Any responsible gun owner who values his or her possessions should own a good, quality safe to store them in. There are many different things to consider when you are trying to choose the right gun safe, and it is important that you think about all of them before making a final decision of any kind.
The safe you buy will ultimately determine how secure your guns are, which is extremely important, especially for those with children in the house.
Size
Size is most definitely an important issue to consider when you are going about trying to select the best gun safe to meet your needs. These safes come in all different sizes, so you will want to look for one that can meet your current and even future needs.
If you plan to buy more firearms in the future, it is highly recommended that you get a safe that is large enough to accommodate future guns you may need to store. You will also want to consider where you plan on putting the safe so you know how large or small of one you can get.
Price
The cost of a gun safe varies quite widely, depending on their size, material, and features. You will definitely want to take the time to determine how much you are willing to spend on a gun safe before you start looking around, just so you will have an easier time narrowing down your options.
You can get a decent small gun safe for around $50 or spend several thousand for a large one that offers all the bells and whistles. Just because a gun safe is very expensive does not mean it is better than one that is cheaper though.
Locks
It is important that you select a safe with an adequate lock so you can keep your guns completely secure at all times. You will want to consider who it is you are trying to keep out of your safe when trying to determine which type of lock will be most effective.
If you are trying to keep your children from getting into your gun safe, almost any basic lock should work just fine. If you are worried about someone who is skilled at safe cracking getting in, however, you might want to choose something a bit more state-of-the-art.
Biometric locks are probably the most sophisticated kind available for gun safes; these locks usually scan the fingerprints of the owner to unlock them and can therefore only be opened by the person who owns it. There are also gun safes with digital locks, but they are more prone to failure because of their electronic nature.
Doors
There are a few different considerations you will have to make when it comes to the door on the safe you get. You will need to consider where the hinges are located—if they are located on the outside of the safe, they could potentially be compromised by a thief. You should also consider how thick the bolts on your door safe are; they should be at least ¼” thick and made of steel.