Safes have been around for numerous decades, and people have been using them to store their valuables, including jewelry, gold bars, cash, bonds, stocks, and much more.
Nowadays, people also buy safes to store their firearms and weapons so that they don’t fall into the wrong hands and somebody doesn’t get hurt.
However, not all safes are created equal – some are more fortified and durable than others, thus doing a better job at protecting whatever you need to. One of the best models in this regard is the Sports Afield 30-Gun Fire Safe with Electronic Lock.
If you are looking to buy a safe for your home or office, here are five things that you need to keep in mind while buying a safe. Find floor safes for sale for more information..
1. Safes Come in Different Shapes and Sizes
You should always consider this while choosing a safe, especially when you are looking to store your weapons in it. The simplest and basic gun safes are gun cabinets without any additional protection or security. They are built with the thinnest metal, which can be pierced with a hammer and screwdriver. On the other hand, the stronger gun safes are made from 12 gauge and reinforced steel, which allows them to withstand attempts to break in. You can also find harder gun safes with fire and burglary protection.
You should check the gun safe that can easily store all of the weapons you have, and you can find this by examining the product details for each safe. You can also measure the dimensions of your longest guns and use them to shortlist different safes.
2. Not All Fireproof Safes Are Theft-Proof
Fireproof safes are built to withstand extreme heat and fire over a long time, and they are considered suitable for storing paper documents and other valuables. However, they are mostly made from thin steel, which can be broken into if a thief tries hard enough. If you use such a safe for storing your firearm, it will withstand a fire but not a burglary attempt. The metal can be broken into with the help of a saw, drill, or saw.
Therefore, you should look for a gun safe made from higher gauge metal and is also theft-proof so that no one can break into it with the help of hand tools. You wouldn’t want someone to steal your gun and use it to harm you and your family.
3. Understand the Security Rating for Safes
Each of them comes with various security ratings to help you choose the right one for your needs when it comes to safes. Although businesses mostly use these ratings for insurance purposes, you can use them to determine whether they would be a good choice for you or not.
If you are looking to store your guns, along with several documents, valuables, memorabilia, and other items in your safe, you can choose one with a rating of BF and above. The smallest rating is RSC, and it is known to have a content value of $5,000 and passes a 5-minute attack test. This rating is given to safes that might be pried open within a few minutes and safes that might be stronger but aren’t tested.
The highest security rating for gun safes is U.L. TRTL-30X6, which has a content value of $1 million and higher. It is known to withstand a 30-minute attack with a torch or tool on any of its sides.
4. Deciding to Buy a Wall or Hidden Safe
When it comes to getting a gun safe, you might consider buying a wall or hidden safe that you can use to keep your weapons concealed. However, they might not be the best idea, as most burglars are aware of all the places you can install or hide a safe, and they won’t take long to find and penetrate it. Get a high-quality safe that you can keep somewhere safe in the house, even if it isn’t mounted to the wall or inside the flooring.
5. Understand the Different Types of Locks
Another thing you need to do before buying a safe is to understand the different locking mechanisms. You might be familiar with a key lock or a key and combination-based lock, both basic and older. The newer and more advanced safes come with an electronic lock that you can easily program and get access to your gun whenever needed.
You can also consider EMP locks, which send an electromagnetic pulse to destroy any electronic devices being used to hack into the safe. The best types of locks you can opt for are electronic and EMP locks.
To Summarize…
This concludes our guide on what you should know before buying a safe. There are several other things that you can also consider, such as the type of hinges, additional security features, reinforcements, etc. Knowing these things will help you keep your firearms safe and protected from unauthorized or accidental usage.