Do you need more space for your gun collection? Are you tired of using your old gun cabinet that is outdated and easy to break into?
If so, then it might be time for you to invest in a higher-quality gun cabinet to help ensure your collection can grow and remain safe.
However, when purchasing a higher-end gun safe, more factors need to be considered, which can make purchasing the right safe more difficult.
Due to this, we have compiled a list of gun safes for under $1500 to help assist you in finding the right one for you.
Plus, we have added a buyer’s guide and FAQ section to ensure you have all the information you need to make the best purchase for your needs.
Best Gun Safes Under $1500:
1. Steelwater Heavy Duty 20 Long Gun Fire Protection for 60 Minutes
It’ll protect up to 20 rifles or shotguns from fire and theft. For scoped long guns, that number drops to 14-16. You can unlock it with the EMP-proof keypad or the bypass key.
The interior is fully carpeted and illuminated with a bright LED light. There’s even a hole pre-drilled for a safe dehumidifier to keep your collectible firearms in top condition.
Everyone is impressed with this heavy, solid fire safe. Customers say that it’s incredibly tough and well-made. They are confident that their guns and valuables will be safe from fire and theft.
Pros
- Superior burglar resistance
- High rifle and shotgun capacity
- Excellent fire resistance
Cons
- It is so heavy at 450 pounds that freight companies will only deliver to your driveway or garage
2. Barska FV-1000 Fire Safe Vault
Store up to 14 rifles or shotguns to keep them safe from fire damage and theft. There’s a shelf for a few handguns, documents, or heirlooms as well.
The thick steel cabinet adds a lot of weight to the unit. It can’t be carried off easily, especially when bolted down through the pre-drilled anchor holes.
It was hard to find any legitimate complaints about this small fireproof rifle safe. People like the simplicity and the good fire rating. They say that their safe arrived in good condition and exactly as described.
Pros
- Simple lock operation
- Removable shelf for handguns or valuables
- Mat included keeping the floor underneath from getting scuffed
Cons
- Expensive compared to safes with similar specs
3. Kodiak KB5529ECS Gun Safe by Rhino Metals
Kodiak is classified as one of the best gun-safe manufacturers in the industry, and this is one of the larger models that is designed to hold 28 long guns and 6 handguns.
This safe is designed to be a fireproof safe for temperatures up to 1400 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 1 hour. Unlike many other gun safes, this one is designed with adjustable shelves and interior walls that make it easy to fit a variety of types of guns regardless of their sizes.
Most consumers who purchased this safe were looking for a long gun safe with an electronic lock, and they liked that it could hold up to 28 long guns and 6 handguns with ease. However, some have expressed a poor customer service experience when having to contact the manufacturer.
Pros
- Fireproof for up to 1 hour in heat up to 1400F
- Can hold up to 28 long guns and 6 handguns
- Contains adjustable shelves and interior walls
Cons
- Poor customer service response times
4. ARMOR FIRE GUN SAFE-64 GUN
Armor Fire is one of the top manufacturers of gun safes, in the industry, and they provide several customization options with this model that allows customers to choose what they need and what they do not need.
This gun safe is designed with an electronic locking system, and the digital lock can be programmed with a code consisting of 3 to 8 characters to provide complete customization of your codes.
This design is capable of holding up to 64 guns depending on the size of the guns, but on average, it is excellent for someone who is starting and growing their gun collection.
Most consumers love that this gun safe is capable of holding up to 64 guns, and they like the programmable electronic locking system. However, some have expressed that the customizations they ordered were not fully provided by the manufacturer.
Pros
- Comes with an electronic locking system
- Capable of holding up to 64 guns
- Programmable lock for digital codes of 3-8 characters
Cons
- Too many customization options are not followed through
5. Under Bed Safe, Rapid Gun Storage Safe Drawer Safe for AR Rifle Ammo Pistol Accessories for Home and Vehicle
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Monster designed this particular safe to have a small compact design that is capable of fitting under most types of beds. It comes with a customizable digital locking system that can be programmed with a lock code of 3 to 8 digits. They have made it from solid steel, which provides it with the weight and security of being pried open.
Most consumers who purchased this safe agree that it is one of the under-bed gun safes for under $1500. They like that it is made from solid steel and has a small compact design. However, they have expressed that they wish it had some sort of soft cushion on the inside to help protect the contents of the safe from getting jostled around.
Pros
- Small compact design
- Digital programmable combination lock of 3 to 8 digits
- Constructed from solid steel
Cons
- Doesn’t have any cushioning to help protect the contents of the safe
6. Steelwater Heavy Duty 22 Long Gun Fire Protection for 60 Minutes
This gun safe is made from durable steel, and this safe is designed to be fireproof for up to 1875 degrees Fahrenheit for up to an hour. The interior of the gun safe comes with an LED automatic locking system that is designed to help secure the safe from anyone who might try to penetrate it.
This safe is designed to hold up to 22 long rifle guns, and it has an electronic locking system. For some, this could be considered an issue if a device like an E.M.P. is ever detonated around the safe because they would no longer be able to operate an electronic locking system, but this safe is E.M.P. proof.
Most consumers like that this is a high-quality long gun safe for under $1500, and they like that the digital keypad is E.M.P. proof. However, some consumers have expressed a poor customer response from the manufacturer when they need to contact them.
Pros
- Fire protection for up to 1875F for 1 hour
- E.M.P. proof digital keypad locking system
- Interior LED automatic locking system
Cons
- Poor customer service response from the manufacturer
7. Hollon Hunter Series Gun Safe HGS-11E
Here’s a gun safe with great value. The standout feature is the door-locking mechanism. It has three deadbolts at the center and five chrome-plated lock bolts. This offers unparalleled protection from pry bars.
The shelves inside are adjustable to accommodate accessories, ammo, and extra handguns. Several deep pockets are provided to hang on the inside of the door. You can put cash, jewelry, or small pistols in them.
There’s a hole drilled for a dehumidifier. Some people who bought this gun safe used that hole to run an electrical cord inside the safe for an internal dehumidifier and light.
Amsec has had some trouble with its digital keypads as well. We’ve seen several complaints about purchasers having to make warranty claims over a malfunctioning keypad. The fix is a new one, which Amsec provides.
Other than that issue, the scuttlebutt is generally positive. It’s a heavy, solid safe, and people love that.
Pros
- Five long chrome-plated bolts and three deadbolts provide supreme protection from prying attacks
- Adjustable shelving for handguns and accessories
- Comes with two handgun hangers and several pockets for the door
- Pre-drilled hole for dehumidifier
Cons
- There isn’t a bypass key – In case of a malfunctioning keypad, you’ll have to get a replacement keypad to gain access to the safe again
Factors to Consider
Several factors should be considered before making a purchasing selection on a gun safe, and here are some of the most important ones.
Locking Mechanism
There are three main types of locking mechanisms that gun-safe manufacturers use: key locks, electronic locks, and biometric locks. Each of these types has pros and cons, and the type of lock that you choose is a personal preference.
Biometric gun safes use newer technology, and due to this, they come with a few minor issues.
Most issues with electronic locks can be avoided as long as you keep up the power source to the lock.
Finally, key locks are the most reliable, as long as you have a safe place to keep the keys, but it is possible to pick these types of locks a lot easier than the other two locking mechanisms.
Installation Process
Regardless of how big or heavy a gun safe might be, it is important to consider if it has any sort of installation process that will help to secure the safe to a wall or floor. You should remember that if you were able to move your safe into your home if it is not secured somehow, then a thief could easily repeat the process and remove the safe from your home.
Fireproof Technology
The whole point behind a gun safe is to help ensure that your gun collection is safe from being stolen and from getting ruined.
Although fireproof technology might seem like overkill, it can give you peace of mind that if a fire ever does happen, your gun collection will remain safe. Having a fireproof gun safe is just one more thing that you will not have to worry about.
Size and Location
A gun safe can be a large piece of furniture, and it is important to make sure you know how big of a space you will have to place the gun safe.
Even if you own a small gun collection, it might be beneficial for you to purchase a gun safe larger than your current needs. This will help you to ensure that you have room for not only your current gun collection but also provides room for your collection to grow in the future.
FAQ
Many people look for cheap gun-safe options instead of considering a top-rated gun-safe. However, this is not always the best course of action, and here are a few questions that many people have when buying a gun safe that you should be aware of, as well.
Is it important to have a shopping checklist when searching for the right gun safe?
This could not hurt, and it is recommended. The only way that you will purchase the right gun safe for your needs is to know what your needs are. Making a checklist will help to ensure that the gun safe you purchase will have everything that you need.
It is important that you also consider your future needs when making this checklist. Such as, how large your gun collection will grow. How much space will you need for other accessories, like ammo?
What is the best type of locking mechanism?
This is entirely dependent on your personal preferences. Each type of locking mechanism has pros and cons, and you should weigh them against your needs. For instance, biometric locking systems are easy to gain access to, but the technology is new.
Therefore, there are a few mishaps that happen that make these locks less secure than some others. The best advice about locking mechanisms is to research the different types and see which one will secure your collection, and which mechanism you will be able to use most effectively.
Who is the best manufacturer of gun safes?
Many manufacturers provide quality gun safes, and when choosing a manufacturer, the most important thing is to make sure that you consider if a manufacturer stands behind their gun safes.
After all, if a manufacturer will not stand behind their product in some form then can you trust that manufacturer to create a quality product? Consider this and the different features that each manufacturer provides.
Conclusion
Now that you have read all of the reviews and information above, it is time for us to give you our recommendation. According to our research, the gun safe for under $1500 is the Stack-On TD-69-GP-E-S Total Defense 51-69 Gun Safe With Electronic Lock.
This particular model is capable of holding a large or small gun collection securely, and it provides plenty of room for a starting-out collection to grow substantially.
However, it is important to note that this is just a recommendation. It might not be the gun safe for your needs, but out of the reviewed gun safe cabinets, we feel that this option will meet the needs of most people.
Do your research. Know what you want and need. Make the best purchasing decision based on this information and not what someone tells you will meet them.