hello,I’m going to be looking for a safe.curious what type and prices,I would like to get one that could be easily accessible by a family member in short time,JUST INCASE
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hello,I’m going to be looking for a safe.curious what type and prices,I would like to get one that could be easily accessible by a family member in short time,JUST INCASE
From my earlier posts on safes:
The issue with Liberty and all other gun safes is that they have a limited TL (tool resistance) rating; you don't usually see a TL rating on residential gun safes, only a RSC (Residential Security Container). They offer limited resistance against a tool attack (attempted burglary/robbery).
Safes that are certified as burglary-resistant bear the metal label of Underwriters Laboratories Inc.
The UL’s rigorous testing is conducted by burglary experts using a variety of devices, including diamond grinding wheels, high-speed drills with pressure-applying devices, carbide-tip drills, and hand tools such as hammers and chisels. The tests are conducted under ideal laboratory conditions, unlike those a real burglar usually encounters. Security experts say it could take a typical burglar as much as three or four times longer to crack a UL-tested safe. Thus, the UL rating represents the minimum protection a safe is certified to provide.
Underwriters Laboratories uses 10 classifications or ratings for burglary-resistant safes. They are, in increasing order of protection: TL-15; Deposit Safe; TL-30; TRTL-30; TL-15X6; TL-30X6; TRTL-15X6; TRTL-30 X6; TRTL-60X6; TXTL-60X6. Each letter and number of the rating code represents a different aspect of security that the safe provides.
Burglar’s tools. TL means a safe is tool-resistant, TR means it’s torch-resistant, TRTL indicates that it’s tool- and torch-resistant, and TXTL stands for torch-, tool-, and explosives-resistant.
The highest rating is the TXTL safe, which is rated against an attack using explosives. Very few safe manufacturers made these and I believe only one manufacturer still makes them. If you have to have the ultimate in security (short of buying a bank vault from Diebold), you'll buy a Chubb. You'll also pay out the ass for it.
Extent of resistance. The numbers 15, 30, and 60 represent the number of minutes a safe will withstand a series of attacks. The longer a safe can resist a break-in, the more likely it is that burglars will flee and that police or security guards will arrive before any jewelry is stolen.
Sides of a Safe. X6 means a safe provides equal protection on all six sides (including top and bottom). When X6 isn’t listed, it means the safe provides protection only on its front face and door.
Thus, a TRTL-30X6 UL rating means a safe is certified to resist entry from torch and tools on all six sides for a half-hour. A TL-15 rating means a safe can resist physical attack from tools to its front face or door for 15 minutes. TXTL safes do not have a numerical rating.
For RSC rated safes, Browning is a good safe, as is any safe made by Amsec. Liberty Safes are good against fire and the average burglar. The higher end safes made by Liberty Safe (Lincoln, National, Presidential) have thicker bodies, as do their cousins from the National Safe Company (which was purchased a few years back by Liberty Safe Company). If you want a commercial safe that is rated for TRTL-x, you can get one that is used and reconditioned at a reasonable price and comparable to what you would pay for a residential gun safe.
Look at getting a used safe. Do you need a safe for long guns or handguns? There are number of safe dealers that recondition safes and offer them at competitive prices. Used jewelry safes are a good buy and offer just as good, if not better protection than RSC rated safes and, depending on their interior height, can be configured to fit a rifle or shotgun.
For those who want to move into commercially rated safes, I recommend Lacka Safe in NYC. They have a fairly large inventory of used safes that are well suited for use for firearm storage. Caveat emptor: older commercial safes don't offer as good fire protection as new commercial safes and vaults. Older safes and vaults have concrete or gunnite as the insulation which offers fair to good protection against a tool attack, although little protection against an intense fire. Paper burns at 451 degrees F, which all commercial safes will provide some protection against for a period of time. Most AMSEC safes, and safes made by John Tann, ISM, Kaso, Mosler, and Diebold will provide more than sufficient protection against fire and burglar tool attacks. Chubb is top of the line, although for all practical purposes, is too expensive for most people.
On the other hand, I wouldn't count out safes with RSC ratings, especially safes that have walls that are measured in terms of inches or fractions of inches of steel rather than gauged steel. Not all RSC rated safes are equal, so you have to look closely at the numbers. For those who have high value collections or irreplaceable firearms, I recommend spending time shopping and, if necessary, spending more money on a TL or TRTL rated safe. You do have to be careful as older commercial safes relied on concrete (often powdered) to provide heft and insulation against a fire. These got to be quite hot and didn't protect the contents from getting scorched. Newer safes have composite materials or more advanced concrete admixtures that provide insulation and protection against drill and tool attacks.
#1 yes-#2 no-#3 yes-#4 yes,been thinking lately after my buddy and his wife were woken up in the middle of the night.Alarm going off and he couldn’t get safe open on first try and after 3 attempts it locks downIt depends... what's your primary reason for the safe?
Is it to meet the storage requirement in MA?
Is it to protect from kids getting access?
Is it to protect from theft?
Is it to protect from fire?
The price goes up for each requirement.
FWIW, you can get a $15 plastic case with a $5 padlock and stick it in an Igloo cooler in the back yard to comply with the law.You can get a $500 steel cabinet to comply with the law,
Don't forget to look into GSA rated safes. These safes are used by the government to store classified docs, evidence, and firearms. There is a GSA-rated safe that has a gun rack inside that pulls out, Sargent and Greenleaf "manipulation rated" dial, and is maybe 3/8 to 1/2 steel all around. Sometimes a GSA rated safe is available second hand, typically a govt contractor is changing from a mechanical S&G dial to an electronic system and they will sell off the "old" dial safes. This site Norfolk Safe - Class 5 & Class 6 GSA Approved Security Containers Nationwide. is just the one that popped up first, there are others. More specific link, Class 5 Weapons Containers | Norfolk Safehello,I’m going to be looking for a safe.curious what type and prices,I would like to get one that could be easily accessible by a family member in short time,JUST INCASE