I wanted to take a moment to discuss gun safes in general. There are a lot of brands, terms, qualities, and ratings running around out there. So I wanted to touch base just a bit on what I have seen.
First is the CDOJ or California Dept of Justice rating. This is a nice rating and it adds some clarification to what you are purchasing and getting in a gun safe. But make no mistake. It is VERY easy to get this type of rating. You could get a gym locker to meet this rating just by adding a small piece of hardplate to the door. So it doesn’t mean a whole heck of alot. But some gun safe companies love to spout off that thier gun safe is one of the “only gun safes that have been approved by the CDOJ” They say this like its a big deal to have the CDOJ wave its hand over the gun safe like it was the Pope doing a blessing!
Several gun safe manufactures don’t even bother with getting thier gun safe “approved by the CDOJ” because the safe exceeds the CDoJ standard but such a large margin that why bother with it. Its almost like braging about the color of the safe is really a pretty color. Very deep and very natural looking…..well, who cares! Just between you and me, I don’t know of one safe that is designed as a gun safe that doesn’t meet the “CDOJ” standard.
Next is the RSC label or Residential Security Container. Now this label means something. It is a real UL rating of safe. It can be on gun safes or any type of safe that is sent off to UL for testing. Basically it will hold up to an attack by competint safe and vault technichian for up to 5 minutes with his choice of any and all tools. Before you scream “5 minutes! Thats nothing!” Please note that there really are no safe and vault technicians breaking into homes and doing this. The 5 minutes is a very long time because that is tool time on the safe. That does not include breaks or people standing back and discussing getting how or what next to try to get into the safe. So this is a rating that really means something. However, you will not see a lot on gun safes because it is expensive to do the test and most thieves are going to use crow bars and drill into the safe.
B-rating is an insurance type rating. Having to deal with quality of materials being used. You will see this on higher priced gun safes. Walls must be at least a quarter inch thick and the door must be at least a half inch thick with steel. As well as drill resistant hardplate over the lock. You will often hear or see gun safes discussing guage of steel. Well, 1/4 inch of steel boosts a gun safe way up there and the safe will normally have used the letter B in the model number. These safes are pricey but worth it. But just because it has 10 gauge steel and hardplate doesn’t mean its B rated. Because that 1/4 is going to be thicker than the 10 gauge.
You can also get into TL rated gun safes but I will save that for another post. TL safes are really used in jewelry stores and cost in the multiple thousands of dollars. Most people will not want or need this type of safe.
Fireproof Gun Safes are another area of ratings. The term “Fireproof” is tossed around a bunch. Most gun safes that are fireproof have only been factory tested. If its a chinese made gun safe (and most name brand are!) They will use a UL rated fireboard that will look like sheetrock to you and me. One layer of fireboard is 30 mins of protection against fire at 1250 degrees. Two fireboards is an hour. Or should be according to the label on the fireboard. However, most of these type gun safes are never really tested in a fire until your house burns down. Whoa!
Who imports these Chinese gun safes? Almost everybody. They may get them in different stages of finish such as without fireboard or paint. But these bodies are just too cheap to pass up. Also because the manufacture can add its own paint, fireproof material, lock, or trim they will often say “Made in America” on the label. But now you and I know better. Another symptom of American growth and out sourcing.
Last of all, you want to ask what “composite fireproofing” means and is made of. If its a true composite like a concrete type material it WILL be reflected in the price. Costing thousands of dollars for a medium size gun safe. The old adage of you get what you pay for is still true in gun safes. Though you may not need to spend thousands to get a great gun safe. (Personally I like many of the Chinese models but you just need to ask the right questions and know what you are getting).
Good luck in your gun safe hunting.