Top 3 Best Gun Safes Under $1,600

Overview

Quality gun safes under $1,600 are easier to come by than safes under $1,200. Most models in this category are higher quality than the CA DOJ gun safes and typically include a UL rated lock, 12 gauge steel construction and a 60 minute fire rating. I’ve tested all of the safes and compiled this list of the Top 3 Best Gun Safes Under $1,600 that you can trust. All of these models are built to UL RSC standards, have high quality UL Rated locks, advanced security features and are sold by companies who actually honor their warranty.

Lock – Top 3 Best Gun Safes Under $1,600

First and always most important for any gun safe is the lock. All three of these gun safes from Rhino, Stealth and Hollon feature high quality UL Rated Type 1 High Security Electronic Locks. UL stands for Underwriters Laboratories and they are an independent agency that certifies that the locks are both secure and high quality. I always recommend to purchase a UL rated lock and all three of these options are very high quality.

Stealth UL Gun Safes – NL UR-2020

Stealth includes the NL UR-2020 high security electronic lock. I highly recommend this lock and it is very high quality. In addition, the parts are globally sourced with the electronic boards and lock body produced in Europe and the keypads coming from Korea.

It is powered by a 9 volt battery that is easily replaced from the outside of the safe. Also included is a red LED light that illuminates the keypad in the dark. Finally, the lock features a 6 digit code and has over 1 million possible combinations. It is designed for decades of trouble-free use.

Hollon Crescent Shield Gun Safes – S&G 6120

Hollon includes the S&G 6120 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. The locks are made in America with global parts coming from Mexico.

This lock features a 6 digit electronic code that is easy to program to your own custom combination. In addition, the lock opens 10,000+ times on just one battery. The battery needed is a 9 volt battery that is easily replaceable from the keypad outside the safe. Finally, there are over 1 million possible combinations on this lock.

Rhino RBX Gun Safes – SecuRam Basic

The Rhino RBX Gun Safes come standard with the SecuRam Basic high security electronic lock. SecuRam is a long standing and very reliable brand with a long history of making high quality locks. All of their locks and keypads are fully made in China.

This lock features a 6 digit electronic code that is easy to program to your own custom combination. It’s powered by an external 9 volt battery that is easily replaceable from the keypad outside the safe. The lock is designed to open 10,000+ times on just one battery. Finally, there are over 1 million possible combinations on this lock.

Hard Plate and Re-Locker

All three locks are also 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. 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 all of these Top 3 Gun Safes Under $1,600.

Security – Top 3 Best Gun Safes Under $1,600

When it comes to security, Stealth and Hollon use 12 gauge steel in both the door and body while Rhino uses 14 gauge. Stealth and Hollon use 1.25″ solid steel locking bolts that cover all 4-sides of the safe and Rhino doesn’t use bolts at all. The Stealth UL is UL RSC approved and while the Hollon and Rhino gun safes have not been tested.

Passing the UL RSC burglary test ensures the safe can withstand an attack on the door with multiple different tools for a minimum of 5 minutes each. One attacker is used in the test and this is the same burglary rating as the most expensive Liberty and Fort Knox gun safes. This also allows it to carry insurance up to $30,000 when combined with a home burglar alarm.

You may be wondering then, if the Stealth and Hollon gun safes have thicker steel and thicker locking bolts, why is the Rhino included in the list? New for 2023, Rhino has introduced their revolutionary SafeX system which completely changes the way the locking bolts secure the safe door. It becomes significantly more pry resistant by interlocking the door to the body without the need for bolts.

Fire Rating – Top 3 Best Gun Safes Under $1,600

When it comes to the fire ratings of the Top 3 Gun Safes Under $1,600, they are all near identical but with a few key differences. They all use gypsum fire board for the fire insulation material. Stealth features a 60 minute fire rating, Rhino features a 40 minute fire rating and the Hollon features a 75 minute fire rating. In addition, they all use intumescent door seals along the door frame that expand up to 7 times their size during a fire to keep smoke and heat from entering the safe.

Style and Function – Top 3 Best Gun Safes Under $1,600

Paint

Hollon uses a gray powder coat paint that looks great and is so much better than the standard textured black used on low end models. Rhino uses a standard textured black that is better than an imported safe. However, Stealth uses a high quality armor black paint that looks like a crinkled matte. This paint is highly durable and looks fantastic in addition to being strong.

Accessories

Another key differentiator is the door panel organizer. Hollon and Rhino use a sewn-in style that features a few pistol holsters and a zippered bag. The items are permanent and can not be moved or replaced. Stealth uses a full Molle system with strap and snap accessories that can be moved, replaced and customized to your exact needs. This also allows for far more storage on the door so there is no wasted.

Finally, Stealth and Rhino include an electrical outlet for powering electronics like a light kit or dehumidifier inside the safe. Hollon do not include this feature but it can be added through an aftermarket accessory.

Warranty

All three companies include limited lifetime warranties on their gun safes that cover burglary, attempted burglary and fire. All three companies also include parts and labor warranties where they will pay for a locksmith or safe technician to come out to your home and repair the gun safe on site and at no cost to you. These are reliable warranties from good companies that keep their word. The key differentiator in this category is that Hollon only provides a 1 year parts and labor warranty while Stealth doubles it to a 2 year parts and labor warranty and Rhino offers a 5 year parts and labor warranty. The longer the warranty, the more the company believes in the product. It’s really that simple.

The Bottom Line

All three of these models are easily the Top 3 Best Gun Safes Under $1,600. While the Hollon Crescent Shield Gun Safes have a longer fire rating at 75 minutes and the Rhino RBX series has the revolutionary door construction in the SafeX system, the Stealth UL series is still my top choice with the best combination of UL RSC Burglary rating, steel thickness, high quality lock, superior paint, included accessories and lifetime warranty. It’s also the best price and nearly always in-stock with same business day shipping. Rhino RBX typically takes at least 12 weeks to build and Hollon takes a week to ship. All things considered, I would go with the Stealth UL series in this price range.

Is $1,600 above your budget? Check out this list of the Top 3 Gun Safes under $1,200.