I am looking to upgrade my gunsafe. I would like more 'breathing room' around my guns to try and avoid marking guns when taking them out / putting them back in the safe.

What with my cleaning kit etc, it is a bit of a tight fit inside the cabinet. Additionally, I like to lock my work laptop computer in there for safety.

I was looking at the 'vault' door type safes. Does anyone have any recommendations? Handling / available space issues restrict me to a safe approximately 70cm wide.

I have in mind the following makes, which are available here in England: Infac, Metalk / "McDavid" and Bratton Sound / Titan.

Thanks.

I have a Bratton Sound type with the vault door and internal locker for rifle bolts etc. It is a very good safe, and plenty deep enough to take scoped rifles. However, it is a tight squeeze for the six guns it is rated for, it is really only big enough for five, I really should have been sufficiently far sighted at the time to buy an eight-gun. . I might trade it in some of these days.

robthom,

If you don't mind waiting, there are often good deals to be had on gunsafes at the larger gamefairs...You usually have to wait until the end of the day and then take your vehicle down to the stand and pick it up though..

The other thing to be aware of is that the security offered by the bottem end cabinets is minimal. I had a friend who had his shotguns stolen while on holiday and the Police mentioned an apparently common method the crooks use that is usually effective, although I'm not going to go into details here for obvious reasons...

So I'd say a bar going to a proper full size safe, an upgrade to a vault door style Bratton Sound type is a well worth doing as is locating it in a confined space that limits attack by crowbars ect...

Regards,

Peter

I bought a second hand Titan 9 that seems pretty good. I would say the locking compartment is a bit small and that as with most safes it's a bit optimistic.

As a general rule of thumb you should subtract 2 from the manafacturers capacity if you want to be able to take guns in and out without exercising infinate care.

I was lucky enough to buy a Thomson box from RAF Wooller,they had it advertized on e-bay for £60.
Stands 6'x 2'x 2' takes 16 sa 80 or 60's.
When the FLO arrived to check that it was secure he tried to say that it wasn't approved until he saw the big MOD stamp on the in side..
The fact that it weighs about 200-250kg he still wanted it secured to the wall.
I explained that anyone who could carry off the safe didn't need a gun, he was unable to see the funny side of that remark..

regards
griff

Ended up with one of these:

http://www.sportsmanguncentre....211+-+Special+Offer/

Very happy with the price/size/quality.

The ultimate is going for a model with an electronic digital combination lock. The speed of operation tends to ensure the safe gets used promptly - rather than letting things 'dry' before going to find the keys!

rgds Ian

I bought a 2m high wood lined data safe made by Chubb, weighs in at 1250kg, only place I could put it was the Garage attached to the house due to the weight, Merseyside police said if it went in the garage, the garage would have to be alarmed to the same specification as my house, it would have to be made to look like a piece of furniture . . . and it would have to be bolted down ???

Thank you for the comments that have come in so far.

Transportation / delivery is a problem. My current transport is a "high class tart car", fun to drive but its a squeeze to fit a divers wet gear bag in it.

So, there is no way I would be able to fit a gun cabinet in the current car.

I like the look of the vault type door gun safes, although I am leery of the exposed external hinges on some of the Bratton Sound safes.

An additional point, I shy away from the unlined gunsafes due to steel only safes 'sweating'. I like the idea of spraying the inside of the cloth lined safes with a rust inhibitor and placing drying chemical sachets and boot dryer tubes in the safe with my rifles.

Well, Sportsman include delivery within the quoted price - obviously, not sure as to your budget in this case. Solves the Tart's car problem!

Rgds Ian

IanF,

For that reason, I am leaning towards the Sportsmans and, possibly, Potters.

I used a local bunch of young lads with a van when I moved house last time. They looked / dressed like "Goths" but were professional and discreet.

They recognised immediately what they were shifting, it did n't phase them at all, not judgemental and commented they move quite a few.

But distance is an issue due to their charges structure, not unlike taxis. This would go against the Metalk cabinets available from Kennedy's at Bisley.

I looked at the upper end of the cabinet market. For sure they are well made, with prices to match, but I was concerned about floor loading and getting the safe in position: narrow, tight turn stairs.

I would NEVER use local guys to get a gunsafe installed but would have it sent by a normal courier service OR just hire a van and a friend that shoots. That is why Sportsman sounds a good idea...depending on the "spec" of the safe.

To maximise the space a had a length of wood with dowels in it fixed to beck of my cabinet. Thus at least the guns can stand upright without slouching one against the other in the corner.

I would advise against a combination lock.

I always leave a gun to dry in front of the fire if it has got wet. If it has got really wet even to the extent of taking the locks off the gun if it was a sidelock.