If you are a gun collector, you may have already looked up a wide variety of gun safe reviews to find the best gun safe. One company that makes a variety of gun safes is Browning. Browning gun safes have been around the last 27 years. Browning makes gun safes for rifles, pistols, long guns, shotguns as well as making gun safes that can fit a mixed collection of different types of firearms. Therefore, no matter what types of firearms you collect, it is likely that you will find a Browning gun safe that will accommodate your collection quite nicely. Browning gun safes, like gun safes made by other companies, come in a variety of sizes. If you are not a firearm collector but would like a safe to store you gun in then you can buy one of the smaller gun safes; Browning gun safes (as well as some other gun safes) also come with small pockets or compartments to store other valuables in, which may make it more worth the price.

As far as whether Browning gun safes are better than other brands of safes on the market that will likely depend on what you are looking for. Whether your priority is having a gun safe that is aesthetic and blends well with your room’s existing decor, or whether you are looking for the most secure type of gun safe available, whether you are looking for something within a certain budget, or if you are looking to have a gun safe custom made or adapted to certain specifications. It may be worth your while to think of what your priority is in buying a gun safe as there are a wide variety of firearm collections that people own and what suits one person just right may not suit another person.

While Browning gun safes are not the most expensive brand of gun safe on the market, neither are they the cheapest. The prices vary greatly depending on what type of gun safe you are looking for, from Browning’s Medallion 55-gun safe with uni-force lock, which is selling for over US$4,000, down to just US$900 for Browning’s TheftGuard TG15 Sheriff gun safe.

Browning gun safes are quite good quality and do offer a wide variety of features. They are made to look attractive, so they are a nice looking addition to your room’s decor; you can buy them in at least five different colors (depending on what type of gun safe you buy). The most secure of the Browning gun safes are their latest model released in 2009, the ProSteel gun safe family. There are a few different models in this family, but they are supposed to be the most secure of all the Browning gun safes to date. Browning gun safes also come with a Duo Plus Storage Extra system, which makes it easier to store longer guns in one area of the gun safe and shorter, smaller guns in another area of the safe; there are also small compartments to store other valuables if you wish. It also makes it handy to get the gun you want out of the gun safe, which is a plus if you have a larger gun collection stored in the safe.

As inferred, a quality safe, like many discussed on this site (Fort Knox, Browning, Big Horn…) is the product of mechanical engineering, tested trial and error, hundreds of man and machinery hours, and like any successful selling commodity, the fruit of a well executed business and marketing plan. All that said, you surely can’t be expected to know the ins and out at every unit you come across. But there’s no reason you can’t have someone else point out the well-made safes for you. Premium safe manufacturers typically apply their own signature touches to ensure that their product protects your valuables, but there’s one common goal that they all share, and that’s security.

Level of security is about the closest to a universally measurable characteristic you’re going to find when shopping for a gun safe. The most common unit of measurement used is the UL (Underwriters Laboratories) mark of approval. UL is a world renown product testing company which other companies hire when they want to put their claims to the test. And ‘test’ they do. UL doesn’t fool around. They have a staff of professional safe crackers to try to pry, drill, and punch their way into the safe. Not only do they have free reign over how they break in, but the manufacturers are required to give them the blue prints ahead of time. If UL endorses the safe you’re looking at, you know it’s built to hold up. Underwriters Labs gives very specific ratings on everything from small office safes to commercial bank vaults. In the interest of simplicity, you’ll want to look for a safe with some level of their RSC (Residential Security) burglary rating.

Unfortunately, unlike burglary protection, fire protection isn’t universally measured. As you browse the many gun safes for sale on the market, you’ll encounter any number of fire safe certifications. Whether its a Phoenix seal (Champion), a BTU rating (Liberty), or a third party endorsement like that of Intertek ETL (Cannon and Stack On), make sure you look a little into where you’re putting your money. The fact is, most safe companies make up their own fire ratings, and we’re more or less expected to believe them. Interior dimensions, environmental elements, contents of the safe; a huge number of factors make it difficult to consistently measure the effectiveness of fire resistance claims, but you can keep your eye open for a few key features.

One, a fire safe isn’t going to protect very well without insulation. Regardless of whether it’s sheet rock or fireboard, generally speaking, the thicker the better. Also important is how it’s distributed. One weak point can cause the whole thing to burn up in a hurry. Make sure that whatever material was used to insulate the safe, was applied equally everywhere. On top of that (literally), you want to find a safe with a tight, continuously welded seal. ‘Stitch welding’, a method often employed on cheaper safes give hot gas an opportunity to make its way through the interior, and once it does, it’s over. The general structure of the safe is also important. It’s very common for a safe to cave in during a fire, especially when the ceiling above falls on top of it. To combat this scenario, Liberty constructs the body of their safes out of just two massive pieces of composite steel for unmatched reinforcement. Other manufacturers like Browning and Fort Knox employ very similar methods.

A direct reflection of a safes’ quality, whether it be in regard to fire protection, burglary resistance, or resilience to the wear and tear of time is the accompanying warranty. Call me snooty, but I wouldn’t even consider purchasing a gun safe that didn’t offer some level of lifetime coverage. Of course, there’s a lot of reading of fine print involved. The three or four companies discussed in this article, all cover repairs, replacement, and the freight charges required to win over your customer satisfaction, but it’s not always the case. Some companies will cover anything and everything that goes wrong, whether it be floods, fires, crooks, or manufacturer defects. Others may offer lifetime protection on fires and burglary, but no protection on floods, and five years on wear and tear. One more thing to investigate when shopping for a safe, particularly if you’re looking for used units, is whether or not the warranty transfers to new owners. If you plan on handing this down through your family, and peace of mind is a big concern, make sure they’ll be covered too.

I’ll leave you with that knowledge. If you take a little bit of extra time, read all the fine print, talk to the experts, and find the right product that fits your needs, you’ll wind up with a safe that will keep your valuables protected for generations. Keep reading the Gun Safes Guide for more information on security storage products or make a trip out to Gun Safe Haven.

With that said, are Wal-Mart gun safes worth buying?

Wal-Mart sells a variety of safety products ranging from portable to electronic from different brands. The price tag ranges from $150 – $1,500, depending on the brand, size, and materials from which the safe or cabinet is made. While the price tag is important, it is not the only thing on which you should base your decision. Sometimes you DO get what you pay for, so buying too cheaply is not a good idea.

If you were to go by reviews on the department store’s website, you will see that consumers are overall pleased with gun safes from Wal-Mart. The retailer sells products from manufacturers such as Sentry, Honeywell, and DAC SportSafe. Let us take a brief look at each brand.

Sentry: This family owned group has been providing security storage containers since 1930. The products undergo rigorous UL and ETL testing before putting a product out on the market. Despite this, some consumers complain that these products are not as fire resistant as they should be. Nevertheless, the fact that they pass Underwriters Laboratories and ETL testing is one that cannot be ignored, as these two organizations ensure that products meet independent standards and are in compliance with fire endurance safety specifications.

Overall, Sentry safes are durable and strong, both factors of which many consumers rate highly. The units are affordable, but not cheap, and are available with either an electronic LED lock or combination lock. There have been a few complaints by online consumers that they do not provide enough room for as many guns as claimed by Wal-Mart, but are still great products otherwise.

Honeywell: Honeywell safes are mostly given average ratings by consumers. This company does not make the best storage products in the world, but they are pretty good choices for those looking for cheap gun safes. If you are a new firearm owner and are looking for an introductory level of safety, then you can settle with Honeywell. However, if you are looking for advanced security for your guns, you might want to go with something more expensive and of higher quality.

There are a few good things worth mentioning about Honeywell safes. They are well put together with organized shelves and interior lights. The products sold at Wal-Mart have pry resistant doors, so if your main concern is theft, then Wal-Mart gun safes made by Honeywell is a good choice.

DAC SportSafe: These storage units are portable. The consumer ratings and reviews for DAC SportSafe portable gun safes are mostly above average. If you need something to take on your hunting trips or plan on going on vacation, then this is your best choice in regards to retail gun safes.

DAC SportSafe units are both durable and easy to transport. They are made of 14-gauge steel and can hold at least two guns. The security is enabled by an entry code, for which you are giving over 10,000 programming possibilities. The only complaints that some consumers have about these portable safes are minor in nature. A few minor flaws include flimsy battery compartment, low-quality metal mounting clips, and a door that opens and slams too forcefully.

In conclusion, a Wal-Mart gun safe is worth buying for owners who want a decent amount of protection. All the safes are at least average in quality, and most consumers are satisfied with their purchases. If you are looking for a good retail safe, then Wal-Mart is your best choice. These safes are good enough for their low price, so if affordability is your main concern, they are worth buying.