Most gun safes are trivial to force open, especially the cheap ones.
Such safes have videos on YouTube showing how.
There are many more videos like that, with instructions and the make and model of the safe. Gun safes are no exception.
The cheaper the safe, the more likely anyone could be a Google search and a few seconds away from opening your safe.
The safes we recommend have been tested by security professionals like handgunsaferesearch.com and have no known bypasses.
Someone could still get in with enough time and tools, but they won't break in with a few seconds and a magnet, paper clip, etc.
What about High-Security Safes?
How do we tell which safes are high-security, and what does it really mean?
Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is a global independent safety science company that tests safes.
Their ratings are the industry standard. They come in two main types:
UL Residential Security Container (RSC)
UL Tool-resistant Safe (TL)
If a safe doesn't have a label like the above, it's designed more to slow down children and opportunistic thieves than career criminals.
UL Residential Security Container (RSC) Certs
These come in three levels:
UL RSC Listed, or RSC-I: It takes a net working time (NWT) of at least 5 minutes for one person to break in through the safe door with common tools:
It doesn't test many real-world attacks.
UL RSC-II: A NWT of at least 10 min. for 2 people to break in through the safe door with more powerful, real-world tools:
UL RSC-III: A NWT of at least 10 min. for 2 people to break in with any power tool.
There's a huge gap in the security of UL RSC and RSC-2. The prices reflect that.
Cert
NWT
Door test
Full test
Safe Price
Value of Contents
RSC-1
5 min.
$1,100+
< $4,000
RSC-2
10 min.
$4,200+
< $30,000
RSC-3
10 min.
TBD
TBD
UL Tool Resistant Safe (TL) Certs
Law enforcement, jewelry stores, and other professionals use UL TL safes. They come in many levels. Some general patterns:
UL TL-X: Rates the NWT for career criminals armed with modern power tools to break in through the door. TL-15 is 15 minutes, TL-30 is 30, etc.
TL-Xx6: Like TL-X, but tests every side of the safe, not just the front door. TL-15x6 is 15 minutes, TL-30x6 is 30, etc.
TLTR-X: As TL-X, but resists plasma torches as well. TLTR-30 is 30 minutes, etc.
"UL-listed" is not "UL Certified". If a safe lacks a UL TL-15 Cert or better, burglars can probably get in with cheap power tools or long pry bars in under 5 minutes:
A reasonable security budget is 10-30% of the valuables. What if you own less than $1,000 worth of guns? That's just $100-300.
Any safe under $3,700 doesn't come close to real security. What do you do?
The Middle Ground
Here are some options for someone with just a few guns.
Quick-Access Safes
These will keep kids out, and offer speed of access.
Pros
Small, like a purse.
Not too heavy (10-25 lb.).
Takes 3 seconds or less to open.
Ideal for a nightstand or desk.
Cons
Cost ($205+).
Can only hold one gun.
Can be too small for larger pistols.
Won't slow down criminals.
Industrial Tool Box
These don't have a security rating, but offer some protection if bolted down.
Pros
Looks like a toolbox, not a safe full of valuables.
Moderate weight (100-130 lb.) takes 1-2 people to move out of the home.
Ideal for renters or homeowners on a budget.
Cons
Cost ($420+).
No fire protection.
Moderate weight (100-130 lb.) takes 1-2 people to install.
Needs a padlock to lock it.
Storage Safes
These aren't quick to get into, or easy to transport, but they're more secure.
Pros
Much tougher for burlgars to open or take if bolted down.
Can protect against fire (somewhat).
Ideal for homeowners.
Cons
Cost ($1,100+).
Heavy (500+ lb). Can take several people to move.
Bulky, like a person. Won't fit everywhere in a home.
Modular Safes
Like storage safes, but can be disassembled and reassembled.
Pros
Tougher for burlgars to take if bolted down.
Disassembled, each piece can be moved by 1-2 people.
Can be assembled inside a room impossible to get a normal safe in.
Ideal for renters and homeowners.
Cons
Cost ($700+).
No real protection against modern burglar tools.
Little or no fire protection.
Bulky, like a person. Won't fit everywhere in a home.
No matter what you choose, bolt it down. Why?
A burglar's first move is to push the safe flat on the ground.
From there, it's much easier to cut or pry open.
Watch two guys get into an RSC-I safe in under 2 minutes.
Had it been bolted down, it would have stopped them for 2-3x as long.
If burglars can't open it right away, they'll take it away.
They don't care about destroying your home to get what they want.
They'll throw your safe down the stairs and through a wall if that's what it takes. Once they get away with your safe, it doesn't matter if it's a TL-60:
They have all the time they need to get it open.
For heavier safes, bolting down is also a safety feature: Up to half of a safe's weight is in its door. When you open it, it may tip forward and crush you unless it's bolted down.
Fingeprint scanner works great for balancing speed with security.
The electronic lock and key lock are each resistant to attack.
The safe goes into lockout mode for 15 minutes if you enter the wrong combination or fingerprint 3 times.
It should really be 5 times before lockout.
Desk-Mounted Quick-access Safes
These are made to be mounted out of sight under an office desk, counter, or work bench.
The right choice here depends on the size of your desk: The safe needs to not get in the way of your everyday tasks.
Take measurements if needed. It also depends on the size of the gun you're storing.
Holds one pocket or compact pistol. May not fit a full size pistol with an optic, light, etc.
Under-desk safe. Ideal for the office.
Holds a full-size pistol and some room to spare.
Its larger size may not fit as many desks.
Quick-access Safes for Travel
These are lightweight and easy to carry, for some security while traveling with family.
The V-Line Compact is easier to travel with, as it's smaller and lighter,
but its internal lock needs to be Plasti-Dipped to prevent marring the gun stored inside.
Its storage is limited, too.
Can be broken down into several pieces for easier transport,
and for assembling them in a room that normal safes couldn't fit in.
They must be bolted down to have any security value whatsoever.
Large enough to fit several pistols or 6 long guns.
Electronic keypad is faster to use (5-10 seconds).
Hidden key override in case the keypad fails.
Keypad is not UL 768 Group 1 Rated. It may fail after a few years.
Non-standard keypad layout makes it slower to use.
Large enough to fit several pistols or 8 long guns.
Mechanical lock is rated UL 768 Group 2 (Group 1 is highest).
Mechanical combo lock is more reliable, but slower to use (15-30 seconds).
UL RSC-I Containers
These will stop one person with common hand tools for 5 minutes.
They must be bolted down to have any security value whatsoever.
Which one is right for you? It depends on how much space you have.
If you're not worried about a house fire or tight on space, get the Liberty Safe USA 23.
Otherwise, get the Liberty Safe USA 30
and line the interior and exterior with any combination of type X drywall, aircrete, rockwool, or fiberglass
to add some fire resistance.
Outer: 25"D x 30"W x 60.5"H
Inner: 16"D x 27.5"W x 57.5"H"
Outer: 25"D x 36"W x 60.5"H
Inner: 15.5"D x 28"W x 57.5"H"
Large enough to fit several pistols or 25 long guns.
Large enough to fit several pistols or 30 long guns.
Larger size may not fit as many places in your home.
UL TL-15
These will stop two people with power tools from getting through the door for 15 minutes. Not rated for the other sides. Bolting it down adds major security value.
The right choice here boils down to whether you want to store long guns.
If you're only storing pistols, the AMSEC CE1814 is the better value.
Otherwise, the AMSEC CE5524 is the right choice.
Bryan Hill / October 30 2021
