I've been going over my options for better securing my guns against fire and theft on a limited budget. Right now I have them cable locked to a floor anchor in a cheap harbor freight "executive" safe, which is really just a basic sheet metal gun safe.
I was always happy with that setup, till my dad lost his backup keys and let the batteries die in his identical safe. It took me about 15 minutes with a hammer, chisel, and sawzall to cut a hole in the side of the safe big enough to take the contents out.
I don't have $1000 to spend on a basic 20 gun fire safe though, and my house has narrow doors which really limits my options.
I was thinking how I could reinforce my existing safe and I think since it's already in the basement (which is climate controlled and water tight) the best way to shore up the sides, top and back is going to be to build around it with cinderblocks and pour 5000psi concrete into the voids, along with some rebar. I will probably cover the safe with fire proof drywall under the concrete to give it some insulation from heat in a fire.
I'm not really sure the door needs reinforcement, it seems pretty solid, but it's not fire proof. I'm planning to make an outer fireproof door countersunk into the concrete outer "bunker" that will be a separate from the main safe door and put two or three layers of fire check drywall in outer door in a steel frame between inner and outer layers of 20 gauge sheet metal. That should give about a 45 minute fire rating, I hope. I was going to seal that outer door with some fireplace seal rope I have laying around.
I think I can do the whole project for less than $200, easily... maybe much less than that.
Anyone have any thoughts on how this might work, not work, or anything to add?