Reasonable Safe Under $1,000

[sroc112]

Hi all,

Really not looking for anything sophisticated, primarily interested in child safety and theft but also want something nice to keep everything organized. I really like to have just a manual dial, but do have my eye on this one just for cost:

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/winchester-gun-safe-26-gun-ts26-45-1360473?srsltid=AfmBOooxFnnx2wlB7nZ7MSvC48lzDddx73XbhsfgqLQFt_U_7eMnz-uU7ro&gQT=1

Looking in the 26+ range.

Does anyone know of anything else that may be a better quality safe than this one?

Thanks

 

[MK20]

Where do you live?

Is it going on a wood frame floor or on solid substrate?

If you live near a big city and it is going on a solid floor, go on FB marketplace and look for old safes. Mosler, Gary, Yale, etc. It is easy to move them with a bar and pipe. Often because they are heavy folks will give them away.

I got my last double door Mosler that weighs 3500 for 300 bucks and loaded it into my truck bed myself with hand tools.

 

[MK20]

If you slap the sides and it doesn't sound like you hit solid stone, it isn't worth shit. Not even a little wobble or resonance is tolerable.

If you can find something with a TL rating you can assume it is good.

 

[MK20]

Oh, and that safe you posted,

I can break into that in 5 minutes with 2 crowbar, an axe, and a sledge. It isn't worth shit. Cheap Chinese steel and looks is all it is.

It will keep your child out, but as far as theft, don't delude yourself.

 

[sroc112]

Wood frame.

Dorchester county SC.

 

[MK20]

Here, offer 500 and get a safe or locksmith guy to reset it for 100 bucks.

Log into Facebook

Log into Facebook to start sharing and connecting with your friends, family, and people you know.

www.facebook.com

 

[MK20]

Another beauty.

Log into Facebook

Log into Facebook to start sharing and connecting with your friends, family, and people you know.

www.facebook.com

 

[MK20]

The guy who is listing the safes for 1000 is high but offer him 500 cause you have to move them and get the combos reset. Combo reset on an open door safe should be less than 200 easy.

 

[MK20]

That "rare" one is basically the same as the one I have. If the dimensions are the same, which I think they are, that is probably what a safe company would call a 70 gun safe.

 

[doubloon]

primarily interested in child safety and theft

For child safety it's fine.

For capacity I've never personally seen a safe that holds the number of guns it advertises without stacking guns on top of each other.

For theft it's "OK". It will deter the casual, unprepared thief but an angle grinder will cut open the side or back panel of most safes like a sardine can.

Most safes you find at Cabelas, Tractor Supply, etc. and most of the "big name" safes like Winchester or Liberty, etc. all have something like 12-14 gauge steel sides, maybe a few with 10 gauge and they'll all tell you about the "really thick" door but only idiots try to cut open the door.

People will all chime in with their favorite safe but when you look at the actual panel thickness specifications there is really not much difference between them.

You'd have to go with something like Sturdy or Amsec or a similar safe to get 6 gauge or 8 gauge side and back panels but this definitely isn't the under $1000 class of safe.

 

[sroc112]

For child safety it's fine.

For capacity I've never personally seen a safe that holds the number of guns it advertises without stacking guns on top of each other.

For theft it's "OK". It will deter the casual, unprepared thief but an angle grinder will cut open the side or back panel of most safes like a sardine can.

Most safes you find at Cabelas, Tractor Supply, etc. and most of the "big name" safes like Winchester or Liberty, etc. all have something like 12-14 gauge steel sides, maybe a few with 10 gauge and they'll all tell you about the "really thick" door but only idiots try to cut open the door.

People will all chime in with their favorite safe but when you look at the actual panel thickness specifications there is really not much difference between them.

You'd have to go with something like Sturdy or Amsec or a similar safe to get 6 gauge or 8 gauge side and back panels but this definitely isn't the under $1000 class of safe.

Im only really looking to hold about 8 long guns, a couple of pistols, and ammo. So I think the 26 is fine to accommodate scopes, etc.

 

[doubloon]

8 long guns, a couple of pistols

One of my safes is a Sturdy model 3224 (no fire liner) ... literally 32" w x 24" d x 60" tall, 4ga body, 3/8" door.

I found it local on Armslist for $500 and picked it up myself (~$4400 new now, ~$3200 at the time I found it). Like mk20 says there are some deals to be found out there if you shop around and aren't in a hurry.

Gun Safe | 32W x 24D x 60H | Model 3224

Gun Safe that measures 32W x 24D x 60H. Made with thick steel body and door plate. Tons of custom options available.

www.sturdysafe.com

Right now it's set up with some shelves on one side where I stack a few pistols in boxes and there is a "U" shape rack holding up 4 shotguns and 8 or 9 rifles of various caliber all the rifles are scoped or red dotted. I could squeeze a couple more in there without have to bang them together getting them in or out.

So ... 32x24 or even 24x24 or maybe even something a little smaller like a 14 gun safe will fit your current needs but not leave a lot of room for new acquisitions.

Another one of my safes is a Sentry 14 gun safe (G4211 I think) with a dial combination I got from Home Depot for $250 because it was a floor model and scratched. Doesn't have any guns in it just use it for ammo. It's a shitty safe but plenty good for child safety.

If I got rid of the shelves in the Sturdy and went all rack I might be able to get close to the advertised capacity. Fire liner consumes gun space so capacity drops.

ETA: check with lock and safe businesses in the area for a used safe, they come up from time to time when people return them or somebody dies and the heirs don't want them

 

[powdahound76]

I will advocate for a used safe (always a bargain shopper).

I got a new to me safe for 1/4 of retail by shopping CL and had the woman scour marketplace.

1100 lbs, heavy steel.
used some cool machinery dollies to move it. Like paino dollies, but hydraulic. Rented them for like $40.
Was super easy.

I have less than 1/2 the guns mine says it can hold and its overflowing.

 

[mi650]

Im only really looking to hold about 8 long guns, a couple of pistols, and ammo. So I think the 26 is fine to accommodate scopes, etc.

That kind of thinking is how I ended up with 6 safes!!

 

[Camelfilter]

Depending upon your space, a job box may work.

Not great for easy access tho, have to stack. Pretty decent for volume & preventing casual theft / kiddo access.

Couple with layered security (alarm system) / dogs etc.

Used such in several rentals, where bolting down a safe wasn't an option..+simpli safe security system.