SentrySafe Fire-Safe

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Russoft

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I did a search and found nothing. I recently bought a Norinco 1911 off EE and went out and got myself a safe to store it in. I did my research to ensure the safe I bought would be good for firearms. Well, I got it home and the user manual said "not good for firearms - SentrySafe Fire-Safe has a proprietary insulator with a high moisture content" (it would have been nice if they had said that on the website).

I would prefer to have a fire proof safe so it can double as protection for important documents. I'd also prefer not to go through the hassle of returning the safe.

Is anyone using this safe successfully for storing their handgun(s)? Would a ziplock bag or dehumidifier be adequate to keep it dry?
 
Russoft said:
I did a search and found nothing. I recently bought a Norinco 1911 off EE and went out and got myself a safe to store it in. I did my research to ensure the safe I bought would be good for firearms. Well, I got it home and the user manual said "not good for firearms - SentrySafe Fire-Safe has a proprietary insulator with a high moisture content" (it would have been nice if they had said that on the website).

I would prefer to have a fire proof safe so it can double as protection for important documents. I'd also prefer not to go through the hassle of returning the safe.

Is anyone using this safe successfully for storing their handgun(s)? Would a ziplock bag or dehumidifier be adequate to keep it dry?
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It says not good for firearms. Anything you do to mitigate the moisture is just dealing with symptoms, not the problem.
 
I have a couple Sentry safes and they appear to be completely sealed. I am not sure what their insulation would have to do with anything? Both safes even have stickers that state not to store firearms.
 
Wouldn't you run into a legal problem if someone broke in and stole the safe that said "Do not store firearms"???? I was under the impression the safe had to be designed for firearms or you had to go through the usual lockup (locked room w/trigger lock).

I have a Browning Golden Rod and it works great... but i have a gun safe
 
Well, I'm looking and I found another safe for cheaper that is designed to keep things DRY. I'll go try to get my money back. I did, after all, try to make sure this was a good safe for firearm storage. The manufacturer wasn't very upfront in their advertising, in my opinion.
 
If it's designed to keep things dry...that would mean that it's a sealed safe...which is not good for moisture build up. If you feel that keeping your firearms well oiled during storage isn't enough, you will need some additional drying power.
 
surfer365 said:
Wouldn't you run into a legal problem if someone broke in and stole the safe that said "Do not store firearms"???? I was under the impression the safe had to be designed for firearms or you had to go through the usual lockup (locked room w/trigger lock).
I have a Browning Golden Rod and it works great... but i have a gun safe
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More legal B.S.
Doesn't any one ever read the regs?
 
What model did you get? I got the DSW3607, my model is not water proof, therefor it doesn't have a good seal and air will circulate. Remember Sentry Safe cheaps out and only makes one owners manual for quite a few different models. I could see if you had a water proof model and never used your pistol and it just sat sealed in the safe. They advise to keep the silica packets in the safe on mine. My owners manual says do not store firearms aswell.... I could care less, its combo locked, bolted to the floor, and secure. I also use my pistols at least once a week and I leave the door open a crack every night for home defense reasons, theres more then enough air flow.... Personally I think you might be reading into this too much...
 
I Purchased a Sentry ProStaff series Gun safe not to long ago and im just wondering what makes it safer for moisture compared to the safes mentioned in this thread??I also for extra protection bought a Remington safe plug,maybe overkill??
 
surfer365 said:
Wouldn't you run into a legal problem if someone broke in and stole the safe that said "Do not store firearms"???? I was under the impression the safe had to be designed for firearms or you had to go through the usual lockup (locked room w/trigger lock).
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Safe storage is about preventing immediate access, not theft. The legalese forum is a great place to learn about that kind of stuff. Being informed is very important.
 
50calshooter said:
What model did you get? I got the DSW3607, my model is not water proof, therefor it doesn't have a good seal and air will circulate. Remember Sentry Safe cheaps out and only makes one owners manual for quite a few different models. I could see if you had a water proof model and never used your pistol and it just sat sealed in the safe. They advise to keep the silica packets in the safe on mine. My owners manual says do not store firearms aswell.... I could care less, its combo locked, bolted to the floor, and secure. I also use my pistols at least once a week and I leave the door open a crack every night for home defense reasons, theres more then enough air flow.... Personally I think you might be reading into this too much...
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Makes sense. I was looking at a few other options in the same price range that are made specifically for pistols and they all look flimsy in comparison. And if you say you haven't had a corrosion problem, then I won't either since I don't intend to keep it closed for long periods. I have a different model, but I looked yours up and yours is just a bit bigger and it's digital instead of combination like mine. Other than that, identical. I think you've convinced me to stick with what I bought. Thanks.
 
The issue with them is that when exposed to fire, the plastic outer surface melts and seals it closed and the insulation gives off water vapour, which is one of the ways it keeps the temperature in the safe below the ignition temperature of paper, which is what it is designed to do.

This is why they say in the owner manual, not recommended for firearms, and for electronic storage media. Apparently they do make a safe that is safe for electronic storage media but I have never seen one for sale that is labelled that way.

Your gun won't burn, but it might be rusty once you find the safe in the basement under the debris and smash it open after the fire.

The sentry is a fire proof safe, designed mostly for documents (insurance papers, birth certificates etc.). There are fire proof GUN safes, but they are large heavy and expensive.
 
Russoft said:
Makes sense. I was looking at a few other options in the same price range that are made specifically for pistols and they all look flimsy in comparison. And if you say you haven't had a corrosion problem, then I won't either since I don't intend to keep it closed for long periods. I have a different model, but I looked yours up and yours is just a bit bigger and it's digital instead of combination like mine. Other than that, identical. I think you've convinced me to stick with what I bought. Thanks.
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You wont be disappointed, just keep some silica packets in the bottom and you'll be fine. Sentry Safe not only makes good quality products, but they offer very reasonable prices. This is my second Sentry Safe, I also have one of their large fireproof gun safes. I want to also point out Sentry's customer service, top notch! When I first got my smaller safe, I was a bit too eager to get it installed and I accidentally broke of some of the notches on the digital keypad bezel. These notches are used to secure the pad in place after you change batteries. Long story short, Sentry sent me a brand new safe, no questions asked and told me to destroy the old one. (I crushed it in a 100 Ton press at my shop... :cool:)

paulz said:
The issue with them is that when exposed to fire, the plastic outer surface melts and seals it closed and the insulation gives off water vapour, which is one of the ways it keeps the temperature in the safe below the ignition temperature of paper, which is what it is designed to do.

This is why they say in the owner manual, not recommended for firearms, and for electronic storage media. Apparently they do make a safe that is safe for electronic storage media but I have never seen one for sale that is labelled that way.

Your gun won't burn, but it might be rusty once you find the safe in the basement under the debris and smash it open after the fire.

The sentry is a fire proof safe, designed mostly for documents (insurance papers, birth certificates etc.). There are fire proof GUN safes, but they are large heavy and expensive.
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True... However, your firearms aren't going to rust in a couple of hours... Depending on how long it takes for them to get the fire out at most they will be damp and a little dusty after the recovery... The fireproof technology is no different then my other big fire proof gun safe.....
 
pfff, I was mostly worried about day to day use. If it's only in concern to a fire that the issue of water containing insulators is an issue, no big deal. I'll keep the silica in the safe and if I really am concerned I'm sure I can put some other desiccants in there.

Thanks all for the input, it's been helpful.
 
I think that warning inside the safe is more to protect the manufactures butt more than anything. I have one and bought a desiccant pack to absorb any moisture build up. I will be opening that safe at least once a week and it holds three guns at a reasonable cost and meets the storage requirements. Long-term storage may be another matter but if I have a fire and if my guns get damaged because of moisture then my house will be gone too and the guns will be a smaller worry. Mine cost $100.00 is well hidden and I think does the job with the help of the desiccant which has a colour change indicator if it does absorb a significant amount of moisture. I bought a second pack and refresh them in the oven when the indicator changes colour.
 
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Garrison safe

I recently bought a safe made by Garrison (at Canadian Tire).
This one was slightly larger than a similar Sentry and has a programmable digital keypad type lock. It was considerably cheaper then the Sentry.
 
The Garrison's are security safe's not fire safe's which is why they are cheaper. WHile I haven't tested it, there are some reports that they can all be opened by a single master combination. Walmart sell a decent sized Sentry with dial lock for $177 that would hold a moderate handgun collection or a smaller collection and some loaded mags.
 
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