I originally went with a smaller "budget safe" the first time for the kiddo factor, and a slight deterrent to a smash and grab kinda thief. About 5 years later, I bought a large (not the biggest at the time, but large) Liberty Lincoln. I moved the smaller budget safe to a small closet and now use it for storing ammunition. Put a lock on the closet door, and that is my "gun/hunting" closet. The wife unit no longer gives me crap about having my hunting stuff (except for clothes) spread out in the house in other closets, cabinets, etc., and she stays out of it.
I will say this, no matter the safe, bolt it down. The easiest access to break a safe is the bottom. The holes are already there (to bolt it down), and a battery operated recip saw and a short, quality blade can open them up pretty quick. Knock it over, cut away, and pull the guns right out the bottom.
The budget safe only had a combo option. The Liberty had a choice of combo or electronic lock and all the dealer had was electronic for my model, but I custom ordered mine with a brass innards combo. I am in mine about once a day, sometimes more. Once you do it daily for a while, it is a snap to get in quickly. The locksmith that installed mine told me he installed about 200 safes a year, and only a handful ever wanted a combo lock. He asked why I ORDERED mine that way. EMP or other electronic failure and I still get in no matter what with no delays after mistakes in input was my response, and that I keep what I'd need for immediate defense stashed close but undetectable anyway. He smiled and said he used electronic himself only because of his poor vision. He said I could work the lock 10's of thousands of times with brass innards and still hand off the safe to my kids, and them to theirs, as long as the combo was not abused, and the chance of failure would be slim to none.
Something else to consider. Once you get a "larger, nicer" safe, width is key. Many folks say get larger than you think you'll need, and there is some validity to that, depending on several factors. Beginning a gun collection, or only plan to add one every once in a while, kids moving on and taking theirs with them, etc. If you stack correctly, alternating rifles/shotguns, bolt orientations, and the vertical alignment of the bolt action guns, you might find you can get more guns than you think possible into your safe, as was the case for me. The width comes in handy because of this, and the ability to store a few more down the backside/outside of the guns in the traditional arrangement.
"Green" is the new RED.
