Gun Safes Lowes (2024)

FAQs

Are cheap gun safes worth it? ›

Long-Term Savings: While cheap safes save money upfront, the potential loss of firearms or valuables far outweighs the initial cost difference. Choose Quality: Opt for a reputable brand with a proven track record in firearm security. Look for features like thick steel, advanced locking mechanisms, and fireproofing.

If you need somewhere to keep a large gun safe, but don't want it easily visible, the basem*nt is a good place to store it. Unlike the garage, the basem*nt also comes with a greater amount of security because it's in your home and you can better monitor it.

You should try to choose a safe made with thick steel that is between 12- and 6-gauge for the greatest protection. Gun safe metal that is 12-gauge is 2.057mm (0.081”) thick, while 6-gauge is 4.166mm (0.164”) thick. You will pay more for thicker gun safe steel, but it is well worth it.

Mid-range safes weigh between 600 and 1,000 pounds. High-end weigh in between 1,000 to 1,600. And commercial-grade safes can weigh anywhere from 2,000 all the way up to 5,000 pounds. But what goes into them that gives them so much heft?

This means more time is spent on building a higher quality safe than what you will find in a store or on Amazon. You could expect to pay anywhere from several hundred dollars to a couple thousand dollars, depending on the UL-rating, electronic locks, or accessories you choose.

Popular wisdom says that you shouldn't install a gun safe in a garage — especially an unheated garage. And popular wisdom is sometimes right. But with the right precautions and maintenance, you can most certainly install a gun safe in the garage.

If the receptacle weighs less than 150 kilograms when it is empty, it must be bolted to the structure of the premises. When firearms are stored in the receptacle, it must be locked with a lock of sturdy construction.

Always store your firearm unloaded.

A 12-gauge shotgun holds a power advantage over a 20-gauge, but unlike most cartridge comparisons, faster projectiles aren't the cause. It's a common misperception that a 20 gauge is less powerful than a 12 gauge because it shoots pellets more slowly. Generally speaking, that's not the case.

The best foundation for bolting down a gun safe is a concrete slab.

What is the difference between 12-gauge and 14 gauge gun safes? ›

To put the strength of lower gauge steel into better perspective, consider this: 12-gauge steel is 2.86 times stronger than 14-gauge steel. 11-gauge steel is 1.45 times stronger than 12-gauge steel.

High-quality vinyl or linoleum floors are very durable. However, lesser quality materials can rip or tear very easily or show indentations from heavy objects, like a gun safe. You may want to consider anchoring your safe on a base or a rubber mat to protect your flooring.

A general rule of thumb is to divide the total number by about half for a more realistic estimate of how many guns your safe will hold. In our example, this safe could realistically hold around 15-16 guns. Even with a 15-16 gun capacity, storing guns in the pre-designated shelf slots can often times be tricky.

Many times, simply having a safe in your home works as an effective deterrent. For that reason alone, a safe can be worth purchasing. On the same note, if you live in an area with high crime rates or in a neighborhood that sees a lot of break-ins, you should definitely consider getting a gun safe.

No Safe Is Burglar-Proof

And there are even some tactics that no manufacturer can counteract, such as using a plasma cutter or a thermic lance to cut open the safe, using an explosive to blow a safe open, or using machine power to pry the door off.

Obvious items to put in a gun safe include: guns, cash and items with monetary value like gold. While these are choice items to put in safes, limiting oneself to these items only underutilizes the storage bandwidth of a Fort Knox safe.

Bottom line: a gun safe not only keeps the firearm secure but also reduces chances of children, or any other house member, gaining access to firearms.