The Ultimate Gun Safe Buyers Guide

Keep Your Firearms Secure and Your Peace of Mind Intact

Welcome to the ultimate guide on choosing the perfect gun safe! Whether you're a seasoned firearm enthusiast or just starting your collection, having the right safe is crucial for both security and peace of mind. Let’s dive into what you need to know to make the best choice.

Why You Need a Gun Safe

First things first, let’s get real. If you own firearms, a gun safe is no-brainer. It keeps your guns out of the wrong hands, protects them from theft and damage, and ensures they’re stored safely away from kids or curious guests. Plus, it’s the law in many places—so there’s that. 

Types of Gun Safes

Gun safes come in various shapes, sizes, and security levels. Here’s a quick rundown:

• Handgun Safes: Perfect for keeping your sidearm secure yet easily accessible in a variety of different places.
• Long Gun Safes: Ideal for rifles and shotguns, offering more space and higher security from both burglary and environmental hazards.
• Long Gun Lockers: Usually similar to Long gun safes in storage capacity and layout but focusing more on storage, customizability & capacity instead of security and protection
• Vault Doors: Perfect for creating safe rooms for larger collections and valuables, they provide a similar level of security as a gun safe but are reliant on the construction of the room they are installed for. 
• Quick Access Safes/Mounts: Discreet safes/mounts designed to provide quick access to your firearm while keeping it secure and safe when not needed.

What to Look for in a Gun Safe

Here are the key factors you need to consider:

• Size and Capacity: Make sure your safe can comfortably store all your firearms and any additional accessories, ammunition or valuables you wish to protect. Measure your firearms and consider future purchases.
• Most Firearm safes will say what their “long gun” capacity is...BUT
• Take this with a grain of salt as that number is usually based on optimizing the layout of the safe for capacity and doesn’t factor in things like size or shape of certain rifles, if you have any optics or accessories mounted to your rifles.
• Filling your gun safe to its maximum capacity also makes it much more difficult to access a lot of your firearms quickly so you will spend a lot more time organizing and reorganizing your collection when you want to reach for something further back. 
• Filling to capacity also increases the risk of damaging certain firearms so keep that in mind.
• A good rule of Thumb for for when you want to figure out how many guns you can comfortably store without sacrificing accessibility and risking damage is to subtract  ¼-½ of that safes stated “long gun” capacity.
• Ease of Access: This really boils down to personal preference and what you plan to use this safe for. There are several factors to take into consideration when it comes to ease of access such as...
• How many guns do you need to store?
• Do you want a quick access safe for home defense?
• Choosing the tradeoff in security/discretion vs rapidity when accessing your firearm.

• Security Features: These are the features that protect your safes contents from burglars and others who want to break into your safe. Look for solid steel construction, reliable locking mechanisms, and pry-resistant doors. Check for UL (Underwriters Laboratories) ratings. 

Let's Get into some more detail on Security features...

What are UL ratings and how do you make sense of them?

A UL rating signifies that a product has been tested and meets the specific safety and performance standards set by Underwriters Laboratories. These ratings are essential for ensuring that products, especially those related to safety, like gun safes, electrical appliances, and fire-resistant materials, perform reliably under various conditions.

• UL Ratings for Gun Safes and Security Containers: UL provides several ratings for security containers, which are crucial for gun safes. Here are some common ratings and what they signify:
• UL RSC (Residential Security Container)
• UL RSC Level 1: Indicates the safe can withstand a 5-minute attack by a single person using tools such as screwdrivers, hammers, and small prying tools. This is the minimum standard for gun safes.
• UL RSC Level 2: Requires the safe to withstand a 10-minute attack with more advanced tools, including pry bars and small power tools.
• UL RSC Level 3: The safe must endure a 15-minute attack using even more sophisticated tools, including heavier prying tools and larger power tools.
  
  
• UL TL (Tool-Resistant)
• TL-15: The safe can resist entry for at least 15 minutes against a skilled attacker using common hand tools, mechanical or portable electric tools, and abrasive cutting wheels.
• TL-30: The safe can withstand a 30-minute attack using the same types of tools and methods.
• TL-30X6: The safe can resist a 30-minute attack on all six sides, ensuring comprehensive protection.

• UL TRTL-30 (Torch and Tool-Resistant)
• TRTL-30: The safe can resist a 30-minute attack using both tools and cutting torches.
• TRTL-60: Provides 60 minutes of protection against torches and tools.

How do you make sense of all these ratings? Let's Break it down:

• Entry-Level Protection: The UL RSC Level 1 is suitable for basic residential security needs. It offers a minimal level of resistance and is typically more affordable.
• Enhanced Protection: UL RSC Level 2 and Level 3 provide better security against more determined attacks, making them suitable for higher-value items and increased security concerns.
• High Security: TL-rated safes (TL-15, TL-30, TL-30X6) are ideal for commercial use or for securing very high-value items due to their robust resistance to tools and advanced entry methods.
• Maximum Protection: TRTL-rated safes offer the highest level of protection against sophisticated burglary attempts involving both tools and torches. These are often used in high-risk environments like banks and high-security facilities.

Most Firearm safes will fall into a standard RSC Level one rating even if not expressly stated, while higher end safes can get into the RSC Level 2 and above but these are rare. To be completely honest unless you are storing diamonds and jewels or some priceless heirlooms you really don't need any more protection than that. 99.9% of criminals have little to no experience breaking into safes and want a quick getaway.

Now Lets Get into Fire Ratings

A fire rating indicates how long a gun safe can protect its contents from extreme heat and flames. The rating is usually expressed in terms of time (e.g., 30 minutes, 60 minutes) and the maximum temperature the interior of the safe will reach during that time.

The average temperature inside a house fire can vary depending on several factors, including the materials burning, the room's layout, and the fire's stage. However, here are some general temperature ranges you can expect during different stages of a house fire:

• Ignition Stage:
• Temperature: Around 100-200°F (37-93°C)
• Growth Stage:
• Temperature: 200-800°F (93-427°C)
• Fully Developed Stage:
• Temperature: 1,000-1,800°F (538-982°C)

Here is how to understand Fire ratings as they apply to gun safes

• 30-Minute Fire Rating:
• The safe can endure fire exposure at 1200ºF for 30 minutes.
• Interior temperature remains below 350°F for this amount of time.
• Suitable for areas with quick emergency response times or lower risk of prolonged fires such as garages, secondary structures or near exits.
• 60-Minute Fire Rating:
• The safe can withstand 60 minutes of fire exposure.
• Interior temperature stays below 350°F.
• Ideal for residential use, providing a higher level of protection for important documents and firearms.
• 90-Minute Fire Rating:
• The safe can resist fire for 90 minutes.
• Interior temperature remains below 350°F.
• Recommended for higher-risk areas or where longer emergency response times are expected such as peripheral suburbs.
• 120-Minute Fire Rating:
• The safe can endure fire for 120 minutes.
• Interior temperature stays below 350°F.
• Provides maximum protection, suitable for high-value items and areas with a high risk of fire.

It is important to factor in both the emergency response times from fire departments in your area as well as environmental hazards like the prevalence of wildfires and forrest fires when choosing a safe’s fire rating.

Most Fire rated gun safes are rated at 1,200º F as it is the standard by which UL ratings must test for to qualify for the certification.

However some brands go above and beyond and In addition to UL, get other organizations like ETL (Intertek) to test and certify safes for fire resistance at temperatures up to 1,800º F and sometimes more. 

• At GSA we tag most of these in the title as 2 + Hour Fire rating to make these easier to identify.
  

Understanding Accessibility:

Are you looking for a safe to store your collection or a safe to keep your personal/home defense weapon at-the-ready? 

This may be obvious, but most traditional gun safes are not geared towards “quick access” and most “quick access” safes are not geared towards storing more than a couple firearms. If you are only looking for a means store your home defense weapon there are a few things to consider:

• What kind of firearm do you use for home defense, Long gun or Pistol?
• For pistols there are a number of options for quick access safes and because of their size you can store them in closets, on shelves, in your desk or nightstand drawer, really the options are limitless.
• If it’s a long gun you need to think of where to install the quick access safe that keeps it out of the way but accessible when you need it most.
  
  When thinking of where to install a "Quick Access" long gun safe/Mount here are some things to consider:
• Where do you spend the most time in your house/where would it be the most effective for quick home defense.
• You want to have it in areas you would most likely be in the event of a home invasion.
• Most residential  break-ins happen between 10 AM - 3 PM when criminal expect residents to be at work, while the most popular time for armed home invasions is between 8pm-4am when most people are going to bed or are already asleep.

• Mechanical: The most reliable and tactile of the three, but also the slowest as you have to input your code and manually release the locking mechanism. There are no electronics that can malfunction or run out of batteries.
  
• Digital: similar to the mechanical in operation, it is a bit faster as it electronically releases the locking mechanism after inputting the code. It can be subject to the rare malfunction or over time the batteries may need to be replaced.
  
  
• Biometric: This is the fastest of the three but can also be the least reliable as dirt, debris, and excess moisture can lead to a bad finger print reading and slow the process down. 
  

(If you often work with your hands and they often get roughed up or come home with a lot of dirt on them we suggest going with either a mechanical or digital lock for your quick access safes.)

Mistakes to Avoid When Buying a Gun Safe

• Not Measuring Your Space: Always measure the area you wish to put your safe and allow for a little bit of wiggle room on all sides. These are large, heavy pieces of equipment and fitting them into tight spaces can be a challenge.
  
  
• Not Planning It’s Path: Make sure to measure and plan for the route it is going to take to get to it’s final destination. We have had several people talk to us about wanting to put a safe in a specific room only to measure the door frame and realize it can’t get there. 
  
  
• Checking For Structural Load Capacity: If you plan on having a large safe on a second story you should consult with a structural engineer regarding the load bearing capacity of the room/section of flooring you want the safe to live long term (Usually exterior walls are the best option for second storey safes).
  
  
• Underestimating Capacity Needs: Always go a bit bigger than you think you need. As stated earlier the max capacity stated is usually ¼ to ½ of what its actual capacity is. Also, collections tend to grow so buy with the future in mind...it will save you money in the long run.
  
  
• Ignoring Fire Protection: Even if you think it won't happen to you, fire protection is crucial and can save you thousands of dollars in the future.
  
  
• Cheap Locks: Avoid brands that don’t use name brand locks such as S&G and SecuRam, they become the weak point. 
  
  
• Not Planning for Accessibility: Make sure the safe you choose offers the accessibility you need, whether it’s quick access for an emergency or high security for long-term storage.

Now that you know what to look for in a safe and what it all means, it’s time to match the safe to your needs. Consider your firearm collection size, the level of security you require, and any additional features that might come in handy.

Our Top Picks

Based on our extensive testing and experience, here are our top picks from the brands we trust and carry:

Top Pick for Fire Rating:

Top Pick for Quick Access:

ShotLock AR 200M Solo-Vault  The AR model is perfect for those who use an AR platform or certain tactical shotguns for home defense (a standard shotgun version is also available). The ShotLock is our top choice for a quick access home defense safe as installation is easy for anyone, it is small enough to be set up discreetly in spots you would need it most, and it’s mechanical lock is both fast and reliable in any situation.

Top Pick for Handguns:

Top Pick for Versatility and Storage capacity:

Top Pick for Overall Security:

AMSEC BFX6030-24 Gun Safe  With a 120 minute Fire Rating at 1200ºF and an RCS Level II Burglary Rating, this 24 gun safe offers a ton of customizable features along with ample room for most gun collections. There are few other safes on the market that can offer the level of security the AMSEC BFX6030 offers and NONE at this price-point.

Still not sure which one is right for you? Call or email our safe experts for personalized recommendations and help picking the perfect safe for your needs. We’re here to make sure you find the best fit.

Installation Tips and Best Practices

• Choose the Right Location: Place your safe in a concealed location that’s also easy for you to access. Basements are often good for fire protection.
• Secure It Properly: Bolt your safe to the floor or depending on the model to the wall. Use heavy-duty bolts and make sure it’s level.
• Maintain Your Safe: Regularly check the locking mechanisms and replace batteries if you have an electronic lock. Lubricate mechanical parts as needed.

Need help with installation? We offer free curbside delivery and can help arrange in-home installation and bolt down services. Just give us a call to set it up!

Final Thoughts

Remember, the best gun safe is one that fits your specific needs and provides the peace of mind you deserve. Don’t skimp on this essential piece of your firearm safety plan.

[Check Out Our Full Selection of Gun Safes at Gun Safe America]

Stay safe, stay secure, and until next time Stay Frosty!

Not Sure Which Safe to Choose? Let Us Help!

Choosing the right gun safe can be a tough decision, but you don’t have to go it alone. Our team of safe experts is here to assist you with any questions you have and to help you find the perfect safe for your needs.

Call us at (833) 959-7233 or Email us at hello@gunsafeamerica.com to get personalized recommendations and expert advice.