2aHawaii

General Topics => General Discussion => Topic started by: Goro75 on February 04, 2014, 09:45:56 PM

Title: Gun safes
Post by: Goro75 on February 04, 2014, 09:45:56 PM
Hi everyone,

Any recommendations on where to purchase a gun safe to ARs and handguns? Couple of friends suggested Sports Authority are there other places to consider?

Looking to spend $350-$500 for a safe that can hold future (4-6) rifles and several handguns.

Thanks in advance.
Title: .
Post by: Q on February 04, 2014, 09:49:50 PM
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Title: Re: Gun safes
Post by: kia_killer on February 04, 2014, 09:55:16 PM
Hi everyone,

Any recommendations on where to purchase a gun safe to ARs and handguns? Couple of friends suggested Sports Authority are there other places to consider?

Looking to spend $350-$500 for a safe that can hold future (4-6) rifles and several handguns.

Thanks in advance.

Home Depot and lowes generally have safes cheaper than SA, Costco and SAMs club are hit and miss. Sometimes they have, sometimes not. For the price I like the safes at Home Depot and lowes.
Title: Re: Gun safes
Post by: suka on February 04, 2014, 11:32:21 PM
Any ideas?

What's the largest safe. ( good enough) to hold about 50-60 rifles and 20 handguns?
Title: Re: Gun safes
Post by: macsak on February 04, 2014, 11:37:37 PM
Home Depot and lowes generally have safes cheaper than SA, Costco and SAMs club are hit and miss. Sometimes they have, sometimes not. For the price I like the safes at Home Depot and lowes.

biggest differences in safes from big box hardware stores
home depot- digital combo
lowes- manual dial

costco hawaii kai had some a month or so ago
i can go check tomorrow and see what they ahve
Title: Re: Gun safes
Post by: Funtimes on February 05, 2014, 07:12:53 AM
Biggest thing I think about first is:  Who will deliver that stuff?  Then I go from there.   Costco has good prices, but they don't deliver lol.
Title: Re: Gun safes
Post by: macsak on February 05, 2014, 07:18:59 AM
Biggest thing I think about first is:  Who will deliver that stuff?  Then I go from there.   Costco has good prices, but they don't deliver lol.

that guy armsinc is providing delivery for a fee
Title: Re: Gun safes
Post by: bass monkey on February 05, 2014, 07:31:46 AM
Aloha lock and key in kakaako sells safes of all sizes.
Title: Re: Gun safes
Post by: Mr. Farknocker on February 05, 2014, 08:39:03 AM
Depends on what level of security you want.

There are gun safes and gun cabinets; each have their own pluses and minuses.

Are you looking for maximum security or just good enough? Thing to remember is that in the midst of a skilled professional or trained individual, even the most expensive safes can be broken into within a few minutes.

What Q said. 

I think the first question in picking a safe is, "what level of security do you want?" The level of security dictates the price range. In this instance, your price-range  dictates the level of security for your safe. For $300 - $500, you should be able to find a good but not great 7 to 14-gun safe at Sports Authority if you are patient. I say "patient" because 25% coupons are offered several times a year.  You won't find the best gun safes at SA in terms of security but SA safes should be effective against the common thief who breaks in to your home without a specific intent to steal your firearms. They are also good enough to keep junior's mitts off of your stuff until he is old enough. Before you spring for a safe, search for videos on this subject on Youtube. You will find a lot of information on safe security and how effective safes actually are against a range of attacks. Good luck.
Title: Re: Gun safes
Post by: Goro75 on February 05, 2014, 09:08:36 AM
Thank you all for your replies. I'm generally looking for a good safe with a manual dial.

 I've heard that the electronic locks have an internal battery that if/when it dies I would not be able to open the safe?
Title: Re: Gun safes
Post by: Paul96734 on February 05, 2014, 09:20:53 AM
My question on gun safes, in addition to style and level of protection, is that if you have a single frame house do you "bolt" the safe to the floor or not.
Title: Re: Gun safes
Post by: Darmok and Jalad @Tanagra on February 05, 2014, 09:27:38 AM
Thank you all for your replies. I'm generally looking for a good safe with a manual dial.

 I've heard that the electronic locks have an internal battery that if/when it dies I would not be able to open the safe?

You said "internal battery."  No, the battery is able to be swapped from outside the safe.  The keypad comes off, you change the battery, and replace the keypad.

So, there is no problem opening the safe if the battery dies.  Just replace it!
Title: Re: Gun safes
Post by: macsak on February 05, 2014, 09:34:56 AM
Thank you all for your replies. I'm generally looking for a good safe with a manual dial.

 I've heard that the electronic locks have an internal battery that if/when it dies I would not be able to open the safe?

then lowes is your best bet
some floor people/managers may put you on a call list if they are in a good mood, but they do not have to
then your next best option is to ask nicely when deliveries are and go in every week
or you can check online for in-store availability, but i don't know what the time delay is on that
lowes has two models, a small one and a larger one
i have the 400 something dollar one
i like it
Title: Re: Gun safes
Post by: Goro75 on February 05, 2014, 09:47:30 AM
Thanks Mascak I think I found one at Lowes- Liberty Centurion 12 gun safe for $397.00.
Title: Re: Gun safes
Post by: macsak on February 05, 2014, 10:29:15 AM
Thanks Mascak I think I found one at Lowes- Liberty Centurion 12 gun safe for $397.00.

yeah, that's the one i have
Title: Re: Gun safes
Post by: Garuda on February 05, 2014, 10:39:39 AM
If i was looking for a safe to store 50-60 long guns it wouldn't be a $1500 generic safe.  I'd go Fort Knox or grafundel (spelling?). Think about the value of goods in your safe.  Sure lowe's is good enough but 50-60 long guns..... That's a lot of coin
Title: Re: Gun safes
Post by: Goro75 on February 05, 2014, 10:42:28 AM
yeah, that's the one i have

Mascak, any problems with the safe since you've owned it? Reviews seem really positive and a great price for what I currently need.
Title: Re: Gun safes
Post by: Funtimes on February 05, 2014, 10:52:52 AM
One thing.  Whatever # of guns that safe says it stores... half it... seriously.   Not sure how they count that shit, but they aren't using my guns thats for sure!

I have a 18 guns safe, and it's packed at 12 guns.
Title: Re: Gun safes
Post by: macsak on February 05, 2014, 11:03:13 AM
Mascak, any problems with the safe since you've owned it? Reviews seem really positive and a great price for what I currently need.

not really a problem
the dial is kinda precise, so you need to be real careful about doing the combination
and it's left-right-left, which seemed odd to me at first

oh, and you need to make sure things are in there carefully, because the internal hinges and door swing and thickness of the door mean you can't have things at the front of the safe
this is only a problem if you are an ammo hoarder
Title: Re: Gun safes
Post by: macsak on February 05, 2014, 11:05:00 AM
One thing.  Whatever # of guns that safe says it stores... half it... seriously.   Not sure how they count that shit, but they aren't using my guns thats for sure!

I have a 18 guns safe, and it's packed at 12 guns.

i totally agree with this
i have no idea how they come up with the capacity ratings
i can't imagine having 12 guns in that lowe's safe
there would be no room for much ammo and accessories
Title: Re: Gun safes
Post by: Goro75 on February 05, 2014, 11:14:10 AM
One thing.  Whatever # of guns that safe says it stores... half it... seriously.   Not sure how they count that shit, but they aren't using my guns thats for sure!

I have a 18 guns safe, and it's packed at 12 guns.

Yup read the reviews and most say (with arranging of shelves) that it will hold 8 Long guns with scopes/optics and some hand guns.
Title: Re: Gun safes
Post by: robtmc on February 05, 2014, 11:31:24 AM
Biggest thing I think about first is:  Who will deliver that stuff?  Then I go from there.   Costco has good prices, but they don't deliver lol.

+1 for this strategy.

Ended up with a somewhat crappy Sentry from Lowes only because they would deliver.  The nice one from Costco would have cost $$ to get local delivery.
Title: Re: Gun safes
Post by: Mr. Farknocker on February 05, 2014, 11:58:37 AM
My question on gun safes, in addition to style and level of protection, is that if you have a single frame house do you "bolt" the safe to the floor or not.

Paul,

From what I recall, failing to bolt a gun safe down is probably the single most common mistake safe owners make. IMO, when you talk about "security levels", what you are actually talking about is how long it takes for someone to break into the safe; not whether someone can break into the safe. If you give me the best safe that money can buy and you put that safe in my backyard, I would be willing to bet my left nut that I will be able to crack it with my acetylene torch or arc welder in an afternoon. Fortunately for us, common thieves usually don't pack portable welders or torches when they break into a house. They often do carry, however, simple tools and hand trucks to cart things to their getaway vehicles. Theives will pick small safes up by hand and carry them to their vehicles or throw them out the window to the ground below and carry them to their vehicle if able. I've read stories about 600+ lbs. safes walking away because the guy thought the safe was heavy enough to prevent a thief from moving it. Wrong!.  I'm a small, skinny dude. Yet, I was able to load a safe slightly heavier than 300 lbs. into my pick up truck, out of my pick up truck and into my basement all by myself with the use of a hand truck. Think it impossible for two big guys to move a 600 lbs. safe from your house? Better think again.

In short, to answer your question about whether the safe should be bolted down, the answer is yes, yes, and yes. 

You should also consider where and how to bolt the safe down. We all live in different setting so we may be limited to where we can put the safe but if you can anchor the safe to concrete and in a position which limits a person's ability to push the safe in any particular direction, that's your best bet. I recall a story where someone lost a safe bolted to a wooden floor. The thieves cut a hole in the wooden floor and dropped the safe through the floor to the room below where they carted it off. 
Title: Re: Gun safes
Post by: Darmok and Jalad @Tanagra on February 05, 2014, 07:28:07 PM
+1 for this strategy.

Ended up with a somewhat crappy Sentry from Lowes only because they would deliver.  The nice one from Costco would have cost $$ to get local delivery.

If you order your safe online, then Costco will deliver.  They include "drop at curb" freight.  If you want the safe moved further than the curb, you have to pay additional money, or do it yourself.

With mine, the delivery driver unloaded it from the truck, then raised it up to the pool deck inside my front gate.  This was a big deal, because he kept me from having to lift the thing up 4 steps (about 3 feet above curb level).

Did I mention he also had a forklift? :)
Title: Re: Gun safes
Post by: macsak on February 05, 2014, 07:30:28 PM
If you order your safe online, then Costco will deliver.  They include "drop at curb" freight.  If you want the safe moved further than the curb, you have to pay additional money, or do it yourself.

With mine, the delivery driver unloaded it from the truck, then raised it up to the pool deck inside my front gate.  This was a big deal, because he kept me from having to lift the thing up 4 steps (about 3 feet above curb level).

Did I mention he also had a forklift? :)

oh
i thought that costco.com ones are not valid in HI
Title: Re: Gun safes
Post by: Darmok and Jalad @Tanagra on February 05, 2014, 07:40:51 PM
oh
i thought that costco.com ones are not valid in HI

They ship if you pay the additional "paradise" cost.  Here's my order breakdown:

BIGHORN 19ECB Safe      $569.99
Item #569035

Ship Method                         Curbside

Shipping & Handling          $319.71

Tax                                            $41.92
================================
TOTAL COST                        $931.62
--------------------------------------------------------

My older daughter paid the shipping, as a combo birthday and Christmas gift. 

If we lived on the mainland, Costco would have shipped it for free!

The safe was on sale for $200 off the normal price, so that helps justify the high cost to ship to some degree.
Title: Re: Gun safes
Post by: one2boost on February 06, 2014, 08:31:48 AM
My rule of thumb when it comes to size of the safe to consider, is basically the same when it comes to garage/workshop space and the size of the tool box (I wrench for a living).  First, look at what you want vs. need.  Then purchase the unit double in size, or go one notch more and go with one triple in size.  Some say it's a dumb way of choosing.  But in reality most men will purchase more items in the future.  Sooner or later that unit is packed and now one needs to purchase something bigger.  Then one has to go through this process again. 
Title: Re: Gun safes
Post by: HiCarry on February 06, 2014, 01:15:39 PM
My question on gun safes, in addition to style and level of protection, is that if you have a single frame house do you "bolt" the safe to the floor or not.
Always bolt it to the ground. If you have a single wall, post and beam type house, you may need to reinforce the floor (add posts and beams) to the area the safe will sit.

And yeah, don't believe the manufacturer's number for the number of guns it will hold...it won't. And, always buy something bigger (I would recommend at least twice as big) than you need right now. You'll fill it up......
Title: Re: Gun safes
Post by: macsak on February 06, 2014, 02:39:16 PM
Always bolt it to the ground. If you have a single wall, post and beam type house, you may need to reinforce the floor (add posts and beams) to the area the safe will sit.

And yeah, don't believe the manufacturer's number for the number of guns it will hold...it won't. And, always buy something bigger (I would recommend at least twice as big) than you need right now. You'll fill it up......

was at X-Ring today
they are going to have a full line of safes soon
and delivery and installation will be included (bolting to the floor, according to brian)
not sure if x-ring girl will be there wearing a toolbelt
 :o