The Bestselling Gun Safes

Need to keep unauthorized family members and burglars from accessing your firearms? Do you have valuables and irreplaceable heirlooms you want to protect? While you’re likely to buy several guns and valuables in your life, you will likely only buy a few gun safes. That’s why it pays to consider the best gun safe for your needs.

We’ve been selling gun safes at NW Safe since 1988. In nearly four decades, we’ve sold more than 100,000 safes. We’ve conducted multiple tours of US gun safe manufacturing facilities and carefully curated a collection of dependably-built imported safes.

In short, we know the gun safe industry inside and out. We know the pros and cons of shopping at a big box store. We understand the confusing nuances of fire ratings. And we are well-versed in gun safe locks. As you shop for the best gun safe, we wanted to help you get started by looking at our bestsellers from 2024.

This post will cover:

• Top 3 Considerations When Shopping for the Best Gun Safe

• Top Honors from 2024

• Bestselling Entry-Level Gun Safes in 2024

• Bestselling Mid-Level Gun Safes in 2024

• Bestselling High-End Gun Safes in 2024

Top 3 Considerations When Shopping for the Best Gun Safe

The quality and size of a gun safe significantly impact its price. Simply put, the better and larger the safe, the higher the cost.

But what factors truly justify the price? Think of it like buying a heavy-duty pickup truck. The price had better match its dependability and ability to tow.

There are several factors to consider when purchasing a large gun safe, but the top three are:

1. Fire Protection

What is the fire rating and how dependendable is the testing? Gun safe fire ratings are not regulated, so manufacturers can assign any rating they want. Take the time to research how the manufacturer tested the safe (what process did they use in-house or did they use a third-party testing agency).

2. Build Quality

Popular wisdom says, size matters. And popular wisdom is sometimes right. In the case of steel, the thicker the better. (Steel gauges are like golf numbers — the smaller the number, the better. Meaning, 10-gauge steel is thicker than 14-gauge steel.)

In the case of door thickness, size is not the primary concern. While a thick door may be impressive visually, that width doesn’t represent how the door is constructed. This is to say, a thick door does not necessarily equate to a more secure door. Rather, we recommend looking at the thickness of the door’s steel.

3. Locks

When shopping for safes, a U.L. listed lock should be a non-negotiable feature. Why? U.L. listed locks come with a Magic Mount Template, which ensures quick, affordable, and secure interchangeability by a master safe technician.

In contrast, the repair costs for non-U.L. listed locks can quickly exceed any initial savings. U.L. listed locks are available in:

• Electronic Locks

• Biometric Locks

• Mechanical Locks (aka dial locks)

2024 Top Honors

Bestselling Entry-Level Gun Safes in 2024

1. Centurion 24 SMU

This is hands down our top-selling gun safe of all time. Made in the USA by Liberty Safe, the Centurion 24 SMU is a price-point-friendly solution for those with a handful of shotguns and rifles.

• 40 Minute Fire Rating
• 14 Gauge Steel
• U.L. Listed SecuRam TopLit Electronic Lock

2. Champion - Challenger Series

We began selling Champion’s Challenger Series a few years ago and have been extremely impressed with this product since day one. They are available in four different sizes and are constructed from American steel.

• 60 Minute Fire Rating

• 12 Gauge Steel Body

• 12 Gauge Outer Steel Door with Full 14 Gauge Inner Plate

• U.L. Listed Lock

3. USA 50

Liberty's USA 50 is a consistent favorite for a large, entry-level gun safe. Made in America, it offers a flexible interior and comes standard with Liberty’s economy door storage panel.

• 60 Minute Fire Rating

• 12 Gauge Steel

• U.L. Listed Lock

Bestselling Mid-Level Gun Safes in 2024

1. Colonial 50

A sturdy, US-built safe, the Colonial 50 starts giving you a fighting chance in a fire. It offers an impressive amount of storage, holding up to 64 long guns with an adjustable interior. Plus, it comes standard with a single electrical outlet kit.

• 75 Minute Fire Rating

• 12 Gauge Steel

• U.L. Listed Lock

2. Hell's Canyon 65

Browning’s antlers have long been associated with dependability, and the same holds true for this beast of a safe. Holding up to 65 long guns, this wide-body safe is designed for firearm owners. Not only does it offer storage space for longer barrels, but the complimentary door panel can hold two long guns and five pistols.

• 90 Minute Fire Rating

• 11 Gauge Steel

• U.L. Listed Lock

3. Fatboy Jr Extreme

Liberty’s Fatboy Jr. Extreme can store up to 48 long guns while offering a flexible interior that can be customized to your needs. It also comes standard with a door storage panel and a single electrical outlet.

• 75 Minute Fire Rating

• 12 Gauge Steel

• U.L. Listed Lock

Bestselling High-End Gun Safes in 2024

1. Champion’s Superior Master Series

The Superior Master series is Champion’s bestselling. Available in three different sizes, it offers an impressive level of fire protection and security. The door edge on these safes is increased to 3/4″ using multi-layer reinforcements. Made with American steel, this design makes the door roughly 38 times stronger than the lightweight China-built containers.

• 90 Minute Fire Rating

• 10 Gauge Steel Body

• 3/16-inch Outer Steel Poor with a 12 Gauge Inner Steel Plate

• U.L. Listed Lock

• LED Lights & Outlet Included

2. American Security’s BFX Series

American Security’s BFX gun safes are undoubtedly our best gun safes when it comes to security and fire protection. Made in America with American steel, high-end safes feature DryLight — a concrete-based mixture that’s poured into the safe’s walls. The specially designed fire insulation is a lightweight alternative to the high-strength concrete fill found in Commercial TL Rated safes. The lighter weight allows these safes to easily be installed in a home while still offering superior protection.

• 120 Minute Fire Rating

• 11 Gauge Steel

• U.L. Listed Lock

• LED Lights & Outlet Included