i had probly 10k in gun collection including guns that belonged to my grandfather, great uncle and great great grandfather that are not replacable before i decided it was time.

[CaliforniaLiberal]

IMHO.....

I've come to believe that the $3-800 range "safes" offer only a little more protection than the Stack-on $1-200 range gun cabinets and are not worth it. Either get a cheap Stack-on or save up your money and get a $2-3000 RSC (Residential Security Container - UL classification) like Liberty or Sturdy Safe or a bunch of other brands.

I lived in a second floor apartment for a couple of years and had a Stack-on 8 gun cabinet that met my humble needs just fine. If you don't securely bolt them down they're just a convenient package for burglars to haul your guns away.

It was in the back corner of the bedroom closet with the door opening pointing into the corner to make it difficult to use a pry bar. I used 4"x3/8" lag bolts screwed into the wall studs with big fender washers. Four in the back wall of the safe and two on the side. Easy to spackle over the holes when you move out, just like picture hanging holes in the walls.

This is highly resistant against the 16 year old burglar who wants to get in and out of your apartment in three minutes. For the skillful burglar with a half hour of leisure it's not much resistance at all, but I think it's well worth the $150 and a whole lot better than hiding it under the bed.


Good overview of Gun Safes

http://www.6mmbr.com/gunsafes.html#budget

Stack-on for $150 shipped to your door.

[joedogboy]

There is a question about just why you want the safe.

1) Do you want the safe so you can sign the safe affidavit, and not buy a lot of gun locks?

2) Do you want the safe so it will give you a "child resistant" place to put your firearms?

3) Do you want the safe so that your friends and family will see that you are a "responsible" gun owner, who locks up their guns?

4) Do you want the safe so that it is more difficult/time consuming for a casual burglar to steal your guns - to "keep honest people honest", or to not be a "low hanging fruit"?

5) Do you want the safe to provide a minimal level of fire protection?

6) Do you want the safe to be portable enough that you can move it when your lease expires?

7) Do you want your safe to be absolutely fireproof?

8) Do you want your safe to be absolutely theft-proof?

If your answers are all in the 1-6 range, then a lower cost safe is fine.

If your answers are in the 7-8 range, you can get closer to these ideals by throwing more money at the problem - until you eventually have a purpose built facility with alarms linking it to private armed guards and fire protection services. Even such a facility can still be breached by criminals who want in badly enough.

[mkfromnm]

One thing more to keep in mind: I had a cheap gun safe and I lost the keys. It took me about two seconds with a regular old screwdriver to open it. I like Joedogboy's test. The last thing I want are my legal guns in the hands of some lowlife on the street, or to have a tragedy with one of my kids. I hear you, it seems like a lot of dough to buy a good safe until you consider some of the alternatives.

[joedogboy]

One thing more to keep in mind: I had a cheap gun safe and I lost the keys. It took me about two seconds with a regular old screwdriver to open it. I like Joedogboy's test. The last thing I want are my legal guns in the hands of some lowlife on the street, or to have a tragedy with one of my kids. I hear you, it seems like a lot of dough to buy a good safe until you consider some of the alternatives.

I personally have "middle range" safes, that accomplish #s 1-6, as well as a cabinet that accomplishes some of the items (2, 3, 4, & 6) that currently holds ammo and parts.

If someone has the time and equipment, they are getting in to any safe I can afford. My current safes provide those lower levels of protection, and protect me from liability issues.