Declaring what we think is the besth gun safe on the market would be like telling you what is the best mustache trend. One style does not necessarily suit any one person. Not that you are going to display your gun safe around to everyone, but you do have your own particular reasons for needing a gun safe, same as you do have a different shaped face to Joe Soap. So, let us first explore the reasons you may be considering a gun safe:
- I want to protect my gun from theft and fire when I don’t have it on my person
- I want to ensure my kids don’t get their hands on my firearm when I’m not around
- My insurance company requires that I lock my firearm away
- The laws of my State require that I lock my firearm away
- I get a tax deduction/rebate for having a gun safe from the tax man
- A gun safe just looks so dang cool
While you had your reason before starting this search, we are sure you found a few more from our list above and surprising ones too. So, now that its clear why you need or want a gun safe, let us look at what type will suit, not only your firearm, but your lifestyle and home. Let us find the best gun safe for you.
The Best Gun Safe For You
With United States having the highest gun ownership rate in the world, 2014 stats showed 89 out of 100 people owned a gun; it stands to reason that firearms are a big deal in America. It stands to reason too that there are many types of gun safes on the market to suit those firearms. To make your decision simpler we are going to break it down for you according to a few pertinent factors:
- Cheapest Gun Safe
- Most Cost Effective and Smallest Gun Safe
- Most Cost Effective and Largeset Gun Safe
Whatever your preference we are sure you will find the best gun safe right here.
Cheapest Gun Safes
American Security Products (AMSEC) PB3 Handgun Security Safe
SIZE
4 x 12 x 8 inches
LOCK
The Lock has a Tamper-proof Penalty Lockout System and the locking bolt is pry-resistant and strong
CODE
The combination can easily be changed with the override code (so save the code somewhere safe)
INTERIOR
The interior is cushioned with a foam lining to protect your firearm against scratching
POWER
You can use 4 AA batteries for over 5000 openings and there is a low-battery indicator. You can also use the auxiliary battery connector
QUICK OPENING
With the spring assisted lid you can be sure to get to your firearm in a hurry
REVIEWS
We like the clean lines, sturdy box and of course low price. A small negative is the handle, which has been reported to being a little flimsy, but we only found one bad review on this. But overall you are getting a simple, good-looking gun safe.
Liberty Safe Handgun Vaults Biometric Smart Vault
SIZE
This nifty safe comes in 2 Sizes – Small 13 x 9 x 3 inches and Large 13 x 12 x 7 inches
SPACE
There is space enough for a medium size handgun or 2 smaller firearms
LOCKING
This is an easy locking safe with the Biometric Auto-Open Door System (fingerprint scanning programmer)
POWER
You can either use an AC Adaptor facility or batteries to power this safe
REVIEWS
We like this little safe and give it a 2 thumbs up. It is compact, lightweight, simple to install and program; and reasonably priced. This small Liberty safe is Number 2 on our reviewed cheapest best gun safes. It does the job but be aware it only fits a really small handgun. Be sure to check out the safe’s measurements first.
Browning Pistol Vault PV-1000
SIZE
7.5 x 14.5 x 11 inches
BOLTS
This little guy bolts into the wall with 2 ½” Solid Bolts (2 Active)
LOCK
It has an Electronic Lock System with a programmable 4 button Key Touch-Pad
BODY
The body is made from a 10-Gauge Steel and the lid from a 10-Gauge Recessed Plate
LIGHTING
It has an Interior LED light so you can see the contents in the dark
QUICK OPENING
With the spring assisted lid you can be sure to get to your firearm in a hurry
REVIEWS
We particularly like that Browning has been around since 1947 and has delivered good, solid safes over the years. With its handsome, square form and plain language operation, we rate this little guy Number 3 out of our cheapest best gun safes.
It must be said that the cheaper the safe, the easier to break into. If they do not carry a UL 768 Rating then they generally are as good as a Tupperware container in terms of gaining entry.
These cheaper varieties only carry a RCS Rating, which is the lowest rating but at least they are rated. You get what you pay for when it comes to gun safes.
Look at your original reason for needing a gun safe. If it is purely reasons 3-5 above, then a smaller, cheaper variety will do the trick. If the other reasons apply, then read on as we try to cover the smallest, largest and best value for your money gun safes.
Most Cost Effective and Smallest Gun Safes
Fort Knox FTK-PB Pistol Box Handgun Safe
As the name says, this is a little pistol of a safe, which will keep your goods locked in tight.
SIZE
12.5 x 10.8 x 4.2 inches
LOCK
This safe uses a Simplex Mechanical Combination Lock System
CONSTRUCTION
Made from a rugged 10 Gauge body and 3/16” wrap around door, you are looking at one strong, heavy safe. It also exceeds CA Firearm Safety Device Requirements
INTERIOR
The interior is cushioned with a foam lining to protect your firearm against scratching
CODE
It claims to have 1081 user combinations (odd number, but there you go)
QUICK OPENING
It has a quick access ability so you can pull that firearm out in a jiffy
REVIEWS
This very solid little safe is just that. Solid. You could easily drive over this little box and it would keep its shape, so there is no chance of it being pried open in a hurry. The little holes in the back allow for mounting, but could do with a few on the sides too.
Titan Gun Safe
Practical and accommodating, this is a real little gem of a safe.
SIZE
11 x 2.5 x 8 inches
LOCK
This safe uses a simple, batteryless and keyless Mechanical Combination Lock System
CONVENIENT
This little safe can be installed pretty much anywhere and is easy to mount
TAMPER RESISTANT
It has a built in clutch in the knob, which helps to hinder unwanted access
CODE
It has over 2200 possible code combinations
QUICK ACCESS
You can swing the firearm out for easy access
REVIEWS
We like the convenience of this gun safe. Easy to install anywhere, easy to whip out when needed. No complaints on this solid safe.
Most Cost Effective and Largest Gun Safes
American Security Products (AMSEC) TF5924E5 Gun Safe
Made by the American Security safe company, AMSEC, this is a solid safe.
SIZE
59 x 24 x 18 inches
LOCK
This big guy has the AMSEC ESL5 Electronic Lock with an illuminated keypad
FIRE
It has a 30 minute fire protection at 1200 degrees Fahrenheit and the inside can withstand a temperature of 350 degrees Fahrenheit
CONSTRUCTION
With an impressive 14 Gauge solid steel outer casing and some serious bolt work, you can be assured of securing your goods
INTERIOR
This baby has a 8/8/16 gun capacity with a door organizer kit, 4 pre-cut anchor holes with mounting hardware and pre-cut electrical access hole
RATING
It has a RSC rating, as mentioned above and is not a B rated safe, but still a good solid safe.
REVIEWS
AMSEC has been around for many years and has consistently produced good, quality products. No exception with this solid large safe. With plenty space and good fire protection, you are in good hands here. As this is an RSC rated product, be aware that there have been some issues with the handle.
Stack-On W-60-BH-E-S 60 Gun Woodland Safe
Let us take it down a notch, not in quality but in price.
SIZE
26 x 43 x 59 inches
LOCK
With a 3-point locking system and a key coded cylinder lock, you are in safe hands here, excuse the pun. It is fire resistant up to 30 minutes at 1400 degrees Fahrenheit
CONSTRUCTION
This safe has a 2″ thick door constructed of 1″ thick solid steel plate. AMSEC boasts a burglary-resistant, high security material in this safe
INTERIOR
She can hold 60 rifles or shotguns and the interior has fully adjustable shelves. The door can store additional pistols, ammunition and gear.
REVIEWS
Number 1 on our most cost effective and largest gun safes. Stack-on promote locked and unloaded, which we quite like, given the heavy stats on accidental shootings in the US.
In Conclusion
While there are many makes and models of gun safes on the market, we have tried to bring to you those that are high on the consumers ratings as well as those that cover most of the pertinent factors which you need in the best gun safe for you. Please remember that every year firearms cause thousands of deaths and injuries, albeit most of them of unintentional.
Recent research shows that when it comes to unintentional shooting deaths such shootings “occurred roughly twice as often as the records indicate, because of idiosyncrasies in how such deaths are classified by the authorities.” Between 1999 and 2010, over 8,200 individuals of the United States died from unintentional shootings. These included over 2,300 children and young people between the ages of 1 and 21. Further, over 16,000 people in the USA, are treated annually in emergency rooms for unintentional firearm wounds, and a study from 1991 showed that 8% of accidental shooting deaths were from shots fired by kids under the age of six. Scary facts! Gun safes will help to bring these stats down. Keep safe out there!
