Bought a security cabinet instead of a red dot

[ExtremeX]

Well your thoughts are in the right direction, but if you are going to do it, do it right. Check Costco too, they run some decent deals too.

A real safe is going to provide a lot more protection from theft than a cabinet... if you install it in a good location and bolt it down.

Its more than just size and weight in a good safe... ill tell you now a butter knife will be no match. Stronger thicker gauge steel, more lugs ( I think thats what you call them) around the door helps prevent someone trying to pry it open. Its all round better protection.

In my opinion I think having a good safe is an important part of being a responsible firearms owner. I bought a nice one before I bought my first gun, I just looked at it as the cost of getting into this as a hobby. It provides me a little piece of mind knowing my stuff is locked up. You can store anything you want inside, doesn't have to be dedicated to guns, im sure there are other valuables in your home you would like to protect...

[The War Wagon]

Stack-On - the only 'gun purchase' my wife ever approved of!

[CSACANNONEER]

A locked box is better than nothing. Stack on is better than a locked box. A cheap safe is better than Stack on. A $5K safe is better than a cheap safe. A built in bank vault is better than an expensive safe. Having 24hr armed patrol on the site of a bank vault is better yet. You just need to figure out what your budget and level of comfort is. Then, act accordingly. I have a stack on box right next to my safe. I got it for airguns and some lesser .22lrs. But, it has been used as a general overflow container at times.

[Oceanbob]

Chim-Chim is correct. Nothing is better than a proper Safe.

[JagerDog]

Any security is better than no security. Yes, the stack-on could eventually become an ammo cabinet.

That said, if you can get the Lowes safe for an extra $150...and can get it into your abode, I think you'd be miles ahead. Is it DOJ approved? That could save you some gun locks/hassle in the future.

[2shotjoe]

Mine is a 10 gun version but I got 11 in there, I can fit a dozen more in there.

[Huge Grant]

Good thinking bro. The Stack-on will suit your purposes... I think they are perfect for apartments. Upgrade to a real safe when you move into a house.

[renardsubtil]

As a temporary solution to storig firearms in an apartment living setup, has anyone considered a stealthy approach? Like paying a carpenter to make a hidden top to ones dresser or part of a cabinet or something?

Of course that idea seems okay for really small collections though...definitely not something long term or for an arsenal lol!

[roushstage2]

Is it DOJ approved? That could save you some gun locks/hassle in the future.

The Stack-On one was (which is surprising if it really is crappy protection). Someone on the Lowe's page says no. I can't find the DOJ list of approved safes.

[Distro]

I had a friend who had moved off campus and didn't want his roommates knowing he kept multiple rifles at the house, they were gun friendly but he didn't want them bringing friends around and somehow getting to his guns. He bought the thin green stack on cabinet and fabricated some Macgyver worthy shell to camouflage the cabinet in his closet. It was made from 4 cardboard boxes that looked like they were stacked on top of each other but in fact were actually a hollow 2 1/4 sided shell. It easily slid right off for quick access but he only took them out for range trips anyway so it wasn't a hassle. He kept his pistol in a Gunvault next to his bed.

He marked them so they would seem like boxed junk that wasn't really attractive to anyone coming over or possibly breaking in. It worked because one day his roommate asked to borrow a jacket went into the closet and said "when are you finally donating those sweaters?" He never suffered a break in so not sure how it would have held up to a junkie looking for anything to steal.

Here is a quick rough photoshop of what it looked like. Probably not worth the time if you live in an ok area or with people you trust, but it could be an added way of making a cabinet more secure.

[JagerDog]

The Stack-On one was (which is surprising if it really is crappy protection). Someone on the Lowe's page says no. I can't find the DOJ list of approved safes.

A start: http://oag.ca.gov/firearms/gunsafe

The way I read that, a key lock is NOT acceptable


A bit more: http://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/pd.../pdf/chart.pdf


The lock on a real "safe" costs what the entire stack-on cabinet costs.

[roushstage2]

A key wouldn't be acceptable for a safe, no, but it's on the approved safety device list. The Stack-On Cabinet isn't a safe. The Centurion safe wouldn't be approved since it doesn't meet the wall thickness requirement.
EDIT: I keep looking around Craigslist using SearchTempest, but nothing decent comes up that I can afford/fit in my residence. There are of course people selling the same size safe as the Centurion for the brand-new prices, even though they are used. Granted, if the safe does what it is supposed to, fine. But if I can buy it new with a warranty for the same price...derr.

[cabinetguy]

a security cabinet is a positive step to securing your firearms, although I cannot argue that a safe itself is a better choice.

[223556]

I just bought the same one from Big 5 and I love the thing, Its helped me be more organized and safer at the same time.
As for my one issue with it, its in no way going to fit 14 guns! I fit perfectly 3 long guns and ammo and other nick nacks perfectly. Just enough space maybe for 1 more long gun if I decided to buy one.
If you have a bunch of bolt actions or rifles of that type then perhaps fitting 14 long guns is do-able.

[roushstage2]

Maybe I'll just hold out and use some of my tax return and get the 22 gun Centurion safe from Lowes. Two 10% coupons plus 5% for using a Lowes card should be roughly $185 off. That'd put it at about $550 plus tax. I can't find one that big for mid-$500 range.