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Best store to buy a gun safe in SoCal?

Let’s put thousands of dollars in weapons and valuables in a $500 cabinet!! Seems right.
I cannot understand why anyone in their right mind would buy a security cabinet at Harbor Freight or Costco? And that’s what they are technically. They aren’t safes. A safe has minimum metal thickness, a different locking mechanism and a specific fire rating.

Don’t cheap out. Buy a good safe. (Amsec) American Security in Fontana has excellent safes. They are not cheap but worth every penny

-dale

I guess Dale thinks we're all super rich like him. Must be a boomer. Sorry if my Costco and harbor freight safe offended you buddy. Cannon makes a good product last time I checked. And a harbor freight safe is better then no safe.
 
I guess Dale thinks we're all super rich like him. Must be a boomer. Sorry if my Costco and harbor freight safe offended you buddy. Cannon makes a good product last time I checked. And a harbor freight safe is better then no safe.
I’m not a boomer, nice try. What you choose to buy and waste your money on doesn’t offend me at all. I could care less to be honest. I don’t understand it but that’s besides the point.

Buy once, cry once.

-dale
 
7 gauge, wow. I’m looking at two 11 gauge layers that sandwich concrete.

Really, the safe is just something that requires more time. Any safe can be opened eventually. The better the build and the more securely it’s put in, the longer it takes, and the more likely a response will arrive before it can be stolen.

That crazy thick steel sounds pretty awesome, though!
 
And a harbor freight safe is better then no safe.
Couldn't agree more. Not everyone has the means. I know people that do not have a safe. Don't understand it! I purchased my safe before I even had any firearms.

Like I said, some good deals on Marketplace.
 
I’d add that a *properly bolted safe* is better than no safe.

A lightweight safe (typically classified as a Residential Security Container) that’s NOT bolted down is really just a convenient container for thieves to carry your guns away. Or, the unbolted safe can be thrown on its side for easier breaching.

Bottom line: Bolt your safe down
 
Are you getting a safe to keep criminals out or just keep kids out? If your just trying to keep kids out get a cabinet. If your looking to keep criminals out tractor supply has some good sales, but charge for delivery. Same with turners. Depending on where your putting the safe going to run about 5-800 and weight of the safe. If your looking for just a cabinet sportsman's usually run sales on stack on cabinet for under 200. Don't just get the thin bent metals cabinets. They have the thick welded steel cabinets. Amazon has vevor cabinets for sale but looks pretty sketchy since you have to assemble them. But they are pretty big and would keep the kids out. Harbor freight ITC members can get big savings on the unions safes/cabinet during sales.
 
Second that. Look at their web site, talk to them on the phone. Drive your F250 or similar pickup truck, bring the safe back home yourself, get a few of friends to help you move it. We set up a 1300 lbs safe with 3 people, using old pieces of PVC pipe, sheets of hardboard to protect the floor, and some ropes. You end up getting way more safe for your money.
 
A safe has minimum metal thickness

What gauge steel do they have?

I got my 7 gauge safe from them. Quality. Unlike most of the 14 gauge garbage a lot of people recommend

Unfortunately the "old school" thought focusing on thickness of the steel is no longer an issue when cut with the new ceramic/metal hybrid sawblades. Yes, it stops the crowbar burglar, but not much more than that. As an example is 1/2" steel which is no match to a Skilsaw that cuts like it was plywood...

Yeah, what gauge is that?
IMG_1636_jpeg-3409026.webp


7 gauge, wow. I’m looking at two 11 gauge layers that sandwich concrete.

At least the concrete layer will help defeat the ceramic blade despite thinner steel.
 
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Thanks for all the recommendations, everyone!

I ended up going to West Coast Safes and getting an AmSec safe that more than satisfies DOJ guidelines. It's rated to hold 30 firearms, but I doubt I will have space for more than 24.


Unfortunately the "old school" thought focusing on thickness of the steel is no longer an issue when cut with the new ceramic/metal hybrid sawblades. Yes, it stops the crowbar burglar, but not much more than that. As an example is 1/2" steel which is no match to a Skilsaw that cuts like it was plywood...

Yeah, what gauge is that?
View attachment 184892




At least the concrete layer will help defeat the ceramic blade despite thinner steel.

Yes, that was my reasoning, too. Mine has two layers of steel and concrete between them. They will need a lot more time to break in. The bigger issue is securing it well enough with bolts to prevent them from digging it away and taking the entire thing. I have seen a 1200 pound safe stolen whole. Then it's just a matter of opening it at their leisure.
 
7 gauge, wow. I’m looking at two 11 gauge layers that sandwich concrete.

Really, the safe is just something that requires more time. Any safe can be opened eventually. The better the build and the more securely it’s put in, the longer it takes, and the more likely a response will arrive before it can be stolen.

That crazy thick steel sounds pretty awesome, though!
I bought the 7 gauge because this 4 guage one was a little too expensive. Lol.

 
I’d add that a *properly bolted safe* is better than no safe.

A lightweight safe (typically classified as a Residential Security Container) that’s NOT bolted down is really just a convenient container for thieves to carry your guns away. Or, the unbolted safe can be thrown on its side for easier breaching.

Bottom line: Bolt your safe down

Oh, definitely bolt it down. Have a large foundation so you can have longer, deeper bolts, too.

Obviously, it goes without saying, but drywall won’t help with bolts…need something much stronger.

I’ve seen safes dug out of a brick wall.


Are you getting a safe to keep criminals out or just keep kids out? If your just trying to keep kids out get a cabinet. If your looking to keep criminals out tractor supply has some good sales, but charge for delivery. Same with turners. Depending on where your putting the safe going to run about 5-800 and weight of the safe. If your looking for just a cabinet sportsman's usually run sales on stack on cabinet for under 200. Don't just get the thin bent metals cabinets. They have the thick welded steel cabinets. Amazon has vevor cabinets for sale but looks pretty sketchy since you have to assemble them. But they are pretty big and would keep the kids out. Harbor freight ITC members can get big savings on the unions safes/cabinet during sales.

This is a safe to buy time so criminals can’t steal it before the police do…so I need about 30 minutes worth of safe. My kids are all older, and they don’t touch firearms without reason, ever.


Second that. Look at their web site, talk to them on the phone. Drive your F250 or similar pickup truck, bring the safe back home yourself, get a few of friends to help you move it. We set up a 1300 lbs safe with 3 people, using old pieces of PVC pipe, sheets of hardboard to protect the floor, and some ropes. You end up getting way more safe for your money.

Awesome—I’m at the stage of life where I’ll happily pay to have delivery. Also, my wife won’t be angry about any scuff marks on the wood floors.

I bought the 7 gauge because this 4 guage one was a little too expensive. Lol.


I see. Homeland safes seem surprisingly well priced compared to comparable safes from other brands. If I get yet another safe, I will definitely look into their options. For this one, I went with a brand I know from previous experience.
 
I see. Homeland safes seem surprisingly well priced compared to comparable safes from other brands. If I get yet another safe, I will definitely look into their options. For this one, I went with a brand I know from previous experience.
They’re a local family shop and don’t do much marketing so their overhead is relatively modest. Everything is made to order so they don’t have to stock much inventory. No fancy showroom either. Basically just a machine shop with a website and a front office. Was only about a 2 week turnaround time for me.
 
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