Best Long Gun Safes for Rifles and Shotguns (2026): 8 Picks Ranked

Last updated March 28th 2026

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Best Long Gun Safes in 2026 at a Glance

Introduction: Long Gun Safes in 2026

Buying a safe for rifles and shotguns comes with challenges that handgun safes don’t have. You need interior height for barrel length, enough width for scoped rifles without them banging into each other, and capacity ratings that aren’t complete fiction. Spoiler alert: a “24-gun safe” holds maybe 15 scoped rifles. Maybe.

I’ve been testing and reviewing gun safes for years, and the long gun category is where manufacturers stretch the truth the most. That “24-gun capacity” assumes you’re stacking rifles like sardines with no optics, slings, or accessories. Real-world capacity is typically 60-75% of the advertised number.

So I’ve focused on safes that actually accommodate long guns well: enough interior width for scoped rifles, adjustable racks, and door organizers that don’t eat into barrel space. These eight picks cover everything from a 4-gun locker to a 40-gun vault.

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1. Liberty Centurion 24 — Best Overall Long Gun Safe

• Capacity: 24 guns (realistically 15-18 scoped)
• Steel: 12-gauge body
• Fire Rating: 40 minutes @ 1200°F
• Lock: SecuRam electronic
• Weight: 425 lbs
• MSRP: ~$900

The Liberty Centurion is the safe I recommend more than any other in the mid-range category. At $900, you get 12-gauge steel, a legitimate 40-minute fire rating, and Liberty’s lifetime warranty. That’s a combination nobody else matches at this price point.

For long guns specifically, the interior height accommodates rifles up to 52 inches. The adjustable rack system lets you configure the layout for scoped rifles, and the door panel holds handguns and accessories without crowding the main compartment. Realistically, plan for 15-18 scoped rifles. That’s honest capacity.

Delivery is the only headache. At 425 pounds, you’re either paying for white-glove delivery or recruiting some serious help. But once it’s in place and bolted down, this safe will protect your rifles for decades. Liberty doesn’t cut corners where it matters.

Best For: The gun owner who wants genuine rifle protection at a price that doesn’t require a second mortgage.

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2. Sports Afield Instinct 24 — Best Value Long Gun Safe

• Capacity: 24 guns (15-16 scoped)
• Steel: 14-gauge body
• Fire Rating: 30 minutes @ 1200°F
• Lock: Electronic keypad
• Weight: 250 lbs
• MSRP: ~$500

At $500, the Sports Afield Instinct delivers more safe than you’d expect. You get 14-gauge steel, a 30-minute fire rating, and electronic lock access. It shows up regularly at Costco and Sam’s Club, sometimes even cheaper during sales.

For long guns, the interior is adequately sized for rifles up to 50 inches. Not as spacious as the Liberty Centurion, but workable. The barrel rests are standard foam, and the door panel is basic. You get what you pay for in the details, but the fundamentals (steel, fire protection, locking mechanism) are solid.

This is the safe I recommend to first-time buyers who want real protection without the $500 ceiling feeling like a compromise. It’s genuinely good for the money.

Best For: First-time safe buyers who want legitimate protection at a budget-friendly price.

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3. Browning SP23 — Best Premium Long Gun Safe

• Capacity: 23 guns (15-17 scoped)
• Steel: 12-gauge body, 10-gauge door
• Fire Rating: 80 minutes @ 1680°F
• Lock: S&G electronic
• Weight: 540 lbs
• MSRP: ~$1,400

If you’re willing to spend real money on a long gun safe, the Browning SP23 is where quality gets serious. That 80-minute fire rating at 1680 degrees is nearly double what most competitors offer. The 10-gauge door is beefy enough to shrug off serious pry attacks.

Browning’s DPX door storage system is the best in the business for organizing handguns and accessories on the door panel without eating into rifle space. The main compartment handles scoped rifles well, and the adjustable rack system is thoughtfully designed for real-world gun collections.

At $1,400, you’re paying for premium everything: thicker steel, better fire protection, superior interior organization, and the Browning name. For a collection of quality rifles, it’s worth it. Check our best safes under $1,500 guide for more options in this range.

Best For: Serious rifle collectors who want top-tier fire and theft protection.

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4. Sports Afield Preserve 40 — Best Large Capacity

• Capacity: 40 guns (25-30 scoped)
• Steel: 14-gauge body
• Fire Rating: 45 minutes @ 1400°F
• Lock: Electronic keypad
• Weight: 485 lbs
• MSRP: ~$800

When you’ve outgrown a 24-gun safe, the Preserve 40 is the logical next step. The wider body accommodates scoped rifles without the sardine-can feeling. At $800, it’s remarkably affordable for this much interior space.

The 45-minute fire rating and 14-gauge steel are respectable for the price. Not as beefy as the Browning, but significantly better than budget safes. The adjustable interior lets you configure long gun racks and shelving to suit your collection’s mix of rifles, shotguns, and accessories.

If you’re the type who keeps buying guns (we all are), buy more safe than you think you need. The Preserve 40 gives you room to grow without breaking the bank.

Best For: Growing collections of 15+ long guns that need room to expand.

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5. Winchester Bandit 14 — Best Budget Long Gun Safe

• Capacity: 14 guns (10-12 scoped)
• Steel: 14-gauge body
• Fire Rating: 45 minutes @ 1400°F
• Lock: Electronic keypad
• Weight: 230 lbs
• MSRP: ~$500

Winchester packs a surprising amount of safe into a compact package. The Bandit 14 gives you 14-gauge steel and a 45-minute fire rating for around $500. That fire rating matches safes costing twice as much.

The trade-off is size. It’s narrower than most 24-gun safes, which means scoped rifles fit tighter. If you’re running ARs with optics and accessories, you’ll max out at 8-10 rifles. For bolt-action hunting rifles without bulky scopes, you’ll get closer to the advertised 14.

At 230 pounds, bolt this one down. It’s light enough for two determined thieves to move without a dolly. Bolted to concrete, it’s a different story entirely. Great value for hunters and apartment dwellers with modest collections.

Best For: Hunters with 6-10 long guns who want real safe protection at a budget price.

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6. Hornady AR Gunlocker — Best Compact Rifle Safe

• Capacity: 4 long guns
• Steel: 16-gauge body
• Fire Rating: None
• Lock: Electronic RFID + keypad
• Weight: 90 lbs
• MSRP: ~$400

The Hornady AR Gunlocker is purpose-built for modern sporting rifles. The interior is sized for AR-15s with optics, lights, and accessories attached. No fumbling with tight rack spacing or removing accessories before storage.

The RFID lock system is blazing fast. Tap the key fob, wristband, or sticker to the reader and the door pops open. For home defense rifles that need to be accessible in seconds, this is the fastest option on the market.

No fire protection is the obvious trade-off. This is a security locker, not a vault. For a bedroom or closet rifle setup where speed matters more than fire resistance, it’s perfect. For long-term storage of valuable rifles, get a full-size safe instead.

Best For: AR-15 owners who need fast-access storage for 2-4 rifles.

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7. Vaultek RS500i — Best Smart Rifle Safe

• Capacity: 5 long guns
• Steel: 14-gauge body
• Fire Rating: None
• Lock: Biometric + WiFi + Bluetooth
• Weight: 114 lbs
• MSRP: ~$800

Vaultek is the Tesla of gun safes: smart, connected, and priced accordingly. The RS500i connects to your home WiFi and sends alerts when someone opens (or tampers with) the safe. The app tracks access history, battery status, and humidity levels inside.

The biometric scanner holds up to 20 fingerprints and opens in under a second. Combined with the keypad and key backup, you have three ways to get in. The interior is modular with adjustable rifle racks and LED lighting. It’s the most feature-rich small rifle safe on the market.

At $800 for a 5-gun safe with no fire rating, you’re paying a premium for tech. Whether that’s worth it depends on how much you value smart home integration and remote monitoring. For a tech-savvy gun owner, it’s fantastic. For a no-frills type, it’s overkill.

Best For: Tech-forward gun owners who want smart monitoring and biometric access for a small rifle collection.

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8. SnapSafe In-Wall Long Gun Safe — Best Hidden Option

• Capacity: 2 long guns
• Steel: 16-gauge body
• Fire Rating: None
• Lock: Electronic keypad
• Weight: 38 lbs
• MSRP: ~$350

The best safe is the one burglars don’t know exists. The SnapSafe In-Wall installs between wall studs and hides behind a mirror, picture, or bookcase. Your home defense rifle is right there, accessible in seconds, and completely invisible to anyone who doesn’t know it’s there.

Installation requires cutting drywall and mounting the safe between two standard 16-inch-on-center studs. It’s a 2-hour project if you’re handy. The safe fits rifles up to 46 inches, so standard ARs and carbines work. Full-length hunting rifles won’t fit.

This isn’t your primary storage safe. Think of it as a staging safe for your home defense long gun. Your main collection goes in a full-size safe. Your go-to rifle lives in the wall, ready when you need it. Pair it with a hidden gun safe for a truly covert setup.

Best For: Home defense setups where concealment and quick access are the top priorities.

Buying Guide: What to Look for in a Long Gun Safe

Interior width is the most important spec for long gun safes. Scoped rifles need 4-5 inches of spacing between them. Multiply the number of scoped rifles you own by 4.5 inches and compare that to the safe’s interior width. If the math doesn’t work, go bigger.

Interior height needs to accommodate your longest gun. Measure your longest rifle from butt to muzzle and add 2 inches. Most full-size safes offer 54-56 inches of internal height, which handles rifles up to 52 inches. Shotguns with 28-inch barrels plus stock can hit 48 inches, so they fit most safes.

Don’t forget fire ratings. If your collection is worth more than a couple thousand dollars, fire protection is non-negotiable. A 30-minute rating at 1200 degrees is the minimum I’d recommend. The best fireproof safes hit 60-90 minutes.

And always buy more capacity than you think you need. Your collection will grow. Trust me on this one. A “24-gun safe” holding 15 scoped rifles today is a full safe tomorrow when you inevitably add a new hunting rifle and that AR you’ve been eyeing. Go bigger upfront and save yourself from buying a second safe in two years.

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