Gun Safe vs. Home Safe: Which Is Better?

Many of us became first-time gun owners in the past year or two. With this comes a lot of responsibility, safety awareness and expectations. But it also comes with a lot of questions, from how to clean and use the gun to the best options for storing it.

We’ll be discussing the latter today. Do you need to store firearms in gun safes, or are home safes an appropriate option as well? We’ll help you decide.

Gun Safe and Home Safe Differences

First off, how are these safes even different? They look the same on the outside to the average person and the features and capabilities of each are similar. (You could argue that the main difference between gun safes and home safes lies in the items you’re storing inside them.) That being said, there are some key differences when it comes to protecting firearms. For example, here are the advantages you’ll find in most gun safes:

Humidity and water damage protection
Industry-required door seals
Gun-friendly storage racks and shelves

Then again, many home safes feature flexible storage options and sealed openings as well. You can also add a dehumidifier to your safe, making it a better option for firearms and accessories.

Which Is Better?

Gun safes and home safes both can offer thick walls of protection, advanced fire safety ratings and other features that help protect against theft or damage. Your choice really depends on how you plan to use it. Will you be storing other valuables in addition to firearms? How big are your firearms? Do you need to access the gun quickly or do you have a long-term storage plan?

Whatever you decide, you’ll need to make sure the safe can eliminate moisture and humidity, as this leads to rust, one of the biggest culprits for firearm damage. Keep firearms secured tightly in the safe and get the safe serviced annually. (Home safes typically aren’t serviced as often as gun safes, but you can definitely request bi-annual or annual tune-ups.)

How A Professional Locksmith Can Help

At the end of the day, if you’re unsure about whether a gun safe or home safe is right for you, why not turn to the experts? The professional team members at A-1 Locksmith have the expertise and professionalism you need to make the right decision. Also, you can see safe options in person for yourself and ask the locksmith questions about them. The more informed you are about your options, the better choice you’ll make.