Nowadays, Gun safes come in a wide range of sizes, styles and security features. Before choosing a gunsafe, be sure to consider the types of guns that will be placed in it. Gun Safes are only as good as their suitability for gun storage, after all.
How to choose a Gun Safe
Your first step should be to take a comprehensive inventory of all firearms in your possession. Keep these tips in mind for inventory purposes:
1. Classify Firearms According to Sizes and Lengths
This is because the gunsafe’s interior layout will depend on the sizes and lengths of the firearms for safekeeping. For example, a rotary rack will be suitable for long firearms while rack shelving will work best for short ones.
2. Count the Number of Guns
This is an obvious tip since slots and shelves in the gunsafe should match the number of guns. But don’t stop there either. You must buy a larger safe than necessary for your current gun collection.
3. Consider the Gun Accessories
This is a must since the firearms and their accessories should ideally be in one place. These accessories can include night vision scope, ammunition, and tripods. The gun safe should have two shelves, at least, for these things.
When you have a complete inventory of your firearms and their accessories, you can narrow down your choices. You don’t have to spend needless hours on considering every gun safe.
What Size Gun Safe Do You Need?
Consider The Aspects of Gun Safes
Of course, you have to consider the budget for your gun safe. Just remember to get the best possible gun safe for your collection instead of skimping on it. Your gun collection is valuable so it makes sense to keep them in a secure safe!
If you’re willing to spend thousands of dollars on firearms, you should buy gun safe with excellent security features. You may spend a thousand dollars on it but you have the assurance of security for your collection.
You want thieving hands away from your guns, especially in a home invasion. With that said, here are a few of the things that must be considered when buying a gun safe.
1. Size and Height
If you’re planning on placing a bolt-action rifle with a 30-inch barrel, your best choice is a gun safe with a 58-inch high floor-to-ceiling height. You can also buy a higher gun safe so that smaller guns and accessories can stored on upper or lower shelves.
Many gun safes have 36-inch and 60-inch widths. This should be adequate for a couple dozen rifles in varying sizes. You can have a 16-gun rotary rack and a shelving unit on opposite sides of the gun safe.
In general, a 2,000-pound gun safe will be more secure than a 500-pound gun safe. But you have to consider their transportation and installation aspects.
The heavier gun safe must be moved by a professional crew and installed in a stable concrete floor. The lighter gun safe, in contrast, can become a DIY project from transportation to installation.
Gun Safe experts offer a compromise. You can buy a 750-pound gun safe, which provides a good balance of size and security.
The safe can’t be moved by two thieves using a typical appliance dolly. It will also be large enough to resist tipping. It can also be made from thicker steel to resist unauthorized entry with blunt objects.
2. Shell Strength
You want a gun safe with adequate strength to resist fire, flood and heavy objects falling on it. Strength in a gun safe is a function of design, materials and construction quality. You must then consider all three aspects in choosing a gun safe.
Gun Safe experts suggest looking at the welds in the metal surface. Continuous welds are the best type since the metal has greater strength against impact. Stitch welds with body filler linking them are weaker, as well as more vulnerable to fire.
The recommended shell strength is 10-gauge steel walls with 5/16-inch solid plate door. You can also choose a 1-inch composite door with armor shielding over the lock box. You may also choose thicker steel, if you have the budget for it.
Otherwise, a 10-gauge steel will suffice for residential uses. In commercial application, a thicker-grade steel preferably in solid steel body is a must.
3. Locking Devices
You have the choice between a mechanical and digital lock. Mechanical dials are less convenient but these are more durable and less trouble. Digital locks are faster to open, especially in biometric scanners, but these can also break down faster.
If you’re choosing a digital lock, you should avoid the cheap ones. Be sure to reprogram it in case of a replacement for your own security. You should also be aware of battery requirements.
4. Operation and Layout
You should check that there are two bolts, at least, on each of the door’s four sides. The bolts should be hardened steel with the right diameter. The relockers must also be in place to prevent easy attack on the gun safe.
Other things to look for are fire, flood and earthquake resistance. Just remember that you don’t have to pay an arm and a leg for a great safe. You just have to pour in the right time and effort into comparing their prices and features.
Final Words
The gun safe is primarily a place for storing firearms and their related accessories. You must then choose it based on the type and number of firearms in your collection. You should also choose a larger gun safe so that future additions can still be accommodated.
The location of the gun safe is just as important. You should be able to access it quickly yet unauthorized persons cannot do so.