Recommendation for pistol safe

dave37

dave37

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North of the 49th parallel
I'm looking for a safe suitable for a handgun that can be heavily bolted either to floor or wall joists, preferably to the wall. i would prefer a regular combo lock as an led flashlight is trustier than a digital combo that has a cheap key lock for access if the digi lock fails. I would rather not have a key access to it at all.

thanks!
 
I just bought a regular fireproof safe from CT (they were on sale). It can't be bolted to the floor but weighs 100lbs empty. If I'm careful I can get about 20 handguns in it. I just have it in an out of the way corner with a table cloth on it and a lamp on top
 
I've been told by numerous sources not to store guns in a firesafe due to the high moisture levels.

I pretty sure this is sound advice as any paper I store in my firesafe quickly becomes moist and limp. Based on that alone I wouldn't store my guns in there (unless they are sealed in a container like tupperware).
 
travellerw said:
I've been told by numerous sources not to store guns in a firesafe due to the high moisture levels.

I pretty sure this is sound advice as any paper I store in my firesafe quickly becomes moist and limp. Based on that alone I wouldn't store my guns in there (unless they are sealed in a container like tupperware).
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Then get a re-usable moisture absorbent pack similar to the ones used in photographic/electronic equipment. They come in small packs and once color changes, you have to replace it. They can be re-used after a low temp baking process to removed the moisture absorbed during the storage process. There are also some small de-humidifier devices that you can use.
 
travellerw said:
I was also told not to use any moisture absorbing materials in a fire safe as it compromises the way the fireproofing works.

You can read how a fire safe works here:
http://www.familyhomesecurity.com/how-a-fire-safe-works/

Like I posted earlier, I know someone who uses fire safe but puts all their guns in Tupperware. Keeps the moisture away from the guns and still saves the fireproofing.
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Then, your easiest solution is:

From sillymike's post "Get a rifle safe... and put shelves in it." STACK-ON seems to be popular. If you are trying to store a few pistols only, take a look at 2 pistol or the bigger pistol cabinet. Mount it inside a cabinet or closet or any discrete area, bolted against a wall or floor and you're good to go. Make sure you are the only one who has keys to that cabinet with the firearms trigger locked and unloaded.
 
travellerw said:
I've been told by numerous sources not to store guns in a firesafe due to the high moisture levels.

I pretty sure this is sound advice as any paper I store in my firesafe quickly becomes moist and limp. Based on that alone I wouldn't store my guns in there (unless they are sealed in a container like tupperware).
Click to expand...

travellerw said:
I was also told not to use any moisture absorbing materials in a fire safe as it compromises the way the fireproofing works.
......
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If paper gets limp like this then you've got one or two things going on. A new safe's fire insulation may still be wet from the factory. Leave the door open for a few weeks to let it dry out. Test again with a hygrometer inside the closed safe overnight.

The other is that you mounted the safe to a cool outside wall or onto a concrete floor and the coolness of the wall or floor is conducting through into the safe. If so insulate it.

There is no need at all for a fire safe to "attract" moisture. Get it dried out and insulated from the outside coolness and it would be fine for storing firearms.

Hell, the way you describe it now I wouldn't store anything in it. Important papers and documents that go limp and damp as you're describing are going to mildew and eventually rot. A safe of any sort should simply not be damp inside.
 
I'm going on the information provided to me by an actual safe company. They went as far as to recommend that important documents should be sealed to protect against moisture.

They said that fire safes are indeed meant to attract and release moisture over their lives and the changing seasons. The materials used in fireproofing are engineered to contain a certain level of moisture. As the seasons change they absorb moisture from the air and release it when needed. Some amount of that moisture are released into the safe chamber.

They do make different types of fire safes that work in a different way, but they usually are rated for lower temperatures and for shorter periods. They told me that pretty much all the safes bought at stores like walmart and home depot are designed like I have described.

My safe doesn't react this way because of cold. Its kept in the closet of out second floor bedroom and is pretty much room temperature all the time.

P.S. The safe guys weren't trying to sell me anything either. The actual gun cabinet they sold me instead was 1/2 of price of a fire safe.
 
Picked this one up at Costco. Sentry Safe D880.
D880_a1.jpg


Couple of adjustable shelves with room for ammunition. Has 2 holes in the base and supplied with bolts to fasten it down.
 
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^^^^Thats what I have. I didn't use the supplied bolts (to small) but got 4" lag bolts and lead plugs. Safe weighs 195 lbs empty. With 6 guns and 6000 rounds in it it's probably about 400 lbs. Costco dropped it in my driveway free.
 
I like these safes that are opened by touch. Fingerprint scan and instant access to your gun. No keys or combinations. I seen a single finger swipe kind and a 4 finger-thumb touch kind. Cool
 
Do you really need it to be bolted down? If not save about $500 and get a STACK-ON GCB-90. Good for about 4-6 pistols.

Who's going to walk out of your house with a safe? If someone does won't your house insurance cover the loss?

Personally I don't see the point of bolting down a safe unless the items inside have sentimental value ie. irreplaceable family heirlooms.
 
4n2t0 said:
Do you really need it to be bolted down? If not save about $500 and get a STACK-ON GCB-90. Good for about 4-6 pistols.

Who's going to walk out of your house with a safe? If someone does won't your house insurance cover the loss?

Personally I don't see the point of bolting down a safe unless the items inside have sentimental value ie. irreplaceable family heirlooms.
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arnt they supose to be bolted down if they are for storing firearms? or is that just for cabinates? and what about small safes that can be picked up easily?
 
To avoid moisture just toss in one of those moisture absorbing packs and Mount the safe in the furnace room. In winter heat from the furnace will keep moisture out of your safe and even in the summer the thermal heat loss from your hot water tank/heater will help keep moisture away as well.
 
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