Bighorn 47.3 cu. ft. High Gloss Gun Safe
Pros
- S&G UL Approved High Security Electronic Lock
- UL RSC Burglary Rating - 10 Gauge Steel Door and Body
- 120 Minute Fire Rating at 1400 Degrees with Intumescent Door Seal
- Premium Door Panel Organizer, Light Kit, Electrical Outlet, High Quality Interior
- Limited Lifetime Warranty from a Reliable Company
Cons
- Too Expensive for the Steel Thickness
Bighorn is a sub brand of Rhino Metals who also makes the Ironworks gun safes and several other models here in the USA. Originally, the Bighorn brand is not made in USA and is actually imported from China but now they are confusing the market and making some models in the USA, such as this one. 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 47.3 cu. ft. High Gloss Gun 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 47.3 cu. ft. High Gloss Gun Safe comes with a UL Approved Type 1 High Security Electronic Lock made by S&G. 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 47.3 cu. ft. High Gloss Gun 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 10 gauge steel door and body, sixteen 1.25″ thick steel locking bolts and UL rated lock. The security on this gun safe is very good and far 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 47.3 cu. ft. High Gloss Gun Safe comes standard with a 120 minute fire rating at 1200 degrees which is six times 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 47.3 cu. ft. High Gloss Gun Safe comes finished in a gorgeous high gloss Titanium Gray. The black 5-spoke handle is a nice touch and the finial caps on the hinges really finish the safe off well. 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. This gun safe also comes with an electrical outlet kit pre-installed and a light kit that illuminates the interior when the door is opened.
The Bottom Line
While the Bighorn 47.3 cu. ft. High Gloss Gun Safe offers an excellent lock, UL RSC burglary Rating and 120 minute fire rating it is way overpriced for what you get. The Stealth UL50 gun safe offers all of the same security features in a 12 gauge door and body and 60 minute fire rating for less than half the price.
