Is a Gun Safe An Essential Item?

[meddin]

I don't have a gun safe or cabinet yet. It's on the short list, but was wondering what you guys use....

I know even the best safes can be bested by a determined thief, and the cheap cabinets only keep the kids out and honest people honest.

I don't have kids or youngsters around ever, so I am not too concerned about that. Is locking the doors good enough since a thief already past the locked door and 3 100 lb. dogs is going to get my guns even if I have a safe/cabinet? Or should I at least go get a Stack-On cabinet and start saving for the real thing?

Discuss.

[Hammer99...]

Mines heavy but pretty cheap. Getting one gave me piece of mind and you can't put a price on that. No wait it was $800.

[Keith81]

I don't have any real high value items but I do have kids in the house so I have a couple lock boxes and a cabinet for the long guns. If you are worried about theft, if someone was to kick down your door and get past your dogs a cabinet wouldn't slow them down much. If thats your concern I would just save the money and put it towards the safe.

[timwarner]

Just load em all and stash them around the house, just in case. Then you're never too far.

I like my 6 foot rule. Never in the house and farther than 6 feet from a loaded firearm.

[rukwikenuf]

actually, i don't have a safe OR lock box. however, i have those lock-bolt thingies that came with my Sig and FN. there's a trigger lock on my 357, and a lock through my FN. my Sig1911 has nothing, but an empty chamber (at night) seeing as this is my carry-piece

[antimatter]

I made due for a number of years before I inherited one from my folks. Our old rental property had a closet that I made a false wall in with some white poster board.

[farmerj]

ya see....

I had this really nice double wall safe. 12 bolt door and the wonderful 8 number combination lock.

But it was so heavy....

It took the bottom of the boat out.

[RobD]

If you ever have kids or dumbasses over, I'd say a locking cabinet is the bare minimum.

No safe is theif-proof. Time + tools = access.

If you have anything that is of high sentimental value a fire/water resistant safe is a good idea. Otherwise insurance is good enough for most.

[SparkyJeff]

Hard to get to = safer from thieves = not very useful if a dozen gangsters are breaking open your doors and windows with sledgehammers.
Easily accessible = easily to steal = easy to use for defense in an emergency.

It's funny when answering a question about home security becomes a threat to your home security.

I won't say what I do. but,
My common sense says keep anything that is precious hidden well away.
It would also be a good idea to keep something handy, just in case some jerk wants to steal whatever you consider precious.

(this thread was washed while I was replying, I had to retype some of my nonsense)

As far as I know there is no law that says you MUST own a gun safe before you can purchase a firearm.
If you have kids, you play by different rules. (I also have no kids, so this doesn't matter to me either)

A Good, fire/water resistant safe is always a good idea. But it's overkill if you're just trying to keep your stash of M&Ms away from your maid.

[Grandpa Rex]

A Good, fire/water resistant safe is always a good idea. But it's overkill if you're just trying to keep your stash of M&Ms away from your maid.

My maid doesn't like chocolate. My pool boy does but he is not too bright. I just hide my M&Ms in an old rat poison jug and he doesn't bother them.

The rats are getting a little plump though...

[plblark]

I like my 6 foot rule. Never in the house and farther than 6 feet from a loaded firearm.

Neither is the person who breaks in and stumbles along such an arms cache ...

[1911fan]

I like my 6 foot rule. Never in the house and farther than 6 feet from a loaded firearm.

Neither is the person who breaks in and stumbles along such an arms cache ...

But only if he can find them. I have posted before about some of the mods made to my home and furnishings which hide weapons. its easy, its safe. if no one knows its there, no one can get them.

I prefer stealth over strength. I like making hiding spots that one can not find and that keeps the kids and the riff raff out of the important stuff

[samginko]

Told the wife, I needed a new safe. She asked me if I bought more guns. I had to dance pretty fast.

[solidgun]

This really depends on how many firearms you have and what you are paying to insure your firearm collections. I cannot keep my valuable collections with me and keep them with my dad who uses an updated bank vault in the basement. I have 3 safes. One for firearms that I regularly access, one for what I don't shoot and keep covered in oil, but not too expensive and one for ammunition.

I have simple desiccant packs for the guns, but I have moisture remover plugged in for the ammo.

If I had 1 or 2 handguns, I wouldn't bother with a safe if I can bolt down the lock box which gives me decent protection.

[Spartan]

Use 2 safes for guns and false wall closet with a log chain. Ammo is storage securely off site climate controled.