Gun safe for my ARs

S

soapboxpreacher

Private
Minuteman
Jan 18, 2012
31
0
52
#1
Ok so I have 4 pistols and 3 (soon to be (4) Long Guns (12g, 22ar, ar15). I would like to get some ammo in there as well. I have 2-3k of 9mm, 2500 of 556, 2500 22lr, and 300 of 12g. Would like to be under 500 for a safe. Combo only, safe is in a dry basement that is around 64 degrees year around, no water either. It is the only place I can put it. I have narrowed down my choices to (3). Sentry Safe G1459C (14-gun), Stack-On 16 gun, and Centurion CE12 (14 gun but really 12 gun). The Sentry has terrible shelf layout but has good width, Stack on seems to be the biggest but once again no side shelves and the top one wont hold much weight at all. The Centurion has easily the nicest inside and is fire proof...too a point. But it is small in the inside. It has a great layout and seems to be the nicest from a construction stand point. My budget is as I said 500. Not sure of the danger of ammo storage but it seems that only powder is a no-no. As well as primer but primers are also not that bad (gun smith told me not to worry about this). I like the Centurion the best followed by the Sentry. Let me know what you guys think. I am having a tough time finding data on this.

Sorry if I posted this in the wrong spot...breezed over the forums and didnt find and accessories area. Also I have a 4 year old so keeping him out is key not to mention the bad guys!
 
#3
Re: Gun safe for my ARs


AR's, and other rifles with optics take up alot of space. My AR's with optics/bipods take up 2 spaces deep and 2 spaces wide in the safe, for each gun. I'm also pick don't want them resting/scatching on each other.

Buy what you can afford. No matter how big you buy you'll fill it up, you'll kept finding more stuff to put in their.
 
#5
Re: Gun safe for my ARs

I can tell you that 48 guns will not fit in a 48 gun Liberty Fat Boy, even if you only put guns in it.

Figure out how many guns you have and tripple the size. Go from there.

I wouldn't keep ammo in the same safe (even if I had room).

As for a de-humidifyer, depends on where you live. You can increase the number of guns in the safe by storying some upside down.

It's the Law of the West. Regardless of which gun you want to use next, it will be in the back of the safe.
 
#6
Re: Gun safe for my ARs

Also check Costco online. Sometimes they have online prices or sales for the Safes they offer and delivery to your door is included. I've seen some pretty good prices on the sales they have from time to time if you can catch one. Not completely familiar with their brand but the sale prices are usually around your price range and for that delivered isn't bad.
 
#7
Re: Gun safe for my ARs

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: kraigWY</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I can tell you that 48 guns will not fit in a 48 gun Liberty Fat Boy, even if you only put guns in it.

Figure out how many guns you have and tripple the size. Go from there. </div></div>

Best advice ever. I have the same safe and it literally holds ten ARs and about fifteen bolt/shotgun/leverguns. That's all it will hold.
 
#8
Re: Gun safe for my ARs

costco has about the best deal i have found on decent safes (not lock boxes)(dont even think you have to be a member online)
bighorn or cascade little more than 1/2 of normal prices dropped shipped
a 24 gun is a good size , secure in weight, but managable unloaded for you and a buddy with a refrigerator mover.

ammo should NOT be stored in the same place. fire will detonate the ammo 1st, causing a mess of everything
 
#10
Re: Gun safe for my ARs

Agreed, buy larger than needed/wanted.. then things will fit about right.

Sturdysafe, Ft Knox, possibly Patriot Safes........Champion for lower USA made still.

repeat, don't waste money and buy what you 'need', buy a larger size and be done with it once. worth nothing if you buy too small
 
#11
Re: Gun safe for my ARs

i have the liberty centurion 12. it's small, and right at $400 before tax. In this safe, I am able keep 4 long guns (2 with bipods, lights, scopes/optics etc), 3 pistols, ammo, cleaning gear, a small collection of knives, and a healthy ammount of ammo. And, if i were to pick up another couple pistols, and even another long gun or two, i'd be able to manage it... it would be tight, but it would manage.
 
#12
Re: Gun safe for my ARs

a safe that you can afford now that protects the equipment, is better than replacing your equipment and buying a bigger safe later... just my thought. i get the buy once cry once ideology, but... when it comes to a safe to protect what you've already invested in, and or safety of residents (children) getting something sooner is better than waiting. also, you can sell it on craigslist later for damn near cost to help fund a newer bigger better one later afer you've saved up for it.

I will say this, buy a safe. not just a locker.
 
#13
Re: Gun safe for my ARs

If getting down into your basement bothers you - ie. you don't have a walkout basement and you wonder what the weight of at least 2 men, plus the weight of your safe 600 - 900 lbs might do to your stairs, you might give zanotti armour a look.

You carry the parts down stairs, assemble with 3/8" steel pins and your good to go. When/if you move, take apart and move it yourself.

http://www.zanottiarmor.com/

If you are within driving distance of Waterloo, Iowa and can haul yourself, you'll save shipping costs. Paying in cash also saved me $200.00

An added bonus is that you can have the interior made to your specs.

Not cheap, but well made and it was my only option to get downstairs.
 
#14
Re: Gun safe for my ARs

Not sure where you are located but Pella Securities is the best place ever, they build me a custom interior, and for that mater a custom sized safe. They are local to Iowa however, and most of the time the safes are made to order. They built mine in 3 weeks...
 
#15
Re: Gun safe for my ARs

I have the Centurion primarily because Liberty is a local company to me. It is fantastic and they have good customer support too.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: OT-Medic</div><div class="ubbcode-body">i have the liberty centurion 12. it's small, and right at $400 before tax.</div></div>
I hope you didn't pay sales tax, because gun safes are a nontaxable item in WA state. When buying a gun locker I had to argue with the Sports Authority checkout girl about this until she finally confirmed with a manager.
 
#17
Re: Gun safe for my ARs

As everyone else already said, when it comes to safes. Get the biggest one you can.

It sounds like you have quite a bit of money wrapped up in rifles and ammo. Why is your budget only $500? Don't cheap out on the safe. Spend some money and protect your gear!
 
#19
Re: Gun safe for my ARs

Thanks guys. None of the safes I am looking at are lockers. They all have a minimum of 3 Live bolts and at least 2 dead bolts...each 1" minimum. Steel is 14 gauges or more. I refuse to even entertain a locker for ammo! It sounds like the centurion 12 might be the right fit. I did consider and still am the SentrySafe Executive 14 gun safe. it was also built well...3 live 1" bolts and 3 1" dead bolts. Flange it cut on the door to stop prying. You cant drill it or knock the combo lock out with a pick. So it isnt a bad safe for the money. I like the the interior also because I can get ammo on one side and the 3 rifles on the other. I am going to do a combo. I like the digital and you can alway change the batteries on the front so it wont screw you...it is quicker to get in but the combo is more kid boring and I wont have him and his friends screwing with it. The digital does have more possibilities so it isnt rulled out and as I have said faster to get in. The stack on are garbage! Even though they do have live and dead bolts they were not the best quality. The liberty wasnt bad...but the sentry was actually a shock (the one I saw) for it wasnt that bad at all!

p7823252p275w.jpg


Interior was so close to the centurion 12 it wasnt even funny!
 
#20
Re: Gun safe for my ARs

Just remember that 14 gauge steel isn't much thicker than what you would get on a job box - they're usually 16 gauge.
 
#21
Re: Gun safe for my ARs

Highend liberty are 11-12 gauge and you jump immediately into the 1k price! The cabelas WD23 is a 12-14 gauge safe at 900+! I found a mesa safe at Samsclub for $505 it is really nice! Not as big but built like a tank...12 gauge, fireproof, 10 dead bolts! I like it!
 
#22
Re: Gun safe for my ARs

Rethink the digital lock. Ask any locksmith or honest safe vendor and they'll tell you the same thing. The digital locks are cool, but the mechanical dials just plain work and don't have near the problems down the road as battery operated digital types.
 
#23
Re: Gun safe for my ARs

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MP15</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Rethink the digital lock. Ask any locksmith or honest safe vendor and they'll tell you the same thing. The digital locks are cool, but the mechanical dials just plain work and don't have near the problems down the road as battery operated digital types.</div></div>

My friend and I both have the digital lock and I can neither recommend for or against it. I'll just list our experiences and let you decide.

First the bad:

Frequently the lock will not open on the first try. At first I doubted myself about entering the correct code, but now I am 100% certain that it often fails to open on the first try. By often I mean almost a third of the time. My friend has the same problem, and we bought our units years apart.

When the battery starts to get weak, there is no notification. Or maybe there would be notification, but before that happens I start to experience problems. The electronic lock "moves" something physical but the battery at some point is too weak to power the motor that does this. The typical symptom is that you enter the code, the lock accepts the code, it attempts to unlock the door, but only partially succeeds (and it sounds different). A second attempt typically will finish the job and unlock the safe.

If your post-apocalyptic nightmare scenario involves an EMP, the electronic lock will become non-functional.

The good:

I can unlock the safe VERY quickly.

With very little practice, I can unlock the safe in complete darkness or with my eyes closed.

I can change the code any time.

I can create additional codes for others, and delete them as well. For example, when you get married you can add a code for your wife... and when she divorces you, you can delete her code.
 
#24
Re: Gun safe for my ARs

Winchester makes some very heavy duty safes that are price right. I bought this one, and am very pleased. I did get it local to me, and not from the place in the link. http://www.thesafeplace.com/gun-safes/winchester/silverado-49.html

They make smaller ones, and tractor supply did sell them. Not sure if they do anymore. The Silverado 49 is so heavy, that no one will ever be able to move it without some equipment.
 
#25
Re: Gun safe for my ARs

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MP15</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Rethink the digital lock. Ask any locksmith or honest safe vendor and they'll tell you the same thing. The digital locks are cool, but the mechanical dials just plain work and don't have near the problems down the road as battery operated digital types.</div></div>

This is an oversimplification and not entirely true.
It depends on the quality of the lock and many safes have both.
Check out the info from the video > HERE ~ it is very informative and was posted somewhere here on the hide before.
 
#26
Re: Gun safe for my ARs

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: borefodder</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Also check Costco online. Sometimes they have online prices or sales for the Safes they offer and delivery to your door is included. I've seen some pretty good prices on the sales they have from time to time if you can catch one. Not completely familiar with their brand but the sale prices are usually around your price range and for that delivered isn't bad. </div></div>

i strongly recommend Costco's safes, them and rogers sporting goods. they are hand down the lowest prices i have seen.

i would also recommend getting the biggest safe you can fit in your house. it will fill up.
 
#27
Re: Gun safe for my ARs

I went with the Stack-On 36 gun and couldn't be happier. I think mine was like $850 or something, but you could always go with a little bit smaller one and save some coin.

Just remember though, the gun capacity rating on safe's is like tents. The tent may say 6 person, but what it really means is it's comfortable for two. Mine is a 36 gun, but with 20 it's actually quite full. I still have some room ammo, but not much.
 
#28
Re: Gun safe for my ARs

I have a liberty 64 gun fatboy and am very happy with it . If you wait for fathers day there usually are sales I got mine for almost 1/3 off retail that way . I also have the combination lock and while it is not fast it is consistent and for my pea brain that means alot . one more thing about liberty is they are made in the united states which should mean something , at least it does to me.
 
#29
Re: Gun safe for my ARs

My opinion is get one alot bigger than you think which has already been stated. I know money can be tight and I mainly bought mine because of my kids ect. I bought the Liberty colonial 50 and the damn thing is already full, its amazing how much space gets used up quickly. Options to look at are rifle rods that go in the barrel instead of using the cut outs/rifle/shotgun racks that come in the safe. Without a doubt when when move or have a house built I'm gonna put a room in the basement with a safe door. Oh and secondly mine weighs 1,000 lbs empty and and was a bear to get in into the house. We picked it up in a truck bed and brought it to the house where we could get it into the house ourselves. Didn't work, almost killed us, called the safe mover and he moved it right in. Should have called him in the first place.
 
#30
Re: Gun safe for my ARs

Go with Liberty Fatboy. Wish I did. Never have enough room. Befor you know it there is more than just guns in it. I have seen them for less that $1200.
 
#31
Re: Gun safe for my ARs

Get what you like that fits within your budget. You will then realize what is most important to you for when you purchase the next one. Then you can keep the ammo in the first one.

You can spend months researching "safes" (RSCs actually) and I won't go into that detail here. But you should know that for $500 you are getting a sturdy metal box. That is it. It will keep out the kids, nosey service people, and maybe the meth-head smash-and-grab thieves. But it won't do squat in a fire, and any determined thief with minimal tools (even what you have laying around) will be in it in <2 mins. Check YouTube for videos. 14 gauge might as well be cardboard, and even 10 gauge is not all that tough. In a fire, the single-layer of sheetrock that is the "fire-lining" in a $500 RSC will release its moisture into the safe, temporarily limiting the temperature rise. Then it will run out of moisture to give and the temperature will rise and roast whatever you have in there. As the superheated air cools (assuming the water seals hold) the moisture will then condense on your firearms and rust them to shit before the basement in a burn-down is cool enough to enter. I won't even get in to standing water from the fire dept.

Sorry, this is just reality. Security costs money. You decide how secure you want to be. For $500, I'd buy the thickest steel possible, a manual lock, and bolt it to the floor. Cosmetics, the interior finish, and the "fire lining" rating would be lesser priorities. You can easily buy materials at Home Depot to customize the interior and give it fire resistance from the outside.
 
#32
Re: Gun safe for my ARs

Ok...found my safe. Winchester at TSC. It is 100 over budget but worth it and more. It is a 24 gun fire safe, 10+ locking bolts 1.5" great interior great door, great electronic lock and nice handle. Plus it is big and heavy! 12 gauge (not bad for this price point 600) double layer fire and steel, door is thick as well. It has a door organizer too. For 600 this safe kills anything remotely in the same price point...in fact the it should be an 850 safe at least. I looked at libertys of the same size and they werent as nice in the inside not had locking bolts on all 4 sides. Some did but they were over a grand. SentrySafe at this price point wasnt even in the same league! It had locks on 2 sides only, thinner steel...the whole safe was under 200 lbs! It was also 500 and only a 14 gun. Not to mention the warranty is only a year. They had a cannon at TSC also that was very similar in size and only 500. It was pretty nice but the winchester blew it away, heavier, thicker, more locks and bigger locks. I have now looked at (in person) 50 different safes. Superior, liberty, sentry, cabelas, winchester, and stack on, and a few others. for the value this winchester safe is quite nice. It isnt a the best but it is certainly better than a lot. For my purpose...I will have this safe for a long time!
 
#33
Re: Gun safe for my ARs

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bedlam</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MP15</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Rethink the digital lock. Ask any locksmith or honest safe vendor and they'll tell you the same thing. The digital locks are cool, but the mechanical dials just plain work and don't have near the problems down the road as battery operated digital types.</div></div>

My friend and I both have the digital lock and I can neither recommend for or against it. I'll just list our experiences and let you decide.

First the bad:

Frequently the lock will not open on the first try. At first I doubted myself about entering the correct code, but now I am 100% certain that it often fails to open on the first try. By often I mean almost a third of the time. My friend has the same problem, and we bought our units years apart.

When the battery starts to get weak, there is no notification. Or maybe there would be notification, but before that happens I start to experience problems. The electronic lock "moves" something physical but the battery at some point is too weak to power the motor that does this. The typical symptom is that you enter the code, the lock accepts the code, it attempts to unlock the door, but only partially succeeds (and it sounds different). A second attempt typically will finish the job and unlock the safe.

If your post-apocalyptic nightmare scenario involves an EMP, the electronic lock will become non-functional.

The good:

I can unlock the safe VERY quickly.

With very little practice, I can unlock the safe in complete darkness or with my eyes closed.

I can change the code any time.

I can create additional codes for others, and delete them as well. For example, when you get married you can add a code for your wife... and when she divorces you, you can delete her code.
</div></div>

I have been thinking of this very hard and long...it is a what if...but it could happen...obviously a extremely small chance...that is what a torch is for! HAHAHA. I certain hope that is not the case. I like the winchester and would prefer it in a combo. It is a risk you take I guess.
 
#34
Re: Gun safe for my ARs

I will have to agree with you that the winchesters are definately the best of the breed in that price point. The canons in the same price range that are sold at the big retail stores are crap in comparison. Canon does make some good safes, but not in that price range. You will like that safe and if you ever outgrow it, just get another one to sit right beside it.
 
#35
Re: Gun safe for my ARs

All I can say is go big the first time! Having to unload a safe and reinvest in something bigger AND move the dang things is a pain!

Your gun collection will continue to grow, make room for it now!
 
#36
Re: Gun safe for my ARs

I will also add to get a dial, not to keen on the electric models. Read alot of horror stories, take it with a grain of salt though.
 
#37
Re: Gun safe for my ARs

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bayou1535</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I will also add to get a dial, not to keen on the electric models. Read alot of horror stories, take it with a grain of salt though. </div></div>

YUP! Stay away from electronic locks!
 
#38
Re: Gun safe for my ARs

Everybody else saig go big and so do I. Also... get EXACTLY what you want b/c this hunk of steel is going to be around for your your grand children's grandchildren. Dont try to save 500 bucks and not get exactly what you want. Check out CostCo and also Able's Ammo... Able's ships for free through apple boy frieght and they can order direct from Browning - that's who i got my Browning Silver SR35F from. The cool thing about having Able's ordering direct from browning is that they can get the exact size, color, and art on the front that you want. I got a gloss black case with gold trim and gold scroll art on the front which i had never seen before and it looks awesome (i almost got silver bui i like the gold).
 
#39
Re: Gun safe for my ARs

I would echo the previous comments about rifles with scopes and bi-pods taking up two spaces, rather than one. Buying the largest safe you can afford is good advice.

It seems that eventually, wives or girlfriends living with you want to put some of their valuables into the safe. I would rather their belongings be safe than stolen, so it is another consideration to plan for.
 
#40
Re: Gun safe for my ARs

Well...I did the winchester 24 gun. Price is right, seems bigger than what I initially wanted, heavier, has more live bolts, thicker, and fire rated, this seems like a much better way to go. I might opt for an S&G combo lock on it. But only till it brakes. The Lagard are regarded as some of the best electronics ones around...so I should be alright for the time being.
 
#41
Re: Gun safe for my ARs

Keep in mind that when that electronic lock goes bad, it's done. There will be no warning. One minute it's working, the next it's not. Not a problem with a stereo or computer but when the electronics of a safe go out, now you're faced with the added cost of a drill job (anywhere between $200.00 and $350.00 depending on who does it) because you can't replace the lock of a locked (closed) safe. It's gotta be open.

Just a heads up.
 
#42
Re: Gun safe for my ARs

buying a safe is like building a shop you will always fill it up quicker than you think, i would buy the biggest you can possible afford, i bought a 64 gun safe when i got mine and im already out of room looking for another..my advice is to save your money and buy a bigger safe
 
#43
Re: Gun safe for my ARs

just an FYI in case you haven't already purchased yet, I just got a mailer from Costco and their Bighorn 19.1 CU, 407 lbs, 30 min fire protection safe just went on sale for 569. Certainly there are bigger and longer fire rated safes out there but that safe for that price range is a pretty good deal. Anytime you get something that big for under 600 bucks your doing ok if you must stay in that price range.
 
#44
Re: Gun safe for my ARs

I hate to say it... I Backed out of the Winchester. I put money down on it to hold it after initially seeing it and went to pay the remaining amont where I got more time to look closer...the door doesnt close tightly, you can rattle it when it is locked...very sloppy. There was so much play in it I couldn't stand it. This really bugged me. I looked a two others and they did the same thing. Then there was the handle. The handled had so much play in it you could it would move in and out of the door by a 1/2 an inch. You could seee the steel flex as wel. I know it says it is rated at 12 guage but it is chinese 12 gauge. The safe seems to have a ton of extras and looks good but the assemly and some of the materials are not that great. So it is back to search. I have decided to p my budget to 800. I stopped by m local shop and looked at a champion model t and it wasnt bad. Even though it was 12 gauge with less live lots it felt tighter and more sturdy. I also checked out cabelas and there liberty safes were over priced in my opinion. Steel was ok and the over all fit and finish was inferior to the champion. I am considering steel water safes , pentagon/stortsman steel safes, I really like rhino but they get pricey fast. I would love a 10 gauge safe but they really get up there quick.
 
#45
Re: Gun safe for my ARs

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: soapboxpreacher</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I hate to say it... I Backed out of the Winchester. </div></div>

Welcome to the slippery slope. As you have found, you tend to generally get what you pay for. At every budget level there are compromises vs. the next budget level. This even applies to $10K+ RSCs. What can you do without? Fire lining, larger size, fancy finish, smooth operating handles/bolts, heavy gauge steel, nice interior? It is not easy to decide and only you know what is most important to you. It sounds like the "feel" of the quality is important to you. You may need to look at smaller safes of better quality...but when you get into the higher end - Ft. Knox, Sturdy, Amsec...the price does go up fast even for the little ones...they generally start around $1200.

One of my older safes is a not-inexpensive-but-made-in-China model. You would cry if you took off the interior door panel. You could get nicer work from an 8th grade metal shop class. Mis-drilled holes, poor alignment, rough welds, etc. The lock crapped out and I had to change it, and ended up having to rework a lot of the mounting arrangement to prevent a repeat failure. China-made doesn't necessarily mean junk, but sometimes it does.

Champion seems to make a well put together gun safe. I don't own one but have looked at them several times. Don't get hung up on the number of bolts. This is mostly a marketing gimick, and not how safes are penetrated. Thickness of the steel and fit of the door is much more important.

You may want to visit this site and look at his Eagle-series (likely imported) safes.

http://www.zykansafe.com/diamondgunsafes.html

He is on a lot of gun boards and gives good, objective advice. He sells the high-end but also carries safes at different price points. I don't know him, but I'd trust him to honestly answer questions about his less-expensive safes.

Good luck.
 
#46
Re: Gun safe for my ARs

I have a Liberty Lincoln series it's amazing!!! all those sentry safes are all cheap IMHO. You get what you pay for i would research all like i did and you will make your own choice. btw liberty is FN outstanding
 
#47
Re: Gun safe for my ARs

800 offers a little more breathing space. Browning has some decent safes around that price range. Not sure who makes it for them. Also, (and i don't work for Costco before you ask
smile.gif
) Costco has some Cannon's around that range as well along with the Bighorns. I don't know much about the Bighorns which is why i didn't go that route but Cannon's are pretty standard and solid.
 
#48
Re: Gun safe for my ARs

I re-recommend Liberty. Made in the USA.

The Liberty booth at the local gun show had a Chinese safe that had been cracked into. The thief used a simple hammer and didn't have to do anything other than pound along the corner edges. This broke the crappy and sparse spot welds holding the roof on the safe, enabling everything to be stolen from the top.

The door, locks, lugs, etc., were all bypassed because the welds were just tiny spot welds placed too far apart along the top. The welds are on the inside under carpet so you can't see them.

One of the things the Chinese factories are really good at these days is the <span style="font-style: italic">external</span> appearance of quality.
 
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