A Guide to Finding the Best Gun Safe in 2022

1. SecureIt Agile Ultralight Model 52

2. Amsec NF5924

3. Fort Knox PB6

Biometric Rifle Safe from Barska

Barska is an established manufacturer of high-precision sport and hunter optics, laser sights, night vision goggles, etc. The company also offers some of the best safes on the market.

Barska specializes in safes with biometric scanners, which is only natural, considering its extensive experience in the field of optics and sensors.

The lightweight gun safe comes with a fully carpeted interior that can hold up to 12 rifles and has three removable shelves you can use to store additional equipment or important documents. You can also squeeze in two more handguns on a rack on the door.

Key Features

• A high-precision biometric scanner

It provides accurate reading 100% of the time. Most importantly, you don’t have to place the finger precisely in the center or at the right angle to get a successful scan. In gun safe reviews, some customers reported fingerprint recognition for partial fingertips. The central database can store up to 120 fingerprints.

• Backup keys and battery

The scanner is powered by four AAA batteries that should last up to a year, and it will notify you when they are running low. The set also comes with backup keys and a backup battery pack to enable you to open it if you forget to change the batteries.

• Materials & Safety

The safe has a 16-gauge steel body, five pry-proof steel deadbolts, and tamper-resistant inner edges.

What We Didn’t Like

Unfortunately, 16-gauge steel is just the bare minimum and can’t compare to what other top-rated gun safes offer. Also, the safe has no fireproof rating.

Specifications

• Capacity: 10 rifles
• Body steel thickness: 16 gauge
• Lock: biometric (fingerprint); backup keys.
• Dimensions (H x W x D): 57’’ x 13.75’’ x 13.38’’
• Weight: 114 lbs

Zanotti Armor Z3 Modular Gun Safe

Zanotti is a bit different from other safe manufacturers. It specializes in modular safes, which means that the customers have to assemble them upon delivery. But this is in no way a daunting task. Zanotti armor 6-piece modular gun safes can be assembled by two men with minimal DIY skills in just 20 minutes.

You can order the safe in 4 different layouts—20, 28, 52 guns and adjustable shelving. Each safe goes into production after you place your order, so there is plenty of room for customization.

However, the company doesn’t offer a lot of customization options when it comes to locking mechanisms. The combination lock is standard, and the key lock is an optional addon.

Key Features

• Easy assembly and disassembly

This is the best rifle safe for people who want to avoid sometimes hefty delivery and installation costs that heavy safes bring with them. Each safe is transported in three or four boxes, and no liftgate or forklift is needed.

Six solid-steel plates are easy to assemble using 3/8” solid steel pins and a hammer. If you want to move the safe, you can easily dismantle it the same way. This is really handy, considering that the assembled safe weighs 750 lbs.

• High-quality combination locks

With combination locks, you don’t have to worry about not being able to access the interior because of dead batteries.

• Materials & Safety

1/8″ thick sides and a 3/16″ thick door are similar to what other best gun safe brands offer. The safety is further improved by a 3/8” drill-resistant hardened lock plate and a triple relocking system.

• Fire resistant 

Zanotti Armor safes are tested at 1,200 ℉ and can protect the contents for up to 20 minutes.

What We Didn’t Like 

Only the bottom of the safe is carpeted. If you want to cover the whole interior, you have to pay an additional $220. With a starting price of $2,750, this is not a cheap gun safe, and you would expect good carpeting for the price.

Specifications

• Capacity: 20 to 52 rifles
• Steel thickness: 1/8″ thick sides and a 3/16″ thick top, bottom, and door
• Lock: combination lock
• Fire protection: 20 minutes at 1,200°F
• Dimensions (H x W x D): 60” x 41” x 31”
• Weight: 750 lbs

Amsec NF5924

American security is probably one of the largest custom safe manufacturers in the US. It was established in 1945 and has brought many innovations to the industry. It still holds several patents that are widely used by other manufacturers.

The company does a great job of combining traditional and modern. Its gun safes offer excellent protection you would get from thick, heavy traditional safes and the customizability and modern storage solutions that gun owners today need.

NF5924E5 is American Security’s mid-range model. Depending on the layout you choose, it can hold up to 17 guns. It’s also the best gun safe for the money you’ll spend and the quality you’ll get. You can safely store your money and valuables here because it offers solid theft and fire protection.

Key Features

• 90-minute fire protection

The safe has 3 layers of drywall boards and dual door seals to protect the contents from fire and smoke damage for up to 90 minutes. There were instances of safes found in the rubble after wildfires. Guns and important documents inside were found preserved.

• Materials & Safety

As we’ve mentioned before, this is a safe above all, and it comes from one of the best gun safe brands. It offers protection against burglary and is not just a way to store your guns. The outer layers of the door and the sides are made from 12 and 11-gauge steel. There is also an inside layer of thin metal for better protection.

• Dependable electronic lock

American Security is one of the pioneers in electronic locks. Many other safe producers use its ESL series locks for their products. This safe is equipped with ESL5, which is one of the best on the market. It may not be as high-tech as the more expensive models, but it’s a proven fail-safe solution.

What We Didn’t Like

Priced at $1,879, it’s not for people looking for the best budget gun safe. However, it offers good fire and burglary protection compared to most of its competitors, so it is justified. Also, the weight of almost 600 lbs makes it difficult, if not impossible, to move around.

Specifications

• Capacity: up to 17 guns
• Body steel thickness: 11-gauge body panels, 12-gauge door
• Lock: ESL5 electronic lock
• Fire protection: 90 minutes
• Dimensions (H x W x D): 59″ x 24″ x 18”
• Weight: 600 lbs

SecureIt Agile 52 Ultralight

SecureIt takes a different approach to gun safes and puts more emphasis on efficient gun storage than gun protection. The company is a US military supplier and uses its experience in that area to produce gun safes for the civil market.

SecureIt’s focus is on providing adequate storage for modern guns. That implies high flexibility, plenty of customization options, and enough room for scoped rifles.

This SecureIt gun safe can hold up to six long guns, and you can customize it by buying additional racks and shelves. If you don’t want to buy them separately, you can choose Model 52 Plus or 52 Pro that already come with these extras.

The gun safe is delivered disassembled, and you will need less than 20 minutes to assemble it.

Key Features 

• CradleGrid Technology

This advanced organisation system consists of a louvered grid panel, repositionable barrel cradles, and corresponding stock bases. You can change the positions as you please to prevent guns from bumping into each other and allow you easy access. This is one of the best rifle safes for people who prioritize practicality.

• Easy to move around and dismantle 

The safe is lightweight, just 105 lbs, and can be moved around your home relatively easily. You can even disassemble it and move it piece by piece—one man can carry a plate without a problem.

What We Didn’t Like

Another thing that makes SecureIt safes different is the absence of fire protection. The company believes it’s redundant in modern homes with fire alarms and quick-response fire fighting services nearby.

Specifications

• Capacity: 6 pieces
• Body steel thickness: 16-gauge
• Lock: electronic
• Fire protection: n/a
• Dimensions (H x W x D): 52″ x 20″ x 15″
• Weight: 105 lbs

Fort Knox Gun Safe PB6

If you need to store just one long weapon and want it to be concealed and easy to reach, this safe might be a good solution. It’s easy to hide it under a bed due to its size, and the thick steel and considerable weight make it dependable, safe storage for long weapons.

It’s made by an established safe manufacturer with years of experience in the industry. Besides pre-built safes, the company offers custom-made options where you can add layers and layers of additional steel or fire protection.

Fort Knox Shotgun Safe PB6 is one of the company’s simpler solutions. By simple, we don’t mean low quality—the safe has some of the best characteristics in the category.

Key Features

• Materials & Safety

The safe is made from 10-gauge steel, and a 3/16″ steel plate is used for the door. It’s enough to deter any thief.

• Dependable Simplex mechanical lock

These locks are highly durable and dependable. They don’t require any batteries to operate. You don’t have to turn the dial to get the combination or carry the key with you all the time. It’s the best small gun safe for people who want foolproof and quick access at all times. 

What We Didn’t Like

The door is placed on the narrow side of the box. It doesn’t open upwards but sideways. This is great if you have the box under your bed, as you don’t need to pull it out to reach the gun.

Unfortunately, it’s hard to put it in a cupboard or a closet. If you place it upright, taking the weapon out requires some acrobatics. Unfortunately, there is no room to store a scoped rifle.

Specifications

• Capacity: 1 piece
• Body steel thickness: 10-gauge and 3/16″ Plate Door
• Lock: Simplex mechanical
• Dimensions (H x W x D): 5″ x 45″ x 9″
• Weight: 36 lbs

Liberty Gun Safe Centurion 12

Liberty Safe was founded by an engineer and entrepreneur who had previously co-founded the well-known Fort Knox safe company. Liberty manufactures classic, sturdy gun safes that provide burglary and fire protection. The level of protection depends on the series you choose.

The Centurion series is an entry-level line of gun safes. However, entry-level with Liberty implies levels of protection you would get from other manufacturers’ high-end products. Thanks to high-quality materials and some in-house developed solutions, Liberty safes are among the best gun safes on the market.

The Centurion 12’s fully carpeted interior can hold up to 12 guns. Sadly, it doesn’t allow you to change the layout, as it’s only available with a gun-setup interior. If you need flexibility and more room, you can opt for models 18 and 24 with the dual-flex adjustable interior.

Key Features

• Fire protection

Centurion 12 can protect the contents for up to 30 minutes at outside temperatures of 1,200℉ thanks to the inner fire-resistant layer and Palusol heat-activated door seal. It may seem like 30 minutes isn’t a lot and certainly doesn’t make it the best fireproof gun safe, but it’s pretty decent for the category.

• Materials & Safety

Centurion 12 is made from 14-gauge steel and has Liberty’s special, high-strength locking bars to protect against pry attacks. In addition, the relocker locks will secure the safe if any brute force entry attempt is detected. If the burglars try to drill their way through, they will be stopped by a hardened steel plate.

What We Didn’t Like

We feel that the only thing preventing it from being the best long gun safe for the money is the layout. The company designed the safe for newbie gun owners but doesn’t allow them to rearrange the interior. Their needs are likely to change while using the safe, and they can’t modify it accordingly.

Specifications

• Capacity: 12 pieces
• Body steel thickness: 14-gauge
• Lock: Electronic
• Dimensions (H x W x D): 59.5″ x 18.25″ x 16″
• Weight: 241 lbs

Steelwater Gun Safe 39

Steelwater Safes company has extensive experience in the industry and is regarded as one of the best. Honestly, we are not surprised. The Heavy Duty model is a full-fledged safe, with all the benefits that go with the category.

You’ll get quality materials, fire and burglary protection, and excellent craftsmanship—everything you need for safekeeping your valuables. This model can hold up to 39 long guns, although the company recommends keeping the total number between 24 and 30.

The company also includes a door organizer in the basic package. This makes it one of the best long gun safes in 2021 for people who need practicality but don’t want to pay extra for it.

Key Features

• Materials and safety

The safe is made from 12-gauge steel, has 20 high-length locking bolts, and a large drill-resistant hard plate to protect the lock and the mechanism. Besides that, it has two internal relockers that will keep the safe secure in case someone tries to meddle with the lock.

What we liked the most were the reinforced steel shelves. They will ensure that heavy contents like ammo won’t break the shelf and fall on expensive guns, damaging sensitive optics.

• EMP-proof electronic locks

The company is especially proud of its electronic locks and believes they are the best fit for a long gun safe. They are EMP-proof and tamper-resistant. You can also opt for biometric locks, which, besides being EMP-proof, offer you the possibility of choosing the unlocking method—fingerprint, code, or key.

• Fire protection

The safe has been fire tested and can keep the contents intact for one hour at temperatures of up to 1,875°F. There are two layers of fireproofing material in the walls and three layers in the door.

What We Didn’t Like

The Heavy Duty model is also heavy on your wallet. With a $2,195 basic price, it’s one of the pricier items on our “best large gun safe” list. But you do get some neat extras for the money. Some of them are a door organizer and free garage delivery (where it’s accessible for a delivery vehicle), which other manufacturers charge extra.

Specifications

• Capacity: up to 39 (24–30 recommended)
• Body steel thickness: 12-gauge
• Lock: Electronic or biometric
• Dimensions (H x W x D): 59″ x 39″ x 24″
• Weight: 689 lbs

RPNB 5-Gun Rifle Safe

RPNB is a relatively young company, but it managed to grab a considerable market share thanks to innovative solutions, good quality, and affordable prices. It’s mostly known for its smaller safes for handguns, but it also has several interesting options for long weapon owners.

5-Gun RPNB safe is a great solution if you want to store up to five rifles (only two with scopes) and don’t want to spend a lot of money. But our contender for the title of the best cheap gun safe can also be used for safekeeping your valuables.

The company focuses on providing quick access to weapons. Still, its characteristics, like the separate lockbox with a key, also make it somewhat suitable for keeping your valuables in it. However, keep in mind that this model has not been fire tested, so your valuables and documents will only have limited protection.

Key Features

• Materials and safety

The safe is made from 16-gauge steel, which is the minimum for a metal gun cabinet. Fortunately, the inside lockbox adds an additional layer of security, probably making it the best gun safe under $500.

• Electronic lock

The company uses a dependable electronic lock with a backup key.

What We Didn’t Like

There are no options for customizing the interior. The company doesn’t offer any additional shelves or boxes.

Specifications

• Capacity: up to 5 (2 with scopes)
• Body steel thickness: 16-gauge
• Lock: Electronic and a backup key
• Dimensions (H x W x D): 57.09″ x 13.78″ x 7.87″
• Weight: 99.2 lbs

Hornady Rapid Safe AR Gun Locker

Hornady is a well-known and trusted name in the industry. The company started out as an ammo manufacturer 70 years ago and has expanded its portfolio over the years. Now it offers everything a gun owner could need to keep weapons secure, including high-quality gun and handgun safes of all sizes and capacities.

Rapid Safe AR Gun Locker is a small safe. It’s designed to hold one long weapon, but you can squeeze in two guns if you buy a special foam holder.

Two smaller scoped hunting rifles should fit nicely, but you should check the dimensions for larger weapons. If you want Hornady’s best quick access gun safe but need to store three tactical rifles, you can choose the XL version.

Key Features

• Versatility 

You can install it vertically and horizontally, in your closet or under the bed. The door opens wide and allows quick access. The safe can be anchored to the floor or the wall with screws, but it can also be secured with a steel cable. That means you can detach the safe and take it with you to a shooting range—no need to buy a car gun safe.

• RFID touch-free entry 

The thing that makes it the best bedside gun safe for people who need quick access is the RFID technology. Besides getting an RFID wristband and key fob in the basic package, you also get two stickers. 

You can also use code or backup keys to unlock the safe.

• Materials and safety

The safe is made from 16-gauge steel, and the door is held tight by four strong locking lugs. This may not seem like a lot, but it’s more than adequate given the compact dimensions.

What We Didn’t Like

It’s not cheap. However, given the fact it can replace a car safe and that it’s one of the best gun safes in 2021, the price is justified. Another thing that might bother some customers is that the outer sides are not padded with soft material to prevent floor damage when sliding. Still, placing a mat underneath should do the trick. 

Specifications

• Capacity: up to 2
• Body steel thickness: 16-gauge
• Lock: RFID, electronic code and a backup key
• Dimensions (H x W x D): 42″ x 15.25″ x 6.75″
• Weight: 50 lbs