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Getting ready to buy my first gun safe.
After having a look around online there doesn't appear to be much difference in specs between different A Cat safes. Most are 2mm walls and 3mm doors, that doesn't really change until you get up to the P Cat 6mm ones.
Even for a similar sized A Cat safe there seems to be quite a wide range in prices, are the pricer ones better in any way?
Pretent you have a crow bar,think how long its going to take to break into yr safe.Then you got a good battery pack angle grinder.How long will that take to cut thru yr safe.8mm steel better than 6mm steel.Then how good are you guna fix it to yr concrete wall or timber frame wall.Lots of questions to work thru.
I have Spika and Boston.
Spika is better made, heavier and feels sturdier but costs more, you get what you paid for, I guess.
Put up the link of the safe you have in mind and I'm sure someone will share their 2c.
From having a look through the forum, I did notice the Spika ones had a good name.
Good example too, as on paper it has similar specs as another one I was looking at from Bunnings, but is twice the price.
Spika
https://kellycountry.co.nz/collectio...ysafecategorya
Bunnings
https://www.bunnings.co.nz/sandlefor...-safe_p4211460
I was looking for a mate and saw a LOT of 1.2mm safes, you'd be better off with a wooden 1 compared to some of those. if they don't state the thickness-ask. As trout said fixing is the biggest issue as a bolt head can pull through thin sheet easily, Large heavy washers can improve that though.
Before making a decision, you have to decide what you want out of a safe:
1) To tick a box for your FAL
2) To prevent casual unauthorised access or theft
3) To prevent a serious theft attempt
Buy a much bigger one than you think you need as,
1. the number of guns they say they will hold is often more than reality (unless you like scrapes and gouges on your stuff)
2. you have the space ready to accommodate more.
Might be worth checking legal requirements for thickness etc too. Be bugger to buy something wasn't up to spec.
https://www.firearmssafetyauthority....e-guidance.pdf
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They are way too small, think big my friendQuote:
Originally Posted by TararuaWest
Built my own, I'm a chippy by trade......won't elaborate on how I did it but the FAL inspector signed it off and asked if she could take photo's because she has seen nothing like it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mikee
Good point! You can assume that a safe holds one less gun comfortably than advertised. Smaller safes never seem quite deep enough for scoped rifles.
Also, think about height. Had to upgrade from my first safe because it wouldn't take a shotgun with a 30" barrel.
Sounds like you need to start your own thread in projectsQuote:
Originally Posted by Twodiffs
Only one haha... An example of one I've seen is listed as a 10-gun safe, but if you put scoped rifles in it the only way you would get 10 in there is by top and tail stacking them (5 on the butt, 5 on the muzzle) and leaning the upside down row on the ones that went in first. Also, some are so tight you have to take bolts and anything else that sticks out off them - which can be a pest.
Gun safe sizes,divide the number rifles avertised by 2.Equal about right for scoped rifles to fit in yr safe.
I went out and grabbed the cheapest one with at least 3mm all around, and a month later I'm already wanting to either upgrade, or get a second.
Stated as a 4-gun safe, but after putting 2 scoped rifles in, I don't think I want to buy a third til I have a bigger or second safe.
Listen to Steve.
My 5 gun safe only just holds 3 scoped rifles and 1 shotgun and that is still very much a tight squeeze with 2 upside down.
With the right hinges and locks you can legally make a cupboard into a safe :)
mine was custom built, 2mm steel but 18mm mdf on the inside. the 2 different materials make it harder to cut or grind
Plus one for selling the A-cat 2-3mm flimsy thing... went and bought a lonely E-cat 6mm that was long-sitting on a salesroom floor - this was even after Jacinda took E cat away... Yep, def can't fit in advertised number of longs in there.... minus 2 off rated storage number.
Then I also have a 13mm ex ATM safe thats bloody heavy and fits anything inside. Don't forget the dial codes - its a long and expensive journey :O_O:
After shopping around a bit, ended up getting a Spika S3.
Would have preferred to get something 6mm but they seem to be pretty thin on the ground.
Got quoted $6800+gst for a Baronet that is the equivalent size of the S3, almost died of laughing. I hate to think how much of our tax dollars are going into them.
I came to the conclusion that although the S3 is still 2mm walls it was good value for the size and quality that it is, and the guy in the store said the local AO likes them.
Can always weld some heavy plate on the inside of it further down the track if I feel that's necessary.