Receiving a Gun Safe

[treadlightly]

A quick note, although a little late for anyone giving a gun safe for Christmas this year.

Remember the rule regarding giving a lady a purse as a gift. The same guidelines apply. It's considered bad luck to give an empty purse. A gun safe should get the same respectful consideration whether now, for Christmas, or later for a birthday.

Nothing elaborate is required. One of those fun little Bond Arms derringers would do. Or a Ruger .22 target pistol.

Not sure if my wife ever reads this forum. The family could use a new gun safe. If justification to buy one was needed, I would contribute my birthday. You know, if I had to.

[C-dub]

My brother and Dad and I moved my Dad's 900 pound safe into the house from the driveway around 25 years ago with only a dolly that had those foldout back wheels. It was not easy since it was tilted back, therefore making it difficult to negotiate corners. Then, when it was close to it's final location, we had to just wiggle it into place inside the closet. I nearly smushed my fingers between the safe and doorway on one concerted push.

Now, when I bought my own safe a couple years ago, I remembered that lesson and paid for the delivery and installment, including anchoring. Mine is a little over 1,000 pounds and two guys moved it relatively effortlessly off their trailer, down my steeply sloped driveway, over the lip of the garage/house slab, and into place using a short forked pallet jack. Once in place, they gently tilted it one way and then the other to remove the pallet and then drill the holes to anchor it down. Very simple indeed and they even left me the procedure for choosing my own combination.

IMHO, a furniture dolly or golf balls might be easy enough to do, but if one has spent a not small amount of $$$ on a safe to protect $$$$$$$ worth of firearms or whatnot, then a few extra $ to let experienced folks move it in and install it is money well spent. There's similar sayings about putting cheap optics on rifles that cost $$$$ and holsters or cases to transport or protect expensive or unique hardware.

[nightmare69]

Steps and going across elevated thresholds is where you will need help. My 24 gun weights 525lbs empty. I'm 160lbs and I just needed help getting it into the house. Once on carpet it wasn't hard to push.

[superstar]

Thank you all for taking the time to reply. It was very informative. Would leaving a safe in the garage be a bad idea? (Houston's crazy and humid weather). The guns would be cleaned every time they come back after the range and or at least once a year. The garage does not have A/C.

[C-dub]

Thank you all for taking the time to reply. It was very informative. Would leaving a safe in the garage be a bad idea? (Houston's crazy and humid weather). The guns would be cleaned every time they come back after the range and or at least once a year. The garage does not have A/C.

Only if you have no way to limit or quasi control the humidity level. For some, like me, the garage was the negotiated location for getting a safe and therefore, must be dealt with. So, I got to go a little bigger and added the large Evadry. My humidity levels stay roughly between 40-50% and temps range from about 50-80 degrees. I also added a 24" goldenrod a month or so ago for these wetter cooler winter months.

I would think that if you kept them cleaned and oiled and kept the interior environment as reasonable as could be expected that they would be okay. Maybe a few of the Houstonians can chime in with how they have dealt with the interior environment of their garage safes.

[Eric Lamberson]

Remington Moistureguard Super Plugs do wonders for preventing corrosion. I keep two in my safe and have had no issues--replace periodically.

You might also think about buying a cheap bedsheet the same color as the paint in the garage and keep the safe covered with it anytime the garage door is open. Never open the safe when the garage door is open if anyone could see in.