gun safes?

[swc007]

here is the deal... im a college student and i have a nice number of guns in my apt. (for a college student) i really want a safe even thought i feel my weapons are very well hidden in my apt. i have two rifles,1 shotgun,3 pistols, and i need something that will fit all that and possible a couple of extra for future.... i live 3 three stories up haha so a huge safe wont do well...something that will not bankrupt me and something that some guy cant just crow bar open... am i just dreaming here or is there a safe that fits this description.... any suggestions? also im very new to this sight so wasnt' 100% where to post this... i had a guy tell me i really needed to invest in one after he showed me his safe and huge collection of guns

[A-R]

Try ths one ...

http://www.academy.com/index.php?page=c ... 03031-1455" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[dcphoto]

I can't really suggest anything better than austinrealtor, but I will warn you with this. Gunsafes are like fish tanks. Put a fish in a tank, and he will grow to fit that tank. Put your gun collection in a safe, and it will grow to fill that safe. Then you just have to buy a bigger safe, and then more guns, and then a bigger safe, and more guns, ad naseum. I love it. My wife hates it.

For reference, I have one of these (size 20) and you'd be crazy to try to bring it up to the third floor. It was bad enough getting it up four stairs into our old house. Horrible getting it up (and down two years later) to a second floor apartment.

[glbedd53]

Yeah, like they said. Your problem is you do need a safe but you need a small one. We all know you're gonna outgrow it. I would go ahead and get a small one and when you have a house use it for other important stuff , put it in a closet or somethin, and get a big one for the guns. May not be the beat answer but I can't think of a better one. You sure don't want to moving a big safe in and out of apartments. The other thing is how do you secure it. All safes need to be bolted down but especially small ones. One thing I know for sure. Apartments are great places to get ripped off.

[sss]

I was just about to post a similar topic - hope you guys don't mind me butting into this one with my own question. I've got two pistols and a rifle, and will probably be adding a few more here and there over the years.

Here's what I'm considering:
$148.00 http://www.amazon.com/SentrySafe-G0135- ... 271&sr=8-3" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
$279.97 http://www.amazon.com/Stack-GS-8-8-Gun- ... 33&sr=8-16" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The $148 one is more of a hardened cabinet than a proper gun safe, but it's very tempting for $150. I would imagine that the $150 cabinet would be good enough against fending off your common burglar. Another benefit of buying at Amazon... free shipping, delivery to your home, and no sales tax.

What do you guys think?

[LJM]

I have not tried these but they look very interesting.
http://www.dakotasafe.com/interlocxp.html

[OldCannon]

Short version of my rambling: Go read this web page first - http://www.6mmbr.com/gunsafes.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Longer version that is more-specific to your situation:

It's less about price than it is about how secure the guns are. A third story apt presents a ton of problems for both you AND the bad guy. Get the most safe you can afford, but one thing I would suggest is a modular safe like the Dakota Interloc Safe. I have one of these (actually, two of them) and _love_ them.
http://www.dakotasafe.com/interlocxp.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. Zanotti also makes modular safes that are smaller, so it's important to shop around.

The Dakota safes are solid (weight about 500+ lbs when assembled), the interlocking plate system is undoubtedly pry-proof (more on that in a sec), and the safe is made from 12ga steel. Because the safe is in pieces, you get the package in 4 boxes, with the heaviest being the front door. Two strong people can haul that up to a 3rd floor apt, so you get the advantage of being able to move it yourself and not advertising, "Hey! I'm getting a heavy duty gun safe installed! I guess I own a lot of valuable guns". You can find safes like this at some dealers, or have one shipped to you for about $1000 from the manufacturer.

Now the slight downside: 12ga steel, as some safe vendors will tell you, isn't the thickest steel you can get, and will sell you on 8ga or 10ga steel, single mold forms (no welds/seams), and different fireproofing options. You have to weigh your situation with what you can afford and your personal preferences (read that gun safe buying guide I linked to above).

One thing I'll say about the high end safes, which will get very expensive: A determined thief that knows they are cracking a strong safe will bring a cutting (or plasma) torch and other tools, and will likely have carefully cased your habits and know exactly where your safe is. In an apartment situation though, you're more likely wanting something that will deter a pair of goons with inexpensive 3 foot wrecking bars. That means that _any_ safe must be a) Secured down to the floor and b) out of sight (tucked into a walk-in closet in your bedroom is best). Remember, a safe that isn't secured down is simply a heavy shopping cart for 4 strong thieves, or can be pushed over on the floor and then they can go to town on the front door with cheap pry bars (they can now use all their body weight as leverage if the safe is lying on the floor).

[Keith]

Thats my problem I bought a 37 CF safe thinking it was plenty and its already getting tight in there. Your biggest problem is going to be weight on the 3rd floor and getting a safe up there unless you find something thats lighter but you have alot of guns to store.

[CC Italian]

I had the same problem when I was in college. I decided I didn't want everyone seeing me bring a safe into my apartment and lug it up two flights of stairs. My solution was to leave all my non essential guns at my parents until I graduated. I bought my own safe and put it in my old room in my parent’s house. All the guns in my apartment were kept in a small handgun safe. I took the safe from my parents when I got my own house and bolted it down. I know many would say they want all their guns but personal protection was all that really mattered to me and I know some parents live out of state or for whatever reason they won’t let you keep guns at their house. It was just my solution.

Also, like others have said. If they want in your safe they will get in. The bigger safes with better locks just take them more time. Safes are just deterrents. Almost all burglars don't want to be in your house when you get home.

[Running Arrow Bill]

Not to pour water on your fire (no pun intended...lol), I question the choice of keeping that many firearms in your 3rd story college housing. As an individual who has lived in a dorm (many years ago) when in college, "dorms" and/or other "college housing" are not the safest place to keep anything of high value... And, it is too easy to let one's "stuff" slip out in a casual conversation with others...

That aside...

Not sure what the answer is. However, I'd think that keeping one or two significant handguns would be the maximum in your situation. Find another safe place to store your "catch" excess. Any gun safe small and light enough to be bolted down could be carried off by someone(s)...and, doubt if you would be allowed to anchor the safe to college owned property. A LARGE HEAVY safe (assuming you could get someone to move it up stairs (or in an elevator) would be a dead give-away that you HAD a gun safe... We all know that a dedicated thief with a small portable cutting torch could open your safe while you were away at classes or some other event.

JMHO...

[OldCannon]

A LARGE HEAVY safe (assuming you could get someone to move it up stairs (or in an elevator) would be a dead give-away that you HAD a gun safe...

That was my point about the Dakota (or the Zanotti) -- it looks like you're hauling up one of those IKEA entertainment cabinets instead...that doesn't attract much attention (because lets be honest, who wants to be roped into "helping" somebody haul an IKEA entertainment cabinet up to a 3rd floor? )

[swc007]

i am looking at the electronic locks and it seems a little off to me... how is the lock powered and are there packup ways to open a safe if the electronic lock goes out??? or should i not bother with electronic at all? figure i can save up and get a nice one worth the money and not a " a heavy shopping cart" for the crook to carry off with ha

[Cosmo 9]

I just saw this on youtube and thought of this thread.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vob-w_k ... re=related" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[jeeperbryan]

my suggestion is....keep your guns at your parents house or just buy some insurance for them. if you're anything like me, you'll move several times during and after college. the last thing you want to haul around is a heavy gun safe. i'd also suggest to stay away from the stackon filing cabinets. you can break into those with a swiss army knife. heck you can break into a decent RSC with a screwdriver.

[TxGambler]

Does anyone know about in the wall rifle safes? All I need to store is three rifles and some ammo.
Want to have it hidden maybe with a removable or spring loaded door.

Thanks