This information is an in-depth analysis of the items matters when selecting a gun safe. Reading it you’ll be able to know if a selected gun safe is a bit of good, and to compare any two gun safes.


rifle safe reviews


Weight and size

Recommendation: At least 58" interior vertical clearance; at least 750 lbs loaded weight.

A bolt-action rifle having a 30" barrel is approximately 52" inches long. Therefore, if you want to get yourself a long-barreled gun within your safe, with some room to get a top shelf, you'll need an interior 58" roughly high. So far as width, 36" and 40" are normal sizes that provides you with ample space to get a couple dozen rifles. A 36"-40" wide interior will assist you to possess a 16-gun rotary rack on a single side, including a normal shelving unit around the other. A great, wide interior also allows you to place shorter rifles (or AR-15 uppers) horizontally upon an upper shelf. Which is a very handy and efficient storage option.

In terms of weight, obviously a 2000-lb safe is much more secure compared to a 500-lb safe.

When safe vendors were asked with regards to a reasonable compromise regarding less weight in comparison to safety…

We asked a number of safe dealers, and the majority of felt that a safe in the 750-lb range offered an effective mix of size and security. Around this weight, the safe can't be moved by using a typical appliance dolly. It will likely be big enough, with big enough footprint, that this will resist being tipped over. It will likely be overweight for several thieves to push up your flight of stairs. Conversely, a 500-lb safe is less difficult for any couple men to manhandle, as well as 2 strong men will get one in the bed of a pick-up truck utilizing a ramp.


Thickness Or Gauge From The Metal

How thick is thick enough? Well first of all most gun safes feature bodies that range in thickness from 12 to 7 gauge. 12 gauge is too thin at about .081 inch and can be broken into using a blowtorch and drill machine. Ideally, you would like to have 10 gauge or lower doors and sides. Keep in mind that the thicker the walls would be the more its likely to cost you.

Some manufacturers usually thicken the doors but use 12 gauge steel for the side and back. Little help using a safe having an impervious door that could be smashed into from the remaining three sides. So, ensure you receive a safe containing a general thickness of 10 gauge or less (8 gauge is most ideal).


Locks

While not the most important of all the considerations first of all, Locks definitely play a major role in the end. They impact how quickly you can access your guns, whether it be child safe, if it could be opened with power loss and the life of your own safe. Basically, you have 2 types of locks namely, electronic and mechanical. Electronic include circuits, keypads, biometric scanners and more while mechanical comes as key lock, combination lock and dual locks.

Electronic locks draw power coming from a battery source, which must be regularly replaced. They may be fast and efficient but often last not even half 10 years. On the other hand, mechanical locks are bulky, hard to handle, open slowly and desire zero replacement or maintenance. Good mechanical locks can last a lifetime.


Fire Rating

A residential fire can hit 1,200 degree F real fast and in case the windows give way, intense back draft will make it even hotter. Keep in mind the fire department can remember to reach your burning home and even longer to take the raging fire in order. Depending on the construction, materials used and various other factors, different safes are laboratory tested to resist fires of certain intensity and for the length of time.

Conventionally most gun safes include a half hour guarantee at 1200 degree F. This is just a gimmick as many domestic fires rage for 20 to 45 minutes reaching 1400 or higher degree F before they can be brought manageable. Moreover, even after the fire is extinguished, the safe still remains super hot, taking time to cool down. This radiant temperature can simply destroy any sensitive material for example paper, magnetic material inside. Best advice therefore, is to invest in a safe with an excellent fire rating, use a fire safe box to store documents and tapes of a sensitive nature in the safe.


DOs and DON'Ts of Safe Buying

DO buy a safe which is larger than you think you require.

Your gun collection is bound to grow with time. An excellent safe is more than just a gun locker - it might be a safe and secure storage device to your family's other valuables also. You'll find you quickly complete a large safe. Spend the amount of money for the size, protection, and has you desire. Your gun collection can be worth many tens of thousands of dollars so it makes sense to invest in the safety of your respective valuables.

DO spend more for a safe that gives fire-resistance.

But you should do your research - you are able to spend lots of money for "fire-proofing" that truly will not be extremely effective. Be sure if sheet-rock is commonly used that it must be properly installed. If you have valuable documents and media files, it's not a bad idea to acquire a smaller, commercial-grade fire safe to set inside the gun safe. This provides you double protection. Selecting a reliable brand like Cannon or Winchester is a sensible way to ensure that the safe you acquire lives up to the guarantee in the manufacturer.

DO investigate the safe's specifications.

Simply because a secure is big and heavy doesn't mean it's particularly secure. Heavy-gauge steel is far more immune to cutting and drilling than light 12- or 14-gauge steel. Some safes out there have walls so thin they may be penetrated having a fire ax. We recommend 10-gauge steel at least, and 8 gauge is much better. The safe should possess a UL RSC (Underwriters Laboratories "Residential Security Container") or better rating.

DO find out about the safe's safeguards against tampering.

A quality safe will feature extra armor or devices to defeat drilling. Low-grade safes could be opened in certain minutes with simple, battery-powered hand tools. All safes must have relockers to aid ensure the safe remains locked with regards to a burglary. Relockers are hardened pins which can be triggered during an attack, and can not be retracted without hours of drilling. The amount of relockers over a safe ranges from 2-10 according to the safe's size and burglary grade.

DON'T store powder in your safe.

A tightly-sealed metal box by using a large amount of powder inside is a bomb. Store powder inside a separate, lightly-constructed cabinet or wood box. What is important for powder is to ensure that it stays dry and away from moisture and lightweight.

DON'T store large volumes of primers in your safe.

If an individual primer goes off it can detonate others, resulting in a chain reaction. When you have many thousands of primers, don't store them multi functional corner of the reloading area.

DON'T leave the wooden pallet on your safe and count on the safe's mass alone to deter thieves.

A 10-year-old kid by using a rented pallet jack can move a 1000-pound safe effortlessly in case the pallet is attached and the safe is not really bolted down.

DON'T place your safe in plain view, such as the front of your own garage, or corner of your own family room.

This is merely an invitation to theft. And also be discrete whenever you load and unload firearms - which means you don't advertise to the whole neighborhood which you have a big gun collection or valuables needing worth extra security.

DON'T leave power tools or cutting torches near your safe.