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Hello Realcenters, I'm looking to upgrade my security with a quality gun safe for PM's. I know that security and anonymity are always sensitive topics here, but I'm wondering if anyone can assist me in selecting a good safe? I want something that can be bolted down to a concrete floor. I've read through a few buying guides online but would like to get an unbiased opinion or two.

My main questions/concerns:
1 - How much safe do I need?
2 - How much do I need to spend?
3 - Where's the best place to buy?

Thanks.

marblerye wrote:Hello Realcenters, I'm looking to upgrade my security with a quality gun safe for PM's. I know that security and anonymity are always sensitive topics here, but I'm wondering if anyone can assist me in selecting a good safe? I want something that can be bolted down to a concrete floor. I've read through a few buying guides online but would like to get an unbiased opinion or two.

My main questions/concerns:
1 - How much safe do I need?
2 - How much do I need to spend?
3 - Where's the best place to buy?

Thanks.

1. Impossible for us to answer. You should ask yourself how much you plan to store in it and that will help you find the answer.

2. You need to find the answer to question 1 before this can be answered.

3. See the answer to question 2.


Would you store $100,000 worth of valuables in a $20 safe? Would you store $20 worth of valuables in a $3,000 safe?

Buy big, buy heavy, buy bolted to your floor. Buy one so you would never have to upgrade. I thought I would never fill mine up, I was wrong. 2-3k is reasonable to save you the heartache of theft.

Great thread going on about this at bullionstacker.com

http://www.bullionstacker.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=6230

I would buy 2 safes. burglars are only looking for 1 safe, if they are able to get in to it, 100% of your stash is gone. 2 safes, one easy to find, but don't keep much in it and one well hidden where the bulk of the stash is is your best bet.

db23 wrote:

marblerye wrote:Hello Realcenters, I'm looking to upgrade my security with a quality gun safe for PM's. I know that security and anonymity are always sensitive topics here, but I'm wondering if anyone can assist me in selecting a good safe? I want something that can be bolted down to a concrete floor. I've read through a few buying guides online but would like to get an unbiased opinion or two.

My main questions/concerns:
1 - How much safe do I need?
2 - How much do I need to spend?
3 - Where's the best place to buy?

Thanks.

1. Impossible for us to answer. You should ask yourself how much you plan to store in it and that will help you find the answer.

2. You need to find the answer to question 1 before this can be answered.

3. See the answer to question 2.


Would you store $100,000 worth of valuables in a $20 safe? Would you store $20 worth of valuables in a $3,000 safe?

Yeah I understand it was somewhat vague but I didn't really want to get into specifics if I didn't have to. I'm less than 30 years old, only been stacking for about 1.5 years now but intend to continue so as long as I'm alive. I'm of the opinion that the banks and our financial system are run by criminals, so I don't want to keep much at the banks. Does that help?

The main problem being: I will very likely open my biggest, baddest, whiz-bang home safe with a gun to my head... or maybe even my wifes head.

Something to consider.....hags

hags wrote:

The main problem being: I will very likely open my biggest, baddest, whiz-bang home safe with a gun to my head... or maybe even my wifes head.

Something to consider.....hags

If that's the situation, who says they'd stop at the safe, and not take everything from bank account. I got a safe for when I am not home. I got a gun for when I am home.

Neckro wrote:

hags wrote:

The main problem being: I will very likely open my biggest, baddest, whiz-bang home safe with a gun to my head... or maybe even my wifes head.

Something to consider.....hags

If that's the situation, who says they'd stop at the safe, and not take everything from bank account. I got a safe for when I am not home. I got a gun for when I am home.

Everyone says this but there are 1,000 ways someone can get in your home and surprise you before you get your gun.

For example, thief breaks in, waits for you.


Anyway, as I've told my wife, no matter what NEVER open the safe. If they will kill you if you don't open it, they will kill you if you do. And possibly by stuffing you or your child into the safe. That's the worst way to go.

not in your house is best.

hidden in multiple places can be better than than locked up in one convenience place.

i understand that a lot of thieves will steal entire safes and take them home to crack open.

when i worked at domino's, they have a cylindrical floor safe. it was dug into the floor. now, a thief might eventually be able to break into that one but he's never going to be able to take it with them.

Lemon Thrower wrote:not in your house is best.

hidden in multiple places can be better than than locked up in one convenience place.

i understand that a lot of thieves will steal entire safes and take them home to crack open.

when i worked at domino's, they have a cylindrical floor safe. it was dug into the floor. now, a thief might eventually be able to break into that one but he's never going to be able to take it with them.

The solution to the "thief takes the whole safe" thing is a small tracking device glued inconspicuously to the safe.

And, unlike other solutions that may actually lead to finding and capturing the thieves!

Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

Graffunder E Rated Safe.

http://www.graffundersafes.com/products ... eapon.html

Neckro wrote:I got a gun for when I am home.

Can you have it pointed at the door before the splinters hit the ground? That means "carry at home".

BOHICA wrote:Graffunder E Rated Safe.

http://www.graffundersafes.com/products ... eapon.html

the weakness of that safe is it can't be opened or likley moved without your help, so that bad guy breaks in and just waits for you to get home.

i would only put as much in that as i am comfortable giving up when a gun is pointed at my head.

also, how are you going to keep the neighbors from seeing it delivered/installed?

that is like a big sign that say, "I have valuables!"

Fill the bottom with copper and nickel until you can fill it up with silver and gold. No thief is going anywhere with that gun safe if its full of copper.

I've always been as concerned about fire rating as well as security. Here's another website....

http://www.libertysafe.com/

DirtyFingers wrote:I've always been as concerned about fire rating as well as security. Here's another website....

http://www.libertysafe.com/

The fire rated safes I've looked at also were heavier. That could be a plus.

Costco had this one on sale with delivery included. At over 1000lbs/47cubic feet and a 70 min fire rating it is hard to beat.

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.as ... =C&topnav=

This should do it....

When you go to buy your next home, consider buying and remodeling an abandoned bank branch building instead. For the vault.

texcollex wrote:

DirtyFingers wrote:I've always been as concerned about fire rating as well as security. Here's another website....

http://www.libertysafe.com/

The fire rated safes I've looked at also were heavier. That could be a plus.

+1

I've got one and they are heavier.

I vote for the Liberty Safes. As far a nationally marketed brands, they are the best, in my opinion. There are better safes out there, but they are made by smaller companies that are either regional or local. Two safes is better to keep the bad guys guessing. Bolting or welding to the floor is a must. Do a little research, buy the best you can afford, even if that is smaller than you would really like.

Mossy wrote:

Neckro wrote:I got a gun for when I am home.

Can you have it pointed at the door before the splinters hit the ground? That means "carry at home".

I always carry at home. Always....

Deal

Having just been down this road within the past few months... I can offer you the following advice.

1) DON'T get it delivered! Find your most trusted friends/family and have them help. The fewer people knowing I have one... the better off I am.
2) BUY American! Look into Liberty Centennial series. Made in America. I just don't see me buying a foreign made safe. There is A LOT of reasons for that (ex: fire drywall used, steel used, construction, bolt location in or outside, not to mention I just don't see me placing my valuables in a foreign made safe).
3) If you can put it in a SMALL area... then add on fireboard in that room and go for a lower fire rating. To me... the mondo expensive safes are only needed if you are keeping it in the open and can't further assist the fire rating by room modifications and need the most security you can get due to visability. I have an EXTREMELY hidden safe in an EXTREMELY well reinforced area.
4) Buy the BIGGEST you can... but make it so where you can move it ok. I'd suggest not going over 700 lbs or so.
5) As for fire ratings... my bro is a fireman and he's seen several safes come through a fire before. He stated that the only real reason to get above the 30 min rated safes is if you are going to keep it in an area where it is likely to burn longer or hotter than the rest of the house would (ex: garage around chemicals, near a bunch of wood like a HUGE entertainment system). He said that if it's in a closet or something like that... then a 30 min rating will likely outlast any common housefire temps.

I'd store A LOT in my new safe (if I had it) simply because I have it fire reinforced and have put it in a location that eliminates it from being able to be pryed open or moved. The ONLY way to go in my safe is... through the front door and the lock!