Gun Safe

[Daltex1]

Looking at getting a gun safe, would like input on brands and what type of fire protection would be best for my situation(volunteer fire dept) also anyone know of places that sell used safes?Thanx

[ScubaSigGuy]

Daltex,

Check out this post. It helped me a great deal.



http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_F ... highlight=

[Piney]

Greetings--

What about placing a stand up gun safe on the second floor of a (modern) house ?
Notwithstanding the grunting and groaning to get it up the stairs-- anyone do this ? problems ?

Im assuming that the seller would deliver and place it.....

[jim314]

If you can physically move the safe to the second floor, then I think you'll be fine. As far as the seller moving it, my experience is if you don't want to set it yourself, they will give you some names of movers that will deliver and set it for you, for a fee. I bought a Sentry safe from Academy that my son and I moved. I wouldn't have wanted to try and move it up a flight of stairs though. I think it was around 500 lbs.

[ELB]

Piney,

I found this link helpful in deciphering fire AND burglary resistance ratings:

http://www.klsecurity.com/ul_fire_rating.htm

It's important to note that fire safe ratings and burglary resistance ratings are different, and not every safe (maybe not even most safes) achieve protection against both. In other words, a safe that protects your guns against a fire may be not much deterrence to a burglar with a few tools.

As far as the second floor goes -- I would get a professional engineer/reputable housing contractor to advise me on that one. Even if the floor joists are up to snuff, the underlayment (usually a layer or two of 3/4" plywood) may need some reinforcing -- I know of one installation where 2x6's were laid across the floor to provide support between the joists.

Good luck, and post back when you figure it out.

elb

[stevie_d_64]

Daltex,

Check out this post. It helped me a great deal.



http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_F ... highlight=

Upstairs installs are really tricky...That would be a last resort to me, and even then, its not likely to be an option...

Like another poster here mentioned...You'll need to seriously look at the "point load" that safe (when full of your favorite stuff) will be on the structure...Thats a lot of weight on such a small area on an upper floor in a house or other structure...I just wouldn't go through the trouble and expense to get it up there...Remember, it will eventually have to come down somewhere down the road...

The floor joists are certainly capable of taking a lot of load, its the connections to the walls (top plates) that come up from the foundation that may be put to the test...That are held up in most modern structures by a stamped metal saddles that are nailed at each joist union to a load bearing or internal wall frame...They work for the most part with a load already calculated for the structure itself, and a modem of load above that for furniture and other issues...A safe of this nature is an extreme test of that capacity...

Its not like the building is going to collapse, but it sure does make me worry that something could happen over time, that might not be something you want to risk...Personally or financially...

Good luck...These safes regardless, are good investments...You just got to think through all aspect of the deal...

[anygunanywhere]

Greetings--

What about placing a stand up gun safe on the second floor of a (modern) house ?
Notwithstanding the grunting and groaning to get it up the stairs-- anyone do this ? problems ?

Im assuming that the seller would deliver and place it.....

I purchased a safe from Carter's Country. Delivery was separate from the safe and cost extra.

I asked the mover about upstairs and he told me he would but it would be extra and would probably break some of my stairs.

The safe stayed downstairs. Mine is an Amesec 42 gun model and I believe weighs 900 lbs.

Anygun

[stevie_d_64]

Was that 900 lbs. empty???

[GrillKing]

I bought a safe at Sportman's Warehouse and they have a local LEO who delivers separately. It was $140 to deliver, including 1 step (porch, etc.) + $10 per step thereafter. I live in a one story house so it was $140 delivered from the store and positioned where I wanted the safe in my home.

BTW, I bought a Browning, had an issue with the Sargeant dial lock (it 'hiccuped' when you turned to/past the second number in the combination). I called Browning customer service (really Pro-Steel) and they sent a new lock, and had a locksmith come to my home and replace the lock, all at no charge (as expected) within a week of my call. I was impressed with their service. Safe works like a champ and looks good too.

Also, I'm in the state guard (shameless plug for those who may wish to join) and Sportsmans gives 5% off for that, saved me $60.

[Skiprr]

Another thought--and you firefighters correct me if I'm wrong--but the safe, in the event of a fire, will be potentially subject to more intense heat on the second floor than on the first. And that much weight on a small footprint would probably cause that section of flooring to give way quickly in a fire...making for a very massive projectile dropping down onto the first floor. Probably be less a safety issue (but the guns inside won't like it) if it's mounted at an external corner, but you'd want to think through your fire escape plans with that in mind...

[stevie_d_64]

Another thought--and you firefighters correct me if I'm wrong--but the safe, in the event of a fire, will be potentially subject to more intense heat on the second floor than on the first. And that much weight on a small footprint would probably cause that section of flooring to give way quickly in a fire...making for a very massive projectile dropping down onto the first floor. Probably be less a safety issue (but the guns inside won't like it) if it's mounted at an external corner, but you'd want to think through your fire escape plans with that in mind...

I was, and still am not a big fan of things crashing down on me in a working fire...Just not something I'd like to experience...

I've fallen through floors undermined by fire and other structural failure...It doesn't take much...

Thats why I recommend putting the safe up on blocks sandwiched with width and depth of two pieces of 3/8 plywood...Set it up on that just in case of a potential flood, if that is a risk in your area...And in a room against an outside wall near a window...

Just my recommendation...

[Piney]

Well...... Looks like its gonna have to go in the master bedroom then. The Ms aint gonna like that much unless there's one that looks like a piece of furniture !! The staris in our new place are curved-- Im concered about just carrying *MY* weight... LOL

Do folks bolt these things to the foundation ?

[gmckinl]

Do folks bolt these things to the foundation ?

Yes, absolutely! Doing so was included as part of the delivery I paid for. Only took them a very few minutes to do it.

[stevie_d_64]

Well...... Looks like its gonna have to go in the master bedroom then. The Ms aint gonna like that much unless there's one that looks like a piece of furniture !! The staris in our new place are curved-- Im concered about just carrying *MY* weight... LOL

Do folks bolt these things to the foundation ?

You two should go out and find a "room divider" that you can place in front of it...If that becomes an issue...

See, my mistakes are legendary...

[HooG19]

Thats why I recommend putting the safe up on blocks sandwiched with width and depth of two pieces of 3/8 plywood...Set it up on that just in case of a potential flood, if that is a risk in your area...And in a room against an outside wall near a window...

Just my recommendation...

I have to ask...

Why on an outside wall and near a window?