There are two routes to go when it comes to gun safes. Either go cheap with basically a steel box or spend $7000+ for actual fire safety. Everything in the middle is a waste of money.
A basic steel box will keep the kids and mentally unstable people safe. If you want to upgrade a bit change the original lock for something better. Find a tight space to wedge the safe in and bolt the heck out of it. I squeezed mine into a tight nook and added more anchoring points. The idea is that the placement doesn’t leave much room to get leverage on the safe. Then again, a grinder with a cutting wheel can make short work of it.
Most “fireproof” safes don’t provide much protection in the real world. When I was a firefighter I never saw one actually save the guns. Many also provide even less security than a basic steel box. Some of them are built with such thin metal they can be cut with a regular skill saw. Fireproofing is often just sheet rock. That’s why they are so heavy. It’s because of drywall, not steel.
A cheap way to upgrade a cheap steel safe is with electronic sensors. A buddy of mine has a sensor package that monitors heat, humidity, and motion. When tripped it sends an alert to his phone. One time it went off when there was a 3.0 earthquake so they do work.
Probably my best gun safe security is that it is pretty well hidden. If you can’t find it, you can’t rob it.
-Sixbears
I'm guessing using fireproof adhesive mastic (such a thing?) and attaching 2 layers of 5/8-X drywall to all interior sides of a safe would afford some protection. Even beginning with a cheap Harbor Freight safe. (Not a gun safe).
ReplyDeleteI'm not saying it's worth nothing, but it's not enough to bother with.
DeleteDrywall 'might" add a couple of minutes of protection from fire - thats all.
ReplyDeleteExactly. Not only that, should you trust guns that were exposed to a lot of heat?
DeleteI was thinking more of documents and federal reserve notes, not guns.
DeleteAnd a layer of 5/8"X drywall on each side of a wood stud partywall gives a 2hour separation. Many permit plan reviews with fire Marshalls over the years taught me a little.
Could work for a limited time. You will also have to protect against water damage. Better hope it's not a two hour and fifteen minute fire.
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