Need input on Gun Safe, specifically Stack On brand

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BigDinTexas
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Need input on Gun Safe, specifically Stack On brand

Post by BigDinTexas »

I've been eyeing a bigger fire safe for a while, and I know/believe in the adage that you get what you pay for, but I also don't own a small island so I have to be cost conscious... that said, I've been tempted by a couple of different safes and a couple of them happen to be made by StackOn. I was hoping to hear some experiences from forum members here on them, good, bad, or otherwise. Chime in on the other brands too if you have some input too.

Here are the ones I considering:
1) 24 Gun "Field and Stream Sportsman" fire safe (made by StackOn). Regular price is $699, but on sale today for $599 at Dick's Sporting Goods. Last week it was $499 and I believe it will be lower some time in the future. Has a 30 minute @ 1400 degree fire rating and a combination dial lock. It has no pockets/organizers on the back panel of the door, so nothing else special about it. Made in China.

2) 26 Gun Winchester fire safe from Tractor Supply. Regular price is also $699, but not sure how often these go on sale there. This is the new "upgraded" model that is supposed to be improved from their 24 gun safe. It has a 45 minute @ 1200 degree fire rating, an electronic lock, but does come with the pockets/organizers included on the back panel of the door. I'm unsure of the country of origin.

3) 16 Gun "Safe Guard" fire safe. I am being told it is made by Champion by the local gun safe company (Lone Star Gun Safe) and retails for $849. This is a nice one, but it's the smallest of the bunch, not to mention most expensive, that I've been considering. It has the combination dial, interior back panel organizers, and a textured finish. The seller indicates these are made in Mexico.

4) 35 Gun StackOn fire safe. It's being sold by my local Sam's Club for $599. I can't find info on their website and the store employee, while friendly and accommodating, could not tell me much about it other than open the door. The label on the door jam indicates it is fire rated for 60 minutes @ 1400 degrees. It has an electronic lock and includes the interior organizer. I am leaning most towards this one but I am skeptical of the low price but higher fire rating and capacity compared to the others. Additionally, almost every other sub-$1000 Stackon safe has a 30 minute rating, so not sure why this would be twice that length for not any more money. I'm just worried this might be an instance where the factory in China asked them "which fire rating label do you want on this batch" without making any real changes to back it up. You know what I mean? But this is being sold by Sam's Club, so maybe they did it for them?

This is where I need your help and opinion if you have one. I am torn on the combination dial versus electronic lock. I love the convenience of the electronic lock, but like the ruggedness of the combination dial, especially if, God forbid, there is ever a fire. I know the electronic safes have the key access as a backup, but I dunno.

Thanks in advance folks.

Don
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A-Game
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Re: Need input on Gun Safe, specifically Stack On brand

Post by A-Game »

The best safe is the safe you can afford.

I will be probably

Buy bigger than what you need. You won't be sorry.

I don't have thousands to spend but get to know your local dealer and when a deal comes around you can jump on it. My local guy has free delivery to anywhere in the house (figure that is 250.00 built into the price)

Cabelas brand safes are Liberty and my local delivery price is 250.00 which is about how much cheaper they are than their competitor

I like the door pockets for documents and pistols.

Liberty has a free replacement warranty which is awesome.

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Re: Need input on Gun Safe, specifically Stack On brand

Post by TMD »

Something is better than nothing would be where I rate the Stackon. Now for Dicks sporting goods. Do the rest of the gun community a favor and don't shop there. You may or may not have noticed no black rifles there for a reason. Within days of the Connecticut school shooting Dicks caved to the antis and pulled all the evil black rifles to be politically correct.
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Re: Need input on Gun Safe, specifically Stack On brand

Post by Nic56 »

I have a 48-gun Cannon I bought from Tractor Supply and a smaller Liberty safe I bought from Academy Sports. They are both OK for what I want them to do, which is to deter a smash and grab thief from easily making off with my firearms. However, I realize they won't stop a determined thief. I don't even worry about the fire rating so much. I figure if my house burns down, the guns are probably ruined.

If you wait around, Tractor Supply has always put their safes on sale just before Christmas. (Spring too) I bought mine at $300 off the regular price. I think I bought my safe from Academy Sports around Christmas last year..........also on sale. So, I think many places run sales on them around that time.
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plant.one
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Re: Need input on Gun Safe, specifically Stack On brand

Post by plant.one »

TMD wrote:Something is better than nothing would be where I rate the Stackon.

stack on doesnt make gun safes. they make gun lockers.


they're useful for keeping nosy kids out, at the best. most of their safes can be defeated by regular household tools.


as others have said.... buy the best, and biggest you can afford. you wont regret it.
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Re: Need input on Gun Safe, specifically Stack On brand

Post by DoubleJ »

I've got a Stack On premier fireproof/waterproof here at the house. I read an article somewhere that stated very few safes are damaged by fire, as it's usually extinguished well before the rating is up, but that water is a big concern if it's in the basement. Of course after buying it, I discovered I couldn't get it down the stairs, so it was all a moot point.

I'd say it's quite a bit more than just something to keep nosy kids out. Weighs over half a ton loaded, has plenty of 1" live pins, although not in the corners. I realize that if Mark Wahlburg and Charlize Theron show up, they'll get into it, but those aren't the type of crooks casing joints in my neighborhood. It'll stop any of the turd meth heads or illegals we've got around here, and that's really all I've got to worry about.

I will say this. They say to buy one twice as big as you think you'll need. I disagree. Buy two that are four times bigger than you need, they fill up quick. I dropped about 1400 bones on this one including shipping, and I really wish I'd waited and got the next (biggest) size up.
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Re: Need input on Gun Safe, specifically Stack On brand

Post by cdynaco »

I went with Costco online for a "Sports Afield SA7240" (72X40wX25d) when they ran a sale for $400 off. For $1200 shipping was included (800#) and the driver wheeled it in where I wanted it. Heritage Safe private labels it for SA, and yes like many, it came over by boat. Craftsmanship and finish is excellent, super warranty, meets UL & CA DOJ.
Its 60 min fire w/door seal, 12 - 1 1/4" door bolts w/recessed door, electronic lock with key backup. They run sales pretty often and I am super happy with it and with Costco's service. (They have a couple of different brands but this was the biggest for the least last summer.)
Sports Afield Rep said the fire ratings allow a maximum 350* internal temp where paper starts to brown. He said the fire ratings are below 350* internal.

Its 12 gauge steel (7/64" just under 1/8") and I looked it up there's not that much difference from 10 gauge (9/64") that a few "security containers" list. If they're that determined and have the time they're going to get through either. 1/32" isn't going to stop them. My main goal was fire (in this land of forest fires), and to make it difficult for the amateur thief vs just cleaning out my closet.

There's plenty of room for some files, computer backup, camera's, etc., on the upper shelves. Electric outlets inside with USB ports, door organizer for pistols and stuff. The thing is so big I could have happy hour in it! In fact, I did!! :mrgreen:

Lot of vacation break-ins last few summers and I have to travel frequently to oncology specialists at Stanford. It gives me such a peace of mind you can't believe.


Stack On didn't do it for me.
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VENT625
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Re: Need input on Gun Safe, specifically Stack On brand

Post by VENT625 »

One consideration you will need to assess, is your living arrangements. Are you living in an apartment, condo, or townhome with stairs? If so, a large bulky safe might not work for you. Where there's stairs, there is a hefty price tag to get the safe up/down those stairs. In of these places, a Stack On, while not the greatest line of defense against thievery, would be fine. Bolt the shit out of it to the wall/floor. They could still cut into it, but would alarm your neighbors. If you're in a house, like other have said, pay the money for a good one. I have a Browning Medallion. Bought it in 2003. Love it to death!!! Consider it an investment. Buy bigger than what you initially need, it will fill up. :mrgreen:
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BigDinTexas
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Re: Need input on Gun Safe, specifically Stack On brand

Post by BigDinTexas »

Thanks for the input guys... I do live in a house with a concrete slab, and this will be put into my master closet on the 1st floor... The limiting factor is the door jam opening, which all of these fit.

I'll be transporting and unloading myself. I would rather spend the $150-$400 in delivery on something else. I'll just rent a trailer from the local HD.

A couple of updates... It didn't take long for Dicks to put that safe back on sale... It's back down to $499. In light of the better value of the one of Sam's, this one out of the running, not withstanding the issue of that TMD addressed regarding their shortsighted and ignorant decision to pull AR's from their stores following Sandy Hook.

Additionally, I deciphered the model number for the one at Sam's and apparently it's from their Tactical Defense Series, so it's waterproof (2 feet for 72 hours) with the higher fire rating over their lower line of safes. This is the one I'm probably going to get. I'll go down to the HD and look there too before making a final decision.

Thanks for your input everyone.

Don
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Re: Need input on Gun Safe, specifically Stack On brand

Post by tallburnedmidget »

BigDinTexas wrote:Thanks for the input guys... I do live in a house with a concrete slab, and this will be put into my master closet on the 1st floor... The limiting factor is the door jam opening, which all of these fit.

I'll be transporting and unloading myself. I would rather spend the $150-$400 in delivery on something else. I'll just rent a trailer from the local HD.

A couple of updates... It didn't take long for Dicks to put that safe back on sale... It's back down to $499. In light of the better value of the one of Sam's, this one out of the running, not withstanding the issue of that TMD addressed regarding their shortsighted and ignorant decision to pull AR's from their stores following Sandy Hook.

Additionally, I deciphered the model number for the one at Sam's and apparently it's from their Tactical Defense Series, so it's waterproof (2 feet for 72 hours) with the higher fire rating over their lower line of safes. This is the one I'm probably going to get. I'll go down to the HD and look there too before making a final decision.

Thanks for your input everyone.

Don
We had a thread on this a while back with tons of great info, here it is:
viewtopic.php?t=83766

Anything to help secure and protect your firearms is a very great and very responsible idea. With that said there are a number of things to consider when buying a gun safe. What I discovered in my research (which is in that thread) is that all of the big box stores (Cabelas, Costco, etc.) all have less than ideal quality safe's when you really check on the most important factors.

For instance, most of those big box store safes are 14gauge steel or higher (higher = worse) which supposedly can be penetrated with a fire axe. I believe 10gauge steel is the desired/recommended min. I couldn't find 10gauge for mine but found 11 gauge. Also understanding the fire ratings, the average time and temp of a typical house fire, and the temperature at which paper chars all weigh in heavily on the fire rating you should consider. Unfortunately the better the safe the higher the cost and you likely will have to go to a real safe dealer/store to get the better quality stuff over the much lower quality safes the big box stores provide.

I bought mine from a guy in Ft Worth who deals in scratch and dent safes so I was able to get something of quality at a great price but it was still expensive ($1400 delivered and installed in my place).

I wish you the best and I can't explain the feeling you get once you have a real gun safe in place and all of your stuff inside. I found the comfort and peace of mind completely worth the price that I paid! :)
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