Question about Fireproof Gun Safes

[Becky]

Thanks for all the responses. We’ve gone with a Big Horn safe from Costco. Heavy safe, good price and free shipping.

Becky

[Matt_W]

I have a gun safe at my primary residence. I bought the Big Horn safe from Costco and it is rated for 30 min. It cost $599 and they delivered it. It is a good size – they claim you can store 24 long guns. It has adjustable shelves to store handguns, etc.

One correction on a prior comment in this thread – there is no law stating that ammunition needs to be stored separately from guns. While this is a good safety measure, there is no law. Ammunition is not required to be locked up.

However, there is a law stating that firearms must be unloaded during transportation.

[BruceR]

General comment on house fires: My father-in-law’s house burned to the ground in the Oakland hills fire of 1991. It was a three-story structure, that got reduced to 1′ of ash and some scrap metal. However, a few things that were under the garage and next to a concrete retaining wall survived. So, what makes it through a fire depends on the nature of the structure and where the items are located in it. Things in a area with a lot of fuel around it will get destroyed or thoroughly baked; items located where there is not a lot to burn will have a better chance; location may be more important than rating time.

[mhjohn2]

Liberty safes in san jose and Bass Pro shops in Manteca have safes. Costco has them too online and in the stores sometimes and will deliver too

[ndamico]

i would look at sturdy safe company in Fresno. they aren’t cheap but for what you get it is excellent value. they have a lot of info on their site about fire ratings which would be good to read up on.

i look at a safe as a lifetime investment so even it is costs a few thousand dollars it is worth it for the security it provides for irreplaceable things.

also google the video of the guy breaking into a safe with a fire axe. it goes to show how many of the thinner safes really don’t do much.

[w.eppler]

I think it really boils down to the value of your weapens and sentimentally or replaecment cost in the event of a fire or breakin! I personally would go for at least 45 miniutes if you can for the mountain home. In addition, with a better safe your going to delay or discourage a theif from messing with your collection ifit will involve to much work to break in.You can probably get more safe for your $ by going used off Craigs list! As noted, make sure to bolt it to the floor and wall. Bill

[Skip]

I picked up a 10 gun Winchester safe at Tractor Supply for about $350. Fairly small, about a square foot and 4 foot tall. Keep in mind that to be legal your ammo has to be in a separate locked cabinet. The fire dept. may be useful for your questions about fire duration though.

[rswheeler1]

I don’t have a gun safe at my cabin, but I do at home. It is NOT fireproof. The brand name is Stackon. It’s heavy gauge steel bolted to the wall and floor. It’s available at Dick’s Sporting Goods, was on sale recently for around $100. You use a key to open it rather than a combination.

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