BenjiEDF

Safe for the closet, must be 21" wide or less and fit a couple rifles and couple pistols. I have narrowed it down to two choices but interested in other options.


Liberty 12-gun ProVault Cabela's: ProVault Safes by Liberty


Sentry Safe 14-gun

14-Gun 59 in. Combination Lock Gun Safe-G5241 at The Home Depot


I'd rather get the liberty but it was out of stock at cabelas and I would have to order and pay shipping for it. I can pick up the Sentry at Home Depot whenever. I don't need a bank vault, I realize that these are not top of the line models. I need something that fits my closet and provides some extra security. Opinions?


I can't find any reviews of the Liberty ProVault anywhere... I suspect it's better than the Sentry but who knows, it's the same price so it can't be a huge difference... or can it? the $399 price point is not absolute, I'll pony up to about $800 for one if it's really worth the extra dough. I don't care about fire protection for this particular safe but I'm not ruling them out.

Thanks!

Fielder

I just bought a StackON 16 gun safe at Dicks sporting goods brick and mortar.

Model # SS-16-MB-C

http://www.stack-on.com/categories/s...s/products/190

Has 3 heavy 1" lock bolts, heavy dial combination lock. 54.9" inside height, a little over 20" inside, just a tad less than 21" outside. Has holes in the back 16" apart to mount to studs. The safe included 3 heavy 3" long screws (3/8" diameter) to do the mounting.

EDIT: It was on sale for $350.
EDIT: All six sides are carpeted. The bottom carpet lifts in and out if you need to drill through the bottom for mounting to floor studs.

Has 2 shelves on the door (small) and one large shelf on the back of the safe (that is removable). Holds rifles along the back (8), and both sides (4 each). The shelf on the back would limit the length of guns (but does not limit the length of the guns on the side). To remove that back shelf just lift it out and then all mounts can hold a 54.8" long gun. Actually can hold a 57" gun by leaning the gun.

I love it, weighs about 185 pounds.... Seemed to be more strong and rugged than others in same price range that I saw at the local BassPro and other gun stores.

bwinters

I always buy from an outdoor / sporting goods store if possible and I personally patronize hardware stores over home depot if possible. That said the sentry safe is a good product. If you can is there anywhere else you can put it other than a bedroom closet. That is the first place burglars will look.

BenjiEDF

I'm living in an apartment at the moment, I'm not sure where else I could put it. I see your point those, we usually keep our most valuable items close to where we lay our heads and thiefs know that. I just figured it would be better tucked in the corner of the closet than right out in the open. Being tucked in the corner restricts access to the back and sides, though I'm not sure the land lord will let me bolt it to the wall and floor.

Sentry Safe is good? It seems decent but some reviews are really bad... I like the size and 3 combo mechanical lock. Thanks for the input.

Thanks Fielder, the Sentry Safe looks like a very similar product. Glad to hear you like it.

gwnorth

Try to find out what gauge steel is used for everything other than the door if you can. One thing I find with many of these chinese made safes (which is just about all of the lower priced units like Sentry, Stack On and so forth) is they often use very thin (12-16 gauge) steel for the back, sides and top. A hatchet will split those open. The reality seems that many of those offer little to no more real security than a much cheaper Stack On gun cabinet.

They will all emphasize how strong/thick the door is, but thieves do not even bother with the door if they can access a side, back or top as they know they can gain entry in seconds to minutes from there.

One thing you could do with one of these, if possible, is frame it into the closet, to add at least some further impediment to a thief getting to the thin side or top steel.

BenjiEDF

They are both advertised as 14 gauge steel. I just got back from Cabelas and I looked at the Liberty. It was a little tougher looking and has 20 minute fire rating however it was significantly smaller and I'm not sure it will fit all my stuff. Woe is me...

The Sentry isn't bad for a $400 safe, the Liberty is tougher but smaller. If I were getting a midsize or large safe I wouldn't even bother with Sentry, but it may be ok for now. I'm pretty sure I could break in to the Sentry easier, an angle grinder could just cut the top off or the sides. Heck even a firemans axe would prob work, that's a lot of noise for a thief to be making in an apartment though.

larry8

I have been doing a lot of searching/reading about safes and have settled on the Liberty safes. They have a better lifetime warranty and are made of higher quality steels, continuous welds and on high quality automated machinery.
For anything around or under $3-5000 I'd go with a Liberty.

BenjiEDF

I settled on the Liberty CN12-BKT from Lowes Hardware. Got it for $360 with 10% military discount and no tax for safes in WA state I'm pretty happy with it. I wish it was a little bigger but that's ok, I'll get another when I buy a house.