gun safe

bob kudile · #1 01-01-2007, 04:30 PM

what is a good mid priced gun safe and how to set it up in the basement on concrete.

skeet · #2 01-01-2007, 05:41 PM

Bob,
I sold all kinds of safes when I lived back east. There are better and worse than the Browning safes. I had 3 Brownings in my shop. Sold 'em when I moved but have another here. Best way to put them on concrete is to mark the floor where you are going to put the safe. There are bolt holes already in most safes. Drill the floor larger than the bolts you are going to use and pour cement around them again. Lag the safe to a stud in the wall also if possible. Didn't see where you lived but it may also be a help for security if you build a closet around the safe. Gives a crook less room to work on the darn thing. Oh one thing. When you get a safe..get one where all the locking bolts on the door move ar are as they call them..active. Better safes usually.

FIJI · #3 01-01-2007, 06:42 PM

have a 12 gun one and it is SOLID

Have it cemented into both the basement floor AND wall - corner area where it would be tuff for a crook to work on it.

Remember...if its destined for a basement DON'T let the saleman talk you into a high priced fire-rated safe.

1) heat rises
2) the problem with a basement installation is WATER. Your basement will be several feet deep if there is a fire and NO safe is waterproof ! Better off spending the extra $$ on better doors and bolts.

Dont be afraid to hunt around for a scratched floor model at a discount

add a Golden Rod and some dessicant and your're good to go !

Allen · #4 01-02-2007, 09:33 PM

If you are like most people their basement is also their work shop. My friend bolted his high quality gun safe to the floor but did not think about his welder and gas torches stored just a few feet away. Needless to say he and the family came home from vacation to find the thief had used the torch to open the safe then took the torch and welder. Build a closet around it to make it less obvious and harder to break into and don’t leave them any tools to open it with.

Allen

Steverino · #5 01-03-2007, 11:03 AM

I'm looking at gunsafes myself presently. Take a look at the Prostaff Safes by Sentry if water is a concern for basement installation. They are the only gun safe out there,at least that I am aware, that offers a flood protection rated seal along with the fire protection.

I am going through the process of busting up the concrete around the perimeter of my entire basement floor and installing drain tile along with a sump pump with a back-up system to alleviate the water seepage issues that I have had in my basement and will probably be installing a floating sub-floor as well. I plan on hiding the safe behind an open stairwell and bolted up on a concrete slab with the construction of a false wall.

For me personally, the added measure of water security is something that interests me.