Looking for a safe to upgrade from a smaller one. Looking for a capacity of 26-32 long guns in the $1100-1200 range. Mine is currently a combination lock, should I upgrade to an electronic keypad lock? I’ve heard horror stories about the electronic locks failing and collections being locked up pretty good.
Also, is the brand Diamond Back and Mesa Safe Co good?
I was thinking this one:
Mesa Safe Co 32 gun safe with electronic lock
or this one…
i personally stay away with the the electronic safes. For some reason im always worried if some one does try and get into the safe and they cant and just break the keypad you cant get in. Granted im sure some companies have a key you can just put in but from the looks for the pic i dont see where a key would go. I would defeintly go with the combination safe.
Try the link below. It helped me a lot when I was shopping for a safe. Good luck.
Cannon Safes are my choice, best warranty in the industry. I too stay away from electronic safes for more reasons than I care to share.
Sturdy Safes are IMHO the best clang for the buck in solid no nonsense safes. http://www.sturdysafe.com/
100% made in USA, family owned, lifetime warranty, thicker steel than competitive safes and priced right.
These threads also have some good information you might want to check out
https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=54593
https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=52916
https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=51518
My write up on the topic if interested:
https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=51518&highlight=amsec
Hope that helps.
I found a great deal on the Amsec BF series. A very experienced safe expert (search a1abdj on TheFiringLine.Com or TheHighRoad) recommended that model to me.
There’s a lot to learn, but basically you’d want something that’s 10 gauge steel or higher, the thicker the better. There’s a picture of a gunsafe floating around on the internet with the sides ripped open by a fire axe:
You’d also want something 750 lbs or above to prevent someone from just waltzing in and carting it off. Also, most companies use drywall as fire resistance. However, drywall doesn’t seem like a very good insulator.
If I was dropping coin for a gun safe again, I’d stick with either Amsec BF or Sturdy. Everything else seems second rate. I’m especially annoyed with safe manufacturers whose ‘premium’ models include nothing more than 11 gauge steel and cosmetic upgrades (lights! mirrors! tactical door organizer!).
If you want to learn more about safes, your best bet is, sadly, TOS. Their safes section is pretty straightforward and they have a LOT of in-depth reviews. It’s relatively free of the BS that plagues the more commonly-used sub-forums.
That being said, the general consensus is that Sturdy safes are the best bang for the buck. After Sturdy Safes, there’s AmSec, Liberty, etc. However, unlike Sturdy Safes, the other brands aren’t always good to go and you typically need to upgrade to the 2nd or 3rd tier to get decent protection. The pinnacle of gun safes are the Graffunders, but you’re looking at $8,000-10,000+ at that point.
Also, the “safes” you’re referring to are actually RSC’s (Residential Security Containers) - actual safes are secured room/units within a structure.
I think the term is a vault as “safes” and or any other form of RSC’s can be secured via bolts in the structure’s foundation and or wall supports to prevent from being carted away.
As mentioned in my write up, my research suggests BF series by far the best of the RCSs.
Is there any online safe establishment that can do a payment plan? If so, one with an AMSEC type containment unit would greatly help my financial situation.