The Ultimate Gun Safe Guide, Part 3: Best Rifle Safes

In Part One of our Ultimate Gun Safe Guide, we covered all the info you need to know about safes, like locks, fire ratings, safety features, and the steel used to build safes. Part Two covered bedside and portable pistol safes. Now we're looking at conventional gun safes for rifles: Those big ole' cabinets that you proudly display in your living room, den, or bedroom.

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What to Look For

• Size. We're not just talking about gun capacity, here. Rifle safes can be very large. It's important to make sure you can get your new safe installed in your home. Check the external dimensions of the safe you're interested in before you order, and verify that it can be fit through your doorways, hallways, and up stairs if applicable.
• Weight. A full-sized rifle safe might be so heavy that the very floors in your home could struggle to hold all that weight. In this case, it's best to consult with the safe provider, who will survey your home to determine the best load-bearing spot.
• Delivery. Big, heavy long gun safes can cost up to $250 for in-home delivery. Trust us, you don't want to try moving a 400-lb. unit on your own. Always confirm or ask about delivery costs and installation services before ordering a large safe.
• Fire Rating. Rifle safes almost always have fire ratings. Many times, though, those fire ratings aren't officially rated by the Underwriters Laboratories. If you're not sure what this means, check out Part One of our guide. We cover fire protection in detail there.
• Digital or Manual Lock. Nowadays, safes use digital locks. Manual locks are "old school", but you may want one anyway. Again, check out Part One to learn more about lock types and which is best for you.

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Best Rifle Safes

The cost of a rifle case can vary wildly. So, we're going to cover affordable gun cabinets and thin-walled safes, up to the big, expensive safes that weigh hundreds of pounds.

Sports Afield Journey Series (30-Gun) Safe

Best "lightweight" security safe under $1,000.

• Price: $800.00
• Available here

Sports Afield is a little-known name, but they produce nice safes that don't break the bank. This writer owns one of their smaller pistol safes (the Sanctuary Platinum) and it provides plenty of physical security with a nice handle, dead bolts, and a pretty cush interior. That's about what you'll get here, with the Journey Series 30-Gun Safe. It weighs in at 215 pounds with 14-ga. plating, and five 1"-thick dead bolts. It sports a simple but tasteful OD green powdercoat finish.

Specifications

• Lock Type: UL-rated electronic lock
• Exterior Dimensions: 55"H x 24"W x 20"D
• Cubic Feet: 11.32 cu. ft.
• Door Thickness: 4.15"
• Fire rated: No
• Waterproof: No
• Capacity: 30 Rifles

Pros

The Journey Safe provides plenty of capacity (30 guns) and lots of physical security (a very thick door and decently thick welded plate sides) for well under $1,000. The inside provides a nice carpeted space with shelving. The security lock is UL-rated and provides simple access. It's light enough to move with a buddy, but heavy enough once loaded with your guns to stop a takeaway robbery. It can also be bolted to the floor or wall for added security. The safe is California DOJ-approved and comes with a power outlet, which is a nice bonus for in-safe lighting.

Cons

There's no official fire protection to speak of with this safe. We wager it probably has at least one layer of fireboard to insulate, like virtually all rifle safes with carpeted interior have. That might be a no-go for some, but you'll quickly find as we continue our review that most safes simply don't have any "official", Underwriters Laboratories-certified fireproof ratings. Most companies simply advertise fireproofing without independent testing.

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Liberty Centurion 18-Gun Safe

Best affordable (certified) fire-rated safe.

• Price: $939.00+
• Available here

Liberty's Centurion 18-Gun Safe provides quite a bit of physical and fire protection while still keeping the price under $1,000. It sacrifices some capacity compared to the Sports Afield up above, but it makes up for the smaller space by providing certified fire protection: 1,200 degrees (F) for up to 30 minutes. A Palusol heat-expanding seal keeps any flames from compromising the door. A black powdercoat finish keeps the look simple. Manual and electronic locks are optional, but the latter will increase the price by $99.

Specifications

• Lock Type: Manual lock (S&G) or SecuRam Toplit Electronic
• Exterior Dimensions: 59.5"H x 24.25"W x 22"D
• Cubic Feet: 9.7 cu. ft.
• Steel Thickness: 14 Gauge
• Fire rated: Yes, certified
• Waterproof: No
• Capacity: 18 Rifles

Pros

The Centurion provides quite a few security features for the relatively low price. An automatic relocker trigges in the event of an attempted physical attack, and a hardened anti-drill plate protects the lock. Reinforced locking bars secure the door and the unit is California DOJ-approved. It weighs in at 340 pounds, providing a heavy and stable unit that can't easily be moved (if at all) during a theft.

Cons

Many fire-rated safes are also waterproof, but that's not the case here. The Centurion's door only seals in the event of a fire, when the heat-activated seal expands. The capacity is also much less than most other full-size safes with similar exterior dimensions, since much of the safe's interior space is dedicated to fireproofing materials that line the shell.

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Winchester Ranger 28-Gun Safe

The best physical protection that doesn't cost thousands.

• Price: $1,300.00
• Available here

The Winchester Ranger provides some insane levels of security for the relatively meager $1,300 price point. This beast weighs in at a whopping 602 pounds and sports 12-gauge steel plating with an even thicker door. Twelve - yes, 12 - 1" steel locking bolts secure the door with a heat-treated drill plate, titanium disk, anti-pry tabs, attack relocker, and a UL-rated manual or electronic lock. UL-rated fire protection is included, offering a Palusol door seal with 60 minutes of protection at temperatures up to 1,400 degrees (F).

Specifications

• Lock Type: UL-rated manual or electronic lock
• Exterior Dimensions: 59"H x 30"W x 25"D
• Fire rated: Yes, UL-certified
• Capacity: 28 Rifles

Pros

It's tough to get this level of physical security in any rifle safe that costs under, say, $2,500 to $4,000. And for the Ranger's fireproofing, it provides plenty of interior capacity. In addition to fireboard layers, the door uses composite layers to provide more fire protection. This is the first safe in our review that has an official RSC and UL rating for both security and fire.

Cons

There's not much to gripe about with the Ranger. It really provides plenty of "bang for the buck." The only con may be its size and weight. At 600 pounds, you're definitely going to spend extra on in-home delivery services, so be sure to include that in the final price.

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ProVault Flex 24-Gun Safe by Liberty

Overall best value for a full-size gun safe.

• Price: $600.00
• Available here

The ProVault Flex is a great affordable gun safe. It's well under the $1,000 price point and it beats out the other safes we've covered by a couple hundreds even still. At $600, you're still getting plenty of security and a fire protection rating (1,200 degrees at 30 minutes, with a Palusol seal). At 370 pounds, it's got plenty of heft to throw back at a burglar and it provides 24 guns' worth of capacity with easy-to-adjust carpeted shelving inside.

Specifications

• Lock Type: UL-rated electronic lock
• Exterior Dimensions: 59.5"H x 28.5"W x 22"D
• Fire rated: Yes
• Capacity: 24 Rifles

Pros

The ProVault holds a flame to much more expensive safes without sacrificing the most important security and fire features. It's a great size and price, it has high capacity, plenty of security, and it looks good to boot. The interior adjustable shelving is a nice touch for the price, too.

Cons

The fire protection provided by the ProVault is not UL-certified. That means you're relying on the word of the manufacturer. At least it comes from a reputable manufacturer in this case: Liberty. Unfortunately, no manual lock is available, so you're stuck with electronics whether you like 'em or not.

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Moutec 5-Gun rifle & Pistol Storage Cabinet

The best compact safe for apartments or closets.

• Price: $300.00
• Available here

Many gun owners don't have the space to install a 400-pound gun safe as big as a closet. If that's you, then worry not. There are plenty of compact rifle safes available that provide similar levels of physical protection in packages that are much smaller and lighter. That's what Moutec created with their 5-Gun Storage Cabinet. Coming in at 89 pounds, the Moutec Cabinet is light and small enough to fit in the smallest closet or room. But it's still made from 14-gauge steel with proper locking bolts, and it can hold plenty of full-size rifles.

Specifications

• Lock Type: Electronic keypad w/ back-up key slot
• Exterior Dimensions: 57"H x 14"W x 13.8"D
• Fire rated: No
• Capacity: 5 Rifles + 1 to 2 Pistols

Pros

The Moutec provides anchor bolts to secure the safe to your wall and/or floor, which will eliminate the risk of a takeaway robbery. The interior of the safe has a second lockbox which is great for storing valuables or handguns. The keypad includes an alarm and the door's security with 5/8"-thick bolts. And of course, there's the price: At around $300, this is easily the most affordable full-size safe you'll find.

Cons

To provide this sort of compact profile in a full-size safe, the Moutec ditches any fire protection. It has a relatively low firearm storage capacity, too. You will need to bolt this safe down to ensure it's not carried off during a robbery.

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Moutec Under-Bed Rifle Safe

A unique rifle safe with easy nighttime access.

• Price: $330.00
• Available here

Keeping with the theme of enjoying a full-size rifle safe without the weight and bulk, we have the rather unique Moutec Under-Bed Safe. It's just large enough to fit an AR-15 or shotgun, maybe in addition to a pistol or revolver. It's thin enough to slide under most bed frames or bedroom dressers, and it can be bolted to the floor. It uses a slide-out drawer with padding for your firearm, and a conventional electronic lock provides access. The body is welded from 16-gauge steel and it uses three locking bolts with a metal handle to secure the drawer itself.

Specifications

• Lock Type: Electronic keypad
• Exterior Dimensions: 6.7"H x 46.8"W x 15.5"D
• Fire rated: No
• Capacity: 1 Rifle + 1 to 2 Pistols

Pros

The Under-Bed Safe obviously gets a leg up over conventional rifle safes with its ability to be concealed in an easy-access location. Few other safes provide the same type of quick access for a self-defense situation, without sacrificing much in the way of physical security.

Cons

This safe does obviously does not provide the type of capacity for gun storage like a conventional rifle safe. Of course, that's not why anyone would buy this under-bed safe in the first place. It also doesn't provide any type of fire protection, and it's generally not as "robust" as, say, a 400-pound safe made from 12-gauge steel.

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V-Line Closet Vault II Gun Safe

The most compact rifle safe, maybe ever.

• Price: $572.00
• Available here

If something like the Moutec safes are still too big for you - or if you prefer a gun safe you can actually hide behind your winter coats - then the V-Line Closet Vault is the rifle safe for you. It's made in the USA from 14-gauge steel, like most full-size safes. It provides plenty of physical security with a welded steel body, a reinforced door, and a reliable KABA Simplex punch lock. The safe is specifically sized up to fit between the 2x4" wall studs in most American homes.

Specifications

• Lock Type: Manual Simplex lock
• Exterior Dimensions: 53"H x 18"W x 5.75"D
• Fire rated: No
• Capacity: 4 Rifles + optional shelving

Pros

The V-Line Vault is designed to wedge between standard 16" studs and an over-hanging lip that allows the safe to be bolted to the studs. Once installed, the safe only protrudes 2", allowing it to sit relatively flush and hidden behind clothing or even a large painting, if you're creative. The Simplex lock means no dealing with electronics or dead batteries, and the interior is spacious enough to hold plenty of rifles, shotguns, and handguns, plus additional storage with its optional top shelf.

Cons

In order to provide such a small, in-wall setup, the V-Line sacrifices some physical security: Its locking bolts are smaller than typical gun safes, but it compensates for this with anti-pry brackets on the door.

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Steelwater Extreme Duty Improved, E.M.P.-Proof Fire Safe

The best gun safe you'll buy without a second mortgage.

• Price: $2,195.00
• Available here

This safe is nuts. Sporting layered 9-gauge steel, multiple hardplates for the lock, gear drive, re-locker, and linkages, 1/4"-thick reinforcement plates on the door, beautiful powdercoat with chrome treatments, 120 minutes of certified fire protection at 1,875 degrees (F), 1/4" reinforced boltdown holes, twenty locking bolts measuring 1.5" thick, and weighing in at over 750 pounds, this thing is a beast. And at around $2,200, you'll be hard-pressed to find any other gun safe that's remotely as tough for less than double that price. It's a steal.

Specifications

• Lock Type: UL-rated, optional biometric X3 keypad (E.M.P.-proof)
• Exterior Dimensions: 59"H x 30"W x 24"D
• Fire rated: Yes, certified
• Capacity: 22 Rifles + shelves + door organizer for handgun storage

Pros

Our lil' spec sheet on this safe doesn't do it justice. There's simply too much to list, but major features include four layers of fireboard, endless interior storage with adjustable shelves, automatic interior LED lighting, layers upon layers of redundant security features and attack-proofing, a gear-driven linkage system for the locking bolts that prevents prying, punching, and drill attacks better than a cam drive, rechargeable dehumidifier box, UL-listed interior power supply, and the list goes on.

Cons

It might be too expensive, too heavy, or too big for small apartments or homes. Those really are the only faults with this unit. It's a perfect gun safe.