Sentry Fire Safe ??

[Guest tcampbell]

I bought a Sentry Fire Safe today....when I went through the instruction manual, it said I cannot store firearms because of moisture content in the insulation. Anyone else run across a safe like this and still use it ? I really like the safe and want to keep it, but I don't want my handguns getting ruined from moisture.

What about putting them in freezer bags ?

[Guest Verbal Kint]

Used a Sentry Fire Safe for years, and stored my Sig 229 in it along with all the other junk I had. Granted it was a stainless slide, but the gun never showed any signs of problems from moisture. I don't even recall the manual stating that it shouldn't be used to store firearms.

Might be something new. Might be a CYA policy that they implemented, just in case.

You can always get some of those red vapor-thingy gun storage bags, that I've used in the past, if you want the added piece of mind. Basically a ziplock bag impregnated with chemicals to keep the guns free of rust. Or add some desiccant inside the safe. It's not like it's an airtight safe anyway, so I really don't see it being any worse off than using a gun locker that you would pick up at a sporting goods store.

EDIT: These things... http://secure.armorholdings.com/kleen-bore/product396.html

Edited November 16, 2008 by Verbal Kint
link added

[Guest Astra900]

I don't know what model Sentry you are using, but it's my XP that Sentry safes....Aren't. The digital lock on ours went south a few years ago, a Snap-On pry bar and a few licks from a 3lb hammer and she was open. TOO easy. As far as moisture.....I have no idea.

[Guest Verbal Kint]

I don't know what model Sentry you are using, but it's my XP that Sentry safes....Aren't. The digital lock on ours went south a few years ago, a Snap-On pry bar and a few licks from a 3lb hammer and she was open. TOO easy. As far as moisture.....I have no idea.

I had one where I got locked out. It had the keypad in addition to a tumbler lock that you could press in (with or without locking it with a key) and it would dual-secure the safe. Well... the kids decided to push the tumbler part in... and no clue where the keys went after owning the safe for a few years.

Took me HOURS to break into that damn thing. Had to use a sledge and pry bar to beat up the outer shell, then using a cutting wheel to remove it all. Had to chisel through all of that insulation ****, which is like cement. Then had to break through the interior shell. All in all, basically had to remove an entire wall of the safe to slide the top drawer out and remove all of the bottom contents. Probably took me 4-5 hours, start to finish.

That said... no, they're not secure like an iron safe. But they do an adequate job of keeping things locked away and out of sight... which was my only reason for buying it, with kids running around the house. Needed something I could quickly store and retrieve my handgun out of (electric keypad was nice), and the kids couldn't get in. If you need something a lot more secure, buy a real safe.

[Guest tcampbell]

the one I bought is just a combination safe...no electronic keypad or keys for that matter.

Thanks for the advice...may get the bags :-)

[Guest OZZ]

Many years ago in a galaxy far, far away (Memphis), one of the first jobs I had out of college was working for my uncle at Webster Safe and Lock. The fire safes like Sentry have a lot of moisture "trapped" in the insulation in the walls. When exposed to fire, the moisture is released thereby protecting the contents inside the safe. Most are sold for protection of valuable papers you may keep at home and are fairly easy to get in to compared to a safe constructed for cash, jewelry, etc., for retail type businesses.

Just to be safe (no pun intended) I'd protect anything I put into one constructed of metal into a Ziplock type bag. I had seen "fire safes" after exposed to a fire and they did what they were supposed to do. If I remember right, they are suppossed to protect the contents for a period of one hour keeping the inside temperature below 350 degrees. The contents were unharmed, but unprotected papers were damp at times due to the moisture release. Another thing to consider is how old some of your safes may be. They dry out over time and don't protect the contents as well as they should. I can't remember what the time period is, but check your paperwork if you still have it.

[Guest colrmccoll]

Thanks, OZZ, I always wondered about the physics behind the fire protection.

[DRM]

Add some dessicant to the safe if you're worried about moisture.

You know - those little packets that come in the shoe box when you buy some new shoes.