School me on gun safes

M

mhuxtable

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Its time to buy a gun safe. Looking around theres almost too many options.

Seems to be Liberty & Snapsafe are my top choices but I'm open to things.

Safe will be for fun guns, dont need quick access. Do need security & preferably fire resistance. Def want keypad entry (with key or some other backup). Space is an issue (needs to be like less than 29" deep). Don't need a monster safe. Got 3 long guns, buncha hand guns & hold ammo preferably. Also not trying to spend more than $1500ish.

Collective wisdom?
 
@mhuxtable
As stated before.. Yoo can not go wrong with Drake safes..

his customer service is second to none, he delivered and set it up, walked me thru the lock.

His quality is amazing solid plate steel on every side, and fire board inside..

would recommend gettin a upsize of what ever you think

rest assured it is just not gonna get carried off by a few hood rats, or pryed open with simple hand tools
 
Why would you even consider a keypad when you said you didn’t need quick access.
Call me old school, but I want nothing to do with electronic access for my important stuff.
First rule of thumb is, if it takes batteries or electricity, batteries will die and power will shut off.
Give me dial access.
 
Just be sure it has proper ventilation in the event you must also use it as a timeout room for the kids.[emoji1][emoji6][emoji16][emoji38][emoji28][emoji1787]

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Twelve years ago I lost my previous shop due to an electrical fire.

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Although you can’t see it, in the back left corner of the photo above was my Canon gun safe (What’s left of a Harley Softail is in the middle).

The Canon safe protected all of the firearms that were inside it. Additionally, Canon honored their lifetime replacement warranty and sent me a brand new safe at no charge and with no hassle.

I purchased the safe from Mace Sporting Goods in Mebane. Not only was the price great, Mace bent over backwards to assist me by looking up the SN# in their records (it was unreadable on the safe after the fire) so that I could move forward with the Canon warranty.

I know that a lot of members here praise Drake, and from what I’ve seen they make a great product. It’s hard to beat my experience with Canon though.

Scott
 
mhuxtable said:
So I googled Drake safes since no one listed a website & all that pops up is a FB page. Is that right?
Click to expand...

Yeah. He only has a fb page. He’s in roxboro. Builds his safes by hand. Customizes then to your specs. Greg is a great guy. No matter what you buy it’s work giving him a call or stopping by his shop to hear what he has to say.


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mhuxtable said:
Alright I'll poke around his FB page. Just looking for basic size/specs/features/price type menu.
Click to expand...
Here’s a flyer he used to give away at gun shows. If you need a better copy, send me a PM and I’ll scan it for you. No telling what his current offering/pricing might be.

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This guy is just up the road from me.

https://www.griffinsafes.com/

Granted, I bought one of his refurbished models about 10 years ago, so I can't attest to the quality of his custom built stuff. That being said, I'm happy with the one I have.
 
Not a lot of Liberty love so far so let me add it. I bought a Lincoln with a dial because I needed the space and wanted the extra fire rating. Quality is great and the shop I bought it from (Liberty Safe of Clemmons) installed it hassle free. Great experience and the quality is great.
 
I was researching them last summer. With my budget, I had narrowed it down to a Liberty Centurion 24. Then I ran across a used American Security on Craigslist. I bought the American Security and switched the electronic pad that was on it to a mechanical dial. Check out your Craigslist and classifieds here before you buy new, you never know what you might find?
 
Safes come up for sale in our BST section now and again. I've gotten two fantastic deals buying safes from members, in the past on this site.

Maybe spend 100 bucks on a cheap locking gun cabinet.

Then, watch the BST for a good deal on a nice safe that meets your needs...

Like mentioned earlier... Make sure to buy a safe that is BIGGER than you think you need. Or else you'll end up like me, with 4 different safes lined up beside each other. Haha!
 
Brand and features aside... I learned that whatever size safe you need (24 gun, 36 gun, etc), get a bigger one up front. you will fill it up eventually. Sometimes much quicker that originally anticipated!
 
Drake!
I know it has already been said but I never miss a chance to brag about Greg's product and service!
I have 2 & love them!
 
There's an estate auction coming up, the 2nd of may?
I saw 2or 3 Drake safes in the catalog.
And, I think it's up in your area.
 
I disagree with those advising to buy a bigger safe than you need. I went the other direction. I bought the smallest I could find in order to constrain my gun-buying addiction. :cool:

P.S. It didn’t work. :(
 
Jeppo said:
I disagree with those advising to buy a bigger safe than you need. I went the other direction. I bought the smallest I could find in order to constrain my gun-buying addiction. :cool:

P.S. It didn’t work. :(
Click to expand...

My safe worked just fine, until I decided I wanted an AR. That led to another, etc...

Danged ol' pistol grips!
 
Liberty FatBoy here. I’ve been really happy with it but for some reason it seems a lot smaller than when I first looked at it. [emoji23]


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Have you checked with Talton's? They are just south of Garner on Hwy. 401. They often get in consignment safes from people who have upgraded their safe.
 
Liberty fat boy jr owner here. Love it.

Things to consider regardless of what you buy:

Buy bigger than you think you need. Dont go off of what the label says for capacity. Think long term and consider that most people grow their collection vs down size.

Consider dial lock - no batteries to swap and less to go wrong.

Buy bigger than you think you need. Yup. Listed 2x.

Bolt it down. If 2 dudes can bring it in, 2 dudes can get it out.
 
Google around a bit and check out the videos of people knocking over a safe that's not bolted down and going to work with a Johnson pry bar. They get in in minutes. Whatever you get, bolt it down.
 
Had a smaller liberty with dial and was great. Replaced with a bigger cannon and though I believe the liberty to be a little better quality I have been happy with the cannon.
 
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