While collecting, restoring, and shooting firearms is a great recreational hobby that can teach you great skill sets, it's just as important to have the proper storage for your weapons to maintain their condition and your household's safety. Investing in a gun safe is a reliable way to keep your firearms secure when they're not in use, and there are a variety of gun safes on the market today, with an array of different materials, lock and access systems, and sizes from which to choose. Below, learn about some of the popular types of safes in more detail.

A Guide to Gun Safes

1. Biometric Safes

A biometric safe utilizes state-of-the-art technology to scan your fingerprints and unlock the unit. In essence, your fingerprint is the combination that unlocks the safe, and since no two prints are alike, you can be confident that no one else will be able to access the unit. Biometric safes come in several different sizes, so that you can be sure to find one that fits your collection, whether it's a single pistol or several long guns. When it comes to security and convenience, biometric safes cannot be surpassed.

2. Fireproof Safes

The majority of gun safes on the market are made of steel, which has a high heat tolerance, and while that tolerance is good for the safe itself, it may not be so beneficial for the guns kept inside. Since steel is an efficient conductor for heat, and the guns, equipment, and ammunition are not as heat-resistant, it's conceivable that a fire could damage them even when protected by a safe. Fireproof safes, available in many different size options, are typically made of two walls of metal encasing a core of fireproof material. The material is made from non-flammable concrete, mineral wool, sodium silicate, or another substance.

3. Wheel & Pin Combination Safes

Wheel and pin systems are what most people think of when they think of a safe. There is a numbered wheel on the outside of the unit, and when the correct combination of numbers is entered, the wheel unlocks a series of durable, metal pins, which, in turn, unlocks the safe itself. You can find traditional combination safes in various sizes to accommodate however large or small your gun collection may be. Not only are wheel and pin combination safes dependably secure and typically waterproof, but once you memorize the code, they are easy to lock and unlock, which can be handy for any instance where you may need to immediately defend yourself.

When you're in the market for a new gun safe, visit Glauber's Sports. For over 150 years, they have been serving customers throughout the Carrollton, KY, region. They carry a full line of guns, ammunition, safes, and cases, as well as archery equipment and hunting accessories and apparel. Call (502) 732-4005 or visit them online to learn more about their current inventory.