As many of you already know, that which we call “gun safe” is really not a safe but a “residential storage container.” That’s according to the testing standards laid out by the UL for such things.
The RSC rating is pretty basic and indicates that the safe will withstand at least five minutes of attack by one man using hand tools. That does not sound like much but that’s actual working time on the safe. Taking a break to switch tools or go to the bathroom stops the clock until tools are actually employed against the safe again.
The RSC rating has recently been augmented by UL and now includes three levels of testing. The RSC 1 is the legacy rating. RSC 2 lengthens the attack time to ten minutes and adds a few more tools while the RSC 3 adds more tools but stays in that 10 minute working time.
Well, in a surprising move it seems Browning has decided to skip right over the RSC ratings and go right into TL territory with a new TL30 rated safe. TL is a “real” safe rating and is probably what you’ll find in most supermarket offices and places like that. TL means the door is resistant to common hand tools and grinders and can withstand half an hour of total working time on the door.
There aren’t too many choices for TL stuff on the gun safe market. American Security has some models and I think Brown Safe also does some TL stuff. Otherwise the choice, for those wanting maximum security, has been used and repurposed office safes.
I find it interesting that Browning has entered this market. I wonder if Liberty, etc will take note.
