Gardall GF5517 Gun Safe Review

Gardall used to be a major player in the safe industry. While they are nowhere near as big as they once were, they still make quality burglary and fire safes at affordable prices. In this Gardall GF5517 Gun Safe Review, I will explain why it’s one of the absolute best entry level gun safes available.

Lock – Gardall GF5517 Gun Safe

UL Approved High Security Mechanical Lock

First and always most important for any safe is its lock. The Gardall Gardall GF5517 Gun Safe comes standard with a UL Approved High Security Mechanical Lock. This is the S&G mechanical lock which is my top recommendation and the best in the industry. This high quality lock is designed to last forever and uses the traditional 3 number combination. It’s fully mechanical with no batteries or electronics. It has over 1 million possible combinations.

S&G 6120 UL Rated High Security Electronic Lock

The second lock option is the S&G 6120 UL approved high security electronic lock. This is an excellent quality lock made by the oldest lock company in the United States. They have a premier reputation and make the highest quality locks. UL Approved type 1 is the highest security rating available and I would recommend going with this lock option.

This lock features a 6 digit electronic code that is easy to program to your own custom combination. The lock opens 10,000+ times on just one battery. Finally, there are over 1 million possible combinations on this lock.

Hard Plate and Re-Locker

All lock options are protected by both a hard plate and internal spring-loaded re-locker. The Hard plate is a piece of hardened steel that absolutely destroys drill bits. In addition, the internal re-locker fires if the lock is punched through securing the bolts in place. Both of these are essential security features and included on this safe.

Security – Gardall GF5517 Gun Safe

The Gardall GF5517 Gun Safe exceeds the CA DOJ Gun Safe standards. Nearly all entry level safes in this price range are built with 14 gauge steel and only approved as a CA DOJ Firearm Safety Device and have to be submitted to a testing agency for approval. However, Gardall used a 3/16″ steel plate on the door and 11 gauge steel in the body along with the UL rated lock which exceeds the 12 gauge steel requirement.

In addition to the thick steel construction, Gardall adds a 3-way locking system that features five 1″ active locking bolts and three 1″ deadbolts on the hinge side. Finally, this is easily the most secure and strongest gun safe in this price range.

Fire Rating – Gardall GF5517 Gun Safe

The Gardall GF5517 Gun Safe is fire rated for 30 minutes at 1200 degrees. Keep in mind this is a factory test and not verified by an independent agency like UL or ETL. With that said, there are no safes in this category that are tested by an independent agency and with a 30 minute rating, it is only designed to last 10 more minutes than the standard house fire which burns for 20 minutes. I always recommend buying a safe with at least a 1 hour fire rating.

Gardall does include a fire seal that expands up to 7 times its size during a fire to keep smoke and heat from entering the safe.

Style and Function

The Gardall GF5517 Gun Safe is finished in a standard textured black powder coat. Hardware includes a gold or silver 3-spoke handle. Inside you’ll find one adjustable gun rack and top shelf. Also, you can swap the gun rack out for an all shelf interior. This interior is fully carpeted to prevent scratches to your valuables. A premium door panel organizer is now included on the back of the door with pistol holsters, mesh pockets and a pocket. Finally, four bolt down holes are located on the bottom of the safe for mounting the safe.

Warranty

The Gardall FB series comes with a lifetime warranty on fires where they will replace the safe at no cost to you if it ever experiences a fire. Gardall also provides a 1 year warranty. Unfortunately, the warranty is very unclear on what is covered or who pays for installation and service. For me, that is a red flag and usually the company will only provide parts but then not pay for drilling, installation and other various labor.

The Bottom Line

Would I buy the Gardall GF5517 Gun Safe to store my valuables? If I was in the market for a small gun safe with this budget limitation, yes, I would. With the 3/16″ steel plate door, 11 gauge body and UL rated S&G lock options, this is easily the most secure entry level gun safe available.

With that said, the minimum I would want to purchase as a gun owner is a UL RSC burglary rated gun safe and 1 hour fire rating for the insurance purposes. For just a little bit more, the Stealth UL14 Gun Safe features the same dimensions as the Gardall but increases the fire rating to 1 hour, adds 4-way boltwork at 1.25″ thick and has a clear warranty from reliable company. All things considered, I would go with the Stealth UL14 over the Gardall GF5517.