If you’re shopping for a gun safe that can fit a massive firearm collection without towering over your room, two big names should be on your radar: the Browning Hell’s Canyon 65 and the Liberty Collector. These are both American-made, extra-wide gun safes built for serious gun owners. In this post, we’ll compare the Hell’s Canyon 65 (which also comes in various sizes like the smaller Hell’s Canyon 33) and the new Liberty Collector side by side. We’ll cover their size, weight, fire protection, security features, interior layout, and the unique perks each safe offers. By the end, you should have a clear idea which safe might be the best fit for your needs.

Side-by-Side Comparison: Hell’s Canyon 65 vs. Liberty Collector

^*Dimensions exclude handle, lock, and hinges.

Dimensions, and Size

The first thing you’ll notice is that both the Hell’s Canyon 65 and the Liberty Collector are short and wide. Unlike those tall, skinny safes, these models spread out horizontally to maximize capacity. Both safes stand around 5 feet tall (roughly 60–60.5″), which means they can fit under lower ceilings or in garages more easily than taller safes. Where they really stand out is width: the Browning is about 56″ wide, and the Liberty is 54″ wide. That extra width gives you a lot of interior space for rifles side-by-side.

Depth is another factor. The Liberty Collector is deeper at 27.5″, while the Browning is about 25″ deep. In practical terms, the Collector’s extra depth can come in handy if you want to store large items or if you have firearms with extended accessories. Overall, these are both very large safes in footprint, so make sure you have the floor space. They’re wide for a reason – to pack in as many long guns as possible without needing the height of a commercial vault.

Weight and Build Quality

Both safes are extremely heavy, and rugged – we’re talking roughly half a ton each. The Hell’s Canyon 65 weighs in the ballpark of 1,055 lbs, and the Liberty Collector around 1,140 lbs. That kind of weight comes from solid steel construction and generous dimensions. It also means once you have one delivered, it’s not moving anywhere without proper equipment and help! If you’re thinking of putting one upstairs or in a basement, definitely plan for professional delivery or specialized safe movers.

In terms of construction, both the Browning and Liberty are made from tough 11-gauge steel for the safe body. This thickness provides a strong barrier against attacks. The Liberty Collector actually uses a dual-piece 11-gauge steel body (Liberty calls it “Dual Fusion™”), which basically means the steel is folded, and reinforced for extra rigidity. The Browning Hell’s Canyon is also extremely solidly built – both safes are manufactured in the USA to high quality standards. When you open and close them, you’ll feel the heft and sturdiness immediately.

Security Features: Locks, and Bolts

Security is where these two beasts really shine. Each safe uses a different approach to locking the door, but both are effective. The Liberty Collector has moved away from traditional round steel bolts, and instead uses Liberty’s Solid State™ flat locking bars. These are 1/4″ thick, 4″ tall steel bars that extend across all four sides of the door when locked. With multiple bars on each side, the Collector’s door is held shut with a ton of surface contact – making prying extremely difficult. It’s a very robust system (and frankly looks pretty cool when the door is open, because you see these wide steel bars along the edges).

The Browning Hell’s Canyon 65, on the other hand, sticks with hefty round locking bolts – and lots of them. It features 9 massive locking bolts (about 3/4″ diameter each) that protrude from the door into the frame. Browning updated these bolts in recent years to be even thicker, giving more contact and strength. The bolts engage not just on the side of the door, but also along the top, and bottom (and the hinge side has deadbolts as well), effectively securing the door on all sides. Browning dubs these their “MAX Bolts,” and they do their job keeping the door tightly locked.

Both safes come with excellent lock hardware. You can choose either a traditional mechanical combination dial or an electronic keypad on both models. The Collector comes standard with Liberty’s UL-listed ProLogic electronic lock (SecuRam), and the Browning often features a Sargent & Greenleaf electronic lock by default – but mechanical is an option for purists. Importantly, both safes have hardened steel behind the lock to thwart drilling attempts. The Liberty uses multiple hardened steel plates to protect its lock mechanism, whereas the Browning uses a hardened steel hardplate (and possibly a spinning steel pin) to defeat drill bits. In addition, each safe is equipped with relockers – these are “fallback” locks that trigger if someone tries to forcibly punch or tamper with the main lock. For example, if a thief were to aggressively beat on the lock or drop the safe, the relocker would kick in, and keep the bolts locked in place. These kinds of security features mean that if someone tries to break in the brute-force way, they’re going to have a very hard time, and likely end up with a locked-up safe.

Fire Protection

Fire safety is a big selling point for both the Hell’s Canyon 65 and the Liberty Collector, though their ratings are a bit different. The Browning Hell’s Canyon 65 is rated for 90 minutes at a scorching 1680°F. That’s a very high-temperature fire rating – significantly above the typical house fire temperature. In a sustained blaze (up to an hour and a half long), the Browning’s interior is designed to stay below 275°F, which helps protect your firearms, and valuables from intense heat.

The Liberty Collector boasts an even longer 110-minute fire rating at 1200°F. In plain terms, it can withstand nearly two hours of fire at a slightly lower peak temperature. Liberty uses what they call “Cool Box™” fire protection, including special fireboard insulation and a heat-activated door seal (a seal that swells up to block smoke, and heat). In a fire scenario of up to 110 minutes, Liberty says the interior of the Collector shouldn’t exceed 350°F. Both safes have excellent fire protection for their class – whether one is “better” comes down to the type of fire you might imagine. The Browning is built to endure a hotter blaze for an hour and a half, while the Liberty endures a longer burn but at a more typical fire temperature. Either way, having over an hour of fire resistance in a gun safe of this size is a huge plus, and provides peace of mind that your firearms, and important items have a strong chance of surviving a house fire.

Interior Layout and Storage Features

Collector Interior	Hell’s Canyon Interior

One of the fun parts of comparing these safes is looking at the interiors – because both Browning and Liberty have really thought about user-friendly storage for gun owners. Let’s start with the Browning Hell’s Canyon 65. Browning is famous for their DPX® door storage system, and the Hell’s Canyon comes fully equipped with it. The inside of the door has a quick-access barrel rack that can hold a number of long guns right on the door itself. Even better, Browning’s design includes Scope Saver cutouts – basically pockets built into the door that accommodate rifles with scopes. You can store up to 4 scoped rifles on the door (so their scopes sit in those molded pockets), along with additional long guns. This is super handy because it frees up shelf space, and lets you grab a couple of your go-to rifles without digging through the interior. Additionally, the Browning’s door panel has pistol pouches for handguns (typically five pouches are included), plus pockets for documents, and other small valuables. It’s a very efficient use of the door area.

Collector Interior Empty

The Liberty Collector’s door is no slouch either – in fact, it might win for handgun enthusiasts. The Collector’s factory-installed door panel is extra wide, and comes with 12 handgun holsters sewn in. That’s right, a dozen pistols can be stored on the door panel alone! If you have a lot of handguns, this safe gives you ample space to organize them where you can see each one. The door organizer also has numerous zippered pockets for documents, jewelry, or other items, and even cool features like document pouches that can fit full-size papers. Liberty made the door on the Collector series very wide, and sturdy (the edges of the door have about 3″ of steel reinforcement on each side, which adds to that overall width and strength). This means the door panel itself is huge, and can hold a lot of gear. It’s worth noting, when you compare the two, the Browning’s door sides are a bit narrower due to its design, whereas the Liberty’s door looks, and feels oversized – which some might love for the storage, though it does add weight.

Moving to the main interior, both safes have a modular shelving setup, but with slightly different systems. The Browning Hell’s Canyon 65 uses Browning’s Axis Adjustable Shelving (Browning’s term for their configurable interior). It comes with a bunch of shelves (in the Hell’s Canyon 65, you get 8 steel-reinforced shelves with a nice polymer coating). These shelves can be arranged in various configurations to suit your collection. For instance, you can have the interior set up in a two-section or three-section layout: one section dedicated to long guns, and the others with adjustable shelves for ammo, handguns, optics, etc. Browning also includes what they call high-capacity barrel racks for the floor. One neat trick: the Hell’s Canyon safe includes an extra half-width shelf that can be placed lower down to hold “shorty” rifles or carbines. You can remove a full shelf and reposition a half shelf lower, which lets you store shorter firearms on a mid-level, and stack ammo or other gear below them. This kind of versatility, and modularity is awesome for organizing a diverse collection.

The Liberty Collector comes with Liberty’s 6-in-1 Flex™ interior. This is Liberty’s flexible shelving system that allows up to six different interior configurations. The safe includes six adjustable shelves that you can move around or remove as needed. If you have a huge number of long guns (up to the 72 they claim), you can configure the Collector for maximum rifle storage – essentially using all available slots for guns. But if you don’t actually have 72 rifles (let’s be honest, most of us won’t fill that completely unless you’re truly a collector of many hunting rifles or antiques), you can mix and match shelves to store other valuables, handguns in rack inserts, and so on. The term “6-in-1” means you could, for example, set it up fully for guns, or 50/50 guns, and shelves, or 1/3 guns, and 2/3 shelves, etc., depending on what you need. It’s very adaptable. The Collector also has a motion-sensing LED lighting system built in, which automatically illuminates the interior when you open the door – a great touch that both safes share (the Browning has an LED light package as well). Both safes come with an electrical outlet installed, so you can plug in dehumidifiers, hard drive backups, or other accessories inside the safe easily.

One feature unique to Browning’s design is the elevated floor in the Hell’s Canyon 65. Browning raises the floor in their safe a bit and often pads it, so that when you place or remove long guns, you’re less likely to bang the buttstocks on a hard metal threshold. It’s a thoughtful detail that seasoned gun owners appreciate – it helps prevent dings or scratches on your rifles, and shotguns when you’re taking them in, and out. It’s one of those small quality-of-life features that Browning safes are known for.

As for capacity, Liberty advertises the Collector as a 72-gun safe, while Browning rates the Hell’s Canyon for 65 guns. Take these numbers with a grain of salt because they are maximum capacities assuming a very specific configuration of small, standard-size rifles without optics. In real-world use, if you have a variety of firearms (some with scopes, some ARs or tactical rifles with pistol grips, etc.), you won’t hit those max numbers. But the bottom line is both safes hold a lot of guns – on the order of 60+ long guns. If you primarily have traditional bolt-action rifles, shotguns, and a few ARs, you can likely get close to those numbers by utilizing the door racks, and interior efficiently. If you have many bulky tactical rifles or accessories, your practical capacity will be less. Still, for most gun enthusiasts, either safe provides ample room to grow your collection.

Pros of the Browning Hell’s Canyon 65

• Quick Access Door Storage: The Browning’s DPX door rack lets you store rifles (including up to 4 scoped rifles) right on the door for easy grab-and-go access. It also has multiple pistol pouches, and organization pockets built-in.
• High Fire Rating (1680°F): With a 90-minute fire rating at a very high temperature, the Hell’s Canyon 65 offers excellent fire protection, keeping interior temperatures lower (max ~275°F) during intense fires.
• Adjustable & Spacious Interior: Comes with Browning’s Axis adjustable shelving system (8 shelves included) and barrel racks, allowing you to customize the interior layout for guns, ammo, and valuables. The elevated floor design also helps protect your firearms from damage when moving them in, and out.
• Robust Build & Security: Constructed with 11-gauge steel, and 9 large locking bolts securing all sides of the door. Includes hardened steel hardplate protection for the lock and relocker mechanisms to deter drilling and brute force attacks. The external hinges enable the door to open a full 180° for easier access.
• Made in USA & Premium Fit/Finish: Browning safes are known for quality. The Hell’s Canyon has a high-end fit and finish (available in Gloss Black or Textured Charcoal), giving it an attractive look in addition to its secure functionality.

Pros of the Liberty Collector

• Massive Gun Capacity: With room for up to 72 long guns, the Collector is built for serious collectors. The wide body, and deeper interior make it easier to accommodate a large number of firearms or other items with less crowding.
• Extended Fire Protection: Rated for 110 minutes at 1200°F, the Liberty Collector provides nearly two hours of fire resistance. It also features a heat-expanding door seal to block out smoke, and heat, adding to its fire protection capabilities.
• Innovative Locking Bars: Uses Liberty’s 1/4″ thick flat locking bars on all four sides of the door (12 bars total). This design offers excellent pry resistance by distributing force across a wider area. Combined with a reinforced door frame, it delivers a very secure lockup.
• Door Panel Storage Galore: The extra-wide door organizer includes 12 handgun holsters – perfect for pistol collectors. There are also plenty of pockets, and pouches for magazines, documents, and accessories. It’s one of the most expansive door storage setups in its class.
• Flexible Interior Configuration: Comes with Liberty’s 6-in-1 Flex adjustable shelving (6 shelves included), giving you lots of options to configure the safe for guns, shelves, or a mix. Whether you need full storage for long guns or want to allocate space for ammo and valuables, you can reconfigure it easily. Built-in motion-sensor LED lighting and an outlet add convenience, and the interior is fully upholstered for a clean look.
• Great Value for Size: The Liberty Collector is priced lower than the Browning (starting around $3,999) while delivering similar (or even greater) capacity, and high-end features. It’s an appealing choice if you want the biggest safe for your buck without skimping on security. Of course, it’s also made in the USA with Liberty’s proven quality, and warranty, so you’re getting a lot of safe for the investment.

Final Thoughts

Both the Browning Hell’s Canyon 65 and the Liberty Collector are impressive wide-body safes that can handle extensive gun collections. Choosing between them really comes down to what features you value most. If you love Browning’s door-mounted rifle rack system and the slightly more upscale interior touches (like the elevated floor and extra shelves), and you don’t mind the higher price tag, the Hell’s Canyon 65 is a fantastic, battle-tested option. If you are looking for a smaller option, also check out the Rawhide 33. On the other hand, if you prioritize maximum capacity, a lower cost, and Liberty’s modern locking bar technology, the Collector is extremely hard to beat – it offers huge storage space, and top-tier security at a very compelling price point.

In terms of security, and protection, you can rest easy with either safe. Both are built tough with 11-ga steel, serious bolt work, and reliable locks, and both will safeguard your firearms from theft and fire. A-1 Locksmith is proud to be a dealer for both Browning and Liberty, so you really can’t go wrong – it’s more about matching the safe to your personal needs, and preferences. We always recommend actually seeing these safes in person if you can, because getting hands-on can help you appreciate the size, the door action, and interior layout. We have them (and many other safes) on display for exactly that reason.

Shop online or visit one of our safe showrooms today.

Take security upgrades, for example. 

If your home has a security system, do you really need a safe? What about the opposite scenario? Isn’t only one of these options good enough? Let’s take a look at which security option is better for you, or if investing in both is the best decision.

Advantages of a Safe

Home safes are ideal for keeping valuable belongings secured. At the top of the list are firearms, ammunition, jewelry, cash and important documents. While a security system will alert you to suspicious activity, it won’t do much for physically protecting your most important belongings. Here are some of the other security advantages a safe provides:

• Portability: A safe can be delivered, and installed in the location of your choice
• Flexibility: bolt down the safe to the floor or wall, or leave it freestanding. 
• Variety: There are a wide variety of safe sizes, and features available today.
• Superiority: When it comes to protecting belongings in a fire, flood or burglary attempt, nothing provides safety, and security like a safe (especially with the right safe rating). 

Advantages of a Security System

Security systems don’t physically protect belongings, but they do give you awareness, and an extra layer of support in the form of a monitoring company. Using your preferred settings, and features, you can set up your home security in a way that gives you superior peace of mind—both at home, and on the road. Here are some of the other security advantages a security system provides:

• Visibility: you can install cameras, and point them anywhere you’d like.
• Safety: A team of professionals will be ready to alert the authorities should something suspicious happen and trigger an alarm on your property.
• Affordability: Many security systems are more affordable than large or advanced home safes, and there are different levels of systems for different budgets.

Benefits of Both

Of course, as a professional security company, we’ll recommend that you invest in both a safe, and a security system, if your budget allows. This isn’t just bias; you’ll be able to keep your most precious, and valuable items locked away in a well-rated safe while keeping the rest of your home monitored, and ready to alert you (or the team monitoring your system). A consultation with a professional locksmith is all you need to determine what your situation requires, and they’ll be happy to recommend certain models, brands or systems.

If you’re in need of a new safe or security system, contact the team at A-1 Locksmith today, or visit any of our DFW-area locations. 

But did you know Browning is also a top-tier name in the safe world?

Let’s take a look at how the company got started, when it started producing safes, and what Browning safe options are available today (plus where you can get one).

How It All Started

As mentioned above, John Browning founded the company with his brother Matthew Browning in 1878. They started out in Ogden, Utah, where they initially had the goal of promoting John’s innovative firearm designs—which included pistols, shotguns, and rifles. John’s designs have since been manufactured by several other companies (e.g. Winchester, Colt, Remington) and Browning as a company has expanded to other products like fishing gear, knives, bicycles, bows, and more. But they started out with firearms.

The Transition to Safes

One area the company expanded to after it started experiencing success was security. As a predominantly firearm and ammunition company, it makes sense that Browning would want to create safes for storing guns, and ammo. A few decades ago, they did just that, contacting another Utah company, Provo Steel & Supply (aka ProSteel) to team up, and start making a line of gun safes. 

Browning ProSteel Safes (as the partnership was called) separated itself from other safe manufacturers with a unique door storage system that allowed for the storage of long guns on the door of the safe itself. Another unique feature of Browning safes is a patented door-locking system that deflects force, making it more secure. Because of these differentiators, Browning rose in popularity among firearm owners looking for a reliable gun safe.

Browning Safes Today

Today, Browning and Liberty safes are among the most respected in the industry. Ask any professional locksmith about the brand of safe that they’d recommend, and you’ll hear Browning or Liberty more often than not. Browning safes come in a wide variety of sizes, styles, prices, security levels, finishes, and ratings. No matter your need or budget, there’s a Browning safe that’s right for you. 
If you’re interested in a Browning safe (or another well-respected safe brand), visit any of our DFW-area locations or browse our online selection today.

From fire safes, and burglary safes to gun safes, and jewelry safes, there are different types of safes for different needs. Let’s take a closer look at each type, and how they protect your valuables.

1. Fire Safes

As implied by the name, fire safes keep your valuables protected in the event of a fire. These safes have a fire-resistant design and are perfect for storing important documents, memorable items from your family’s history, and other high-value items. Many of these safes have warranties, and guaranteed protection against fire, so be sure to ask about it when you’re shopping. (Liberty and Browning are two trusted brands for fire safes, FYI.)

2. Burglary Safes

While fire safes are designed to protect against more natural disasters, burglary safes are designed to protect against thieves. Many of these types of safes feature tamper-proof technology, and extra levels of security, such as multiple entry methods (e.g. combination, keypad, fingerprint, etc.) and superior materials. Put simply, burglary safes are also designed to store valuable items that you don’t want stolen. It’s also possible that a safe can be both a burglary safe, and a fire safe. 

3. Gun Safes

A third type of safe is the gun safe. These are obviously designed to store firearms, and can be large depending on the type of firearm(s) they’re storing. Handgun safes will usually be smaller and can feature one, two or more compartments. They can also be designed to mount to a wall, under a desk or stand alone. There are also bigger gun safes for storing rifles, shotguns, and entire gun collections. Gun safes are also designed for restrictive access, and, as such, feature multiple entry options including quick-access options which don’t compromise security..

4. Jewelry Safes

Finally, the last general type of safe is the jewelry safe. These are designed to both protect and organize your valuable jewelry. Many jewelry safes are beautiful to look at as well. They’re specifically engineered with jewelry in mind, so you can maintain the luster, color and condition of your favorite pieces. As with gun safes, many jewelry safes are also fire- and burglary-proof. 

If you’re in the market for a new safe (or need help with delivery or installation), give the A-1 Locksmith team a call today at 972-284-7500 and we’ll answer any questions you may have.