Good Quality, heavy, fireproof gun safe?

Equipment and accessories for shooting. Safes, firearm storage, bipods, carry cases, slings etc.

Good Quality, heavy, fireproof gun safe?

Post by Wraithcat » 09 Oct 2019, 1:32 am

Hiyall,

I'm new to these forums and am hoping that someone might be able to be of assistance.

Last year, I lost everything in a fire and now am in the market for a fireproof gun safe. As I rent, it can't be bolted to the floor, so has to be over 150 kg. I'll be looking to store both blades (swords) and firearms, along with documents and electronic storage that will reside inside smaller fireproof storage that I already own, so I'm really looking at something rated at twenty, or 30 plus guns.

Ideally, I want something that can't be pried open, or cut through with ease. After all, there is no point in having a safe if anyone with a circular saw can just cut it open and walk out with the contents. I'm guessing about 3mm steel, or thereabouts as a minimum.

I've watched a few YouTube videos on gun safes, but none of the brands they mention seem to be available here in Australia.

Any assistance, or advice would be greatly appreciated!
Wraithcat
Recruit
Recruit
 
Posts: 2
Victoria

Re: Good Quality, heavy, fireproof gun safe?

Post by bladeracer » 09 Oct 2019, 6:46 am

Renting doesn't prevent you from securing your safe, it just requires you to patch the holes afterwards.
Maybe buy a big safe and line it with several layers of fibrous cement sheet or concrete.
Even the cheap safes are 3mm sheet.
During fire season we take our important stuff into a storage place we keep in town.

I have some "20 rifle" safes, which are large enough that I can keep some take-down rifles and guns in the bolt compartment as well. The main compartment is big enough that I have managed to jam sixteen unscoped rifles in it occassionally, but I think 20 would be a stretch. I generally only keep eight scoped rifles comfortably in one, any more makes access difficult.
Last edited by bladeracer on 09 Oct 2019, 7:45 am, edited 2 times in total.
Practice Strict Gun Control - Precision Counts!
User avatar
bladeracer
Field Marshal
Field Marshal
 
Posts: 12656
Victoria

Re: Good Quality, heavy, fireproof gun safe?

Post by Sergeant Hartman » 09 Oct 2019, 6:52 am

Most readily available gun safes are not fire rated. Maybe look at old bank safes... but they can get quite heavy. In Bunnings the fire proof safes are usually lot bigger and heavier construction


Or talk to a specialist safe builder or seller.
Sergeant Hartman
Sergeant Major
Sergeant Major
 
Posts: 1722
Victoria

Re: Good Quality, heavy, fireproof gun safe?

Post by 8x57 » 09 Oct 2019, 7:18 am

Try Spika they have a range of fire proof safes, that are over 150 kg in weight. I have had one for Six years and couldn’t be happier With it.
8x57
Lance Corporal
Lance Corporal
 
Posts: 107
Queensland

Re: Good Quality, heavy, fireproof gun safe?

Post by straightshooter » 09 Oct 2019, 7:33 am

Just about anything in safes is available, the only limitation is money.
Visit an actual specialist safe dealer (not a gunshop or locksmith) and ask to look at second hand "fireproof book safes" that meet your dimension criteria.
You may be surprised how they compare with gunshop fireproof safes.
Downside is you will be looking at 500kg or more.
"Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about."
"There is no expedient to which a man will not resort to avoid the real labor of thinking." Sir Joshua Reynolds
straightshooter
Warrant Officer C1
Warrant Officer C1
 
Posts: 1263
New South Wales

Re: Good Quality, heavy, fireproof gun safe?

Post by SCJ429 » 09 Oct 2019, 2:02 pm

It is difficult to insulate a big metal box, most use concrete to do this which makes them heavy and difficult to move. Even then a high intensity fire, like a house fire will toast anything inside. You can find some excellent safes made by CMI Safes. As said above, secondhand safes would be your best bet which are hard to sell because they are heavy and bulky. Be careful if the lock is U/S or has a lockout. A new lock like a KABA X10 cost $2,000 fitted.
SCJ429
Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel
 
Posts: 3208
New South Wales

Re: Good Quality, heavy, fireproof gun safe?

Post by Wraithcat » 12 Feb 2020, 4:09 pm

Thank you everybody for your advice. It is really appreciated.

Sorry it has taken so long to respond. Unfortunately life got in the way and the new safe had to go on the back-burner.

But am hoping to move forward with it shortly! :-)
Wraithcat
Recruit
Recruit
 
Posts: 2
Victoria

Re: Good Quality, heavy, fireproof gun safe?

Post by JimTom » 12 Feb 2020, 5:07 pm

Have you short listed any safes mate? I am after a bigger safe, something over 150kg as you are.
User avatar
JimTom
Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
 
Posts: 2130
Queensland

Re: Good Quality, heavy, fireproof gun safe?

Post by Noisydad » 12 Feb 2020, 8:24 pm

You can get a refractory blanket stuff called “Kaowool” from foundry supply outlets. It’s used to insulate melting furnaces and is so heat resistant that you can put your hand on the outside of a furnace that is white hot inside. I’ve often thought that lining a safe with that stuff would be the ultimate in fireproofing a safe.
Maybe an option for you.
There's still a few of Wile. E Coyote's ideas that I haven't tried yet.
User avatar
Noisydad
Warrant Officer C1
Warrant Officer C1
 
Posts: 1383
Victoria

Re: Good Quality, heavy, fireproof gun safe?

Post by Die Judicii » 16 Feb 2020, 2:01 pm

See what you can find in the way of a "HOMAK" brand safe.
Up there as far as weight is concerned, but not as much as an ex bank safe.
They are pretty well protected fire wise as well. :thumbsup:
I do not fear death itself... Only its inopportune timing!
I've come to realize that,,,,, the two most loving, loyal, and trustworthy females in my entire life were both canines.
User avatar
Die Judicii
Colonel
Colonel
 
Posts: 3706
Queensland

Re: Good Quality, heavy, fireproof gun safe?

Post by Archie » 16 Feb 2020, 4:05 pm

SCJ429 wrote:It is difficult to insulate a big metal box, most use concrete to do this which makes them heavy and difficult to move. Even then a high intensity fire, like a house fire will toast anything inside. You can find some excellent safes made by CMI Safes. As said above, secondhand safes would be your best bet which are hard to sell because they are heavy and bulky. Be careful if the lock is U/S or has a lockout. A new lock like a KABA X10 cost $2,000 fitted.


This thing. I have a couple of CMI safes and I have found them great pieces of kit. But when I asked about getting a fireproof version the guy that I bought them off told me, unprompted, that realistically not much is making it through unscathed if the house burns down. It’s just going to be too hot for too long. You might get lucky but I suspect I’m most cases a good insurance policy is more reliable than a safe, in terms of fire.
Archie
Corporal
Corporal
 
Posts: 366
New South Wales


Back to top
 
Return to Shooting accessories and equipment