gunsafe reccomendations????

farmer44mag · Post by **farmer44mag** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 12:01 pm

I am planning on purchasing a gun safe and am just wondering for those of u that have them which do u think is better- a standard combination lock or one of the new electronic ones??? of course the electronic would be more convenient- just wondering how they hold up and how the standard combo locks hold up for that matter. the one i am looking at says it has a trouble key so i guess that can be opened manually as well.

opinions

deerwhacker444 · Post by **deerwhacker444** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 12:23 pm

I've got a Canon with the electronic lock. It works great. Had it for 5+ years. Can get in the safe in 2-3 seconds. When the battery is about to go out, it beeps. You change the battery and everything is normal again.

Would highly recommend a Canon with the electronic lock.

farmer44mag · Post by **farmer44mag** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 12:55 pm

deerwhacker444 wrote:I've got a Canon with the electronic lock. It works great. Had it for 5+ years. Can get in the safe in 2-3 seconds. When the battery is about to go out, it beeps. You change the battery and everything is normal again.

Would highly recommend a Canon with the electronic lock.

does yours also have a "trouble" key to manually open the lock??

Pete44ru · Post by **Pete44ru** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 1:18 pm

I bought a 22-gun, fire-rated Cannon, in which I can get 30 long guns, plus handguns, coins & jewery at Sam's Club for $800.

jnyork · Post by **jnyork** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 1:51 pm

I have two Liberty safes, one with each type of lock. They both work fine, I just cant bring myself to entirely trust the electronic one, just a function of being a geezer, I guess.

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 7:07 pm

Mine was custom made by Sportsman Steel Safe Co. I dictated the thickness of the steel, handgun posts, and the lock (manual). It only cost a few hundred more but the way I see it, its only once in a lifetime.----------Sixgun

dkmlever · Post by **dkmlever** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 7:17 pm

I have a turn dial no issues. One thing that my safe does is it's door opens all the way to 180 degrees. The ones that only open to 90 degrees are harder to get stuff in and out of.

TedH · Post by **TedH** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 7:18 pm

I bought one from Bass Pro with the digital lock. It has been trouble free for two years so far. It sure is easier than a combo lock. A buddy of mine has a combo lock on his safe and he rarely locks it because it is such a pain to open. Kind of defeats the purpose of having a safe to begin with.

Nate Kiowa Jones · Post by **Nate Kiowa Jones** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 7:40 pm

Whatever you buy it should be fireproof. Your guns are more likely to burn than be stolen. Unless you have have highly collectable pricy guns it's rather point less to buy a high end safe. Any of the medium priced Cannons will do for most folk.

But, if I had it to do over I would have bought a good safe door and frame and built a safe room.

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 12:24 am

I upgraded from an older Browning silver-series to a large, fireproof Champion a little over a year ago. Both have dials. I may not be as old as jnyork, but feel the same way - don't trust the electronic ones 100%!

kimwcook · Post by **kimwcook** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 12:09 pm

My safe is a manual, I don't care for electronics. My suggestions would be at least get one that's fire rated and find the size you like and then buy the next bigger one. You'll never regret it. Wish I had.

Idahoser · Post by **Idahoser** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 12:33 pm

Cherokee · Post by **Cherokee** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 12:34 pm

Get the manual dial type and get the biggest you can.

wm · Post by wm » Thu Jan 17, 2008 2:50 pm

Check out Zanotti safes.....They come UNASSEMBLED.

That is a great advantage if you have to move it up or down stairs or if you wnat a safe larger than the door frame of your house or a particular room.

I have a buddy with one who actually put it under the steps in his house in what was once a closet. There is a bookshelf/door in front of it now and I would wager 90% of thieves would never find it.

MikeS. · Post by **MikeS.** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 3:52 pm

I bought a nice big one back in '92 with a manual dial. I always had trouble getting it to open. Last year I had a locksmith come out last year and replace it with an electronic lock. I love the electronic.

Like others have said get the biggest one you can get, you won't regret it.

LeverBar · Post by **LeverBar** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 7:13 pm

Yes, purchase one larger than you need!

Combination lock here. I too am rather leery of the electronic age.

Bolt it in/down in an area that will be difficult for thieves to access the back and sides.

--I was just reading about safes evening before last. Can't remember the--I just remembered where:
http://www.internetarmory.com/safes.htm

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 8:11 pm

What happens if someone walks off with the electronic keypad? Hmmmmmmm......... ?

I'd get the dial one, it's harder to goof up. I think..,

Grizz

SmokeEater2 · Post by **SmokeEater2** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 8:31 pm

Maybe You guys can answer a question for me. Do the keypad safes have another way to open them? After a house fire that keypad is gonna' be gone.
So how do you get your guns out?

farmer44mag · Post by **farmer44mag** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 8:45 pm

SmokeEater2 wrote:Maybe You guys can answer a question for me. Do the keypad safes have another way to open them? After a house fire that keypad is gonna' be gone.
So how do you get your guns out?

the one i am looking at says it includes a "trouble key" so i assume there must be a key-hole behind the keypad or where the batteries go in or someplace.

I also have trouble getting combo locks to open for me at any rate of speed so thats why i want to get the electronic- if there is a key to open it in case of electrical problems than there shouldn't be a problem with them.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 9:21 pm

If you're located near Central California, look at Hall's Safes. I have the "Deluxe Model" with a 25 gun interior. Empty weight: 900lbs I think. And their artwork is fabulous.

AndyM · Post by **AndyM** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 7:31 am

Has anyone looked at the Stack-On Elite Plus - the ones that are at Dick's sporting goods (back east)? These are supposibly waterproof up to 2 or 3 ft and fireproof? the have a black body and gray door - weight about 600 lbs and hold 28 guns for $599.

they look to be a good deal to me - anybody see these?

ejc · Post by **ejc** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 7:46 am

My electronic lock has been trouble free. I don't know how long the battery will last because I change the battery once a year.

Mine has a light strip inside that comes on when you open the door. I highly recommend lioghts in the safe.

farmer44mag · Post by **farmer44mag** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 1:02 pm

AndyM wrote:Has anyone looked at the Stack-On Elite Plus - the ones that are at Dick's sporting goods (back east)? These are supposibly waterproof up to 2 or 3 ft and fireproof? the have a black body and gray door - weight about 600 lbs and hold 28 guns for $599.

they look to be a good deal to me - anybody see these?

Stack-On Elite fire resistant 24 gun model is the one i am looking at through the sportsmans guide company. price appears to be the same as elsewhere when u add up the different shipping costs from all companies.

I am getting it more for fire protection and to keep kids out when the day comes that i have some. sounds like it has pretty much the same features as the more expensive ones i have looked at. some have a better fire rating. this one is rated for 30 minutes at 1400 degrees.

farmer44mag · Post by **farmer44mag** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 1:13 pm

I called Stack-On and they said if u have electrical lock problems than u just peel off the keypad and use the manual key so i see no problem with the electronic lock. they said occasionally a key pad goes bad but other than that they have had no problems with them.

El Chivo · Post by **El Chivo** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 4:19 pm

I have the Cannon with the electronic code. One thing, if you enter it wrong, you have to wait a minute or two before trying again. Once I was in a hurry and did it wrong, then had to stand there and wait!

If there's a fire and the lock burns up, Cannon will get into it for you as part of the warranty. Ditto if thieves damage the safe trying to get in.

farmer44mag · Post by **farmer44mag** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 6:06 pm

I went ahead and ordered the Stack-On with the electric lock. i like having the option of opening it with a key if the electric lock malfunctions. and it will be much faster for me to open than a turn dial model.

horsesoldier03 · Post by **horsesoldier03** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 10:34 pm

Mine has the electronic key board. The key board is removable and has a key hole with 2 keys provided that allows you to enter the safe if you should forget your combo. I keep the keys stored seperately and have them hanging on a nail in the utility closet that is out of sight unless you happen to be working on my hotwater heater.

horsesoldier03 · Post by **horsesoldier03** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 10:35 pm

LOL guess I should have read the entire thread huh.

Idahoser · Post by **Idahoser** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 3:26 pm

My Heritage safe came from either Idaho or Utah, don't remember which. Dial lock.

Rimfire McNutjob · Post by **Rimfire McNutjob** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 3:46 pm

I have a Fort Knox with the electronic lock. I find it fairly quick to open and it uses two 9v batteries internally which seem to last for several years between changes.

I do periodically have trouble though. If the wheel / pinion is to the extreme closed point, the lock with try to retract but will not release. I then have to move the wheel about 30 degrees counter clockwise and try again. It always opens at this point. I just have to remember not to spin the wheel all the way closed. I probably should have a locksmith look at it as it's probably correctable.

As much as I like the electronic lock, I can't claim it's 100% reliable. I think what I probably need is one with a higher bolt drive capability. It would have been nice if the factory had supplied a properly sized version though.

Here are a few of the available items from S&G ...

http://www.sargentandgreenleaf.com/prod_elect.php

Peter M. Eick · Post by **Peter M. Eick** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 7:28 am

I am about to order a fort knox safe (in the next day or two once I verify with the company it will fit) but I am specifically going for a mechanical lock like my old safe.

I have electronic locks on the house doors. A smart thief would look at the wear pattern and can determine the 4 numbers used quickly. Now he only has to figure the order out. I have to replace that key pad about once a year to really stop the wear pattern or change then number routinely to solve this problem.

With a mechanical lock, I just learned the right "english" to spin the lock so I can hit it quickly.

foxtrapper · Post by **foxtrapper** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 7:52 am

Someone brought up the wear pattern on the keyboard being a possible liability . My safe uses 6 key strokes and even if you knew the 6 the odds of you getting them in the right order is astronomical . If you could have the ability to get it right your better off playing the lottery then trying to get in someones gunsafe

Think of all the guns you could buy with a millon dollar lottery hit

Peter M. Eick · Post by **Peter M. Eick** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 8:54 pm

It has been a while since I thought about it, but my basic series math is not that old.

First off, since there is 6 numbers and 6 marks that means none were reused. So with that said the odds are now quite small.

Think about it. This is very similar to a 6 sided die with your numbers on it. Lets say your combo is 6,5,4,3,2,1. I walk in. I figure out you are using 1,2,3,4,5,6 as the numbers. Now I have a bit of time and I am patient so I lay out a table on paper. Being a scientist I start simple and try the following.

1,2,3,4,5,6 nope
1,2,3,4,6,5 nope
1,2,3,6,4,5 nope
1,2,6,3,4,5 nope
1,6,2,3,4,5 nope
6,1,2,3,4,5 nope
etc.
6,5,4,3,2,1 yep

Surprisingly it is not that many combinations. As I remember this is called a series and I believe it is a factorial series. Thus 6*5*4*3*2*1 or 720 combinations to test.

So how long to punch in 720 numbers if I am patient? Maybe 30 minutes max? (Unless the lock has a timeout for error function).

Now all of you real math guys please hope in and correct the amateur that has not thought about series for almost 30 years from college. I admit it, I could be very wrong here so don't trust me until some better math guy comes along.

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 8:59 pm

farmer44mag wrote:I am planning on purchasing a gun safe and am just wondering for those of u that have them which do u think is better- a standard combination lock or one of the new electronic ones??? of course the electronic would be more convenient- just wondering how they hold up and how the standard combo locks hold up for that matter. the one i am looking at says it has a trouble key so i guess that can be opened manually as well.

opinions

None of the above. People know what's in a gun safe and will try real hard to get in/take it out.

I like Security through Obscurity:

Locks, is fireproof, and Cheaper than a Vault-safe too.

cpt Dan Blodgett · Post by **cpt Dan Blodgett** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 10:41 pm

Just Jumped on a new Cabelas (Read really a Lincoln Safe)
Has electronic lock. 2 Nine volt batteries, One nine volt keeps on board litium battery charged. If nine volt gets low starts beeping, the second 9 volt takes over keeping he lithium charged and the beep beeping.

Mfg Rep states the lithium battery is good for about 10 years.

New model safe actually only uses 1 9 volt again the lithium will last a good while on its own and the lock beeps when 9 volt battery is low.

Sorry steve young, I don't have any truly collectable guns, but dads old model 94 is irreplaceable, so I really overspent for the fire protection. Figure in a couple of years, I will have forgotten how much I over spent on the safe and will be focusing on how much I just overspent on the latest item taking up space in the safe.

Again get as much protection as you can afford and get the largest you can afford. Remember all safes are designed to be outgrown.

Lloyd Smale · Post by **Lloyd Smale** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 6:18 am

ive got a dial on mine and would never go that way again. The electronic touch pads are so much nicer. Mine rarely gets locked because its such a pain in the but to open.

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 6:56 am

Nate Kiowa Jones wrote:

But, if I had it to do over I would have bought a good safe door and frame and built a safe room.

Could not agree with you more. I know two guys who have done this, complete with cement walls and roof. Very pricey though.----------Sixgun

Borregos · Post by **Borregos** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 7:47 am

Never trusted those electronic locks.
Went to Florida on a vacation years ago and was lucky to get the hire car upgraded to a Lincoln Town Car, that had an electronic key pad to get in.
I think it only took my youngest daughter (12yrs old then) five minutes to get in and sit behind the wheel!!

jlchucker · Post by **jlchucker** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 3:26 pm

I have a Browning Sterling with a combination dial lock, and like it pretty well. Whatever you guys do don't do what a local building contractor here did. My contractor friend had a growing assortment of firearms and needed a safe. He bought one from a local dealer --the 40 inch wide model, and got his crew of slaves to help him bring it into his house one Saturday morning. it wouldn't fit the door. They, being builders, merely took out the door and casing and got it in. After putting the house back together, my friend decided to open the safe. The combination was stamped on a card attached to the door handle. He took it off, spun the dial, and lo and behold, the door opened! His next comment was "Geez! I can't be losing the combination number on this card!" He then proceeded to put the important card in the safe, and securely slammed the door shut. It took some calls to the manufacturer from his dealer , proof of the buyer's identity, and much other assorted paperwork before the duplicate combination would be revealed to my friend. He'll deny all of this to his dying day, but his crew still gets a kick out of it. Motive: Store the combination in a safe place, but not in your new gun safe--at least not until you memorize it.

gunsafe reccomendations????

gunsafe reccomendations????

Re: gunsafe reccomendations????