[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":496},["ShallowReactive",2],{"roundup-best-mid-tier-gun-safes":3,"products-liberty-centurion-24-bighorn-safex-252-browning-sporter-sp23":301,"site-content-feed":413},{"id":4,"title":5,"author":6,"body":7,"category":282,"description":283,"draft":284,"extension":285,"image":286,"meta":287,"navigation":288,"path":289,"priceMax":290,"priceMin":291,"productSlugs":292,"publishedAt":296,"seo":297,"stem":298,"updatedAt":299,"__hash__":300},"roundups\u002Froundups\u002Fbest-mid-tier-gun-safes.md","Best Mid-Tier Gun Safes (2026)","BGS Editorial Staff",{"type":8,"value":9,"toc":271},"minimark",[10,15,24,27,30,34,53,64,67,74,78,103,110,113,119,123,149,156,159,165,169,212,228,232,235,254,257,261,268],[11,12,14],"h2",{"id":13},"what-this-band-buys","What this band buys",[16,17,18,19,23],"p",{},"Between roughly ",[20,21,22],"strong",{},"$1,000 and $1,650",", you are past closet starters and below custom thick-steel vaults. The useful purchases in this band are full-height residential safes from established makers: USA plants or serious dealer brands, electronic locks you can service, fire claims measured in tens of minutes, and enough width for a mixed hunting-plus-MSR battery.",[16,25,26],{},"You still do not buy TL-15. You do buy less apology than an under-$800 cabinet and less lead time than a Fort Knox build.",[16,28,29],{},"We lean on products we have already reviewed. Affiliate links may earn a commission; placement still has to hold up on the steel and the install.",[11,31,33],{"id":32},"liberty-centurion-24-the-workhorse","Liberty Centurion 24 — the workhorse",[16,35,36,37,40,41,44,45,48,49,52],{},"The ",[20,38,39],{},"Centurion 24"," is the size most households actually need once a slim 12-gun box is too small. USA-built Liberty chassis, ",[20,42,43],{},"40-minute"," Cool Box fire at ",[20,46,47],{},"1,200°F",", seven Solid State locking bars, dual-flex interior, factory door panel. Street prices commonly land near ",[20,50,51],{},"$1,099",".",[16,54,55,56,59,60,63],{},"Steel is ",[20,57,58],{},"14-gauge",". Interior depth is about ",[20,61,62],{},"13.5\"","—tight once optics stack up. The “24 gun” claim is a marketing ceiling, not a packing plan. Bolting is still required. What you get for the money is Liberty’s plant, warranty language, and a layout that behaves like daily storage instead of a dark closet.",[16,65,66],{},"Choose it when you want a known USA residential safe with dealer and big-box availability, and you will live with shallow depth honestly.",[16,68,69],{},[70,71,73],"a",{"href":72},"\u002Freviews\u002Fliberty-centurion-24","Full Centurion 24 review",[11,75,77],{"id":76},"bighorn-safex-252-volume-and-costco-logistics","Bighorn SafeX 25.2 — volume and Costco logistics",[16,79,36,80,83,84,87,88,91,92,95,96,59,99,102],{},[20,81,82],{},"Bighorn SafeX 25.2"," (BFX6033) is Rhino Metals steel sold as a Costco online executive safe. Member price at our August 2026 check was ",[20,85,86],{},"$999.99"," during a temporary manufacturer promo off a ",[20,89,90],{},"$1,299.99"," list. The door uses Rhino’s ",[20,93,94],{},"SafeX"," interlocking plates and studs instead of traditional bolts. Fire claim is ",[20,97,98],{},"60 minutes at 1,400°F",[20,100,101],{},"17.2\"","—the practical advantage over most 24-gun residential boxes in this price band.",[16,104,105,106,109],{},"Costco does not publish body gauge on this SKU. Mass is ",[20,107,108],{},"430 lbs",". Ground-floor delivery and setup are part of the listing we checked; stairs and long carries are where that promise stops. The distressed flag door graphic is cosmetic. The 44-gun slot count is not a loading plan.",[16,111,112],{},"Choose it when cubic volume, deeper racks, and warehouse delivery matter more than a published 12-gauge sheet.",[16,114,115],{},[70,116,118],{"href":117},"\u002Freviews\u002Fbighorn-safex-252","Full Bighorn SafeX review",[11,120,122],{"id":121},"browning-sporter-sp23-construction-step-up","Browning Sporter SP23 — construction step-up",[16,124,36,125,128,129,132,133,136,137,140,141,144,145,148],{},[20,126,127],{},"Sporter SP23"," is Browning’s idea of entry-level: ",[20,130,131],{},"12-gauge"," body, ",[20,134,135],{},"UL RSC"," listing, and ",[20,138,139],{},"80\u002F95-minute"," ThermaBlock fire numbers. Official pricing was ",[20,142,143],{},"$1,649"," at our August 2026 check before delivery. Weight is about ",[20,146,147],{},"530 lbs",". Door-mounted long-gun storage changes how you pack the box.",[16,150,151,152,155],{},"You pay for steel thickness, a container burglary listing, and a longer fire claim—not for Costco convenience or Centurion street pricing. Interior depth is still about ",[20,153,154],{},"13\"",". Delivery is a professional job. Gloss finishes and freight push the out-the-door number higher.",[16,157,158],{},"Choose it when a Centurion or Bighorn feels like the right size and the wrong construction.",[16,160,161],{},[70,162,164],{"href":163},"\u002Freviews\u002Fbrowning-sporter-sp23","Full Sporter SP23 review",[11,166,168],{"id":167},"how-to-choose-among-them","How to choose among them",[170,171,172,185],"table",{},[173,174,175],"thead",{},[176,177,178,182],"tr",{},[179,180,181],"th",{},"Priority",[179,183,184],{},"Lean toward",[186,187,188,196,204],"tbody",{},[176,189,190,194],{},[191,192,193],"td",{},"USA dealer network, familiar residential package",[191,195,39],{},[176,197,198,201],{},[191,199,200],{},"Interior depth and warehouse delivery",[191,202,203],{},"Bighorn SafeX",[176,205,206,209],{},[191,207,208],{},"Published 12-gauge + UL RSC + longer fire",[191,210,211],{},"Browning SP23",[16,213,214,215,218,219,223,224,52],{},"If the sticker needs to stay under ",[20,216,217],{},"$800",", use the ",[70,220,222],{"href":221},"\u002Froundups\u002Fbest-budget-gun-safes","budget roundup"," instead. If you already know you want 10-gauge uni-body and multi-hour fire, skip this band and read the ",[70,225,227],{"href":226},"\u002Freviews\u002Ffort-knox-defender-6031","Fort Knox Defender 6031",[11,229,231],{"id":230},"install-reality","Install reality",[16,233,234],{},"All three units are floor problems, not furniture:",[236,237,238,242,245,248,251],"ul",{},[239,240,241],"li",{},"Measure width, depth with handle, and the path including doorframes",[239,243,244],{},"Budget delivery, stairs, and floor protection as part of the product",[239,246,247],{},"Bolt the day it arrives",[239,249,250],{},"Change the factory code; keep backup credentials offline",[239,252,253],{},"Put keypad batteries on a calendar",[16,255,256],{},"An unbolted mid-tier safe is still a crew-and-dolly target. The rating on the door does not fix a floating install.",[11,258,260],{"id":259},"what-we-left-out","What we left out",[16,262,263,264,267],{},"Imported high-count cabinets with thin doors, no-name “executive” clones, and biometric gimmicks with weak brand support. Sports Afield and Cannon boxes can make sense below this band; they are not the mid-tier construction story. Stack-On’s Total Defense line sits at the top of ",[70,265,266],{"href":221},"budget"," when fire\u002Fwater marketing is the purchase reason.",[16,269,270],{},"We will add another mid-tier review when a product changes the map—not when a warehouse runs a clearance sticker on the same job.",{"title":272,"searchDepth":273,"depth":273,"links":274},"",2,[275,276,277,278,279,280,281],{"id":13,"depth":273,"text":14},{"id":32,"depth":273,"text":33},{"id":76,"depth":273,"text":77},{"id":121,"depth":273,"text":122},{"id":167,"depth":273,"text":168},{"id":230,"depth":273,"text":231},{"id":259,"depth":273,"text":260},"mid-tier","Mid-tier residential gun safes from about $1,000 to $1,650—Liberty Centurion 24, Bighorn SafeX, and Browning Sporter SP23—matched to workhorse capacity, warehouse volume, and thicker steel.",false,"md","\u002Fimages\u002Froundups\u002Fbest-mid-tier-gun-safes.jpg",{},true,"\u002Froundups\u002Fbest-mid-tier-gun-safes",1649,1000,[293,294,295],"liberty-centurion-24","bighorn-safex-252","browning-sporter-sp23","2026-08-14",{"title":5,"description":283},"roundups\u002Fbest-mid-tier-gun-safes","2026-08-18","0-NI6Sq8siI6xf_E5-xAp1JF7iW50Y0U7IaZ4J_b-nA",[302,342,380],{"id":303,"affiliateUrl":304,"brand":305,"capacity":306,"category":307,"cons":308,"dimensions":312,"extension":313,"fireRatingMinutes":314,"image":315,"lockType":316,"meta":317,"model":318,"name":319,"price":320,"priceAsOf":321,"pros":322,"rating":327,"slug":293,"specs":328,"stem":338,"summary":339,"weight":340,"__hash__":341},"products\u002Fproducts\u002Fliberty-centurion-24.yml","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.homedepot.com\u002Fp\u002FLIBERTY-SAFE-Centurion-24-Gun-40-min-fire-rating-EMP-E-Lock-59-25-in-H-x-28-25-in-W-x-20-in-L-Black-Gun-Safe-and-Lifetime-Warranty-CN24-BKT-FLEX-DP-E\u002F319958284","Liberty Safe","Up to 24 long guns","long-gun",[309,310,311],"Still 14-gauge steel—serious residential, not a TL burglary rating","13.5\" interior depth is tight for a full row of optics-heavy rifles","Delivery and bolt-down often cost extra; 22\" doorway minimum is real","59.5\" H × 28.25\" W × 20\" D","yml",40,"\u002Fimages\u002Fproducts\u002Fliberty-centurion-24.jpg","UL-listed SecuRam TopLit electronic",{},"Centurion 24 (CN24)","Liberty Centurion 24",1099,"2026-08-06",[323,324,325,326],"Made in the USA with Liberty's lifetime fire\u002Ftheft warranty","40-minute Cool Box rating at 1,200°F plus Palusol seal—a step up from the Centurion 12\u002F18","Dual-flex interior and factory door panel make mixed storage usable","Seven 4\" Solid State locking bars, drill plate, and relocker on a proven chassis",4.6,{"Steel body":329,"Security level":330,"Locking bars":331,"Exterior volume":332,"Interior":333,"Min doorway":334,"Certifications":335,"Fire seal":336,"Source":337},"14-gauge Dual Fusion frame","Liberty Level 3","7 × 4\" Solid State (3\u002F16\" thick)","19.4 cu ft","56\" × 26.25\" × 13.5\" (11.5 cu ft)","22\"","California DOJ-approved firearm safety device","Palusol heat-activated","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.libertysafe.com\u002Fproducts\u002Fcenturion","products\u002Fliberty-centurion-24","USA-made 24-gun residential workhorse with 40-minute fire protection, Solid State locking bars, and a dual-flex interior that actually fits a typical hunting-plus-MSR collection.","375 lbs","SQN9Wr4iEUsO-uKVi8tD8uBcd99TrS68UjJROggwTMY",{"id":343,"affiliateUrl":344,"brand":345,"capacity":346,"category":307,"cons":347,"dimensions":351,"extension":313,"fireRatingMinutes":352,"image":353,"lockType":354,"meta":355,"model":356,"name":357,"price":291,"priceAsOf":299,"pros":358,"rating":363,"slug":294,"specs":364,"stem":377,"summary":378,"weight":108,"__hash__":379},"products\u002Fproducts\u002Fbighorn-safex-252.yml","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.costco.com\u002Fp\u002F-\u002Fbighorn-safex-252-cu-ft-executive-safe-usa-made-electronic-lock-fire-rated-black\u002F4000409354?langId=-1","Bighorn","Up to 44 long guns",[348,349,350],"Costco’s public sheet does not publish body steel gauge—mass sits in the residential mid-tier","44-gun marketing count assumes thin geometries; real mixed batteries fill much sooner","430 lbs still needs floor anchors; opportunistic theft is a crew-and-dolly problem if unbolted","60\" H × 33\" W × 22\" D",60,"\u002Fimages\u002Fproducts\u002Fbighorn-safex-252.jpg","UL-listed SecuRam electronic",{},"BFX6033","Bighorn SafeX 25.2 Cu. Ft. Executive Safe",[359,360,361,362],"USA-made by Rhino Metals with patented SafeX interlocking door (no traditional bolts)","60 minutes at 1,400°F with gypsum fireboard and heat-activated door seal","~17.2\" interior depth and adjustable side shelves suit optics-heavy mixed storage","Costco ground-floor delivery with setup; bolt-down kit included; limited lifetime warranty",4.5,{"Item number":365,"Exterior volume":366,"Interior":367,"Exterior with hardware":368,"Locking system":369,"Fire insulation":370,"Hinges":371,"Handle":372,"Finish":373,"Certifications":335,"Lock protection":374,"Anchoring":375,"Warranty":376,"Source":344},"1995341","25.2 cu ft","56.75\" × 30.91\" × 17.22\" (~17.5 cu ft)","add ~2\" to depth for handle, lock, and hinges","SafeX interlocking anchor studs and slider plates","Gypsum board in body and door; heat-activated frame seal","External, 180° door swing","Space-saving drop handle","Baked-on powder-coated blackstone with silver accents","Hardened armor plate over lock; internal relocker","Predrilled floor holes; heavy-duty bolt-down kit included","Limited lifetime (manufacturer)","products\u002Fbighorn-safex-252","USA-built Costco executive safe with Rhino Metals’ SafeX interlocking door, 60-minute fire protection at 1,400°F, and ~17\" interior depth in a 44-slot footprint.","pXHIoWPMCFPmjvgvMeSw7ECWaoyOUSaCWJzE4oNs2Nk",{"id":381,"affiliateUrl":382,"brand":383,"capacity":384,"category":385,"cons":386,"dimensions":390,"extension":313,"fireRatingMinutes":391,"image":392,"lockType":354,"meta":393,"model":127,"name":394,"price":290,"priceAsOf":395,"pros":396,"rating":401,"slug":295,"specs":402,"stem":410,"summary":411,"weight":147,"__hash__":412},"products\u002Fproducts\u002Fbrowning-sporter-sp23.yml","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.browningsafes.com\u002Fproducts\u002Fbrowning-sporter-series-23","Browning","Up to 23 long guns (7 on door + 8\u002F8) plus 3 handguns","premium",[387,388,389],"Street price is a real step up from 14-gauge value safes—budget the delivery","13\" interior depth still punishes oversized optics if you pack both rows","530 lbs and a 30\" width need a planned path, not a surprise closet drop","58\" H × 30\" W × 20\" D",80,"\u002Fimages\u002Fproducts\u002Fbrowning-sporter-sp23.jpg",{},"Browning Sporter SP23","2026-08-08",[397,398,399,400],"12-gauge body and 1\" formed door with UL RSC tool-attack listing","80 minutes at 1,550°F \u002F 95 minutes at 1,200°F with interlocking ThermaBlock insulation","Force Deflector locking, Pry-Stop end bolts, and 1\" bolts on three sides of the door","DPX-style door storage actually adds usable long-gun and pistol capacity",4.7,{"Steel body":403,"Door":404,"Locking bolts":405,"Exterior (with handle)":406,"Interior":407,"Interior volume":408,"Fire insulation":409,"Burglary rating":135,"Source":382},"12-gauge (7\u002F64\")","1\" formed steel with partial inner plate","8 × 1\" chrome (5 active) on 3 sides","58\" × 30\" × 22.5\"","52.5\" × 27\" × 13\"","~20 cu ft (manufacturer listing)","1-7\u002F8\" ceiling, 1-1\u002F4\" body, 1-3\u002F4\" door","products\u002Fbrowning-sporter-sp23","Premium 23-gun step-up safe with 12-gauge steel, UL RSC burglary listing, and 80\u002F95-minute ThermaBlock fire protection for collectors who want construction that outlasts the value tier.","qmeD-POYjq-Do9ffBqY05ZpqfvK_sPjVjG9tLIc9XfY",[414,417,424,430,436,443,449,454,459,468,475,482,489],{"path":289,"title":5,"description":283,"category":415,"categoryTone":416,"publishedAt":296,"updatedAt":299,"image":286},"Roundup","violet",{"path":117,"title":418,"description":419,"category":420,"categoryTone":421,"publishedAt":422,"updatedAt":299,"image":423},"Bighorn SafeX 25.2 Review — Costco’s USA Executive Safe With a Boltless Door","Bighorn SafeX BFX6033 review covering SafeX interlocking security, 60-minute fire at 1,400°F, interior depth, Costco delivery, and how the 44-gun claim holds up in practice.","Review","blue","2026-08-07","\u002Fimages\u002Freviews\u002Fbighorn-safex-252.jpg",{"path":221,"title":425,"description":426,"category":415,"categoryTone":416,"publishedAt":427,"updatedAt":428,"image":429},"Best Budget Gun Safes Under $800 (2026)","Budget gun safe picks under $800—a USA-made residential starter, a fire\u002Fwater capacity option, and a portable biometric lockbox—with clear limits on what this price band can buy.","2026-06-20","2026-08-15","\u002Fimages\u002Froundups\u002Fbest-budget-gun-safes.jpg",{"path":431,"title":432,"description":433,"category":415,"categoryTone":416,"publishedAt":434,"updatedAt":428,"image":435},"\u002Froundups\u002Fbest-gun-safes","Best Gun Safes in 2026 — What Actually Earns a Spot","2026 picks for residential long-gun storage, fire- and water-minded capacity, and portable quick-access—each matched to a distinct job, not a single ranking score.","2026-07-02","\u002Fimages\u002Froundups\u002Fbest-gun-safes.jpg",{"path":437,"title":438,"description":439,"category":420,"categoryTone":421,"publishedAt":440,"updatedAt":441,"image":442},"\u002Freviews\u002Fsecureit-agile-model-52","SecureIt Agile Model 52 Review — A Fast-Access Cabinet, Not a Fake Vault","SecureIt Agile Model 52 review covering a 105-pound modular 6-rifle cabinet with CradleGrid organization, biometric and keypad HSFA locking, and how it differs from fire-rated residential safes.","2026-07-30","2026-08-13","\u002Fimages\u002Freviews\u002Fsecureit-agile-model-52.jpg",{"path":226,"title":444,"description":445,"category":420,"categoryTone":421,"publishedAt":446,"updatedAt":447,"image":448},"Fort Knox Defender 6031 Review — 10-Gauge Steel and Two Hours of Fire for Serious Collections","Fort Knox Defender 6031 review covering 10-gauge uni-body steel, UL RSC listing, 2-hour fire at 1,700°F, 40-gun capacity, and the jump from 14-gauge residential safes.","2026-07-23","2026-08-11","\u002Fimages\u002Freviews\u002Ffort-knox-defender-6031.jpg",{"path":163,"title":450,"description":451,"category":420,"categoryTone":421,"publishedAt":452,"updatedAt":395,"image":453},"Browning Sporter SP23 Review — Premium Build and Fire Rating for Serious Collectors","Browning Sporter SP23 review covering 12-gauge steel, UL RSC listing, 80\u002F95-minute ThermaBlock fire protection, DPX door storage, and the step up from 14-gauge value safes.","2026-07-16","\u002Fimages\u002Freviews\u002Fbrowning-sporter-sp23.jpg",{"path":72,"title":455,"description":456,"category":420,"categoryTone":421,"publishedAt":457,"updatedAt":321,"image":458},"Liberty Centurion 24 Review — The USA-Made Workhorse That Fits Most Collections","Liberty Centurion 24 (CN24) review covering 40-minute fire rating, 14-gauge steel, dual-flex interior, installation, and trade-offs versus value imports and premium Browning safes.","2026-07-09","\u002Fimages\u002Freviews\u002Fliberty-centurion-24.jpg",{"path":460,"title":461,"description":462,"category":463,"categoryTone":464,"publishedAt":465,"updatedAt":466,"image":467},"\u002Fguides\u002Fhow-to-choose-a-gun-safe","How to Choose a Gun Safe (Without Getting Played by Marketing)","A practical gun safe buying guide covering threat models, fire ratings, lock types, capacity planning, bolting and delivery, budgets, and how to layer residential safes with quick-access lockboxes.","Guide","green","2026-06-03","2026-08-05","\u002Fimages\u002Fguides\u002Fhow-to-choose-a-gun-safe.jpg",{"path":469,"title":470,"description":471,"category":420,"categoryTone":421,"publishedAt":472,"updatedAt":473,"image":474},"\u002Freviews\u002Fwinchester-ts26-45","Winchester TS26-45 Review — Solid Capacity and Fire Protection Without the Premium Price","Winchester TS26-45 review covering Tractor Supply availability, 45-minute fire rating, bolt pattern, usable capacity, and delivery realities for this value full-size safe.","2026-06-26","2026-08-04","\u002Fimages\u002Freviews\u002Fwinchester-ts26-45.jpg",{"path":476,"title":477,"description":478,"category":420,"categoryTone":421,"publishedAt":479,"updatedAt":480,"image":481},"\u002Freviews\u002Fvaultek-lifepod-20-biometric","Vaultek LifePod 20 Biometric Review — Portable Security That Earns Its Keep","Full review of the Vaultek LifePod 20 Biometric—fitment, weather sealing, TSA travel use, biometrics vs keypad, and where it belongs in a layered storage plan.","2026-06-12","2026-08-01","\u002Fimages\u002Freviews\u002Fvaultek-lifepod-20-biometric.jpg",{"path":483,"title":484,"description":485,"category":420,"categoryTone":421,"publishedAt":486,"updatedAt":487,"image":488},"\u002Freviews\u002Fliberty-centurion-12","Liberty Centurion 12 Review — The Sensible First Real Gun Safe","Liberty Centurion 12 review covering fire rating, steel, true capacity, installation, and how this USA-made entry safe compares with light cabinets.","2026-06-06","2026-07-28","\u002Fimages\u002Freviews\u002Fliberty-centurion-12.jpg",{"path":490,"title":491,"description":492,"category":420,"categoryTone":421,"publishedAt":493,"updatedAt":494,"image":495},"\u002Freviews\u002Fstack-on-total-defense-22","Stack-On Total Defense 22 Review — Fire, Water, and Convertible Capacity","Stack-On Total Defense 22 review covering fire and water claims, convertible interior, bolting requirements, and how it compares with slim USA-made entry safes.","2026-06-17","2026-07-22","\u002Fimages\u002Freviews\u002Fstack-on-total-defense-22.jpg",1787249478797]