I need a safe

[postmanone]

Chris is right, get the best you can afford. Suggestion on where to place it, the garage. Most gun safes only have a 30 minute fire rating and the garage can be put out quickly. I have mine there and it looks like a garage cabinet, it is in its stealth mode.

[Aglifter]

I differ slightly from in opinion from the others -- Sentry makes a $500 safe, w. an electronic lock, and emergency keys to unlock the doors if the e-lock fails. (I keep the keys in the safe deposit box.)

It's convenient, and I use it more as a "gun cabinet." IMO, you might be better off looking for a used industrial or commercial safe. They have little worth once the INSCO's decide they're out of date, but are far more secure than any gun safe.

From what I've seen of them, a diamond cutting wheel will buzz through just about any gun safe.

[rightisright]

From what I've seen of them, a diamond cutting wheel will buzz through just about any gun safe

.

Hell, you don't even need the diamond wheel. A regular cutting wheel on a decent angle grinder or even a fireman's axe and a crowbar will have no problem with 12 gauge steel. Most gun "safes" are really Residential Security Containers.

http://www.thesafesource.com/safe_ratings.htm

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.

My emph.

RSCs are meant to deter smash-and-grabbers. A determined thief with some experience will have no problem defeating one. If you want to move up to a TL15 or TL30 safe, be prepared to open the wallet wide.

An RSC should be the last line of defense in protecting your guns. Alarms, dogs, etc. should be part of the layers. Also, placement of the safe is important. In a corner and bolted to the floor is best. If you can, put something VERY heavy next to the one exposed side to deter swinging or leverage attacks. That leaves the thief with only way of entry and the doors on RSCs are generally much stronger than the sides/top.

...you might be better off looking for a used industrial or commercial safe.

True dat. Of late, I've been checking Craigslist at least once a week. Haven't had any luck yet.

[HTRN]

Hell, you don't even need the diamond wheel. A regular cutting wheel on a decent angle grinder or even a fireman's axe and a crowbar will have no problem with 12 gauge steel. Most gun "safes" are really Residential Security Containers.

There's a reason they're called "Burgler Bottles".

I'm not even going to mention things like 110v Plasma Cutters that run off of Paintball bottles.


HTRN