Opinions on gun safes

G

GreifShorthairs

New member
What gun safes do you have and what are your likes or dislikes on them? Am thinking of a Champion or Pella Security. Main reason is Champion is sold by one of my favorite stores Scheels (they have excellent customer satisfaction/service) and the Pella Security since they are made here in Iowa. What are your opinions on these brands as well.
Also what options should I be looking at? Already figuring on getting bigger than I need for growing room plus I want to keep family pictures in it as well.
Thanks.
 
Thoughts from one who has learned the hard way. Buy the best and biggest you can afford and then go one grade better and one size larger.

I bought quality the first time around but went too small. Last year I had to buy another. The strain invoked on my relationship with my wife, caused by having to buy a second gun safe, was almost insurmountable.

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BTW, I like the Liberty line.
 
Claimbuster - Do you feel the Liberty's are a better quality than the brands I mentioned? In what order place the brands for quality?
Sorry for all the questions just don't know much about safes.
 
I just bought a Canon 22 gun safe. It is 1hr fire rated and I filled it up quick. I tried to keep all long guns on one side to have the shelving on the other side for other things. If I buy another long gun, the shelves will have to go. They are heavy..duh. Trick your friends into coming over for a beer. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I looked at several and the Canon fit my needs. Lifetime warranty on residential application.
 
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Hey Shorthairs, I cannot respond to your question as I am not familiar with the brands you cited. When we were shopping I really liked the fit and finish of the Liberty in light of its price.
 
Just looked at Liberty's site. Looked at the National Security....$12,399!!!!!!!! That one Ain't happening!!!!
Really nice looking safes though.
TexasAg93 - Great idea on the tricking friends!!! I will look at the Canon also.
 
Buy 3 times bigger than you think you will need. Make sure it is fireproof as well. Store your valuables in it. Very worth investment.
 
I have been told that unless you are gonna set it and never move it, to buy 2 smaller ones over one larger one. Mine was bad enough(700lbs), can't imagine a bigger one.
 
I paid $650 for my 27 gun Cannon a few years ago at a local Costco, I'm very pleased with it. Best I can say is buy bigger than you think you'll ever need. You'd be surprised how fast you can fill one up.
 
I bought a StackOn 28 gun water and fire proof one from Dicks sporting goods....which was hard for me because i would have rather had the points from Cabelas ... but the price was sooo much lower than the others at the time. I like it because of the value and the fact I can lift the front door off and move in two pieces...maybe you can do that will all of them, don'tknow, but I know you can with the StackOn....would be a beast to move if you couldn't get the door off. It has a manual lock, which I wanted too, simply because I didn't know what would happen if the battery ran out on the electronic one or how the electronics would react in a fire...and figured the old style is more my speed anyway. Dicks where I live seem to run them on sale once a month, and then I waited till they had some kind of spend so much and get so much off deal and got another 30 knocked off. There are more highly ratedy rated fire safes in the market for a whole lot more money but ...again, not scientific...but I asked a fireman friend if he had seen any gun safes in fires and relative temperatures.....he said he had seen them and in a lot of cases they didn't even get hot enough to cause the seal to expand or whatever it does....so i figured the fire rating on the StackOn was sufficient, who knows, don't want to find out. He also suggested placing it in a basement, ideally in a corner (two sides to cement) but simply being in the basement against a cement wall will help on heat issue. Also, heaven forbid...if its a bad fire and you have on above floors, the thing is going to come crashing down. I wanted mine more for security than anything. I gotta tell ya I got all balled up while making the decision, but in the end I realized it is going to be bolted to the floor in my basement where nobody is going to be looking at it anyway, so I chilled.... There are better looking safes out there but I bought the StackOn because the price was right and it had the features I thought I wanted. Hope it helps, to each his own.

Here is a link to the 28 gun
http://www.stack-on.com/securityplus/total_defense_series/gsxw-528.html

Don't hold me to it, but I think you will see them advertized in the sunday paper/dicks sportinggood flyer once a month or so for around $700
 
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My fort Knox Yeager weighs 1850 pounds. I won't be moveing
anytime soon. I looked at every brand and found Fort Knox to be the best. Liberty second. Rick
 
I have heard that cannon safes are awesome. I worked at the heritage safe plant in my home town for one summer. They are very well constructed very nice safes.

Things to look for @ least 45-60 minute fire rating. And like everyone else has said buy the biggest and best you can afford. If you already have 10 guns do not get a 15 gun safe, chances are you will need a new one 3-4 years down the road. Buy a safe at least 10-12 guns bigger than what you currently own.
 
I have a Browning & Zanotti(Iowa made) with dial locks. I also don't trust electronics long term. These are both on the 500 lb empty range & in our modern dry basement. No average 3 guys is going to get them out without time & tools.

I bought the Zanotti last summer. I had heard there are conditions where a guy can use the cost with tax deductions. I'm not sure if I did that on the 1st but plan to look into it for 2008 taxes.
 
I had mine custom built by Jeff Johnson out of Zionsville Indiana. I went to his shop and we drew it up. 90 days later he and a crew of 4 delivered and installed the safe in my basement. He does ship, as he was in the process of send 2 new ones to the west coast. Here is a link to his web site.
http://www.johnsonsafe.com/

B..
 
Greif,
I have outgrown my Stack-On safe, and it is not fireproof. The guy I teach Hunter Ed with has several Zanotti safes and loves them.

I am leaning toward that route, as my 'Man Room' is on the lower level. The room is in an area that would be impossible to get a standard fire-proof safe into.

The modular design of the Zanotti will be the cat's meow for me!

Tim
 
I bought the Cannon C30 it weighs approx. 700lbs. nice things about these safes. 1. warranty,best in the business 2. modular interior congiguration capable.3. You can move it with a rented dollie. I moved mine with a friend from CA to WY, I was amazed how easy it was.Your not going to move it loaded with guns,It will hold 30 long guns.
 
I bought a Champion and love it. Debated long between Champion and Liberty. Not sure if there's truely a big difference in quality but have been very pleased with the Champion
 
Bought a 25gun champion from scheels about a year ago. Looking at another one in near future because it is already to small. For every scoped gun it equals two in the safe.Thought I had one big enough butit fills up real quick. It was not to hard to get in. Friend of mine and I got it in the door and then took golf balls and rolled it into place. Make sure you anchor it to the floor. Buy the best fire rated and one 2x bigger than you need.
 
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