Best 24 Gun Safe – 5 Picks and How Many Rifles Really Fit

24 gun safe comparison: fire, water, steel and real capacity

The Sports Afield SA5924P has the best water rating, the Steelwater the thickest steel and longest fire rating, and the Fortress the lowest fire rating. This table puts the deciding specs side by side:

The best 24 gun safes, reviewed

Each 24 gun safe below wins one job: fire and flood, value, heavy steel, fingerprint entry or the lowest cost. Scores follow our how we score rubric.

Sports Afield Preserve SA5924P: Best overall 24 gun safe

3.3Best Safe Spec Score out of 5

• Security (lock and build)6/10
• Fire protection6/10
• Access (speed and ease)7/10
• Capacity7/10
• Value8/10

I gave security 6 for 14-gauge steel and six 1.5 in bolts; fire 6 for an unnamed independent 45-minute test; access 7 for a keypad with two override keys; capacity 7 because owners fit about 10-12 rifles; value 8 for the best water rating here.

How we score

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What we like

• 45 minutes at 1400°F and 7 days in 2 ft of water, both described as independent ratings by Sports Afield
• 14-gauge steel, six 1.5 in bolts (three active, three dead) and two override keys
• California DOJ approved, waterproof bolt-down kit and a lifetime warranty

What we don't like

• The lab behind the fire and water ratings is not named, so I count them below a UL or ETL listing
• Owners on Reddit report that nowhere near 24 long guns fit; one compares it to a Liberty 18

What owners and reviewers say from 4 reviews and posts we read

Praised for

• Sturdy and good-looking for the money once bolted down
• Flood and fire protection plus the lifetime warranty

Common complaints

• Holds far fewer than 24 long guns; owners stop at about 10 rifles and compare it to an 18-gun safe

Read on: Reddit r/Safes: Opinions on Sports Afield vs. Winchester gun safes (search excerpt only) · Reddit r/guns: Sport Afield safes, are they good/worth it? (search excerpt only) · Reddit r/canadaguns: Anyone here own/recommend this Sports Afield? (search excerpt only) · Reddit r/canadaguns: What safe would you purchase? (search excerpt only)

Who it's for: A homeowner with a dozen or so long guns who wants fire and flood cover in one box; Sports Afield calls the ratings independent but names no lab, and owners say it holds closer to 10-12 rifles than 24.

The Sports Afield Preserve SA5924P is a 24 + 4 gun fire and water safe from Sports Afield, and my overall pick. It weighs 348 lb and measures 59 x 24 x 20 in. Sports Afield gives 14-gauge steel, three 1.5 in active bolts plus three dead bolts, and an electronic lock with two override keys.

What sets it apart is water: 7 days in 2 ft of standing water, against 72 hours for the Wasatch. Sports Afield calls both its fire and water ratings independent but names no lab, so I treat them as a step above a maker claim and below UL 72. It is California DOJ approved and comes with a waterproof bolt-down kit.

What owners say: an r/guns owner calls the flood and fire cover plus the lifetime warranty hard to beat. The repeated complaint is capacity. An r/Safes owner says nowhere near 24 guns fit, and an r/canadaguns owner stopped at 10 rifles.

Wasatch 24 Gun Fire and Water Safe: Best value 24 gun safe for fire and water

3.3Best Safe Spec Score out of 5

• Security (lock and build)6/10
• Fire protection5/10
• Access (speed and ease)7/10
• Capacity7/10
• Value9/10

I scored security 6 for 12-gauge steel but only three active bolts; fire 5 for a 45-minute maker claim; access 7 for an easy keypad with a key; capacity 7 for 10-14 real long guns; value 9 for fire and water at the lowest cost.

How we score

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What we like

• 12-gauge (2 mm) steel, three 1.5 in active bolts and two dead bolts
• 45 minutes at 1400°F and 72 hours in 2 ft of standing water
• Electronic lock with alarm plus a backup key; external hinges for a full door swing

What we don't like

• Fire and water ratings are the maker's own; no lab named
• Walmart owners report long delivery waits and one door damaged on arrival

What owners and reviewers say review themes from 21 owner reviews, plus 3 posts and reviews we read

Praised for

• Easy to set up and program
• Secure and well featured for the price

Common complaints

• Long delivery waits
• A door damaged on arrival, and listing photos that hide the layout

Read on: Walmart: Wasatch 24 Gun Fire and Waterproof Long Gun Safe 24EGW reviews (21 reviews)

Who it's for: A first-time buyer who wants fire and flood cover at a lower cost; the ratings are the maker's own, it holds about 10-14 scoped long guns, and the gray version was out of stock on Amazon, so I link the dark bronze one.

The Wasatch 24 Gun Fire and Water Safe is a 296 lb, 24-gun fire and water safe from Wasatch, and my value pick. It matches the Sports Afield’s 45 minutes at 1400°F and adds 72 hours in 2 ft of water, both Wasatch’s own ratings.

The steel is 2 mm, which Wasatch equates to 12-gauge, with three 1.5 in active bolts and two dead bolts. An external hinge lets the door swing wide, and the shelves split into one full and three half shelves. The electronic lock has an alarm and a backup key. Gunners’ Review puts real capacity at 10-14 scoped long guns. The gray 24EGW was out of stock on Amazon when I checked, so I link the dark bronze version.

What owners say: Walmart buyers find it easy to set up and program and call it secure for the price. The complaints are long delivery waits and one door that arrived damaged, so inspect it before the driver leaves.

Steelwater Heavy Duty 20 Long Gun: Heaviest-built safe in the 24 gun class

3.6Best Safe Spec Score out of 5

• Security (lock and build)8/10
• Fire protection6/10
• Access (speed and ease)7/10
• Capacity7/10
• Value8/10

I gave security 8 for 12-gauge steel and ten bolts; fire 6 for a 60-minute maker rating with published build details; access 7 for a keypad with a bypass key; capacity 7 for 12-16 real rifles; value 8 for the build.

How we score

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What we like

• Longest fire rating here: 60 minutes at 1875°F (maker's rating) with a heat-expanding door seal
• 12-gauge steel and ten 1.5 in solid steel bolts
• Four corner anchor holes reinforced with extra plate steel

What we don't like

• Rated for 20, not 24, long guns; Steelwater says 12-16 is realistic
• Owners report keypads failing after three to six years

What owners and reviewers say from 5 reviews and posts we read

Praised for

• Long-term owners say it works well and feels well made
• Customer service sends parts quickly, including replacement keypads

Common complaints

• Keypad or lock failures after three to six years
• Minor cosmetic shipping damage and awkward mounting at install

Read on: Reddit r/CAguns: Steelwater GunSafes?? (search excerpt only) · Reddit r/Gun_Safes: Anyone have experience with Steelwater safes? (search excerpt only) · Yelp: Steelwater Gun Safes reviews (search excerpt only) · Reddit r/guns: Steelwater gun safe (search excerpt only) · Reddit r/Firearms: What does everyone recommend/prefer for gun safes? (search excerpt only)

Who it's for: A buyer with 12-16 scoped rifles who wants the thickest steel and longest fire rating here; the rating is Steelwater's own, and 453 lb needs a ground floor or slab and a delivery crew.

The Steelwater Heavy Duty 20 Long Gun is a 453 lb fire-rated gun safe from Steelwater. It is rated for 20 long guns, not 24, and I still include it. Steelwater calls 12-16 long guns realistic, which is what a 24 gun safe holds once rifles wear scopes.

You get 12-gauge steel, ten 1.5 in solid steel locking bolts and 60 minutes at 1875°F, the longest rating here but Steelwater’s own. The four corner anchor holes are backed by extra plate steel. Outside it is 59 x 28 x 18 in, plus 3 in for the handle.

What owners say: long-term owners on r/CAguns say it still works well, and Steelwater sends replacement parts quickly. The repeated complaint, also on Yelp, is a keypad that failed after three to six years. Keep the bypass key outside the safe.

XPEDITION 24 Gun Safe: Best 24 gun safe with a fingerprint reader

2.8Best Safe Spec Score out of 5

• Security (lock and build)4/10
• Fire protection4/10
• Access (speed and ease)8/10
• Capacity7/10
• Value6/10

I scored security 4 for 18-gauge steel and unpublished bolts; fire 4 for a maker claim with few details; access 8 for fingerprint, keypad and key; capacity 7 for a 24 claim owners doubt; value 6.

How we score

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What we like

• Fingerprint, keypad and key entry, with an alarm and a silent mode
• Listed 45 minutes at 1400°F with water resistance and an internal outlet
• Arrives fully assembled

What we don't like

• Listing says 18-gauge steel, much thinner than the 12- and 14-gauge picks
• Owners say it will never hold 24 guns, and one received a dented top and broken shelf

What owners and reviewers say review themes from 33 owner reviews, plus 8 posts and reviews we read

Praised for

• Easy to set codes and fingerprints, with a quick piston opening
• Solid, heavy build for the price

Common complaints

• Will never hold 24 guns
• A dent on top and a broken shelf on arrival

Read on: Abunda: XPEDITION 24 Gun Fireproof Safe listing reviews (keypad sibling of the same line) (33 reviews)

Who it's for: A buyer who wants fingerprint access to long guns; the listing gives 18-gauge steel, the thinnest here, and a maker fire claim with no lab, so it is a convenience pick, not a theft-resistance pick.

The XPEDITION 24 Gun Safe is a 326 lb fingerprint and keypad gun safe from XPEDITION, and my pick for two adults who want fingerprint entry. It also opens by keypad or key, and has an alarm with a silent mode and an internal outlet.

XPEDITION lists 45 minutes at 1400°F with no lab named. The steel gauge is listed as 18, much thinner than the 12- and 14-gauge picks here, so it keeps family and visitors out rather than resisting a pry bar. It is 55.5 x 23.5 x 20.7 in and arrives assembled.

What owners say: buyers on Abunda like the quick setup of codes and fingerprints. One owner wrote it “will never hold 24 guns,” and another found a dented top and a broken shelf.

Fortress 24 Gun Fire Safe: Best budget 24 gun safe

2.8Best Safe Spec Score out of 5

• Security (lock and build)5/10
• Fire protection4/10
• Access (speed and ease)6/10
• Capacity7/10
• Value7/10

I gave security 5 for 14-gauge steel and three 1 in bolts; fire 4 for a 30-minute, 1200°F maker claim; access 6 because owners report keypad failures; capacity 7 for a 24 claim that fits fewer scoped rifles; value 7.

How we score

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What we like

• Electronic lock with Alarm-U function plus a mechanical backup key
• Convertible interior and an external hinge for a wide door swing
• Lifetime warranty from Fortress

What we don't like

• Lowest fire rating here: 30 minutes at 1200°F, maker's own claim
• Owners on Lowe's and Facebook report keypads that stopped working, one with an override key that also failed

What owners and reviewers say from 4 reviews and posts we read

Praised for

• Solid, sturdy safe with a heavy door for the money
• The keypad works well for most owners

Common complaints

• Electronic lock failures, including one owner whose override key also failed
• An error light locked one owner out, with batteries not reachable from outside

Read on: Walmart: Fortress 24 Gun Fire Safe 24EBF reviews (search excerpt only) · Tennessee Gun Owners: Fortress 24 gun safe from Lowes, any opinions? (search excerpt only) · Lowe's: Fortress 24-Gun Fireproof Electronic Keypad Gun Safe reviews (search excerpt only) · Facebook group: Who can unlock a Fortress 24EBF gun safe with error light (search excerpt only)

Who it's for: A first-time buyer with a handful of long guns on a tight budget; the 30-minute, 1200°F rating is the lowest here and the maker's own, and owners report keypad failures, so keep the backup key outside the safe.

The Fortress 24 Gun Fire Safe is a 24-gun fire safe from Fortress and my budget pick. Fortress rates it for 30 minutes at 1200°F, the shortest and coolest rating here, and names no lab.

Fortress lists 14-gauge steel, three 1 in active bolts and two dead bolts; the Amazon listing gives 55 x 24 x 21 in. The electronic lock has an Alarm-U function and a mechanical backup key, with a lifetime warranty.

What owners say: Walmart buyers describe a solid safe with a heavy door. A Lowe’s reviewer says a keypad failed and the override key failed too. Test the backup key the day it arrives.

Which 24 gun safe should you get

• Basement or flood risk: Sports Afield Preserve SA5924P (7 days in 2 ft of water).
• Fire and water on a tighter budget: Wasatch 24.
• Thickest steel, longest fire rating, 12-16 rifles: Steelwater Heavy Duty 20.
• Fingerprint entry for two adults: XPEDITION 24.
• Lowest cost into a fire-lined safe: Fortress 24EBF.

How many guns really fit in a 24 gun safe

A 24 gun safe holds about 12-16 long guns in practice, because the 24 assumes slim rifles with no scopes. Owners on The High Road advise to “always take the max number of long guns they say the safe will hold and cut it by at least 1/3.” That turns 24 into 16.

The model data agrees. Gunners’ Review puts the Wasatch at 10-14 scoped long guns. Steelwater calls 12-16 realistic in its 20-gun safe. Sports Afield owners stop at about 10 rifles. A scope, a pistol grip or an inserted magazine each takes extra room, while slim shotguns take less. The other High Road line I’d repeat: “BUY A BIGGER SAFE THAN YOU THINK YOU NEED.” If you already own 12 long guns, a 24 gun safe is full on day one.

24 gun safe fire ratings and who certified them

A 24 gun safe’s fire protection is rated in minutes at an outside temperature, and it only means as much as whoever ran the test. No 24 gun safe is fireproof. Dean Safe notes that paper starts to discolor just above 350°F, so the rating is how long the inside should stay below that.

• UL 72 or Intertek/ETL: a named independent lab. None of these five lists one.
• Independent, lab not named: Sports Afield’s wording for the SA5924P.
• Maker’s own rating: Wasatch, XPEDITION, Fortress and Steelwater.

Temperatures differ too: 1200°F for Fortress, 1400°F for three picks and 1875°F for Steelwater. Compare minutes first. For passports and drives, add a UL-classified box; our safe for guns and documents guide covers that pairing.

How to install a 24 gun safe

Install a 24 gun safe empty, on the ground floor, and bolt it down before you load it. These steps work for any of the five:

1. Measure every doorway, turn and step on the delivery path against the safe’s size.
2. Choose a ground-floor spot on concrete, away from exterior walls that sweat.
3. Have the delivery crew place it empty, with the door and shelves out of the way.
4. Mark the anchor holes, drill and set concrete anchor bolts, then torque them.
5. Load the heaviest items low, rifles on one side and shelves on the other.
6. Add a rechargeable dehumidifier and a hygrometer, since fire lining holds moisture.

At 296-453 lb, read how to move a heavy gun safe before delivery day, and our steps on how to bolt down a safe for wood floors and studs.

24 gun safe problems owners run into, and the fix

Most 24 gun safe complaints come down to overstated capacity, dead keypads, rust and drilling the floor. The Sports Afield lock tutorial in this section shows how to program a new code.

The 24 gun safe is full at 12 rifles

This is the top complaint in r/Safes and The High Road threads. The fix is to count your guns, add the ones you plan to buy, and divide by two thirds before choosing a size.

The 24 gun safe keypad dies

Keypad failures show up for the Steelwater and Fortress, and one High Road reply put it bluntly: “Electronic locks fail. Mechanical locks keep working.” All five picks pair the electronic lock and key backup. Change the battery every year, keep one key outside the safe, and call the maker with proof of ownership if the lock still won’t open.

Rust inside the 24 gun safe

Fire-lined safes trap humidity. A High Road owner’s advice: “Get rid of the gun socks, they attract moisture and don’t allow for air to move evaporating moisture.” Use a rechargeable dehumidifier and check the hygrometer monthly; see our gun safe dehumidifier picks.

Bolting a 24 gun safe to a slab

An AR15.com member warned that “drilling in to a post tension slab is a very bad idea.” Look for a stamp in the garage or ask the builder. If it is post-tension, have it scanned first or anchor to wall studs instead.

How we picked these 24 gun safes

I kept only safes that two or more ranking pages recommend and that had an in-stock Amazon US listing on November 4, 2026. Cape Fear Investigative and Gunners’ Review back the Wasatch; Cape Fear and Gun Safes Resource back the Fortress; Cape Fear and Chimo Guns back the XPEDITION; Top Firearm Reviews and Gunners’ Review shortlist the Steelwater; Gunners’ Review and Dean Safe feature the Sports Afield.

The Liberty Centurion 24, the most featured 24 gun safe in the top results, has no Amazon US listing, and the Cannon 24 listing was unavailable. I checked each spec on the maker’s page or Amazon listing and read owner threads for each. I did not handle these safes myself.

24 gun safe storage rules and your next step

Gun storage rules differ by state and city, so check your state’s official firearm storage page; this guide is not legal advice. In California, confirm a model on the California DOJ roster of firearm safety devices; Sports Afield lists the SA5924P as DOJ approved.

Next, check what your floor can hold in our guide to how much a gun safe weighs, or run through the safe buying checklist.