Gun storage (case vs safe)

[pandemic]

Hello,
I'm leaving in a week and a half and I'll be gone for a year or two. I was thinking about gun storage and I'm not sure which would be better. I'm looking at two gun safes:
http://www.gandermountain.com/modper...ID=4006&r=view
for $279

http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/pr...ductId=2140312
for $219

I dont think I'll be able to secure it to the floor or wall, however. These will be mainly used to keep little fingers away.

I am also thinking about cases, I can get one for $75 or less. I can also get cheaper gun safes which can be pried open. They're more like gun lockers.


Which would you get? If I could bolt it into the concrete, I'd get a safe for sure. Now, I'm not sure.

Also, which would keep moisture out better? It's relatively dry down here (basement) so it should be fine, just want to make sure.

Which would you get and why?
Which keeps moisture out the best?


Thanks

[JayBell]

ok, get a gun safe, even a cheap one, and MAKE a way to bolt it down.
Masonry drills are cheap, as are lag bolts and mounts.

the larger the box, the harder it is to move it to steal it.

also, about moisture, if they are going to be unattended for a long time, I'd get some poly gun bags from http://www.polygunbag.com/ , clean the firearms well, and use a good anti corrosion oil, then bag them up.

the bags have a VCI embedded in them, that will protect metals.

nothing else will really protect from moisture like these sealed bags, not dehumidifiers, or silica gel cans, as the latter 2 need servicing periodically.

get a safe, even a cheap one like a stack on, and bag your guns.

[ccphilly1984]

if you can, go for the safe... cases can walk out of your house too easily... heavier the better... and you can keep other valuables in them too... bolting it down if you can also helps. i know some people can't because they rent, but that means you'd just have to have it heavier and hide the safe better like in a closet or something.

[625]

Yea, decent safes aren't cheap, but you'll most likely have it for life, so it's a one time purchase. Well, at least until you fill it and need another.

Also, decent safes protect against fire too.

Haven't used those gun socks, but they would seem like a great idea if going away for a long time.

[natewal4430]

I also would suggest going with the safe. But as an alternate, do you have a close friend or relative that could possibly "hold on to" your firearms while you are away. They would have to be legally allowed to do so, but it's still another possibility.

IANAL
Just my $0.02

[gf45acp]

If you get one of the above safes, prep your guns well, and fill any extra space in the safe with the heaviest stuff you can find. Ammo (ammo good!), coins, heavy metals (no, not CD's).
Just keep an eye on your floor load.

[pandemic]

Thanks for the advice. I'm thinking about the one for 220 but I like the one for 280. I'll have to look into it further. The one for 280 is about 165lbs. I could try to talk about bolting it to the floor. I live in a basement so it shouldn't be a problem. BUT, I dont know much about it.

How deep should the bolts be?
Is there any risk to drilling?
How deep is a normal foundation?

In order to get to bolt this down, I'll have to know exactly how to do it before I get the go ahead.

Thanks!


edit: I have 3 rifles.

[pandemic]

Does anyone have experience with these safes?
Might there be a better place in these forums that I could ask?

Thanks again!

[normanvin]

There were a few threads about safes a while ago. You could do a search for them. What do you want to know?

[RONNIE77]

I'm with Jaybell on this one.
Get a gun safe (because you need one regardless), bolt it down anyway you can, clean the guns well, anti-corrosion oil, Poly gun bags....Thats it.

Oh, and put one of these on your front lawn or window, to protect the rest of the house......As an additional deterrent.

http://needdecals.stores.yahoo.net/homsecsigand.html