Here are some of the different types of rifle safes:

• Most common are a high security safe that sits on the floor that will hold from 6-66 long guns depending upon the configuration.  There are many manufacturers that sell these gun safes and you can find lots of information on the internet about them.  Stackon safes is a popular product that you will find widely distributed.  They have extra features such as stand-offs for rifles with scopes.  This allows you to put the gun in the safe without having to remove the scope or have it be bumped.
• Fire safes are often the next step up in price and features.  These are rifle gun safes that can withstand 1700 degree Fahrenheit temperatures for up to 1 hour with no damage to the contents of the safe.  While this sound exciting and necessary, most home fires rarely get above 800 degrees for any length of time.  Unless you live out in the sticks or expect a very hot fire, don’t worry too much about buying a fire safe for your guns.  Buy it for your important documents and other valuables.
• There are statistics that show that a house in the United States will flood every 20 years.  This can be a catastrophe for your gun collection.  While it is not a big deal for a rifle to get some water on it from time to time, they are made out of metal and are not design to sit in water for any length of time.  What if you had to evacuate your home because of a flood, or a tornado took the roof off and it filled the basement with rain water, or what if your sewer backed up?  All these items could cause your rifle safe to become a rusting fish bowl.  While these gun safes are more expensive, they are an important investment.

Owning a rifle safe is an important investment that you should consider carefully before making your purchase.

2010 Update-This safe has been replaced by the First Alert 2.0 Cu. Ft. Fire Theft Digital Safe, which is not Biometric.  The next closest options is the SentrySafe DA3930 1.2-Cubic Feet Fingerprint Electronic/Tubular Key Fire Safe.

The Sisco Honeywell 2084DB Biometric Fire Safe is a home version of the larger and more expensive commercial fire safes.  It is an excellent way to protect papers, jewelry, guns, or even computer disks during a fire.  The 2084DB model has a UL fire rating of 1700 degrees Fahrenheit for 1 hour while maintaining an internal temperature of less than 350 degrees, which is a typical fire rating for a home safe.  Most experts expect that any house fire will last less than 1 hour before it has been significantly extinguished by the fire department.  And keep in mind that the rating is 1700 degrees for 1 hour.  That means  the fire must be at its hottest for 1 hour for the contents to be in jeopardy, not just be in a burning building for 1 hour.

This fire safe is also equipped with a digital biometric lock.  The Sisco 2084DB can have up to 9 different fingerprints programmed into the on-board memory.  One for each family (and for my piece of mind, 2 different fingers of mine!).  The safe opens quickly by scanning your finger, turning the key override lock (used for additional security) and it opens.

In addition to the biometric lock, the Sisco safe has a push button electronic lock that can store up to 65,000 different codes.  Perfect for a backup entry or allowing access to someone that has not had their fingerprint previously programmed.  This can be useful in an emergency situation or even if the primary users die, the back-up code can be used by their survivors to gain access to the safe.

This biometric safe has a single 5 position adjustable shelf.  It weighs approximately 200 pounds and can be mounted to the floor for additional security.  It requires four AA batteries to run the biometrics and keypad, but battery loss will lose any codes or fingerprints.  They are stored in permanent non-volatile memory.  This unit will also flash a low battery light to tell you it is time to replace the batteries, which can be replace right from the front console.

Honeywell safes have a Dry fill guarantee: the safe is guaranteed not to develop mildew from moisture originating in the safe’s insulating material for five years. All Sisco safes are backed with a 5 Year Limited Warranty and Lifetime After-Fire Replacement.

Check out pricing for the Sisco Honeywell 2084DB Biometric Fire Safe here.