lamarbrog
26 February 2012, 18:45
It's long past time that I should have gotten a safe, and I am starting to look at it more seriously.
I don't need anything really fancy or expensive. Space is a concern. I am fortunate enough to live in a quiet neighborhood with low crime, there is usually someone home, and the neighbors do a good job of keeping an eye out for suspicious activity. This is really just intended to be a last line of defense. Keeping the price less than $2000 is mandatory, and below $1500 would be VERY preferable.
I have looked at a Browning SP23, and I really like the size and the fact that there is long gun storage on the safe door. That's convenient. I am aware of the shortcomings- 45 minute 1200 degree firing rating (honestly, if the safe is at 1200 degrees for that long, the whole house is toast anyway) and the 12 gauge steel.
The one big thing is the lock. It's a S&G, but it's electronic. I'd prefer to have an S&G dial lock, since it requires no batteries and they are supposed to be more durable. Is that something that another company offers, or can I just buy a S&G dial and swap it out?
The appeal of the Browning is the long guns on the safe door. I have "several" that I take out a lot, and don't want to be forced to unpack the whole thing to get to something.
The only other thing that interests me is that the way the long gun storage is situated, you have to "thread" the long guns into a loop, before resting the butt on a pad. On some of the more expensive safes Browning offers, they have "paddle" retainers where you "clip" the long gun in by just pressing inward. It's hard to describe. Does anyone know how modular Browning safes are? Is that something I could change?
For a retail price of $1100, they seem like a pretty good buy. I don't want to end up spending as much as a better safe adding a different lock and a swapping racks around.
Or, instead of worrying with all my mental exercises there, what safes do y'all recommend in that price range, ignoring my stated preferences?
I don't need anything really fancy or expensive. Space is a concern. I am fortunate enough to live in a quiet neighborhood with low crime, there is usually someone home, and the neighbors do a good job of keeping an eye out for suspicious activity. This is really just intended to be a last line of defense. Keeping the price less than $2000 is mandatory, and below $1500 would be VERY preferable.
I have looked at a Browning SP23, and I really like the size and the fact that there is long gun storage on the safe door. That's convenient. I am aware of the shortcomings- 45 minute 1200 degree firing rating (honestly, if the safe is at 1200 degrees for that long, the whole house is toast anyway) and the 12 gauge steel.
The one big thing is the lock. It's a S&G, but it's electronic. I'd prefer to have an S&G dial lock, since it requires no batteries and they are supposed to be more durable. Is that something that another company offers, or can I just buy a S&G dial and swap it out?
The appeal of the Browning is the long guns on the safe door. I have "several" that I take out a lot, and don't want to be forced to unpack the whole thing to get to something.
The only other thing that interests me is that the way the long gun storage is situated, you have to "thread" the long guns into a loop, before resting the butt on a pad. On some of the more expensive safes Browning offers, they have "paddle" retainers where you "clip" the long gun in by just pressing inward. It's hard to describe. Does anyone know how modular Browning safes are? Is that something I could change?
For a retail price of $1100, they seem like a pretty good buy. I don't want to end up spending as much as a better safe adding a different lock and a swapping racks around.
Or, instead of worrying with all my mental exercises there, what safes do y'all recommend in that price range, ignoring my stated preferences?