I’ve been doing research on gun safes (RSCs technically :rolleyes:) and am loosing my mind and sleep over trying to figure out just which one to get, how am I going to get it into position, etc.
One safe I’m seriously looking at is this. It’s a Winchester TS-22-11 made by Granite Safe in Texas. It’s very similar to their Ranger model and is made for Tractor Supply exclusively.
They also have a similar size Cannon. However, it’s made in Mexico and has an internal hinge (which means you can’t take the door off to lighten the load,) and an electronic lock labeled Securarm or something like that comared to the Win’s LaGard electronic lock.
Personally, I’d prefer the Winchester.
However ('cuz I can’t leave well enough alone with just TWO choices! :suicide:)
I started looking around for what else is available and found a local company that deals with Amsec. They have instock a TF6032 for $1225. Delivery and installation is anywhere between $150-$300. The TF they have is a little bit of an older model so it’s missing the PDO feature (and it can’t be retrofitted…of course.)
Everything is telling me to buy the Amsec but I’m just not sure why. The Amsec is twice the money as the Winchester and I could use the money for other things I really need as well (four new tires for my car.) I’d hate to sell firearms I was planning to keep in the safe just to afford the safe I was planning to keep the firearms in. :rolleyes:
Any help you guys could give would be MUCH appreciated!
I use Stack-On cabinets. They’re cheap, easy to move, and lock up securely enough to keep the kids and other curious folk out. They won’t stop fire damage, and will hold up a determined thief for but a few moments, but I spent a fraction of the money I saved on a very comprehensive firearms insurance rider.
Sucks that they don’t have pricing on their website, or at least that I could find. I don’t mind calling to order, but I hate having to call to even get pricing.
If I missed the pricing on their site I retract my above statement.
of the two you show from tractor supply, the weights are listed as 360 and 407 lbs… on safes of similar size, the weight will tell you what you need to know about the construction and durability.
people always say look at the biggest safe you can afford, and then buy the next larger size… good advice but I go about it differently - I bought two and bolted them together with bolts through angle iron inside each safe.
this makes a larger one with two compartments/locks that would be almost impossible to move while connected. and in the event that a burglar does try to gain access, they would have twice as much work to get everything I own…
Weight isn’t everything though. A good portion of the weight in a lot of safes comes from the multiple layers of sheet rock on the inside, and not the metal.
I picked up a Fat Boy Jr (made by Liberty) for $999 locally and paid $150 to have it professionally delivered, which was well worth it.
Whichever you choose, especially if you plan to drop some coin on it, buy twice as big as you currently think you will need. Unless of course you are dealing with a tight space where it will be bolted down. You’ll be surprised at how fast it will fill up with items you want to keep secure.
I’m with HMAC, here. Get some good insurance on those bad boys. Not saying to waive off on the safe, but the added insurance could EASILY pay for itself in one incident.
Amsec BF is the way to go…buy once, cry once. Get the next size bigger than you think you need too.
You should try to place your safe on an exterior corner of the home. Fire is actually more of a concern for me than theft & this does help buy time (which is your enemy)
Getting your safe off the floor just a little will help if a water pipe busts or slight flood damage…bricks work well.
I also prefer the S&G traditional dial and not the electronic kind.
I have a size, weight and price limit so buying a larger and more expensive safe is easier said than done. My collection is relatively small and I don’t really see it getting bigger any time soon.
I looked at the Zanotti safes and they’re nice but they have a rather long wait list and are also out of my price range. Doing some research I found some forum threads a few years old that suggest the ZA-1 is around $2k. For some reason most safe manufacturers like to keep their prices close to the vest.
you could do as (HMAC) said then later you can up grade to a (real)safe and use them for ammo storage as funds allow. and you could buy a few sheets of sheet rock and cut and place around it… What ever way you go try to have safe fastened to at least 2 sides. If not it can be removed in just a few minutes by experienced thieves, including the real/ and heavy ones… where I lived before had 12 ripped out and off in a week. I have 2 of the sheet metal lockers that I use that way now. The second one I got was so I could lock up my guns in my pick-up in the bed Comanches only have small space behind seat…