Gun Safe Selection 101: Tips For Choosing The Right Safe
A key aspect of responsible firearm ownership is ensuring that your firearms are protected and secure. For most gun owners, that means buying a gun safe to store them in. However, when it comes to choosing that safe, the process isn't as simple as just buying what looks good. There are a lot of elements that go into choosing the right, and best, gun safes for your needs. Understanding the crucial components will help ensure that you get the right safe for your preferences, your lifestyle, and your firearms. Here's a look at some of the things that you need to think about as you choose a gun safe for your home.
Safe Construction
The first, and perhaps most important, consideration when choosing a gun safe is the construction of the safe itself. After all, a safe with elaborate locks but has a weak structure isn't going to be secure. Take time to assess the specifications of the safe, looking for strong steel construction, thick wall designs, a fire barrier, and heavy-duty hinges.
You should also consider a safe with multiple lock bolts along the length of the door. The more lock bolts your safe is constructed with, the more secure that door is going to be from unauthorized breaches. Look for a safe door with multiple lock bolts for a stronger safe.
Safe Placement
One thing that many people don't think about when they are in the market for a gun safe is the placement of that safe. Many people opt for smaller bedside safes with fingerprint controls so that they can easily access their firearms at night if needed. This is great for convenience, but remember that those safes are also portable. If you can pick it up and move it, so can an intruder. A thief could easily walk away with your firearms, and your safe, if it's not securely bolted to the floor or mounted in the wall.
Take some time to consider where you want your safe installed, then choose a model and design that will securely mount the way that you prefer. Whether you're anchoring it to the floor in your closet or having it installed in the wall of your den, there are models that will fit either application.
Lock Style
You'll also need to give thought to the style of the lock on your gun safe. There are many different options available, depending on what's right for your needs. For those who prefer the old-school designs, you can still get key-lock gun safes, but that means needing to have the key accessible in the event of an emergency, which may not necessarily be the most convenient.
Combination locks are an alternative to consider, where you can set the combination to a sequence of numbers that's easy for you to remember. These locks feature traditional tumbler locks with dials to set the combination. They are secure and reliable, but may take too long to get into in the event of an emergency.
Biometric locks, such as fingerprint or retinal scanners, are increasingly popular with gun safe buyers. These are highly secure because you can restrict whose biometrics are authorized, but they can be unreliable because they do rely on such precision. If your finger is wet or dirty, it likely won't scan. Also, these locks may require routine battery changes to keep the lock powered to function properly.
These are some of the most important elements that you need to think about when you're in the market for a gun safe. Visit a local gun shop, such as Security Centers Inc, today to see what kinds of safes they have in stock, or reach out to a gun safe supplier in your area for more options and information.
