Best Gun Safes for Long Rifles Australia 2026
The best gun safe in Australia for long rifles in 2026: CMI SS5/SS7, Guardall G4E, and Platinum HR24 ranked by capacity, compliance, and steel quality.
If you own long rifles in Australia, the safe you buy is not optional — it is a legal requirement, and getting the wrong one creates compliance exposure on top of security risk.
- Capacity, internal height, steel gauge, and state storage compliance decide the pick
- Guardall G4E 16 Rifle Cabinet is the standout for volume collectors; CMI Sports Shooter SS5 and SS7 suit modest collections
- The Platinum HR24 is the high-end option for 24-rifle capacity with serious steel
- Security Safes stocks all of them from Australian warehouses
Why this matters in 2026
Over 6,000 firearms have been stolen in Australia, with authorities raising consistent concerns that stolen guns filter into the black market. State police licensing units are also auditing storage compliance with increasing frequency — an inadequately secured firearm is both a criminal liability and a danger to your community. A long rifle typically measures between 1,000 mm and 1,300 mm barrel-to-stock; most pistol safes and home security safes will not accommodate that length. You need a unit purpose-built for rifles, rated to the correct category, and anchored correctly.
How we ranked
Every safe on this list was evaluated against four criteria: internal height sufficient for standard long rifle lengths (minimum 1,100 mm clearance), steel body thickness (heavier gauge resists pry attacks), locking mechanism reliability, and documented compliance with Australian standard AS/NZS 2252 or equivalent state firearms storage requirements. Capacity tiers matter too — a 3-rifle cabinet serves a Category A/B licence holder with two sporting rifles differently than a collector or dealer with 15+ firearms.
The ranked list
1. Guardall G4E — 16-Rifle Cabinet
The volume pick for serious collectors. The G4E takes 16 long arms in a single upright cabinet, which makes it the practical ceiling for most licensed individuals before you step into commercial-grade storage. The electronic digital locking mechanism gives you fast access without fumbling for keys, a real advantage if you store multiple firearms for a club or property. Internal construction separates barrels from stocks to prevent scratching and warping.
Capacity: 16 rifles. Verdict: Buy — if you own more than 8 long arms or anticipate growing your collection in 2026, this is the unit to buy once rather than twice.
2. CMI Sports Shooter SS5
The practical choice for the everyday licence holder. The SS5 is designed specifically for Australian firearms storage regulations, meaning the internal dimensions are calibrated to meet police inspection standards rather than being a generic steel cabinet retrofitted for guns. Five-rifle capacity covers the typical licensed shooter who owns a .22, a centrefire, and a shotgun with room to grow.
Steel body construction with a continuous piano hinge — a detail that matters because exposed hinge pins are a common pry-attack point on cheaper cabinets. The CMI brand is manufactured to Australian standards and is one of the most recognised names in compliant firearms storage.
Capacity: 5 rifles. Verdict: Buy — the right specification for a Cat A/B licence holder with a small-to-mid collection in 2026.
CMI Sports Shooter Rifle Safe SS5
3. CMI Sports Shooter SS7
The step-up from the SS5 when five slots aren't enough. Structurally identical to the SS5 in build quality — same continuous hinge, same CMI steel construction — but adds 2 additional rifle positions. That extra capacity is the difference between a cabinet that fits your current collection and one that accommodates the next acquisition without a second purchase.
The SS7 carries the same compliance credentials as the SS5 and fits the same footprint category, so installation and bolting requirements are equivalent.
Capacity: 7 rifles. Verdict: Buy — spend the incremental cost now if there is any chance your collection reaches 6 or 7 firearms within the next two years.
CMI Sports Shooter Rifle Safe SS7
4. Guardall G3-5 Rifle Cabinet — Key Locking
The straightforward key-lock option for those who prefer mechanical simplicity. Five-rifle capacity with a key-lock mechanism — no batteries to die, no keypad to malfunction. That is the argument for mechanical over electronic in a storage context where access frequency is low. The G3-5 suits rural property owners who store firearms used periodically for pest control and want a low-maintenance solution.
Key-locking mechanisms on quality cabinets are not inferior to electronic; they are a different risk profile. You are trading speed of access for the certainty of no electronic failure.
Capacity: 5 rifles. Verdict: Buy — the right call for low-access-frequency storage where battery management is an irritant.
Guardall G3-5 Rifle Cabinet Key Locking
5. Platinum HR24 — Hunter Safe 24-Rifle Capacity
The high-end pick for dealers, clubs, or large private collections. 24-rifle capacity in a heavy-gauge steel body makes the HR24 the largest practical option for private individuals in 2026. At this tier you are looking at a unit that requires two people to install and should be anchored to a concrete slab. The Platinum Hunter series is purpose-built for Australian conditions and regulatory requirements.
The internal layout accommodates a mix of long-arm types — bolt-action, semi-auto, pump-action shotguns — without forcing you to stack by type. Cabinet height clears 1,200 mm rifle lengths without modification.
Capacity: 24 rifles. Verdict: Buy — for dealers and serious collectors; overkill for the average licence holder, but the correct buy if your collection is already at 15+ firearms.
Platinum HR24 Hunter Safe 24 Rifle Capacity
Comparison table
| Safe | Capacity | Lock type | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guardall G4E | 16 rifles | Electronic digital | Collectors, rural properties |
| CMI Sports Shooter SS5 | 5 rifles | Key / mechanical | Cat A/B licence, small collections |
| CMI Sports Shooter SS7 | 7 rifles | Key / mechanical | Growing collections |
| Guardall G3-5 | 5 rifles | Key locking | Low-access rural storage |
| Platinum HR24 | 24 rifles | — | Dealers, clubs, large collections |
What to avoid
- Pistol safes or home security safes with short internal heights. A unit rated for handguns typically has internal clearances under 400 mm. A standard .308 bolt-action will not fit, and forcing it damages both firearm and safe. Check internal height, not just external dimensions, before purchasing.
- Cabinets without anchor points or with exposed hinges. Australian firearms regulations require that safes be secured to the structure of the building. A cabinet with no pre-drilled anchor holes forces improvised solutions that may not pass a police inspection. Exposed hinge pins are pried open in under 90 seconds with a crowbar — continuous piano hinges or hidden internal hinges are the correct specification.
- Uncertified imports with no Australian compliance documentation. Price is not the same as compliance. A safe that does not meet AS/NZS 2252 or the specific requirements of your state's firearms act creates legal liability regardless of how physically secure it appears.
Where to buy
- Security Safes (securitysafes.com.au) carries the complete CMI, Guardall, and Platinum rifle safe ranges with Australia-wide shipping. All listed products are stocked with Australian compliance documentation.
- Buy direct from a specialist retailer rather than a general hardware or auction platform. Provenance of compliance documentation matters at police inspections, and a specialist can confirm the unit meets your specific state's storage requirements.
- Confirm internal height specification before ordering — not every retailer publishes this clearly. Security Safes lists full dimensions on product pages.
FAQ
What is the best gun safe in Australia for long rifles in 2026?
The CMI Sports Shooter SS5 or SS7 is the best starting point for most licensed individuals — compliant with Australian standards, purpose-built internal dimensions, and available from Security Safes. The Guardall G4E suits collectors needing 16-rifle capacity.
Do I legally need a safe for my rifles in Australia?
Yes. All Australian states and territories require licensed firearms owners to store firearms in an approved locked storage device when not in use. The specific standard varies by state and firearm category, but a compliant steel cabinet is the minimum requirement for Category A and B firearms.
What internal height do I need for long rifles?
A minimum of 1,100 mm internal clearance accommodates most standard long arms. For larger calibre rifles with scopes mounted, 1,200 mm clearance is the safer specification. Always measure your longest firearm — barrel tip to stock butt — before selecting a safe.
Can I store ammunition in the same safe as my rifles?
Australian regulations generally require ammunition to be stored separately from firearms or in a separate locked compartment. Some dedicated rifle safes include a segregated ammo compartment. Check your state's specific requirements before assuming combined storage is permitted.
How heavy are rifle safes and do they need to be bolted down?
A 5-rifle cabinet typically weighs between 40 kg and 70 kg empty. Larger 16–24 rifle units can exceed 150 kg. Australian regulations require the safe to be anchored to the floor or wall structure of the building — dead weight alone does not satisfy the storage requirement.
Is electronic or key locking better for a rifle safe?
Neither is categorically better. Electronic digital locks allow faster access and multi-user codes but require battery maintenance. Key locks are mechanically reliable and require no power but carry key management risk. For low-access rural storage, key locking is the lower-maintenance choice.
How many rifles can a standard home safe hold?
A standard 5-rifle cabinet is the most common residential unit. Guardall and CMI both make 3, 5, 7, and 16-rifle variants. The Platinum HR24 reaches 24 rifles and is generally suited to dealers and large private collections rather than a typical residential setup.
One last thing
The single most common compliance failure identified during police safe inspections in Australia is not the wrong safe — it is a correctly specified safe that has not been bolted down. The regulations require the unit to be anchored to the building structure. If your safe arrived, you installed it, and it is sitting unbolted on a garage floor, you are not compliant regardless of what the cabinet's certification says. Bolt it down before the collection goes in.