Thanks for the replies, now I know a little more. And I agree about getting a safe with more capacity than what I have...every time I say I won't buy any more guns I end up eating my words.

I'll agree with getting the largest safe you can get. I bought a 14 gun Sentry model thinking I wouldn't need that much room. After a "good" couple of years, I've got 12 in the safe and a couple more in other places. The ones in the safe are constantly being moved to allow one of the others to be brought out. The guns are getting more dings now than they ever did while hunting.

Mine is an American Security, it's tight as a drum. Sometimes I have to lean on the door closed to turn the bolts. I like it and have it now for over 20 years.

Buy a safe bigger than you think you need! It'll only hold about half as many guns as it's labeled, especially if you have scoped rifles. And you just might buy another gun or two over the years. Have fun! -WSJ

It is easily adjusted out. There is a set screw behind the door jamb just above or just below the level of the tumbler. It will likely have a hex head sockett. Get the correct size Allen wrench. Turn the screw clockwise until you have taken up the slack.
Then your neighbors will be jealous of the tight lock-up on your vault.

JCN

My 24 gun Winchester Fire Safe has about 1/4" play as well.

I don't know if it is designed as a exhaust vent or what . I've often wondered.

I know that some seals are made to swell when heated so, maybe that's the deal.

Guess we should just call the manu and ask. If its just a screw-up, I think I'll get some fire strips somewhere and replace the factory (read thin) strips.

Good Luck!

Reloader

Been looking at gun safes - specifically Remington. I was checking out their 11-gun safe with the matte gray finish at a local sporting goods outlet. Seemed like a good balance of features, weight, and price, but when closed and locked, the door had play between the jamb and the locking bolts. You could push on the door and watch it flop back and forth about 1/4 inch. My brother-in-law in New York has a similar Remington safe, and it does the same thing. Is this something that be adjusted out, or do these safes just suck that way?

And does this happen with other safes? My cheap assed Homak gun cabinets lock up nice and tight, why can't a $600 safe do the same?