Gun safes have interiors that are meant to hold long guns, such as rifles, shotguns, carbines, and muskets. Long guns are usually defined by the extended lengths of their barrels, as opposed to the length of the weapon mechanisms itself. The National Firearms Act sets a minimum length for shotgun barrels at 18 inches and 16 inches for rifles. The majority of gun safes are at least 53 inches tall, however their specific size and layouts are different based on the model and manufacturer.
Gun safes are somewhat cheaper than home safes of similar sizes, since they are more widely manufactured and more intensely discounted. They are available in many sizes and colors, including bright, pastelly, pink varieties.
Ratings
Gun safes are usually rated as Residential Security Containers (or RSCs.) Some un-rated gun safes are available, which isn’t a problem for people that are unaware of the rating system – however, many insurance companies offer protection for safes that meet a minimum RSC rating. These companies monitor the rating of safes based on the thickness of the door and body steel. They can be rated from B down the alphabet scale. The RSC listings are made based on testing by professional safe-crackers who attempt to gain entry into the safe working off complete blueprints of the lock mechanism. If these technician/testers cannot gain entry into the safe within 5 minutes, then that model and make of safe will receive a letter certification.
Fire Ratings
Most gun safes are fire rated between 20 minutes to over 2 hours. Gun safe manufacturers have the option of using a wide variety of testing groups, and can even fund their own tests. Because of this, fire tests for gun safes aren’t uniformly applied across the range of separate brands; if you’re looking for a specifically fire rated gun safe, it might be smart to research the exact specifications for the manufacturer’s testing to ensure that it qualifies for your requirements.
Important things to consider
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Consider the value of the property you will be placing in the safe when purchasing it; this way you can have a clearer idea of what rating you will require.
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If you’re buying a fingerprint scanner safe, enter the same fingerprint multiple times from different angles – this way, in case of an emergency where you need to quickly open the safe, you can be sure that the safe will be able to get opened quickly and easily.
