7 Features of the Best Gun Safes

Discover what to look for when finding a high-quality gun safe.

When you’re looking for the best gun safe, there are certain features to keep in mind. For your safety and peace of mind, you not only want your guns to be securely locked up, but you also want your safe to be secure in your home.

With help from Blain’s Farm & Fleet, you can find the best gun safe to keep your guns locked up and secure when you’re not hunting.

1. A Secure Lock

One of the most important things to look for in a gun safe are the security features—specifically, the locking system. Gun safes come with either a dial lock or an electronic lock.

Electronic locks can give you quick access and come with the option to set your own combination code. Dial locks are durable and dependable. However, you need to remember to spin the dial every time you close the safe to actually re-lock it.

Ultimately, it comes down to what you feel will be the most secure option for your home.

2. Enough Space for Your Guns

As you browse through gun safe reviews in search for the best one, you need to keep space in mind. Manufacturers will list their gun capacity (such as 8, 12, or 24) for the gun safe.

However, they base this number on smaller, slender rifles and field shotguns. If you have long guns, scopes, AR-based guns, or any other add-ons or hunting equipment to store, you’ll need to go bigger than the number of guns listed.

When it comes to gun safes, the bigger the better. Not only will you have ample room for what you already own, but you’ll have room for any future hunting equipment.

3. A Secure Bolt Layout

While a lock is important, the bolting system also plays a key role in keeping your gun safe secure. You want at least two bolts on each side of the safe. More bolts mean more money, but you’ll also have added security.

4. Fire Protection

Another feature to look for is a UL- or ETL-certified fire rating. The rating will typically be X number of minutes at Y degrees Fahrenheit, to show the safe’s fire resistance.

The average house fire heats up to 1,200° F. You’ll want a safe that holds up to that heat for at least 30 minutes, if not longer.

5. Interior Hinges

This feature is somewhat debatable. Generally, interior hinges are believed to be safer and more secure than exterior hinges. This is because interior hinges can make it harder for criminals to break into the safe.

However, with a good bolt and lock system, the door should stay in place, regardless of where the hinges are located. Plus, exterior hinges allow the door to open wider, giving you better access to your safe.

6. Weight of the Gun Safe

The heavier the safe, the harder it will be to move or steal. Of course, you can counteract a lighter safe by mounting it to the floor.

This can help prevent burglars from knocking it over or walking off with the whole safe.

7. Steel Thickness

A steel plate inside the walls of the safe is what keeps criminals from simply drilling through it. Gun safe steel plates are generally 10-gauge or 12-gauge.

The smaller the gauge, the thicker the steel. With thick steel, your safe can be more secure.

At Blain’s Farm & Fleet, we understand that gun safety is important in your home and on the hunt. That’s why we offer gun safes, gun cabinets, and gun cases for a variety of hunting equipment storage options.

For more tips and buying guides like this one, check out our Hunting Blog.