Updated: August 06, 2020
You have made the decision that you would like to do something that would protect your firearms. This has led you to believe the best decision be to secure them in some kind of cabinet where they would either be hidden, securely locked up, or both.Now you go online to do a search of which option is the best choice to protect your firearms and other valuables, only to find that there are far more choices than you could possibly imagine. What makes the task even more daunting is that you don’t even know exactly where to start, because there are options available to you to select either a gun cabinet or a gun safe. How are you supposed to choose when you are not even sure of exactly the kind of It you want?
Getting Started in the Selection Process
If this is the situation you find yourself in, don’t be alarmed. You are honestly not alone. There are clear advantages to both, and this is what makes the decision difficult. What may make help to make your decision a lot easier is to begin by understanding the difference between the two.
#1Gun Safe
A gun safe is probably exactly what you think it is. It is a safe that helps to secure your firearms, ammunition, and other accessories. Like any other safe you would purchase, it has a locking mechanism, and is designed to deter people from being able to gain access to your safe.
A gun safe is made of some type of metal, making it difficult to try to break into the safe. It comes with a type of locking activism, either biometric, digital, key, or combination, with a bolt or series of bolts that locks the door and place. This is one of the most secure ways to secure your valuables.
#2Gun Cabinet
The gun cabinet is different. While it is a place to hold your firearms and other accessories, it is designed very much in the same way that a cabinet in your kitchen looks. This is built or for organization and ease of access then for security.
Many of these gun cabinets have a glass door and the cabinet is made out of wood. They are made to be displayed, to be honest with you. While you can secure the cabinet in place, they are usually not made to deny a person access into the cabinet.
Some of these cabinets are made in a very clever way. There are gun cabinets available that are made as part of a china hutch or other kind of cabinet. The compartment storing the firearms pulls out of the back or underneath, and is camouflaged by the main base of the cabinet. In other words, and less you knew you would have no idea that there are guns stored in the cabinet.
Choosing the Right Option for You
Now that you understand the difference between the two, the next step is to determine which works best for you. There are clear advantages to both, but it begins with deciding on the kind of security you need. If you are a person who wants to ensure that your firearms and other valuables are kept as secure as possible, then choosing a gun safe is probably the option.
However, if you find that they are not that type of concern, then the simple cabinet is what you need. It is really a matter of security. This may not be the only factor for you to consider. Here are some other things to consider when determining whether you want a gun safe or a gun cabinet.
- Capacity. This is a good place to begin. If you have a number of rifles, you may find that a gun safe is not practical. You want something where you can easily store as many as 20 or 25 rifles, and the cabinet may be the ideal choice for you. Many cabinets give you the ability to store up to 32 different gun, plus they provide you with drawers and other places in the cabinet where you can store ammunition, magazines, and other accessories.
- Childproof. While you may not be concerned about theft, there is the concern about your children getting into your firearms. This is one of the biggest concerns that parents have. A small child, or even a larger sized child, and winds up getting ahold of a gun and hurting themselves or another. It is one of the saddest stories told in the news each year. While you may not want the complete security of the safe, that doesn’t mean that you don’t want a secure cabinet. You want something that will deny children the ability to get into your firearms. You may find that your gun cabinet options are limited, meaning that your best option is a safe.
- Fireproof. This is another major difference between the gun safe and the gun cabinet. Many of the best gun safes are made so that they protect against fire for a duration of time. This can be anywhere from 30 minutes to four hours depending upon the materials used to construct the safe. A gun cabinet is not going to give you that kind of protection, especially considering that most of these are made with wood. You are kind of on your own if a fire occurs, whereas the safe would give you a lot more protection.
- Cost. Of course, cost is a big factor. Gun cabinets are a lot cheaper than the average gun safe. Especially if you are talking about holding multiple firearms. A gun safe that can hold 10 or 20 rifles is going to be rather expensive. Far more expensive than your average gun cabinet. This may be a factor that deters you away from a safe. It may also lead you to choose a small sized gun safe for a few of your firearms and a gun cabinet for the rest.
There are clearly benefits to both, but the primary concern is about safety and security. If you feel confident that your firearms are going to be protected in your home, protected enough that you don’t need a safe, then maybe this is necessary. However, if you have concerns about theft or fire, then you may want to seriously consider the gun safe.
