Hey Ben, Mike and Dave - need advice.

[Kevin]

Got the 7600 .30-06 carbine sighted in, finally. I'm always surprised at how well these pumpers shoot. Nice, tight, sub MOA groups. Factory ammo - Remington Express 180 grainers.

And they musta did something to the stock. It didn't beat me up. Much, anyway. Not like my Whelen 7600. But the Whelen shoots stouter stuff anyways. I handload that with 225 gr. Sierra Gamekings over a pretty brisk charge of IMR 4064 - 55 grains (BOOM!).

Now I've got a question - I need a safe. Any recommendations? I would like at least an 8 gauge body, holding 50 guns (my recently departed paternal parent had, um, SEVERAL). Do I want to buy my retirement house first, cuz I can't imagine moving something like this again? Is there some sort of secure storage that can be rented in the meanwhile while I'm finding a home for my new safe?

[Mike]

What a timely question! I'm looking at gun safes myself because mine is too small and too light. Fire protection is very poor in the current safe. So, I've been looking. I think I'm going with a Champion or a Fort Knox. They are pricey, what I want is between 3k & 4.5k. It would be setting here today except I had to spend $2,900 on the septic system two weeks ago.

Here is a good informative video about safes. You can also click on this LINK to get to the same video. The reason I'm posting the link is because there are a lot more videos about gun safes on youtube. Just look on the right side of the screen. There are even a few about how to move the thing fairly easily.

[Mike]

I forgot. You mentioned your retirement home. I'm thinking of that too. If I build my retirement home I intend to include a vault which will also double as a safe room. It will house my valuables and also provide a place to go in case of inclement weather or even an intrusion. They are simple to build of reinforced concrete and a vault door.

[Truckman]

If I build my retirement home I intend to include a vault which will also double as a safe room.

Lone Star can sell you a vault door also...The one I bought for Shooter's Station was secure and you can't be locked in...Even if you're deliberately locked in, you can open it at any time from the inside......Ben

[Truckman]

I'm looking at gun safes myself because mine is too small and too light.

Mike, visit Steve Christoph at Lone Star Gun Safes near you...I've known him many years and I trust what he says......Ben

[Mike]

Mike, visit Steve Christoph at Lone Star Gun Safes near you...I've known him many years and I trust what he says......Ben

Ben, that's where I plan to buy.

[Truckman]

Ben, that's where I plan to buy.

Cool, tell Steve I said "Hey"......Ben

[Mike]

Cool, tell Steve I said "Hey"......Ben

Will do.

[Truckman]

If either of you built a vault/safe room any safe you buy now can be used for photo/document/other valuables whether you install it inside or outside the vault room...Also all safe companies take trade-ins, so your old one still has some value......Ben

[Truckman]

The best security is in not telling anybody what you have or where in the house it is...As far as safe brands, I've always personally liked National Security (I still have one to hold what's left of my meager collection), but I've sold far more Champions than any other line...Champion has an extensive list from small & basic to large & fully equipped...

Lots of things need to be considered including where in the house it (or they) will be installed...Will it be a showpiece you'll be tempted to show visitors or (like mine) hidden in a closet?...Can you physically move it through your entry door and navigate it in the house to where you want it?...It it's hidden away, will there be adequate lighting and elbow room when you want access?...

Temporary rental space is possible, but most gun stores with secure storage don't have room for it...If they do have room their inventory is down and they might be tempted to sell yours...Most people who store away from the house just park their safes in a self-storage unit and pack old furniture and mattresses around them...

Some things to stay away from when choosing a safe are square corners (they're spot welded and can be opened with a twenty pound sledgehammer) and doors that don't have bolts on all four edges...Don't worry about external or internal hinges; with bolts on all sides, it will only open when you want it open...

Don't worry about moving the safe(s) to another house, safe companies will move them for a price and they are well worth it...Also think about ventilation to prevent rusty guns...Small fans can be installed to move air and always use one or a few heating rods (usually 85 watts) in the safe...Just raising the temperature inside the safe one or two degrees will drive out moisture...

I'm sure I'll think of more later......Ben

[Truckman]

I'm sure I'll think of more later......Ben

Pay attention to fire protection...Every layer of firewall in your safe means the contents will last that much longer until the inside temp reaches combustible levels...It also means additional cost and reduces the interior size, so allow for that in your planning...Firewall also adds considerable weight which makes it that much harder to move (not only for you but for any unauthorized entrants)...

For Mike, and anyone else considering a "safe room" (double meaning there), concrete -filled cinder blocks and reinforced concrete are your firewalls...The walk-in vault at Shooter's Station was built on a six inch slab with cinder block walls...Each tube in the walls had #4 rebar installed before being pumped full of concrete (same on all exterior walls)...The ceiling was a poured slab using a network of #6 rebar...When planning this, do your soil compaction tests carefully...Our building was so heavy we used 76 18" columns with 24" bell bottoms reinforced with rebar under the six inch slab...At least one of the columns (maybe two) is under the vault...Our concrete engineer estimated the building would withstand 250 mph winds with no damage...

Also if some team of burglars was dumb enough to waste time coming in through the steel roof over the vault, we also located the hot water heater and A/C-heat unit above it for additional interference...It might also be a good place to locate the genset (razor wire optional)......Ben

[Truckman]

Additionally, when considering size I've always remembered the advice my first service manager gave me when I went to work as a mechanic...I couldn't make up my mind what size roll-around tool box to buy and he told me to pick the one that will hold all the tools I ever expected to own, and then buy one twice that size...He said it might last me five years...He was right, but I traded up again in four years......Ben