Rhino Thunderbolt RT7242X Gun Safe Review

Made in Idaho, USA, the Rhino Thunderbolt Series is a top of the line product made with premier quality and unbelievable style. Rhino pays attention to detail on every single safe they produce with no two ever being the exact same. In this review, I’m going to explain exactly why the Rhino Thunderbolt RT7242X Gun Safe is one of the best in the business.

Lock – Rhino Thunderbolt RT7242X Gun Safe

First and always most important for any gun safe is the lock. Rhino Metals offers three excellent options depending on your preference.

S&G UL Approved Type 2 High Security Mechanical Lock

Included in the price is the S&G UL Type 2 Mechanical Lock. This is one of only two mechanical locks I recommend as it is high quality, reliable and known for longevity. It uses a three number combination that rotates into the lock body on the inside of the safe.

S&G Spartan UL Approved Type 1 High Security Electronic Lock

Next, they offer the S&G UL Approved Type 1 Spartan D-Drive Electronic Lock. This is one of the three brands I recommend when it comes to Electronic Locks with the other two being NL and SecuRam. S&G is the oldest and most reliable lock company in the world, you can rely on either lock option for decades to come and S&G has one of the best warranty and service departments if you ever need help with your lock. These aren’t some cheap Chinese lock, they are high quality, made in USA, UL tested and approved locks. Finally, this lock has over 10,000+ possible combinations and operates on a 9 Volt Battery replaceable from the keypad located outside the safe.

SecuRam ScanLogic UL Approved Type 1 High Security Biometric Lock

The final lock option offered is the SecuRam Biometric lock with keypad backup. In my experience with the lock, the Biometric scanner is somewhat difficult to use and program. All in all, my recommendation is to go with either one of the first two lock options made by S&G and not spend the extra money on the biometric fingerprint scanner.

Security – Rhino Thunderbolt RT7242X Gun Safe

The Rhino Thunderbolt RT7242X Gun Safe is an absolute beast when it comes to security. It’s tested and approved by UL as a Residential Security Container RSC. While this is the standard burglary rating for gun safes, it is built so much stronger than your standard 12 gauge gun safe.

It has an extremely thick 3/16″ steel body which is equivalent to top of the line Fort Knox gun safes that are double the price. Next, it has a 1/4″ steel plate door with a tri-step design that offers superior pry-resistance. You would need advanced machinery and thousands of pounds of pressure to bust the door.

It also features 4-sided bolt work with fourteen 1.25″ thick locking bolts. The bolt work is anti-punch and anti-drill as well as the handle features a patented F-4 internal anti-tamper clutch. Finally, the lock is protected by an internal ball bearing drill plate and internal re-locker.

Fire Rating – Rhino Thunderbolt RT7242X Gun Safe

Rhino didn’t stop at just a great quality lock and security features. They also added 170 minutes of fire protection at 1400 degrees. To accomplish this fire rating they added 5 layers of 5/8″ fireboard in the ceiling, 4 layers in the walls and floor and 3 layers in the door. The tri-step door design includes three unique layers of dual fire seals that are activated by heat. They expand to multiple times their size during a fire to keep smoke and heat out.

While this fire rating is not verified by ETL, an independent laboratory, Rhino safes have successfully survived many fires. Ultimately, I’d say the proof is in the pudding.

Style and Function

Rhino built this version of the Thunderbolt series as an alternative to their unique antique Ironworks finish. It comes in a variety of textured finishes with trim and interior options. You can customize and design the safe exactly as you want it.

Once inside the safe, the interior is one of the best in the safe industry, perfectly complementing the exterior.

The back of the door features a door panel organizer perfect for storing additional items. Next, the interior beautifully lights up once the door opens with the included LED light kit. Finally, a pre-installed electrical outlet powers electronics like the electric dehumidifier. This gun safe has the best style in the entire safe industry.

The Bottom Line

With a lifetime warranty including repair or replacement, top of the line security, top of the line fire rating, top of the line lock and top of the line style and function, the Rhino Thunderbolt RT7242X Gun Safe is one of my top picks for a gun safe. This safe isn’t lacking anything and you should not hesitate to purchase. Support an American Company that makes a superior quality made in USA product. All things considered, I recommend you buy the Rhino Thunderbolt RT7242X Gun Safe.

Most companies in the safe industry don’t keep Rhino gun safes in stock. They end up having to order them from Rhino, have them shipped to their warehouse, then shipped out to you. This adds a significant amount of time from when you order the product to when you actually receive it. That’s why I’ve partnered with Dean Safe company. They have the largest supply of in-stock Rhino Gun Safes in the industry. All of their product pages will tell you which models are available as In-Stock and able to ship same business day. You can see all of the available In-Stock Rhino Gun Safes Here.

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