Quality
When searching for stack on safes for sale, it may be tempting to find the lowest priced ones. However, this is an investment, and quality is important. What good is saving money if the new safe won’t last or if it doesn’t protect the guns inside? Look for thicker steel lining when deciding on a safe. A good rule of thumb is to have at least eleven gauge steel.
Security
Most gun owners are concerned about unauthorized access to their guns. Whether preventing theft or, more importantly, children from accessing the guns, it is imperative that a safe be impenetrable. Some safes offer pry resistant steel doors, which provide an added layer of security against someone attempting to break in. Make sure the locks are resistant to drilling and even look for those which offer an automatically triggered re-locking system if the lock is damaged.
Ease of Entry
As with any gun safe, ease of entry is an important factor. You want to be able to access the safe when needed, while also making it difficult for anyone else to do so. The type of lock needed depends on the purpose of your gun safe. If you have a quick-access smaller safe, you’ll want to have a combination lock you can easily open for home security purposes. Any combination used should be random and impossible for children to guess. Underwriters Laboratories (UL) offers independent ratings for re-locking and burglary resistant safes, so it is a good idea to check your safe against its standards.
Fire Protection
Buying a fireproof safe is essential to protecting firearms. Some safes are advertised as fireproof, but can only withstand a fire for thirty minutes or less. While better than a safe that isn’t fireproof at all, these safes really aren’t practical for withstanding a typical home fire. Obviously the longer it can withstand fire, the better chance a safe has of protecting its contents. Usually, a one-hour fire protection rating is sufficient.
Buying a gun safe is an important decision that shouldn’t be made quickly or without research. At a minimum, a safe should be durable, secure, and able to withstand a fire. Responsible gun owners can sleep easier once the right safe is in place.