A gun safe can be a wise investment for any gun owner, whether it’s for firearms kept at a place of business or ones stored at home. From floor and car safes to ones designed to be hidden under beds or in walls, there are many options with gun safes you’re welcome to explore and consider. At the same time, there are some specific things you’ll want to look for as you make your decision. The firearms safety and training experts from Gun Safety Training Pros, your premier choice when you’re ready to take a firearms safety class, discuss these in detail below.
Construction
Get started with your hunt for a gun safe by looking at construction. Avoid anything meant to serve as a gun cabinet and not a safe. Gun cabinets are usually much thinner and not designed with security in mind. Focus instead on strength and durability. With construction of a gun safe, pay attention to:
• Thickness of the metal*
• Durability of the safe’s door
• Sturdiness of the lock
*Better-quality gun safes are typically made of heavier and thicker steel.
Fire Ratings
Many people assume fire-resistant safes are only for documents. However, fire can do some serious damage to guns as well, especially if you’ll be using your safe to store multiple guns or more valuable collectible firearms. Look for a gun safe with a fire rating of at least 1 hour. This should be enough time to safely protect your firearms should a fire occur where the safe is located.
Options with Mechanical & Digital Safe Locks
Spend some time giving serious consideration to the type of lock you wish to have on your gun safe. A traditional mechanical lock may seem outdated, but it can still serve you well if it’s sturdy and secure. Digital locks offer added perks, some of which include:
• Mobile access to settings
• Alerts about unsuccessful attempts to open the safe
• The ability to change your combination for security purposes
• Stats showing times when the safe was accessed
Also, consider how comfortable you are using each type of lock. If you’re not too tech-savvy, you may prefer a sturdy mechanical lock you’re more comfortable using.
Underwriters Laboratories Burglar Ratings
The better gun safes tend to have burglar-related ratings certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL). This is a global safety certification company that confirms the overall function and quality of various products and product features. For a gun safe, look for UL ratings that include or refer to:
• Residential Security Container (RSC) designation
• U.L. TL-15—an acceptable tool resistance rating
• U.L. TL-30—a higher tool resistance rating
Burglar ratings are also broken down by the value of the contents. In this instance, you would go by the general value of your firearms to determine the rating that’s appropriate so you can choose a gun safe rated for that value.
Suitability for the Intended Location
As mentioned above, there are many options with gun safes. Therefore, it’s important to know where your safe will be located so you can narrow down your search and focus on safes likely to be beneficial for you. Keep in mind you can always purchase different safes for different purposes (e.g., one for your office, one for home, and one for the car when you travel with firearms).
Responsible gun owners understand their number one priority is safety, which includes storing firearms properly and getting the right training to use their guns safely. If you’d like to learn more about gun safety from experienced professionals by taking a high-quality online gun safety course, reach out to the experts at Gun Safety Training Pros. Contact us today at [email protected].
