Gun Safes

A gun safe is one of the most important purchases a firearm owner can make — it protects your investment from theft, keeps firearms away from unauthorized access, and in fire-rated models, can preserve irreplaceable firearms through a house fire. Impact Guns carries gun safes from Liberty, Winchester, Browning, Stack-On, Vaultek, and other leading manufacturers in configurations ranging from compact quick-access pistol safes to full-height fire-rated long gun safes.

Read our full Gun Safe Buying Guide ↓

How Many Guns Does Your Safe Need to Hold?

Capacity is the first spec to nail down before comparing models. Manufacturers rate capacity by long guns, but real-world capacity is significantly lower once you add handguns, accessories, and documents. A safe rated for 24 long guns typically holds 12–16 comfortably with scopes mounted. If you currently own 10 rifles, start looking at safes rated for 18–24. You’ll fill available space faster than you expect as your collection grows, so buying one size up almost always pays off. Most experienced gun owners recommend buying at least one size larger than you think you need today.

Long Gun Safes vs. Quick-Access Handgun Safes

Long gun safes are full-height cabinets designed to store rifles and shotguns vertically, typically with a separate upper compartment for handguns and documents. They’re the right choice for any shooter with more than a few firearms. Quick-access pistol safes — also called nightstand safes or bedside safes — are single-purpose units optimized for immediate retrieval of one or two handguns. Many gun owners need both: a large long gun safe for the collection and a quick-access safe beside the bed for the home defense firearm.

Fire Protection: What the Ratings Actually Mean

Fire ratings describe how long the safe interior stays below 350°F (the temperature at which paper ignites) when exposed to a given external temperature. A 30-minute/1,200°F rating covers a typical residential house fire. A 60-minute/1,200°F rating provides more margin. UL 72 certification is the most credible fire rating — it means the safe was independently tested by Underwriters Laboratories rather than rated by the manufacturer alone. Be aware that many budget safes carry manufacturer-claimed fire ratings without independent testing. If fire protection is a priority, look specifically for UL 72-rated safes or models from Liberty, Fort Knox, or Browning ProSteel that publish verified test data. Firearms will survive a fire better than wood stocks and paper documents — if you’re storing important documents alongside your firearms, prioritize a safe with verified fire ratings.

Steel Gauge and Burglary Resistance

Safe body thickness is measured in steel gauge — lower gauge numbers mean thicker steel. Entry-level gun safes use 12–14 gauge steel body construction, which provides meaningful resistance to opportunistic theft but will not stop a determined burglar with tools. Mid-range safes use 10–11 gauge steel; premium safes use 7–8 gauge or thicker. Door construction matters more than body thickness in most cases — a thick door on a thin-body safe is far better than a thin door on a thick-body safe. Look for a minimum of six 1-inch diameter locking bolts on both the hinge and non-hinge sides. Anti-pry tabs welded to the door frame prevent the crowbar attacks that defeat many otherwise acceptable safes. California DOJ approval is a useful third-party certification for quality safes. No consumer gun safe is impenetrable — a determined burglar with tools and time can defeat most; the goal is to make entry slow enough that they give up or are interrupted.

Biometric vs. Electronic vs. Dial Lock

Electronic keypad locks offer the best balance of speed and security for most buyers — typically 3–5 second access with a 4–8 digit code. Keep the backup key in a separate secure location. Biometric fingerprint locks are fastest for single-user access but require enrollment and can be unreliable with wet, dirty, or injured hands — not ideal as your only access method in an emergency. Dial combination locks are the most tamper-resistant and never need batteries, but they’re the slowest to open and not suitable for quick-access applications. For a primary long gun safe, an electronic keypad is the practical choice. For a quick-access bedside safe, biometric with an electronic backup is the most popular configuration.

Installing and Anchoring Your Gun Safe

A gun safe that isn’t bolted down is a liability — most residential gun safes under 500 lbs can be carried out by two people in minutes. Every safe should be anchored to the floor, wall studs, or both through the pre-drilled anchor holes in the safe floor or back panel. Concrete anchoring in a basement or garage provides the most secure installation. Wood floor anchoring into floor joists is effective if the bolts are long enough to reach solid framing. A safe hidden in a closet or behind furniture is harder to locate and harder to remove than one in the middle of a garage.

Safe Brands: What Each Is Known For

Liberty Safe is the most widely purchased American-made gun safe brand — strong fire ratings, wide model range from entry to premium, and good value at mid-tier pricing. Winchester Safes deliver solid fire protection and burglary resistance at competitive prices. Browning ProSteel is well-regarded for premium build quality and interior organization. Stack-On covers the budget and entry-level market — good for securing firearms from children and casual theft, but not a substitute for a full fire-rated safe. Vaultek specializes in smart safes and quick-access pistol safes — their VT series with app connectivity and biometric access are among the best quick-access options on the market. Fort Knox and American Security (AMSEC) represent the premium tier with the heaviest construction and most rigorous burglary ratings.

Quick-Access Safes: Home Defense Specific

For a nightstand or vehicle application where sub-second access matters, the Vaultek VT20i and VT20 series are among the most popular quick-access pistol safes on the market — compact, biometric with keypad backup, and mountable in multiple orientations. Stack-On Quick-Access safes provide basic security at lower cost. For vehicle carry, car-specific safes with cable tethers are worth considering for protecting a firearm in an unattended vehicle. For a nightstand or bedside application, look for a model that can be opened silently and quickly in the dark without fumbling.

Frequently Asked Questions: Gun Safes

What size gun safe do I need?
Buy at least one size larger than you think you need today. Manufacturers’ capacity ratings are optimistic — a safe rated for 24 long guns realistically holds 12–16 with scopes attached. Factor in future purchases and accessories when sizing.

Do I need a fire-rated gun safe?
If you store documents, cash, or irreplaceable firearms in your safe, a UL 72-certified fire-rated model is worth the added cost. For pure theft deterrence, a non-fire-rated safe with heavy steel construction is effective and less expensive.

Should I bolt down my gun safe?
Yes, always. Any safe under 500 lbs can be carried out by two people. Anchor to concrete or floor joists through the safe’s pre-drilled holes. An unanchored safe provides theft deterrence; an anchored safe provides real security.

Browse Gun Safes

Shop the full gun safe selection at Impact Guns. For handgun-specific options, see Handgun Safes. For fingerprint access, see Biometric Safes. For space-saving installs, see In-Wall Gun Safes. For large collections, see Large Gun Safes.