Whether you own a single firearm for your personal protection or a collection of guns, having a safe place to store them is very important. This is why experts recommend that all gun owners invest in gun safes. This guide will go over all you need to know about these secure storage solutions. We'll cover definitions, benefits, and what to look for in your own safe too. Read on for vital information every safe owner needs to know.

What Are Gun Safes?

Before we look at the advantages and types of gun safe, it's important to begin with a definition. As the name implies, a gun safe is a safe that has been designed to store guns. You can still store other items inside them, and they work just like regular safes. But the main purpose of these products is for the protection and storage of firearms.

You can find a small biometric gun safe for a simple handgun, for example. You can also find much larger gun cases for storing several rifles, shotguns, and so on. Most are made with steel, but the thickness of the material can vary. So some units are much stronger and more protective than others. There are a lot of options and the choice is yours. Below, we'll go over some of the key factors when looking for a safe later on in the guide.

Who Needs a Gun Safe?

Anyone who owns a firearm should consider investing in one of these products. You might own a single handgun for the protection of your family. Or you might have a few rifles for your hunting hobby. You might even be a collector of shotguns or firearms. In any of these cases and others, a safe can be a great addition to your home.

What Are the Advantages of Gun Safe?

 

There are many benefits you can enjoy from safe ownership. They can improve and enhance the owner’s life in a lot of different ways, providing safety, security, and peace of mind. Some of the best benefits of owning one of these safes  are listed below:

1. Protecting Against Thieves

Safes exist to keep items protected and secure. In a regular safe, you might store items like jewelry, cash, or important documents. That's because these items are commonly targeted by thieves. The same logic applies when using a gun safe too. Thieves and criminals may look for weapons when searching a home.

Indeed, stealing guns can be an effective method for criminals who can't buy guns legally. They might want to use the firearms themselves or sell them on. Either way, having a safe helps to reduce the risk of having your items stolen. It's much harder for a thief to break into a safe to steal something, rather than simply finding it in a closet or box.

2. Protection Against Fire

Burglars aren't the only thing you have to worry about for the protection of your weapon collection. Fire can also be a major threat to your guns. Even though rifles and shotguns are deadly weapons, they aren't able to withstand heat and flames. Fire can destroy firearms in a matter of minutes.

The best safes are designed to withstand blazes and high temperatures. They won't keep your guns protected forever against fire. But they will be able to offer safety and protection for at least an hour. This gives you time to contact the emergency services and get the inferno extinguished.

3. Accessibility

Owning guns is a big responsibility. You need someplace to store them. Many owners struggle with this, as they want to be able to access their weapons but don't know where to keep them. A safe is able to provide a simple solution to this common dilemma.

With a safe installed at your home, you'll always know when your firearms are. You won't need to spend hours worrying about where to put them. And whenever you need to access them, you'll know exactly where to go. This offers a lot of conveniences. It could even help to save your life if you suffer a home invasion and need rapid access to a handgun.

4. Transportation

Many owners like to visit places like the firing range. This can be a good way to practice your shooting skills. But it's not wise to simply carry your gun to and from the range without any kind of case or box. A portable biometric safe makes this process a lot easier.

With a small and compact container, you can store your gun safely for travel and transport. This lets you go to places like the range without having to worry about carrying a loose firearm. It's good for legal reasons too, as there can be strict laws regarding guns in cars or guns in public areas.

5. Preserving Your Collection

If you're a collector, you most likely take a lot of pride in the pieces of your collection. You'll want to keep them in good condition, protected from rust, corrosion, and deterioration. But if you leave guns exposed to the elements, wear and tear can occur. This is why many collectors struggle to store their weapons the right way.

Again, a safe is able to help with this. A good quality safe will be able to keep all your items safe. The best models provide dry, protective environments, away from toxins in the air or excess moisture. This can be so much better than just putting your guns in a cabinet or garage. 

6. Child Safety

If you have kids in the house, getting a gun safe is absolutely imperative. There are countless stories of children accidentally getting their hands on guns. This can be disastrous, leading to some awful situations and tragedies. There are even laws on the matter of gun safety in homes with children.

In order to comply with those laws, it's wise to invest in a firearm safe. These units have strong locks that you can set up to be basically impenetrable. Even curious kids won't be able to open them up and get to the weapons on the inside. This can help to reduce the risk of accidents and drama in a big way.

7. Peace of Mind

Following on from the previous point, a gun safe can also provide some much-needed peace of mind. Owning a weapon is important to a lot of people. It brings comfort and security. It also gives you an option to defend yourself and your family against intruders.

At the same time, it can be stressful. Many owners worry about accidents involving their weapons. Or they worry about their firearms falling into the wrong hands. This can lead to stress and sleepless nights. A safe will help you relax more and enjoy gun ownership without any anxiety.

8. Legal Compliance

As mentioned briefly earlier, there are laws regarding gun ownership. It's important for owners to be aware of the rules on the matter in their state. It's also vital that you do what you need to, in order to comply with those rules.

Having a safe can massively assist with compliance. It shows that you're a responsible firearm owner. It also helps if you have any children either living at the home or visiting on a regular basis. This can help you avoid any legal trouble associated with your firearms.

9. Other Storage

As stated earlier, gun safes aren't only for storing weapons. They're designed just like other kinds of safe. And you can use them in a range of different ways as well. This can help save you time, money, and space by using one safe for all your most important possessions.

As well as keeping rifles and handguns in your unit, you can also store jewelry and cash in there too. Many people also like to put important documents like passports and wills in the gun safe. As long as you buy a good-sized model, there should be plenty of room for all you want to put inside.

10. Insurance Advantages

You might be surprised to learn that you can also enjoy various insurance advantages by buying a gun safe too. Insurance is always key for firearm owners, and owning a gun can sometimes add to your premiums.

However, if you get a safe, you might be entitled to some discounts. A lot of big insurance brands will offer incentives to people who invest in safes. Because if you have a safe, there's less chance of accidents happening.

How to Find the Best Safe for Guns

So what is the best gun safe for home? Well, that's a question that a lot of gun owners ask themselves. There are a huge number of models out there to choose from. Picking the best one for you can feel like a challenge. So let's take a look at some tips and factors to consider when looking for your own safe.

• Size Matters

One of the biggest things to think about when looking for your own gun safe is the size. These units can come in a huge range of different sizes. Some are small and portable, like a box biometric gun case that fits right under the bed. Others are huge and heavy, designed to store a large collection of rifles.

It's important to think carefully about what you want to use the safe for and how big you need it. People who only own a single weapon won't need an enormous safe. But those who have several guns or plan to buy more in the future may want a large unit. Don't forget to think about placement too and make sure you have room for it.

• Locking Mechanisms

There are many different types of locks that can appear on your safe. Some safes are manual, with classic dials and codes you can set up. Others have electronic locks with keypads for easy entry. Then, there are biometric locks.

What does biometric mean? It's basically a system of security that relies on a person's unique physical characteristics. So a biometric gun lock may make use of your fingerprint in order to open and close. Are biometric gun safes safe? Yes, as long as you buy a good quality one. But you might prefer a classic or electronic lock instead of a biometric safe lock.

• Strength and Durability

Ultimately, the main reason people invest in a safe is that they want to keep their firearms protected. It makes sense, therefore, to buy a unit that can offer genuine protection. And it's worth noting that some safes are very strong and durable, while others are quite weak.

To find a good quality model, you need to look at how and where it was made. Some brands make use of low-quality materials and outsource their manufacture to save money. If you wonder "Where are RPNB gun safes made?" for example, the answer is China. Other brands use top-tier materials, heavy-duty steel, and premium production standards. This results in safes that are almost unbreakable and have the best fire and theft protection.

• Design 

It's also recommended to consider the general design of each safe, before choosing one. Safes can have very different designs. Some are quite rigid in their structure, with simple interior spaces that offer no real adjustment. Others have shelves and storage accessories that can be moved around in a modular way.

Many people like a modular-style safe, because this offers more flexibility. It allows you to reposition the shelves as needed in order to suit the size and shape of your items. This can be great for people with diverse firearm collections. Or those who want to use the safe for storing lots of different possessions.

• Understanding Steel Gauges

Most safes are made from steel. But don't make the mistake of assuming that they're all basically the same. You need to look at the gauge of steel to truly understand the quality of each unit.

Lower numbers are better when it comes to steel gauges. For instance, a 14 gauge safe will be thicker and more durable than a 20 gauge model. Some manufacturers use higher gauges to save money and trick buyers.

• Don't Forget Fire Protection

A lot of people worry about thieves and criminals stealing their guns. But as explained above, fire can be a huge threat to your firearms too. So don't forget about fire protection when looking for a gun safe.

The best safes are usually able to offer one hour or longer of protection. This means that they'll be able to keep your guns intact, even when surrounded by flames for 60 minutes. Sub-standard models might only be able to offer 30 minutes of protection instead.

• Compare Your Options

In the end, when looking for your own gun safe, the golden rule is to take your time. Look around at different models and take various factors into account. Don't rush in and buy the first safe you find, as it might not be able to meet all your needs.

It's much better, instead, to spend a bit of time comparing models. This will allow you to look at things like size, strength, durability, fire protection, and so on. By comparing these factors, you can find the best model to meet your precise needs.

Installation and Maintenance of a Gun Safe

Now that we've seen how to find the best gun safe, let's look at setting them up and keeping them maintained. Here are some key tips safe owners should keep in mind.

• Positioning Is Important

The first thing to think about after getting a safe is where to put it. You may have a lot of different options here, depending on the size and layout of your home. You might be able to choose between the garage, bedroom, basement, closets, and other spaces too.

Where's the best place to put a gun safe? It depends. Some people like a basement, because it keeps the safe out of view of criminals. It also reduces the risk of fire damage and allows you to bolt the safe down. Garages offer similar advantages. Bedrooms give you the benefit of easy access to your weapons. Consider your options and weigh up the pros and cons to find the right location for you.

• Professionals Can Help

In general, a gun safe isn't something you want to set up alone. Unless you have a lot of experience, it's recommended to contact the pros for this kind of job. Professional installers can help to transport the safe to your home with special equipment. They can also get it to the installation location safely.

This is important because safes are huge and heavy. Trying to move them around or get them upstairs can be a real challenge. Safe experts can also introduce you to the features of your unit. They can help you get it set up too and show you how the locks and features work.

• Think About Humidity

One of the big issues to consider when it comes to gun safes is humidity. The best safes can help to preserve your weapons. But moisture can build up on the inside. This can lead to rust and deterioration. So you need to find ways to keep moisture levels low.

A good method is to set up a dehumidifier inside the safe. This will work to absorb wetness from the air. The risk of rust will therefore be much lower. You can even scatter some silica packets in the safe to reduce the humidity percentage too.

• Keep it Clean

Just like any other major item in your home, it's wise to keep your gun safe clean. This applies to both the inside and outside. Inside, dust can build up and excessive moisture may even lead to mold growth. Outside, dust, dirt, and stains may appear over time.

You should therefore get in the habit of maintaining the safe on a regular basis. The outside can be cleaned with a simple soap solution and brushes. Pay close attention to any nooks and crannies where dirt may gather. Inside, remove all items before wiping the surfaces down and let the unit dry thoroughly before use.

• Clean The Items Inside Too

As well as cleaning the safe, it's also recommended to clean the things you put in it. If you put dirty guns inside, you run the risk of that dirt spreading and causing other issues. It may result in bacterial growth, rust, or corrosion for your firearms.

Be sure to scan all weapons and anything else before putting them in the unit. Get rid of any dirt or stains and let the items dry off before you put them in. Even if you don't see any dirt on the guns, it's wise to clean them, as oily deposits from your own fingers could be present on the surface.

• Bolt it Down for Maximum Protection

A lot of gun safe owners choose to bolt their safes down to the ground. This is a common occurrence when the safe is stored in the basement or garage. It's quite easy to bolt a unit in position on a concrete floor. This can offer huge protection advantages.

Sometimes, if thieves can't open a safe, they'll simply take it. They can work together to get the unit out of the home and leave with it. Then, they can use other methods or bring in specialists to crack it open. If you secure the safe, they won't be able to do this.

Conclusion

Gun safes have a lot to offer. They can provide you with many advantages. They can be essential in keeping your firearms safe and secure. Plus, they can reduce the risk of accidents, theft, or fire damage in a big way. But as this guide shows, you have to choose with care. Make sure to consider many factors and check that the safe you want is made to the highest standards. Buying the best safe will give you maximum protection, and make sure to follow the tips above to install and use it correctly.