How to Buy a Gun Safe Online

Researching the right gun safe for your needs can seem like an overwhelming task if you’re not sure what to look for. From a quick search, you will find there are many companies selling gun safes online. Some of the companies do not have a physical storefront, selling from a website only. While they might have knowledge of the industry, when looking for protection of your firearms, it’s best to look for a company that can provide expert advice and has the major brands in their product line. 

It’s important to know that you can talk to someone who actually works for the company. You’ll want to make sure to call their contact number and see what type of customer service is available. If the business doesn’t answer the phone or has poor customer service before the sale, imagine what it will be like once you’ve made a purchase. You will want to look for a  company that posts their shipping fees on their website, or if they have free shipping, make sure there are no hidden fees, such as liftgate charges or residential fees. Also, try to find a company that has a no-hassle return policy. Finally, check if the company is a member of the Better Business Bureau.

As for the safes themselves, the first question to ask is what size of gun safe meets your particular needs. The smaller safes are handgun and pistol safes. These lightweight, portable safes are perfect for one or two handguns and can fit in a drawer, a nightstand, under a vehicle seat, or in a suitcase. You can also store valuables such as passports, jewelry, wallets, and cash. These safes range in weight from under 10 lbs. to up to 55 lbs. The Liberty HD-100 Quick Vault Handgun & Pistol Safe weighs only 6.25 lbs, is made of 16-gauge steel, uses an electronic combo lock, and has a key backup.

Under Bed gun safes are a little larger, but slim enough to fit under a bed or in the back of an SUV. They are designed to be easily accessible, stored within arm’s reach. The safe can be bolted underneath a bed, giving you peace of mind that you will have fast access in case of an emergency. These safes range in width from 36” to 55”, and weigh from 45 lbs. to 140 lbs. The AMSEC DV652 Defense Vault Under the Bed Gun Safe is constructed of 14-gauge steel with a unique 5-point sliding locking bar and a foam-padded slide-out gun tray. This safe features AMSEC’s new ESL5 electronic lock with an illuminated keypad, making it easier to enter your code in the dark. 

Gun Safes and Rifle Safes are larger, typically the size of a small refrigerator. They can hold several long guns or rifles, larger gun collections, as well as mounted accessories. They range in height from 40” to 76”, and can be as heavy as 4500 lbs. The SafeandVaultStore GS592820 Second Amendment Gun Safe is a top-quality safe at a very decent price. It holds 24 long guns, has a one-hour fire rating, and features a ¼” solid steel door and 12 gauge steel body.

Gun cabinets and rifle cases are not as secure as a safe; their main purpose is storage. Also, a gun cabinet is any safe that has less than a 30 minute fire rating. However, having your firearms locked in a sturdy gun cabinet greatly reduces the risk of an accident. The V-Line 51653-S-IVY Closet Vault II Gun Cabinet can be easily hidden in a closet or behind a door. It has a push button mechanical lock which features a programmable combination.

Do you need a fireproof gun safe? Fireproof gun safes are designed to protect the contents from extremely hot temperatures for a rated period of time. Although they protect from fire, some of these safes offer very little burglary protection. If you are storing highly valuable content, it is recommended that you look for a fireproof gun safe  with at least a minimum B-rating for burglary. Our Safe and Vault Store has a burglar rating chart on our website, which is a great guideline to use when determining the amount of valuables to store with or without an alarm.

One thing you’ll want to know is the kind of lock the gun safe uses.The type of lock used depends on whether you need fast access to the safe as well as your personal preference. You can buy a safe with a traditional dial combination lock, a digital electronic lock, or a biometric lock. Dial combination locks can be programmed with a million different combinations. These locks have a preset factory combination. If you need to change the combination in the future, you will need a professional locksmith to do this for you. A digital electronic lock opens more quickly, but it requires batteries, and these locks typically need to be replaced every 15 years. The major benefit to this type of lock is that you can change the combination yourself at any time. Biometric locks use fingerprint identification to open the safe for quick access.

Biometric Handgun and & Pistol Safes were introduced to the market about five years ago. An excellent example is the Browning PV500 Biometric Pistol Vault. This 21-pound gun safe features 10-gauge steel thickness and solid ½” diameter locking bolts to secure the lid. All it takes is a swipe of your fingerprint to get access to your pistols. 

The experts at Safe and Vault Store have been helping customers with protection solutions for over 65 years. We specialize in finding the best solution to protect your firearms and other valuables. One of our experts is always available to help, via chat, on our site, or by phone or e-mail. This is the most efficient way to get answers to your specific questions when shopping for a gun safe online.