Buying the right kind of gun safe is a very important part of being a responsible gun owner. In any state, owning a proper gun safe is not only good practice, but can save you from liability if your guns are stolen. Gun safe technology has progressed very rapidly over the last couple of decade.
With more and more guns in circulation and more people keeping a gun in the home, choosing a well-designed, highly secure gun safe is essential for safety. Picking a safe can also be a confusing process since there are so many sizes, security options, maintenance, and installation procedures.
From the layout of the interior of the safe to fire proofing to lock style, buying a gun safe requires weighing a lot of elements to ensure that you’re getting the right safe for your individual needs.
Since safely storing your weapons is the highest priority, investing in a gun safe is just that, an investment.
When you’re paying for security, you get what you pay for, so researching all of your options is the best place to start. Here are some tips for investing in a gun safe.
● Know the Brands
Like anything, gun safe manufacturers design and market different features. Each brand of safe is going to specialize in different aspects like fire proofing or interior rack design and structural strength. Shopping around and researching different brands is a good idea when you’re going to spend upwards of a thousand dollars on a safe.
Taking into account size and weapon type will help ease the decision process as well. Typically, purchasing a safe 58’’ high and 36-40’’ wide is a good size to accommodate most rifles.
● Decide on a Budget
Gun safes are expensive, so budget your expenses. The bigger the safe and the more security, the more you will pay. Knowing your collection and even estimating your future acquisitions will help you narrow down brands and costs within your price range. For gun enthusiasts, opting for a slightly larger safe than you think you need is a good option for expanding your collection.
It’s better to get more space for an extra couple hundred dollars that have to upgrade your safe entirely. If your budget is low, consider a used safe. Most safes are perfectly fine used and often you can get a good deal.
● Understand the Safe Specs
Just because the safe is enormous and looks strong, doesn’t mean that it is highly secure. Even if the safe looks pretty beefy and unbreakable to you, an highly skilled thief with the right tools could still breach the security mechanisms.
When you’re investing so much money in a gun safe, do your research, talk to the dealers, and find out everything about the grade of steel and the relockers to prevent tampering. Heavy steel is resistant to cutting and drilling and any extra devices to ensure the safe stays locked in case of tampering.
● Know Your Locking Device
Gun safes come with either digital or mechanical dial locks. The future of many gun safes is going towards digital locks, but many prefer the mechanical locks for trusted security. The rotary dial locks take longer to open, but are often more durable than the electronic locks on many safes.
This is particularly true for cheaper, lower quality safes. Electronics often fail at some point and can require costly replacement or even professional help to open a malfunctioning lock. No matter the type of lock, investing in a quality lock will ensure proper security for your guns.
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Ben Vaughn’s preference when it comes to safes is a cannon safe. He enjoys writing on a host of topics from choosing a quality gun safe to understanding and properly storing weapons at home. When he is not writing or researching, he enjoys a range of outdoor activities including rock climbing and shooting.