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Posted: 11/5/2016 9:33:20 AM EDT
I'm going to be moving into my first house in about 6 months, which will finally give me some more options for better firearm storage. I want something nicer than the Stack-on gun cabinets I'm currently using... something with decent fire and burglary protection. I hate to say it, but realistically my budget is going to be $3000 to $3500 max. This rules out the Amsec BF series.  I'm looking to protect about 20 long guns (mostly "tactical" / MSR, so they take up more space than grandpa's old shotgun), 15 handguns, and some silencers. I'm also wanting to protect $2-3k emergency cash and maybe some important documents that I currently keep in a safe deposit box. I really want to make sure there is also a little room to grow my collection down the road. Is it better for me to get a basic RSC (perhaps a Liberty Fatboy Jr or something comperable) for the guns, plus a nicer "real" safe for the other stuff (perhaps this http://www.deansafe.com/hollon-pm-1814.html), or spend all the money on a nicer RSC (say the Amsec NF series)? I wonder if the largest NF will even hold all my firearms. Does anyone know anything about the Hollon safe line? |
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I think Sturdy's burglary protection would be sufficient, but I don't trust their fire protection. Having said that, I do worry about guns rusting after a fire in a more traditional gun safe. I'll probably keep insuring my guns. If my guns do rust after a fire, will the insurance company say it's my fault for not getting to them soon enough? Maybe it's better for my guns to be completely destroyed in a fire when it comes to insurance. Decisions, decisions. Still, I want fire protection for sure on my silencers, documents, and cash. If I go the 2 safes route, Sturdy will be definitely beyond my budget. I hope to eventually get a BF HD model, but who knows when that will be. I have a lot of college debt to pay off first. |
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Quoted: Check out the Superior Safes manufactured made by Champion. Their Master and Supreme lines are a great value and made in the USA. Sturdy is a great option as well. The closest Superior dealer to me is more than 50 miles away. Any idea what the prices are on those lines? |
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I would say $2400 to 5k installed depending on which model you choose. Not sure what size you are looking for. The master series would certainly give you more capacity than the Supreme series.in your price range.
Good luck choosing. Superior, Sturdy, AMSEC, and Fort Knox are all great options. |
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Look at the Amsec NF model.
Plate door and has outer hinges. The Franklin/Fatso series are very decent gun safes though. As far as fire protection and rust goes it could happen but truthfully all statistics indicate you have a greater chance of a home burglary than you do a home fire. That part said I would still opt for a gun safe that is rated for at least one hour and would feel better about believing that number by a reputable manufacture that not only actually tests their product but has years of experience to back it up. |
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Quoted: Look at the Amsec NF model. Plate door and has outer hinges. The Franklin/Fatso series are very decent gun safes though. As far as fire protection and rust goes it could happen but truthfully all statistics indicate you have a greater chance of a home burglary than you do a home fire. That part said I would still opt for a gun safe that is rated for at least one hour and would feel better about believing that number by a reputable manufacture that not only actually tests their product but has years of experience to back it up. I am looking at the NF, but it's hard for me to spend twice the price vs. a Fatboy Jr. for a safe with the same 12ga steel in the body. The external hinges and thicker door are nice, though. If the NF had a 7ga option for maybe $500 extra, I'd be favoring it. |
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I am looking at the NF, but it's hard for me to spend twice the price vs. a Fatboy Jr. for a safe with the same 12ga steel in the body. The external hinges and thicker door are nice, though. If the NF had a 7ga option for maybe $500 extra, I'd be favoring it. Quoted:
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Look at the Amsec NF model. Plate door and has outer hinges. The Franklin/Fatso series are very decent gun safes though. As far as fire protection and rust goes it could happen but truthfully all statistics indicate you have a greater chance of a home burglary than you do a home fire. That part said I would still opt for a gun safe that is rated for at least one hour and would feel better about believing that number by a reputable manufacture that not only actually tests their product but has years of experience to back it up. I am looking at the NF, but it's hard for me to spend twice the price vs. a Fatboy Jr. for a safe with the same 12ga steel in the body. The external hinges and thicker door are nice, though. If the NF had a 7ga option for maybe $500 extra, I'd be favoring it. Actually the NF is 11 gauge with a 1/4 inch thick plate door. The FV is 12 gauge with a 3/16 inch plate door. Although the largest safe in this series, the FV7240 is 11 gauge. |
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Quoted: Actually the NF is 11 gauge with a 1/4 inch thick plate door. The FV is 12 gauge with a 3/16 inch plate door. Although the largest safe in this series, the FV7240 is 11 gauge. Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Look at the Amsec NF model. Plate door and has outer hinges. The Franklin/Fatso series are very decent gun safes though. As far as fire protection and rust goes it could happen but truthfully all statistics indicate you have a greater chance of a home burglary than you do a home fire. That part said I would still opt for a gun safe that is rated for at least one hour and would feel better about believing that number by a reputable manufacture that not only actually tests their product but has years of experience to back it up. I am looking at the NF, but it's hard for me to spend twice the price vs. a Fatboy Jr. for a safe with the same 12ga steel in the body. The external hinges and thicker door are nice, though. If the NF had a 7ga option for maybe $500 extra, I'd be favoring it. Actually the NF is 11 gauge with a 1/4 inch thick plate door. The FV is 12 gauge with a 3/16 inch plate door. Although the largest safe in this series, the FV7240 is 11 gauge. |
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Quoted:
The closest Superior dealer to me is more than 50 miles away. Any idea what the prices are on those lines? Quoted:
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Check out the Superior Safes manufactured made by Champion. Their Master and Supreme lines are a great value and made in the USA. Sturdy is a great option as well. The closest Superior dealer to me is more than 50 miles away. Any idea what the prices are on those lines? Superior and Champion are pretty much the same other than Superior has external hinges and Champion has internal. Check out their website for more info. I bought a Superior Master 30 (texture finish/dial lock) safe this year and am happy with the purchase. I feel it's a solid safe, definitely not looking forward to dealing with it if I have to move! lol I just didn't feel comfortable with buying a box store gun safe, although I loved the interiors of the Browning safes. Got it from a gun safe company that was about an hour and a half drive from where I live out in the country. Made a trip over on a weekend to see what they had and found one I liked. I paid $2500 (including tax) for it before delivery charge during a little sale they were having. They actually had a nice gloss finish safe there that was the next size up, but the previous model year and offered it to me delivered for the same price, but I couldn't fit it in my house so I had to say no! I still have a price sheet from my dealer, PM on here if you want a price on a model to get an idea of what they run. |
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I'm still having trouble wrapping my head around the fact that a $1250 Liberty Fatboy Jr and a $2500 Amsec NF6036 have the exact same thin amount of steel in the safe body. I understand the NF has the thicker plate door and the better fire protection. But seriously, absolutely no increase in steel thickness on the safe body? Even the $2500 Superior mentioned above only has only a marginal increase in steel thickness vs. the Liberty for twice the cost. But, my budget dictates that I get one of these safes or a similar one. Whatever safe I get, I might build some sort of basic cabinet around it in the garage that I could tie into a monitored home alarm. If a thief sets off the alarm before touching the safe, they're probably not going to stay around and work on the safe. At that point, 11ga body would be sufficient. |
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That's good to know. I might see if a local dealer will let me pre-pay at the discounted rate. Quoted:
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I know that Liberty is going to launch a pretty generous Black Friday sale. I know it's early but it may be worth it to buy before you move in your new home. That's good to know. I might see if a local dealer will let me pre-pay at the discounted rate. Well I very much get what you say about the price and one safe to the other being 11 gauge steel in body. I will also say the Liberty really did themselves well with the Fat Boy/Fat Boy jr. series of gun safes and keeping the price where it is or even lower during sales. But for me at least I really like outer hinges as it makes the safe interior more accessible when you can get that door out of your way. Although I am not at all impressed with the door make up of these safes for obvious reasons. That being said they are a very good value for the price and a lot better than a lot of other gun safes out there. |
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Quoted: Well I very much get what you say about the price and one safe to the other being 11 gauge steel in body. I will also say the Liberty really did themselves well with the Fat Boy/Fat Boy jr. series of gun safes and keeping the price where it is or even lower during sales. But for me at least I really like outer hinges as it makes the safe interior more accessible when you can get that door out of your way. Although I am not at all impressed with the door make up of these safes for obvious reasons. That being said they are a very good value for the price and a lot better than a lot of other gun safes out there. Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: I know that Liberty is going to launch a pretty generous Black Friday sale. I know it's early but it may be worth it to buy before you move in your new home. That's good to know. I might see if a local dealer will let me pre-pay at the discounted rate. Well I very much get what you say about the price and one safe to the other being 11 gauge steel in body. I will also say the Liberty really did themselves well with the Fat Boy/Fat Boy jr. series of gun safes and keeping the price where it is or even lower during sales. But for me at least I really like outer hinges as it makes the safe interior more accessible when you can get that door out of your way. Although I am not at all impressed with the door make up of these safes for obvious reasons. That being said they are a very good value for the price and a lot better than a lot of other gun safes out there. I really don't like the internal hinges either, but for the price I might accept it. Also, if I get one of the Fatboys, I'm going to want to do some modification to get rid of the "collector" style rack since I hear the spacing isn't the best for modern rifles and it's a pain to get to any gun not in the front row. I may go with rifle rods or just try to make an easy out loop on one side. I wonder if you can take out one side of the rack completely, but still leave in the shelving on the other side. Especially on the larger Fatboy, I might be able to squeeze all my long guns on one side. |
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