Help me secure my firearms with a safe and insurance

[Eurodriver]

I rent, and currently have a pretty small place. I'll be moving into a house shortly. I would like a safe that isn't too obtrusive in my small place (I don't want the cable guy going "Wow, that guys got a big ass safe right there in the living room") and does more to secure my firearms than making me "feel" safe. I'd also prefer it not to be 4ftx4ft and 1,000 lbs since I'll be moving it soon and I don't have that many firearms anyway. I also know that no safe is 100% secure so I'd like to discuss insurance.

Specifically, I'm looking at:

* The Stack on 16 gun safe.

Link: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Stack-On-10-cu-ft-16-Gun-Electronic-Lock-Safe-SS-16-MB-E-DS/203675964

* GEICO Renter's insurance.

Without getting into specifics, all of my firearms could easily fit in that safe. I don't care if they rest up against one another or anything.

What are my options? Does renter's insurance usually cover firearms? Up to how much? How do you "prove" that you actually owned the items in the event of a claim given that I don't have receipts for things like used Aimpoint T1s, AR15 Uppers, etc?

I could always call, but figured I'd get as much info from this thread as possible before letting a salesman talk me into something I don't need or want. I have car insurance through them and would get a discount. This all came about because I was going to drop some serious cash on new firearms and realized that a good team of crooks could probably wipe me out.

Help?

[SeriousStudent]

How many firearms do you have? How many are AR's with an optic mounted? Those usually count as "three guns" in safe-math.

That safe in the link might hold 16 Daisy BB guns, it sure won't hold 16 AR's. I have a spare safe like that, it holds 6 AR's.

On "proof", two things are helpful. A big fat stack of sales receipts stored offsite, and a video of you with a newspaper and then slowly capture the serial number of each firearm.

[zombiescometh]

Well just for example my state farm renters insurance for $113 a year includes $5000 towards firearms. And you can always pay more to get more coverage.

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[mikejg]

Check with GEICO about whether or not the renter's insurance policy covers firearms. I have a renter's policy with USAA and it does not cover firearms. It's under "Valuable Personal Property" I think. I has to list each out and their worth, etc.

SS is right, video or pictures to document proof.

[Airhasz]

Scrap the stack on junk, buy one cry once. Wait till you can handle purchasing a real safe.

[William B.]

NRA memberships come with firearms insurance, too, so if you're a member you need to check that out. I think it's $2500 coverage for annual members and $5000 for life members. I'm not sure how that stacks up to the other types of insurance being discussed, though.

[Kokopelli]

Avoid homeowners or renters insurance for firearms. They're quite lame and you have to schedule (identify/appraise) things; typically over two items. Go with a collectors type insurance that insures against a dollar value that you set. You don't have to identify the items until you make a claim. This one is very popular with collectors.

http://www.collectinsure.com/

[JoshNC]

Even heavy safes can be moved with relative ease. Buy a high quality safe and bolt it down. Talk to some safe dealers and see what they have for used safes. Curt at CE Safes makes the rounds at all the South FL gunshows; you may want to talk to him. A used reconditioned fire rated composite TL30 or TL30x6 can be found pretty reasonably. Empire Safes in NY has a large selection of these.

Bolting it to the floor and having an alarm system with a seismic sensor in the safe will go a long way to keeping it secure.

As for insurance, I recommend Jack Richardson at Eastern Insurance in Massachusetts. He has several plans available through Chubb and Historic and his prices are great. Email me through the board if you want his contact info.

[bzdog]

Scrap the stack on junk, buy one cry once. Wait till you can handle purchasing a real safe.

Sturdysafe is a lot of bang for your buck IMO.

-john

[NoveskeFan]

I bought a Liberty 14 or 16 gun safe from Lowes for about the same price as that Stack-On. Mine has a dial lock, and holes in the bottom corners so you can bolt it down. It's been great, a little tight now-but only because I have several of my brothers firearms in it while he is deployed. I have about 8 rifles, 3 lowers, and several pistols in it at the moment.

EDIT: A plus is that you can bolt it down in most closets, so it's out of sight when company or whoever stops by.

[Eurodriver]

Any good word on American security safes? Trying to find something locally so I don't have to drop loot on freight.

[tremiles]

Any good word on American security safes? Trying to find something locally so I don't have to drop loot on freight.

Amsec's BF series is a UL listed RSC (residential security container), which is something you want. I have an older BF6032. It's bigger than I need for 6 long guns with optics and assorted hand guns, but having too much room in the safe is a complaint made by no one, ever. The newer models have increased their fire protection rating from 90 to 120 minutes @ 1200° F.


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[South]

...............

[SkiDevil]

http://www.amsecusa.com/new-bf6024-gun-safe/

For a heavy-duty compact safe this a good choice, expensive however.

This Liberty listed below is one I was looking at for a 2nd safe to put inside of a closet.

http://www.libertysafe.com/safe-premium-20-safes-ps-19.html

You might take a look at the Liberty Centurion models. They are lower cost imports but offer reasonable security.

In my opinion, if you are going to buy the Stack-On you may as well just go to Costco and pick-up the generic $500 imported safe.

P.S. There are a few gunsafe threads here, but sufficed to say a good gunsafe will cost about 2 grand and weigh at least 600 to 700 Lbs.

[Tigereye]

Lots of good advice here.
Gun safe- Years ago, I bought a similar Stack On with a dial when I was in your shoes. I use it, today, to store ammo. The safes already recommended are good options for your current situation. If you know when you will move into the house, I would buy with that in mind. Also, you will run out of room in the safe much faster than you think and may want to consider one bigger than you currently need. Whatever you get, bolt it to the floor and hide it from plain sight. My current safe is one of the American Security safes already mentioned. I really like this safe and have had it for many years.
Insurance- My State Farm Homeowners policy only covered $2,500 worth of guns. I had to purchase a rider for the value of the guns, have them appraised (no receipts), provide them a list with serial numbers, etc. I now insure the guns through the NRA with a policy similar to the Collectors policy mentioned above. I keep a list of guns and accessories with pics in my safe deposit box, but I only provide the insurance company a total value for the guns. It is also $200 per year cheaper than State Farm.

Good luck with your choice.
Eric