Gun safes offer you protection on many levels. They protect your firearms from theft and destruction. They protect them from accidentally getting into the hands of children. And, by keeping your firearms out of the wrong hands, they protect your right to keep and bear arms through responsible ownership.
When shopping for a gun safe, the old axiom that goes: "You get what you pay for," may not always be true. Ostensibly this means that the most expensive item is therefore the best item solely by virtue of being the most expensive item but often good value can be found at moderate prices.
There are many factors that enter into the deal, like personal preference and level of expectation and service, etc. When a firearm owner considers purchasing a gun safe, however, it is a good idea for him or her to listen to this old cliché and not necessarily just get the least expensive model. The safes should make gun owners feel secure. At the same time, if you're not securing a high value collection, top of the line could be overkill.
The two main choices when shopping for pistol safes are a local dealer or the Internet. It might be obvious, but the World Wide Web is going to have a much larger selection than a local dealer or big box retail store.
Typically, when shopping locally, it will be a what-you-see-is-what-you-get scenario in that what dealers have on hand will most likely be all they have for selection. The buyer will then have to figure out how to lug the huge thing home. On the Internet, one can shop around for different prices, features, makes and models easily and most online stores will deliver the safe right to the buyer's door step.
Those who are looking specifically for pistol safes will also find a vast selection online. These will be considerably smaller than a gun safe, of course, because handguns are generally much smaller than a rifle or shotgun.
Features shoppers might want to look for in gun and pistol safes are fingerprint lock control, also called biometric, which can be programmed to recognize only the fingerprints that the owner selects; size dimensions, if the gun owner wants to carry it in a purse or briefcase; construction materials, look for 21-gauge steel; and installation equipment for concealment purposes.
Firearms safes in general have other features to consider, such as brand, height, width, depth, lock type, level of fire protection and gun capacity. This last feature is perhaps the one with the most importance overall in the shopping process since it will most likely determine the size. They range in gun capacity from five all the way up to 70.
Lock type is significant in ease of access of your firearms. Biometric locks and no-eyes key pads can make access fast and simple during self-defense situations. No-eyes keypads offer comparable speed as biometric but tend to cost significantly less. More traditional dial-type combination locks may be more economical and sometimes durable; however, they sacrifice ease of access in those critical situations.
Level of protection is an important consideration when making your choice. If you're protecting a high dollar collection you'll want to consider something more durable. If your major concern is a grab and go thief, a moderate level of security may be more appropriate. Don't forget, though, tha tyou've invested a lot in your rifle scopes, laser sights, and other tactical gear. you may want to store them securely as well. If you're looking to protect your family by not letting your firearms get in the hands of children, an even less level of security may be needed. Just beware as children seem to be better at accessing child-proof safety devices than adults are.
After looking over all the makes and models and coming to a decision on one, the firearm owner's next decision will likely be where to store it. Since there is such a variety of sizes and colors, owners can have the option to disguise it by matching it to the decor of the house or hiding it in a closet in order to provide the maximum protection by keeping it out of sight. The best way to determine where to store it is to ask your wife. After all, she'll be the one with the final say on it.
The best way to "Cling to your Guns" is with the right gun safe.
Stephen Fischer is co-owner of MBS of New Orleans, LLC, the parent company of ClearlyOptics.com. Clearly Optics is dedicated to providing quality shooting accessories, including Binoculars, Rifle Scopes, Red Dot Sights, and Laser Sights at affordable prices.
To find quality Rifle Scopes, Laser Sights and other shooting accessories, Please visit us at ClearlyOptics.com
