Gun and Bow Safe
Contributors to this thread:Equipment
From: kyrob
06-Jun-23
Anyone got any ideas/opinions on safes? Any to stay away from and any place that will be straight up with info? Seems to be a lot of shady outfits out there. Probably keep some archery stuff in it as well.
Thanks
From: LBshooter
06-Jun-23
Fort Knox, or Liberty, stay away from the basspro models,. Go look and search you tube, lots of good videos on what to look for.
From: Grunt-N-Gobble
07-Jun-23
I'm partial to Liberty. Buy one with an actual combination lock/dial. No electronics. And get one bigger than you think you need. It fills up fast.
From: DanaC
07-Jun-23
Be sure to ask about delivery and set-up.
From: Zbone
07-Jun-23
"get one bigger than you think you need"
Yep, totally agree...
From: spike78
07-Jun-23
Just buy whatever safe you want get a couple cameras from Amazon that go to your phone and if someone breaks into your house you call the police. Any safe should be good enough to keep kids out.
From: molsonarcher
07-Jun-23
I have a Liberty as well. I also should have followed advice given above on buying bigger than you need. You wont regret that decision in a couple years if you are anything like most of us here.
From: Dale06
07-Jun-23
The devil is in the details. Most safe manufacturers make different models. The issues are, thickness of the wall steel, thickness of the door, number of locking bolts, and quality of the fire protection, if it’s a fire safe. I have American Security safes. Having said all that, any semi competent thief with a battery powered right angle grinder can go through the side of most safes in a minute. And I’m told that the fire protection in most safes is poor at best. So I’d plan on buying a safe for keeping the kids out and stopping the less than professional thief, which is most of them. Lastly as said above buy bigger than you think you need.
From: WV Mountaineer
07-Jun-23
^^^^This^^^^. None made are totally impenetrable. But, fire rating is where you’ll be best served to research.
From: Verdehunter3
07-Jun-23
Superior safe co. They are pricier than the big box safes but well worth it. You get what you pay for.
From: Bake
07-Jun-23
I bought a Hollon. I really like it so far. The salesman who sold it to me was a part time firefighter. He told me that if you have a fire, doesn’t matter the safe, you’re gonna lose your stuff. Either the fire gets too hot, or the chemicals and spray the firefighters use get in and ruin it anyways.
If they say they’ll hold so many guns, cut that number in half. They won’t hold that many unless you’re a jigsaw and Tetris champion
From: Glunt@work
07-Jun-23
After seeing pics of the contents of safes after the Marshall fire here in CO, I dont expect contents to make it through one. As above, my concern is kids and amature thieves so I have some less expensive ones.
From: KY EyeBow
07-Jun-23
I bought the biggest Liberty safe (64T, i think) I could get through Tractor Supply a few years ago. The only reason I could think of to buy a smaller one is that it would be somewhat easier to move. I was thinking this one wouldn't ever be moved by me again, but alas, it'll be moved in about 10 days. Seems to be pretty damn solid. If someone can break into it, then they've probably already killed me in the process, so I guess they can have it.......
From: deerhunter72
07-Jun-23
I about drove myself crazy looking for a safe several years ago. In the end I decided that no matter what you buy, a determined/professional thief can get in pretty easy. I bought a 64 gun (HA!) Stack On and I like it ok. It's stuffed full and I could use another one. If I ever build a house, I will consider a hidden gun vault room/safe room.
From: alspensinons1987
05-Feb-25
When I was looking for my safe, I did a ton of research and ended up going with a Liberty Gun Safes. I needed something reliable for my firearms and some archery gear, too. It was a bit more expensive than some of the off-brand options, but it’s been totally worth it. The build quality is solid, and the customer service is top-notch—they were super transparent and helpful when I had questions. Honestly, I’ve heard a lot of sketchy things about other brands, but Liberty’s been a game-changer.
From: Dale06
05-Feb-25
Look at look at the specs, steel thickness of the walls and door, number of locking lugs, fire rating specs, etc. most companies make safes for different price points (different specs). And someone said buy bigger than you think you need. The “gun capacity” rating is not at all accurate if you have bolt action guns, or scoped guns. And I’ve heard to stay away from electronic locks. Mine have mechanical locks and have been trouble free for over 20 years.
From: Altitude Sickness
05-Feb-25
Just put Hoyt signs on your driveway and on the safe. No one will bother it :>)))
Sorry, it was just too easy. :>)))
Seriously though, anyone with an angle grinder can get into most home safes in :10. They just keep kids and amateurs out. More importantly is to store all your valuables, passports, cash, jewelry, gold etc. Inside a fireproof bag inside the safe to protect them, rated for 5000-6000 degrees. They are also water proof incase the fire dept puts the house fire out.
Fire bags are cheap added insurance against fire.
From: Altitude Sickness
05-Feb-25
Altitude Sickness 's Link
If you have a lot of firearms or expensive firearms. Your home owners usually won’t cover it all. That Usually requires a rider or endorsement. You are Better off buying a separate firearm insurance policy. Mine covers loss, breakage on shipment when I sell one, and damage. you just tell them your total dollar value and they’ll write you a policy. usually better coverage and cheaper than homeowners rider.
From: WV Mountaineer
05-Feb-25
Be more aware that the type of lick the safe has is likely more important then the brand of safe.
Do not, for any reason, buy a safe with an electronic keypad. These key pads have codes that will open them. And, as people have had to use these services, somehow somebody these codes are on the internet.
June of last year my home was broken into and I had a large amount of money stolen from mine. We typed into Google my safe name and model with override codes. The second one Google produced opened mine.
Don’t be me.
From: drycreek
05-Feb-25
I put my important papers in a “fire proof” box inside one of my safes. Double the protection I hope. All my guns are insured and both safes have keypads on them. I’m not fooling with a combination every time I get into one, but YMMV. There’s nothing in there that can’t be replaced with something else. That said, I wouldn’t want to lose them, some more than others. Our gated entrance will keep 99% of the unwanted out, and I’m retired, so I’m home a lot. Life is a gamble !
From: Altitude Sickness
06-Feb-25
It’s definitely a layered approach. Dog, Cameras, security signs at the gate. I have real cameras and a bunch of dummy cameras on the house and every out building.
From: RJR
06-Feb-25
I bought a Zanotti Z3-5ft 52 gun safe: https://zanottiarmor.com/ The great thing about these safes is that you can completely take them apart if you move.
From: BTM
06-Feb-25
"I put my important papers in a “fire proof” box inside one of my safes." Ditto!
From: Hank_S
06-Feb-25
My Liberty safe (and the contents) didn't survive the Marshall wildfire in CO...perhaps if it had been installed in the garage (where the fire wasn't as hot) the contents may have survived.
I have been told that wildfires will destroy contents of almost all safes, so...
Make sure that your firearms are more than covered, get a different policy covering just them. And, make sure that your homeowners insurance coverage is up to date. After the fire, the rebuilding costs were 40% more than I received from the insurance company.
From: longsprings
06-Feb-25
I have a safe , inside the safe for valuables I have 2 fireproof lockable boxes for additional protection. I do not have electronic locks. But also its important to fasten your safe so it cant be layed in its side , much easier to break in with good pry bars laying on the floor Theres a great video on this on internet 2 thieves 20 min destroyed the safe
