Opinion video lockers vs safes

[lazarus]

Tell whomever stamps the plans that this is what you are planning to do so he can engineer that closet accordingly (unless its on a slab).

And for anything that has valiue, buy a real safe, TL15 or better.

I am the one doing the plans as well as the construction. Shouldn't be enough weight to impact the foundation wall. So don't need to change anything with the foundation guys (only part of the addition I am not doing myself).

 

[ironpony]

I have had requests for Gun cabinets (custom wood) that are very solid (8/4) and just look good. Clients lean more towards insurance than trying to buy a monstrosity from steel and concrete. Wives love the idea as well while outright opposing any ugly safe. My recent thoughts lean towards a cheap gun locker with custom full wooden enclosure that would do away with any prying points. Just a thought and possible future project. I may be putting something related in the classifieds here soon.

I am from the school of "If they want it, they will get it!" and Insurance.

 

[psucobra96]

Best bet is to hide them, they can't open what they don't know is there. I don't have the room nor the ability to put a 500 or 800 pound safe upstairs.

 

[traveller]

I am the one doing the plans as well as the construction. Shouldn't be enough weight to impact the foundation wall. So don't need to change anything with the foundation guys (only part of the addition I am not doing myself).

If this is on the ground floor, it should be ok. For a second floor bedroom/closet you should make extra provisions.

 

[jeffie7]

I'm also in the boat of not wanting something that I can't move with my wife. I'm also a fan of insurance.

The idea of moving a 500+ lbs safe at least twice in the next 10 years sounds horrible.

 

[j_h_smith]

Best bet is to hide them, they can't open what they don't know is there. I don't have the room nor the ability to put a 500 or 800 pound safe upstairs.

What do you do when you own more than 50 firearms? Where are you going to hide them? Ever hear of a game called hide and seek. If you can hide them, someone will find them.

I'd much rather have the average burglar walk in and see a safe and walk out with nothing compared to some kid walking in and just due to dumb luck, finding one or more of your firearms.

This attitude of hiding them is what gets kids shot and illegal firearms on the street.

 

[j_h_smith]

I'm also in the boat of not wanting something that I can't move with my wife. I'm also a fan of insurance.

The idea of moving a 500+ lbs safe at least twice in the next 10 years sounds horrible.

The idea of knowing that one or more of my firearms are out on the street killing people is why I own safes. A simple inconvenience is not worth this possibility.

If you can't move the safe yourself, pay someone who does it for a living. It's no big deal to them.

 

[GolfR]

Hiding stuff around the house is an option but My grandfather had this method and we basically had to rip his entire house apart when he passed away. We found money and guns above the drop ceiling in the basement, handgun in a heating register,a and jewelry in a cigar box above ductwork. I would never want to put my family though that and we have no idea what we didn't find. There were several guns we thought he had but were lost.

I have a decent gun safe (~1k) bolted down in my basement shop. My wife was very happy with the purchase as it also stores a few family heirlooms, camera equipment, backup hard drives, and important documents. Insurance may pay to replace things but the piece of mind that a drug addict kid breaking in to find fast cash (most likely scenario, especially in nice neighborhoods) isn't going to get my important stuff. Its also good piece of mind to know that my stuff is safe in anything short of a complete loss fire.

 

[jeffie7]

An option is a fire rated safe inside a locker.
If I were to go that route that's how I would do it.

 

[psucobra96]

What do you do when you own more than 50 firearms? Where are you going to hide them? Ever hear of a game called hide and seek. If you can hide them, someone will find them.

I'd much rather have the average burglar walk in and see a safe and walk out with nothing compared to some kid walking in and just due to dumb luck, finding one or more of your firearms.

This attitude of hiding them is what gets kids shot and illegal firearms on the street.

You misinterpreted my statement, I never said hide them in an insecure fashion. There are many ways to do that, and many companies offer lockable secret hiding places. I cant hide a 500 pound safe. I can hide a standup locker in certain areas including the floors.

 

[jcutonilli]

Did you know that Halon removes all oxygen from a room? That's why it's so good for fire suppression, and it's a pretty good burglary deterrent too.

I'm not saying I have a Halon system... I'm just saying...

Did you know that you are wrong. Halon works by inhibiting the chemical combustion reaction. It does nothing to the oxygen. You can survive in a room after a discharge. Agents like CO2 that displace oxygen will have a delay that allows occupants to escape before discharge.

I think the point of the video is to show one way to break into a safe. There are lots of ways to beak into a safe. Alarms can be bypassed. Nothing is fool proof.

I'm just saying...

 

[j_h_smith]

You misinterpreted my statement, I never said hide them in an insecure fashion. There are many ways to do that, and many companies offer lockable secret hiding places. I cant hide a 500 pound safe. I can hide a standup locker in certain areas including the floors.

Again, I ask, what do you do if you own more than 50 firearms?

 

[ted76]

Again, I ask, what do you do if you own more than 50 firearms?

Buy another safe.

 

[Squaregrouper]

You misinterpreted my statement, I never said hide them in an insecure fashion. There are many ways to do that, and many companies offer lockable secret hiding places. I cant hide a 500 pound safe. I can hide a standup locker in certain areas including the floors.

I was in his house when it was completely gutted for a full renovation. I'm confident in saying he could have securely concealed a lot of firearms if he wanted to.

 

[Squaregrouper]

My firearms couldn't be found by anyone on this forum in <10 minutes of searching. My weak point is IF someone knew where they were, they could access them with a breaker bar, hammer and a few minutes of muscle. I won't provide details, but I'm pretty confident in my firearms security.

 

[ironpony]

IIRC an IP was recently robbed (just before the Bmore gunshow), he may have had a significant # of firearms, did have a locked front door to be buzzed in, locked safe, armed personnel, etc. He may have some input.

What would I do if I had 50 firearms? Wonder where the hell I hid the other 17!

 

[cowboy321]

Tell whomever stamps the plans that this is what you are planning to do so he can engineer that closet accordingly (unless its on a slab).

And for anything that has valiue, buy a real safe, TL15 or better.

If anyone gets in my safe they will be on camera and listening to an alarm. So that is my plan for what it is worth.

The video surveillance equipment available today is inexpensive. Look at Amazon....

 

[traveller]

The idea of knowing that one or more of my firearms are out on the street killing people is why I own safes. A simple inconvenience is not worth this possibility.

That's liberal speak.

 

[j_h_smith]

That's liberal speak.

You sir have no sense of responsibility if you think that is a liberal stance.

 

[traveller]

You sir have no sense of responsibility if you think that is a liberal stance.

I have a responsibility to protect my children and the children of invitees to my home from getting their hands on a loaded firearm. I also need to guard against the possibility of one of my guns being used against me.
I have no responsibility to account for the actions of criminals. My guns wouldn't be out 'killing people', criminals are.