Pick a corner location in the house. One side of the safe will then be "protected" by a wall. Take the exposed side/wall of the safe and have them add an extra sheet of 7 gauge metal on that side. If you want to go hog wild, have them add the torch resistant 7 gauge stainless steel to the exposed side. They can do this with their 72" tall safe. They can do both sides of the safe, I suggested only one side to decrease your cost.
Terry (owner of Sturdy) actually talked me out of adding the harden plate around the dial lock (he mentioned that the area was already protected very well). After doing some more research, I came across this thread
House robbed, Sturdy Safe messed up. - AR15.COM
I figure with the added layers of security I already had in place, the hardened plate would be overkill and I could put the money elsewhere in the safe.
After all my research after owning a couple of safes, I went with the mechanical dial (on my previous "inexpensive" safes all had electronic locks). No regrets and easier than you'd think to open once you get use to it. One option to think about (if Sturdy) still offers it, is to have the "easy to read" dial installed (larger numbers, white on black). VERY easy on the eyes to read.
The only other two safes in consideration when I was looking was the Liberty Presidential model, and one of the higher end Fort Knox. As you have noticed, the savings can be substantial (as Sturdy sells direct to the homeowner).
For myself, this last safe purchase of mine was more than about protecting guns, but protecting other things that my wife and I and consider priceless (not much value to others, but more sentimental reasons). I figure with adding a fireproof box inside the the "fireproof" safe, it's about as safe as it's going to get if the house burns down.
In doing my research on my last purchase, there were many articles I had come across on the gypsum board the lower end safes were using. IMO when one goes looking for a tractor, one gets input from a tractor forum, when one goes looking for guns or a gun safe, one goes to a gun forum
I have no doubt in my mind after doing all the reading I had done on the subject, that someone with half a brain with some simple tools can attack the door (hardest attack point) of an "el cheapo" gun safe and be in within 10 minutes no problem (please keep in mind, I own some sub 1k safes). That said, even with a cheap gun safe, with multiple layers of security, you're increasing your odds that someone won't get in if they have the means to do so.
As of right now, I could of bought a $200 stack on and still wouldn't of had anyone steel anything (let's face it, what are the chances, particularly with the demographics of people on this forum that someone will actually break into your home?)
If you're going to spend the money on a quality safe, buy once, cry once. Go with the biggest safe you can afford and fit into your home. Particularly with the Sturdy, the inside dimensions decrease a good bit when you add the fireproofing. That said, me and a buddy can move our 600-700 lb safes all day long with a decent dolly. At least for myself, once you get into that plus 1200 lb range, getting someone who knows what their doing may not be a bad idea.
