$1500 to spend on a gun safe, help me choose!

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$1500 to spend on a gun safe, help me choose!

Postby hirdlej on Sun Dec 30, 2012 9:36 pm

Alright guys, looking to upgrade my safe to something nicer. I have a $1500 max budget in mind, but after shopping around and around this weekend, I'm not sure which one to choose.

My requirements for a safe are simple. I have a $1500 cash to spend and the safe cannot be any wider than 30 inches in width. I only have a couple of guns anyways, so capacity isn't an issue. I know, I know..... People always say go bigger, but really, I want no wider than a 30 inch safe. Height and depth are of no concern (as long as it's reasonable).


I started my trip off by looking at the "Winchester" 24 gun safe at Tractor Supply since the dimensions were about perfect. (http://reviews.tractorsupply.com/0519/1 ... ng&dir=asc) It was $600, but I wasn't happy with how sloppy the door fit after it was locked up. It just felt overall like it was built "cheap". I suppose it was since it was only $600.

My next stop was Cabelas......

They had one that was similar in size, and seemed to be built a little better, but it had 12 locking bolts which were 1 1/4" in diameter. The tractor supply one had only 1" bolts and the door was floppy like an old wooden screen door. The price on that was $1579, but with my employee discount coupon mailer it brought it down to $1479. Still kind of disappointed at the build quality.

Last stop was the Safe & Knife company in Rogers next to cabelas. They had their own house brand safe that was MADE FOR THEM by Champion, but labeled "National Safe Company" branded safe. Their safe (same dimensions as the above 2) had 10 retractable door bolts (1" diameter) and was $1300 delivered and installed. The only thing more impressive about this one, was the fact that it had a solid sheet of 5/16" inch steel for the front door. When I tried bending the door and shaking it, it was by far the most sturdy of the 3 I looked at. Otherwise, as far as the rest of the safe goes, I couldn't tell a difference.

So my question to you guys, what else should I be looking at? Is this all the better it gets at the price point I'm shopping? Anywhere else in town I should be shopping? Am I being overly anal as to how it's built for a $1500 budget?

I'll take any suggestions you guys throw at me. Thanks in advance!
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Re: $1500 to spend on a gun safe, help me choose!

Postby MNIceMan on Sun Dec 30, 2012 9:42 pm

I have a Cannon brand safe 30" wide and it works well. They run about $599.00.
Cabelas sells them.
Last edited by MNIceMan on Sun Dec 30, 2012 9:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: $1500 to spend on a gun safe, help me choose!

Postby justinvan on Sun Dec 30, 2012 9:44 pm

I have not been there in a while but Little Crow Shooting Sports in Hutchinson had screamin prices compared to anywhere in the cities when I bought my safe. It was well worth the drive for me.This was under a year ago... and last I heard they were still about the cheapest.
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Re: $1500 to spend on a gun safe, help me choose!

Postby hirdlej on Sun Dec 30, 2012 9:50 pm

justinvan wrote:I have not been there in a while but Little Crow Shooting Sports in Hutchinson had screamin prices compared to anywhere in the cities when I bought my safe. It was well worth the drive for me.This was under a year ago... and last I heard they were still about the cheapest.



Thank You, I will give them a call tomorrow to see what they sell and to get some pricing :)
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$1500 to spend on a gun safe, help me choose!

Postby bstrawse on Sun Dec 30, 2012 10:11 pm

I have a safe from Safe & Knife Company (a Champion) - its well made and they have outstanding service. I would recommend them...
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Re: $1500 to spend on a gun safe, help me choose!

Postby hirdlej on Sun Dec 30, 2012 10:29 pm

Their service was great, don't get me wrong. I'm just wanting the most safe for my money. Maybe I was looking right at it without knowing.

What made you choose a Champion brand over others???
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Re: $1500 to spend on a gun safe, help me choose!

Postby gman1868 on Sun Dec 30, 2012 10:37 pm

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Re: $1500 to spend on a gun safe, help me choose!

Postby OldmanFCSA on Mon Dec 31, 2012 6:37 am

Maybe not for you, but Tractor Supply in St Croix Falls has 2 safes 26x36x72 for $999 each, forget the brand.
If I had the money, they would be mine. I don't.
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Re: $1500 to spend on a gun safe, help me choose!

Postby XDM45 on Mon Dec 31, 2012 7:28 am

This video is worth watching before your purchase any safe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltK-bDbADa8&list=PL2701B015D3B3CB2B&index=8
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Re: $1500 to spend on a gun safe, help me choose!

Postby driztan on Mon Dec 31, 2012 8:31 am

This is the safe my brothers in arms all have.

http://www.amazon.com/Stack-On-GSXW-836 ... B00132H4M6

I bought 2 years ago new for half the price, but ya know bad economy.

Love the safe, decent fire rating and not too many are water proof.
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Re: $1500 to spend on a gun safe, help me choose!

Postby lucycan on Mon Dec 31, 2012 9:43 am

Big Horn. Best safe for the money. Period. Costco had them on sale recently.

Also budget for delivery and moving into position.
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Re: $1500 to spend on a gun safe, help me choose!

Postby BigBlue on Mon Dec 31, 2012 10:24 am

I got a Bighorn safe during the Costco sale in December. Comparing specs it was obvious they are a great value. They have a 70 minute fire rating which is significantly longer than others in the same price class. They also use thicker steel. I'm not saying they are the Cadillac of gun safes, but for the money they are very good values. Of course the Costco sale helped with that value by shaving a few hundred off the price. The Bighorn line is made in China. The parent company, Rhino Metals, makes another Rhino series of safes in the US and a higher price point that is probably outside of your defined budget.

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Re: $1500 to spend on a gun safe, help me choose!

Postby 45Badger on Mon Dec 31, 2012 5:01 pm

I like my Champion. For a RSC, you probably can't go too wrong with any of the known brands in your price range. If you want a real safe, it will cost big $$.
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Re: $1500 to spend on a gun safe, help me choose!

Postby hirdlej on Mon Dec 31, 2012 7:59 pm

I've decided on a Champion Trophy Series Safe! Thanks for your input guys. For the money, you can't beat the features and protection.
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Re: $1500 to spend on a gun safe, help me choose!

Postby justinvan on Mon Dec 31, 2012 8:23 pm

hirdlej wrote:I've decided on a Champion Trophy Series Safe! Thanks for your input guys. For the money, you can't beat the features and protection.

You wont be dissapointed...
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