Everyone knows: if you own a gun you need a safe, but do you really need a safe? What about Cabinets and Lockers? Maybe you’re a first time or single gun owner and you’ve only seen the big study safes on display at your local sporting goods store. There are other options for you, and there might be better options for owners of multiple guns as well.
Gun safes vs gun cabinets vs gun lockers: which one is better? The bottom line is that you need a secure storage solution for your guns to prevent theft and access by unauthorized users including minors. Safely securing your unloaded firearms will help reduce tragic incidents and unintentional discharge.
It is also important to consult your state and federal laws to determine which types of firearms need to be stored in locked devices, how they need to be stored, if locks are necessary with the purchase from a dealer or private seller, and if locks need to be approved or meet standards.
There are a versatile number of products on the market, and in this article we will talk about the different types and their pros and cons. The type of secure storage you use for your firearms is an important decision. Whether you’re looking at a first time buy, a temporary solution, or an upgrade, this article will help you out.
Today, we will be going over the specifics of gun safes, cabinets, and lockers, giving you the opportunity to find out first-hand which one is the best option for you. While each individual will have different needs in this aspect, there is no direct answer to the question of which one is best – you will just have to keep reading to make the decision for yourself.
Gun Safes Vs Gun Cabinets Vs Gun Lockers
Before we get into the main discussion of gun safes, cabinets, and lockers, let’s establish a few key points.
Gun Safes Vs Gun Cabinets Vs Gun Lockers:
- A gun safe is a secure armored device meant to protect the interior contents.
- Moving on to gun cabinets, a gun cabinet is often a larger, more cost effective way to store multiple firearms while still preventing unauthorized access.
- Lastly, we have gun lockers which have minimalist construction that is law compliant while being budget friendly
A gun safe means that often it is reinforced with multiple layers of thick sturdy protection that adds significant weight to the overall structure so that it is not easy to move as a safety feature. The bulky exterior also helps control temperature which is also important for gun owners.
Heat is important when it comes to incendiary devices and gunpowder.
Though it is extremely unlikely to reach dangerous temperatures on even an extremely hot day, a safe’s ability to protect against heat is potentially life saving in the event of a fire.
Safes are usually meant to withstand fires up to a certain temperature and this safety rating should be visible in the product description when viewing a product.
Fundamentally, a safe is a safe because it is designed to prevent access from burglars. This is the core functionality of a safe, and, even though you may not worry about others stealing your guns, this feature makes them a very good storage solution because you can trust that no one can force their way in to access the contents.
Gun safes are so thick that they might even be able to repel incoming rounds from actual firearms which adds yet another layer of safety to their potential benefits. This is only really practical in an emergency situation where someone might be attempting to steal firearms, but it gives you peace of mind knowing that they are designed to be as secure as possible.
Good safes will have an Underwriter Laboratory burglar rating that is an independent test to determine how secure the safe is when an actual intelligent thief is attempting to break in.
This is a significant standard because if the safe has a high rating then it should be impossible for any would-be thief to enter the safe in your home, and if they steal it they still shouldn’t be able to enter it.
Safes can have built-in integration with your smartphone or other devices to monitor attempted access, attempted forced entrance, and GPS monitoring in case of theft. These features make safes the most high-tech option available for your storage needs.
You can also look into state of the art safety features like thumb print, voice recognition, and other forms of unique access so you can rest easy.
On top of all these great features, gun safes can also function as safe storage for other valuables like jewelry or paper documents.
This might not work if you have space concerns. If you are on a tight budget you should consider storing these objects in a different safe that is smaller and easier to hide out of sight, but if you can afford a high price gun safe it might just be the multipurpose solution you need.
When it comes to gun cabinets, think of the display cases you see at the store but instead of glass the doors are solid. Of course, the overall construction is better than a display shelf, but that’s the basic principle.
Gun cabinets are, on average, bigger than safes meaning the store more guns and take up more space usually at a better value for size compared to gun safes.
Gun cabinets are designed to have locks to prevent children or other people from gaining entry. Usually cabinets have a key lock as opposed to the multi stage or keypad style locks of safes. These solutions are designed to be efficient and law compliant. They can keep people out, but they aren’t as study or as safe as a gun safe.
Gun Cabinets are usually not built with the same level of construction that safes have and are not designed to be an all purpose solution.
These devices take up much more space than a safe and are ideal for collectors who have a large display of fire arms or other collectible weapons such as swords or war time memorabilia.
These devices are typically fairly weak in construction and will not defend against forced entry for very long. They are often not rated fire resistance or rated for burglary prevention.
They should still protect against children attempting to curiously open doors, and they have a cheaper price point than most safes making them a great middle ground of protection and budget friendliness.
Due to their construction, gun cabinets are typically more open to customization than safes if you are concerned with extra features like interior shelves, adding back-lighting, or exterior look. If you are interested in altering the construction of these devices you should definitely consult local codes to determine what, if any, modifications can be made.
Lastly, we have gun lockers. Gun lockers are budget friendly solution that is great as a secondary safety solution.
Say you have a secure room that you keep locked, you might not need the added protection of a gun safe although you still need a locked container for your firearm so the gun locker is your go-to solution.
In addition to that scenario, there are other cases when a gun locker might prove beneficial. If you decide to go hunting and want to safely transport your firearms a gun locker might be more secure than say a locked case.
Gun lockers are typically not fully enclosed, meaning you can see inside them. This is useful if you own a shooting range or gallery because you can keep fire arms safe, while allowing potential customers to view them without fully opening the enclosure which might potentially compromise security.
Gun lockers are usually intermediate storage solutions rather than a permanent solution. If you are considering purchasing your first gun, or you are moving to a new state with different laws, or if you considering upgrading in the future, then a gun locker is right for you.
Gun Safes, Gun Cabinets, and Gun Lockers: Which One Is The Safest?
When it comes to making the big decision of how you should store your guns, safety is probably the most influential factor.
In order of safety we have:
- Gun Safes, because of their multiple safety features and independent ratings
- Gun Cabinets, because they have a fully enclosed locked space
- Gun Lockers, because they are often semi-open with ventilation holes
Bottom line: gun safes are the most secure way you can store your firearms. Gun safes are designed to protect against external elements both natural and forced entry and are the top of the line when it comes to safety.
That being said, not all safes are created equally. If you own highly valuable guns or antique guns that have value beyond their functionality you will want to consider burglar ratings that are higher to ensure that the value of the safe is appropriate for your storage needs.
When considering the fire safety rating you should avoid anything less than one hour. If you can afford it, go with the highest fire safety rating that you can afford, because this is the most likely scenario that your safe will be tested under and you don’t want it to fail when you need it most.
At a certain point the value and price point comparison of a gun safe might make you consider looking at composite safes which are often designed to be multi-purpose solutions beyond just guns. Even if you plan on only storing guns in these safes, they might have better safety features for your budget range.
You will also want to consider alarm types. Generally gun safes are sold with or without alarms, and of course those with alarms are safer but more costly. Most sources will tell you that the value of the objects inside the safe is the most important factor in choosing higher grade safes, but these are all recommendations rather than rules.
When it comes to the features and safety ratings, consider what will be best for your peace of mind. Even if the safety rating you are looking at is significantly higher than the value of the guns you are storing inside, nothing can replace the value of a life or the value of peace of mind knowing that you are safe and that your possessions are safe.
You may get a lot of use out of your safe, and overtime you might add more items or more guns to be stored inside of it. Plan ahead for the future if you plan on purchasing a safe and consider the size of your collection and how you plan to grow your collection so that you don’t outgrow your safe.
If you have an extremely high budget and very valuable firearms you might consider a wall safe. These are built directly into the wall so they offer much more protection from burglary than a traditional safe, but they are immobile and will not be able to be resold or upgraded if your collection grows or changes.
Don’t underestimate the value and versatility of a gun locker however. These budget friendly solutions give you ease of access in times of need.
If you aren’t afraid of being caught off guard or you need to rush to the deck when you see a deer then a gun locker will still give you a safe storage solution. If you need a storage solution for long hunts gun lockers might be your best bet.
Which Gun Storage Solution Is The Easiest To Use?
In addition to the safety that each option brings, it is important to purchase something that is easy to use.
Ranking these in order of ease of use we have:
- Gun Lockers for their portability and customization
- Gun Cabinets for their simplicity
- Gun Safes for their higher learning curve
When it comes down to it, ease of use is sometimes more important than preventing theft or protecting against natural disasters, and in these situations you will find that a gun locker is the easiest to use.
A gun locker has versatility that the other solutions simply can’t compete with. You can make changes to the structure of the locker, you can change the lock type, you can replace keys if you lose them, and you can move them easily if you need to.
These types of storage won’t save your guns in a pinch, but their simplicity means you don’t have to worry about an owner’s manual. You just plop it down, lay your unloaded firearms inside, lock it up, and you are now compliant with the laws of many states.
Everyone knows how to work a lock and key, and that’s all you need to know when it comes to operating a gun locker.
There are some concerns that you will want to be aware of, however. For instance, if your locker is exposed to sunlight or high moisture environments it might be prone to rust so you will need to be aware of that so the structural integrity of the device is not compromised.
Other than that you might want to oil the hinges on the doors every now and then to keep it functioning optimally.
Ultimately, gun cabinets are fairly on par with the ease of use of gun lockers, but their larger size and complex construction make them slightly behind that of the locker. If you can get over the learning curve of a gun safe such as batteries or changing the access code and things like that then gun safes could be an easier long term solution.
Think of it like a learning curve: every gun safe is different so you need to learn how to use each one individually, but once you learn it then it’s like riding a bike.
If your gun safe has fast access safety features like thumb print scans then it could be overall easier than the locker, but you have to spend time with it first to get the hang of it which is why the basic locker wins this round.
Gun Safes Vs Gun Cabinets Vs Gun Lockers: Which One Is The Best Overall?
So, now that we have gone over everything about these three storage solutions from A to Z, the question still stands: which one is the best overall?
Which One Is The Best:
- Gun Safes for their all around protection
- Gun Lockers for their budget compliance and portability
- Gun Cabinets are the jack of all trades, master of none
This is a tough question and your answer might change depending on your unique circumstances, but there is a best overall.
The best overall storage solution for your firearms is a gun safe. Gun safe’s long line of safety features and variety of solutions makes it the overall best choice for keeping you, your family, and your firearms safe.
The best solution does come at a cost though, and that cost is its price tag. Gun safes are the most expensive option on the list overall, but there are still plenty of budget friendly gun safes on the market to fit your needs.
It’s not a rule that gun safes cost more than cabinets or lockers, it’s that gun safes have a much wider range of prices because they are the best solution. Buyers know this and companies know this, so the supply and demand for gun safes are both much more obvious than the other gun cabinets or gun lockers.
If you feel like you can only afford a low end gun safe, you might consider a higher quality cabinet or locker. They may not offer comparable safety features, but higher end cabinets or lockers might have better features than a comparable budget gun safe.
If you have a lot of fire arms or you know you aren’t worried about theft then a cabinet is probably your best solution.
Cabinets are great, and they excel in giving you a big storage space at a low cost. When it comes to price per cubic foot, nothing beats the gun cabinet.
If you are just starting your collection, if you only own one firearm, and if you are concerned with space and portability then a gun locker is your best choice.
Gun lockers might not offer as much protection or as much space as their counterparts, but they make up for that by being a cost effective and easily replaceable and upgrade-able storage solution.
Now you might have decided on which type you want, but you might be asking yourself, “Where do I place my safe?” This might be the most difficult question you ask yourself after you’ve made up your mind on which safe to buy, but your answer is unique to you.
You will want to put it somewhere that encourages you to use it. If you have bad hips or low mobility, you won’t want to try and put your gun locker under your bed. Is it hard to reach? Is the lighting good enough for you to see the door so you don’t have to fumble with the lock or hit the wrong keys when you try to open it?
You might be inclined to put your safe or locker somewhere dark and out of sight as a way of hiding it from kids or intruders, but if you have a combination dial will you be able to see the tick marks in order to unlock it?
Consider the fact that if your safe is strong and sturdy with good safety ratings it might be ok to put it in the open, and seeing it might remind you to practice safety by storing your guns and other valuables.
If you go with a safe you will want to bolt it to the ground or another surface to prevent theft, and this is another layer of consideration you will have to think about.
Concrete is always better than wood, but maybe you don’t have a basement or maybe your basement is prone to flooding. There’s lots of complexity to this, so you might find yourself changing your decision based on some of these questions, and that’s ok. Do what’s right and safe for you and those around you.
If you are thinking about trying to outsmart burglars with the placement of your safe you will want to put it somewhere they won’t expect. Putting it out of sight in your bedroom is where you will feel most safe, but those are the first places an intruder will look.
Placing it in a strange location will buy you some time and maybe even effectively hide it from burglars, but what about your family?
It would definitely be strange finding a safe somewhere unexpected, but consider opening a dialog with those around you if it’s appropriate. Keeping a locked safe will always make people wonder, “what’s inside?”
If you trust those around you, sometimes being honest is the best way to deter curiosity and protect your guns.
It’s a tricky subject for sure, but if family or friends aren’t interested in guns they won’t find the question of, “what’s inside?” to be so tantalizing.
They will know your decision and regardless of whether they agree with it or not they will most likely respect your honesty and be much less curious about it.
Let’s not forget animals in the equation too. Our pets might not think like us, but they are certainly curious creatures, and storing a locker in a place that pets can get to might be an open invitation for them to snoop around.
Of course, if you keep your device locked and your firearms unloaded you should have nothing to worry about, but you wouldn’t want an antique wood stock to get scratched by a cat or, heaven forbid, gnawed on by pests.
That brings us to another consideration, do you have pests in your home? If so, the location of your storage solution should keep that in mind.
If you plan on keeping a locker inside a locked garage, possibly with video surveillance, that might be more than enough for anything problem you can plan for, but mice are tricky things.
Even if you don’t have pests now, consider the possibility in the future when deciding where to place your storage device. If you have smooth flooring will you be able to clean underneath the cabinet, safe, or locker? Can you move it on your own?
Don’t let these questions deter you. These are all designed to get you excited to think about your next investment. You don’t want to dive head first into something without all the information, so hopefully this article has provided you the proper insight you need to make an informed choice.
There may be a ton of questions that you have, but there are answers out there. You can find the perfect solution for your needs that fits your budge, gives you the safety you need, fits your space requirements, matches your style, and has the features you need.
The world of gun storage is just another piece of the puzzle whether you’re a sporting hunter, an antique collector, or whether you want peace of mind and safety. Gun safes, gun cabinets, and gun lockers all have their unique features that will fit your wants and needs while keeping your firearms safe and your family safe.