Winchester Big Daddy gun safe
Pros
- UL Approved S&G Mechanical Lock Standard
- UL RSC Burglary Rating - 12 Gauge Steel Door and Body
- 75 Minute Fire Rating at 1400 Degrees with Intumescent Door Seal
- Quality Interior with LED Light Kit, Door Panel Organizer, Electrical Outlet and Leather Trim
- Limited Lifetime Warranty from a Reliable Company
Cons
- Not the Best Option for the Price
- Made in China
Winchester at one point was making nearly all of their gun safes in Ft. Worth Texas but has since gone back to fully importing all of their products from China. They sell nearly exclusively on Tractor Supply with the TS models making up the bulk of their sales. While I’m no fan of the TS gun safes, starting with the Ranger, these imported gun safes are actually pretty good. The Winchester Big Daddy Gun Safe is essentially the same as the Ranger series but with 1.25″ locking bolts and an extra 15 minutes of fire protection. In this review, I will help you understand just what makes the Big Daddy such a great gun safe.
Lock
First and always most important of any gun safe is its lock and the Winchester Big Daddy gun safe features the S&G mechanical lock. This is UL Rated, an excellent quality lock that is very reliable and made by the oldest lock company in the world. It is the only mechanical lock I recommend and you will not be disappointed. It operates smoothly and is very long lasting. Overall, I prefer UL Rated electronic locks as they are faster and a higher security rating but if you prefer the old school style, this is the lock to use. There is no key override or Solenoid, it is 10 out of 10 on the lock.
Security
The Winchester Big Daddy gun safe is UL RSC Burglary Rated for security and features a 12 gauge steel door and body. Behind the lock are both a hardplate and relocker that protect against drilling attacks and the fourteen 1.25″ solid steel locking bolts including top and bottom, keep the door secure during a saw attack. All of these security features are the basic standard and minimum to achieve the UL RSC rating. While this is not as strong as higher end safes like the American Security BFX gun safes, it does retain the same insurance certification. In my opinion, there isn’t a huge difference between a 10 gauge steel body and 1/4″ plate door compared to a 12 gauge door and body. The real differences start when you have material like concrete in the walls and door. Overall, this is a good quality gun safe for valuables totaling under $50,000.
Fire Rating
When it comes to fire, the Winchester Big Daddy gun safe is fire rated for 75 Minutes at 1400 degrees. It claims to have UL rated fireboard however this is not a real thing so I’m not even sure why they are claiming that. UL only certifies the fire rating and no gun safe has ever passed the test as it includes a 30 foot drop after the fire and the way gun safes are constructed does not allow them to survive. 75 minutes of fire protection is still plenty of time and will survive the standard house fire. The safe also has an intumescent seal that expands to multiple times its size during a fire to keep smoke and heat from entering the safe. This fire rating is not certified or tested by ETL or UL and is only a claimed factory rating so keep that in mind when making your decision.
Style and Function
The Winchester Big Daddy gun safe is finished in gun metal gray or black powder coat paint with a black chrome 3-spoke handle and black chrome hardware. This safe is styled very nice and the gray is a great look. The interior features full carpeting with leather trimmed shelving on a split gun rack interior with adjustable shelves. Also included is a door panel organizer, electrical outlet and a light kit standard. This safe has all the bells and whistles and the interior looks great in person.
The Bottom Line
Overall, the Winchester Big Daddy gun safe is a great choice for someone looking for the standard security features in a UL RSC Gun Safe. It has an excellent lock, certified burglary protection, good quality fire rating and nice interior at a competitive price point. In this category and price point of a gun safe, I prefer the Stealth UL50 Gun Safe, Remington Express gun safes and Liberty 1776 gun safes. The Stealth UL50 has a better finish, thicker steel locking bolts and is better priced with all of the same core features.
