Size
An optimally sized gun safe should comfortably be able hold
your entire gun collection and gun related accessories without being too
cluttered or messy. There are all sorts of sizes to consider, and most gun
safes are marked with the maximum number of rifles they can hold, and this can
range anywhere from under 10 to over 65.
One of the biggest regrets people have after buying a safe
is that they wish they had purchased a larger one. This is because, as you will
quickly find out, there are so many non-gun related valuables you can store in
your gun safe as well. Luckily, there are several accessories you can use to
maximize the space that you do have. For instance, a door organizer can hang on
the back of the door and hold many small, loose items, including handguns and
ammunition; pistol racks can hold and organize your pistols; and jewelry
drawers and cash boxes can help protect your jewelry, cash, and other small
valuables that you would like to keep separate.
Large, free-standing, gun safes are great if you have
multiple guns, ammo, and other gun related accessories for it to hold. But if
you only own a single pistol, or would like to keep a pistol separate from the
rest of your collection, you can also consider a pistol or a handgun safe. They
are much smaller than normal gun safes and can easily be hidden inside of a
closet or under a bed. They are also a lot less expensive than traditional gun
safes.
Security
A steel plate encased within the walls of your gun safe is
what stops a drill from being able to drill right through it. The thickness of
the plate is measured by gauges, and the lower the gauge, the thicker the
plate. For instance, 10 gauge equals 9/64 inch and 12 gauge equals 7/64 inch,
making the 10 gauge plate slightly thicker, and a little more secure than the
12 gauge plate. 10 gauge and 12 gauge are the two most common you will find,
just remember that the lower the gauge, the thicker the plate.
You will also want to consider the different types of safe
locks. Combination locks are the most common you will find, and they are
tested, tried, and true. Electronic locks, also known as digital locks, are
just as secure as combination locks and perhaps a little bit easier to open.
They are basically a key pad with the numbers 0 through 9, and can be opened by
entering a pre-determined code. A common safety feature associated with digital
locks is that they temporarily disable themselves after several wrong code
entries, usually for 10 to 15 minutes. Electronic locks require batteries that
need to be changed from time to time. Most manufacturers give you the decision
between a combination lock and an electronic lock, with the electronic lock
being a little more expensive.
A little less common, but just as secure, is the biometric, or
fingerprint lock. Biometric safes can store multiple fingerprints and are even
quicker and easier to open than digital locks, especially in the dark, since
they only require the scanning of the proper fingerprints to be opened. These
locks also require batteries.
A couple of other important security features include fire
and water resistance. Most gun safes, by their very nature, are at least
somewhat fire and water resistant, but the degree to which they are able to
withstand the elements varies greatly. To keep manufacturers honest in their
claims, an independent agency called Underwriter's Laboratory (UL) tests for
different levels of fireproof and waterproof capabilities.
For instance, "waterproof" and "water
resistant" mean two different things. Water resistant means that the safe
was tested in standing water for a period of time without damage to the
contents, while waterproof means that the safe was completely submerged in
water.
Certified fireproof safes usually come with a UL rating that
labels the amount of time that the safe can withstand a fire without damaging
its contents, and this can range anywhere from 30 minutes to up to 2.5 hours.
Another proactive measure you can take is mounting your gun
safe to the floor. This prevents burglars from pushing it over to weaken the
structure, or simply taking off with the entire safe. Safes often come with
pre-drilled holes and the proper mounting equipment to properly secure your gun
safe to the ground.
It may be odd to think about, but you will also need to
protect your gun safe from itself. Highly secure safes are almost air tight,
which creates a humid environment due to the minimal air circulation. This is
especially true if you live in a humid region. Metal objects that are exposed
to humidity for too long will begin to rust, and this includes your gun
collection. Fortunately, you can easily combat humidity with safe
dehumidifiers. There are all sorts of dehumidifiers and none of them are very
expensive, including electric dehumidifiers, renewable dehumidifiers, and
silica packets.
Pricing
Gun safe prices pretty much run the gambit. A large, free
standing gun safe can run anywhere from several hundred dollars to well over
$5,000. It usually comes down to a combination of size, looks, security
features, accessories, and name recognition, with the median price for a good
sized, high quality gun safe running in the $2,500 range. There are many
different manufacturers for you to consider and they've all got their own
features and benefits, and there are all sorts of places for you shop for a gun
safe, both online and offline, so with a little bit of leg work you can really
find a good deal.
Searching for online gun safe retailers is a
good place to start because, through the magic of competition, they tend to
offer wide selections at discounted prices, often with no shipping costs or
sales tax. This also makes it easier to comparison shop.