I don't know much about gun safe but I need to get one very soon.
Need to keep my shot guns, pistols, rifles and ammo in one safe.
Which type or brand gun safe do you recommend?
Appreciate your info on this?

Summer-Run

Depending on how many guns you have I'd strongly recommend a Sentry. IMHO they are pretty robust designs using 1/4" steel plate and the 14 gus safe I bought has 5 locking bolts and weighs about 330 lbs. Comes with a false floor and pre-punched holes for anchoring it to the floor or wall as well as an opening for a goldenrod heater. I just bought one from Home Depot for $350, about $300 less than Sentrys MSRP. I got the recommendation from a guy I work with and he has been very pleased with his as well. It has a locking handgun/ammo box on the upper shelf which is handy. Not real big but like I said, it depends on your situation.

I would definitely go with the most expensive safe that you can afford.

I eventually, after several years of looking, bought a Champion safe that is 50 cubic feet. I went with the fireproof package just for added protection. I'm finding that the 50 cubic feet is just right fort my needs.

Get a safe that has multiple bolts on all door edges, a good combination lock and buy a sweet golden rod type heater and silica gel to kep the humidity in check.

You cannot, repeat, cannot get a GOOD safe for a cheap price. It just can't be done! I paid about $1600 for mine. It weighs about 1200 lbs empty. Put a bunch of firearms, ammo etc, and there isn't a punk anywhere that will haul it off.

One nice thing about the fire rated safes is that the internal temperature will stay below the point where paper chars. That way your divorce papers will be safe! I keep birth certificates and all important papers in my safe.

One other thing when looking at fire packages. Not all safe makers do the fire tests the same way. You need multiple thermocouples reading temperatures at different spots in the safe, not just at the bottom. Ask for the temperature profile. If they don't have it for your review, take a walk.

I used to worry about break-ins when I was gone and would stash firearms in hiding places. Now I leave town for two weeks and never worry about my firearms and other valuables.

If you you don't have lot's of extra $$$ laying around for a good safe, don't go cheap. Take the time to save and go with a good safe. You will never regret it. Something like a Sentry might be a decent compromise, but you just can't beat one like a Champion, Liberty, Fort Knox, etc.

In my opinion, the Champion is as good as a Fort Knox and a lot less money.

Just my $0.02 from someone whos been there.

And the beauty of the whole thing is that on this item Gary Locke doesn't get one penny out of the purchase of a gun safe as they are Exempt from State Sales Taxes.

Hey, the last issue of American Rifleman had a good article on gun safes.

You are an NRA member, aren't you?

Thanks much for your info on this!
This is great guys!
Yeah, I'm a member of NRA and I'll see if I can find the last issue...

Unless you are a collecter and may be targeted remember this. The avg. burglar spends less than 5 minutes inside the home. Unless he knows the guns are there before he came he will not bother with a safe. He would have to haul in a sledge hammer coal chisels and crowbars. They are lazy thats why they steal instead of work. This info is from a guy i worked out with for years. He is an investigator for insurance companies for high dollar theft.

That's a good point TK!
Bottom line is this.
As HK stated, I'm going to get a good quality Gun safe and not a cheapo.
I plan to keep my guns and safe for very very long time!
Thanks again for all your input!

An alternative is a gun security cabinet which will stop all but the most determined thieves. It's not for everyone, but my gun collection is small and I don't own any high value pieces.

I'm leaning towards purchasing a Fort Knox Defender model.
Do any of you know if there is a good distributor store in state of WA for purchasing a Fort Knox gun safe?
Would appreciate any info.