Bighorn 24 cu. ft. Executive Safe
Pros
- SecuRam UL Approved High Security Electronic Lock
- UL RSC Burglary Rating - 12 Gauge Steel Door and Body
- 70 Minute Fire Rating at 1400 Degrees with Intumescent Door Seal
- High Quality Interior with Door Panel Organizer Included
- Limited Lifetime Warranty from a Reliable Company
Cons
- Made in China
- Not as Good as Rhino Made in USA RB6028
- Customers Report Lots of Damage from Shipping
Bighorn is a sub brand of Rhino Metals who also makes the Ironworks gun safes and several other models here in the USA. Unfortunately, the Bighorn brand is not made in USA and is actually imported from China. I am not a fan of anything sold on Costco because they strip out all the most important features of a gun safe and provide you with an illusion of security. In this review, I will help you understand why the Bighorn 24 cu. ft. Executive Safe sold on Costco is not the best option available and I’ll provide you with some gun safes that are far superior.
Lock
First and always most important for any gun safe is the lock used and the Bighorn 24 cu. ft. Executive Safe comes with a UL Approved Type 1 High Security Electronic Lock made by SecuRam. This is actually a very high quality lock, reliable and durable. Protecting the lock internally are three layers of armor plating called hardplate and re-locker fires during a drill attack to keep the bolts in place. The lock is tested and certified to survive EMP attacks and overall Bighorn made a great choice by including this lock.
Security
The Bighorn 24 cu. ft. Executive Safe is UL approved as a Residential Security Container which is the standard burglary rating and capable of withstanding light attack. It earned this with its 3 mm steel door and body, ten 1.25″ thick steel locking bolts and UL rated lock. The security on this gun safe is adequate and much better than the average gun safes sold on Costco. Unique to Bighorn is the door bolt throw which extends 1.75″, 40% more than the typical gun safe.
Fire Rating
The Bighorn 24 cu. ft. Executive Safe comes standard with a 70 minute fire rating at 1200 degrees which is 50 minutes longer than the standard house fire. This is a factory test and claimed fire rating, not independently tested by a certified agency like ETL or UL. We have to trust Rhino Metals that this fire rating is accurate but considering they are actually a high quality brand, I would expect this gun safe to survive the standard house fire. An intumescent door seal is also included that expands to multiple times its size during a fire to keep out both smoke and heat.
Style and Function
The Bighorn 24 cu. ft. Executive Safe comes finished in the standard textured black similar to nearly all imported Chinese gun safes. I’m not a fan of this paint job, it tends to look cheap and is not very durable. The chrome 5-spoke handle is a nice touch but no better than other handle styles when it comes to security. The interior is a carpeted gray with split gun rack and adjustable side shelves. The door features a door panel organizer capable of storing pistols and other small items. The back of the safe has a 3/8″ pre-drilled hole for a dehumidifier but an electrical outlet is not included to plug it in. I would recommend the Stealth power outlet kit to combine with this gun safe and add power.
The Bottom Line
While the Bighorn 24 cu. ft. Executive Safe offers an excellent lock, UL RSC burglary Rating and 70 minute fire rating it is not the best option available at this price point. The Stealth UL23 gun safe offers all of the same security features, but adds impressive styling, electrical outlet and a better warranty.
