Long-gun safe · No. 6 of 15
Liberty Centurion 24
14-gauge steel · 40 min fire rating · Keypad
8.7/10Very good$829Nov 13, 2026
Liberty Centurion 24 vs Steelwater Heavy Duty 20
Liberty Centurion 24 or Steelwater Heavy Duty 20? The Centurion 24 scores 0.4 higher; here is where each one earns its place.
$829at Liberty Safe, Nov 13, 2026
Check price at Liberty Safe
Long-gun safe · No. 10 of 15
Steelwater Heavy Duty 20
12-gauge steel · 60 min fire rating · Keypad + key
8.3/10Good$1,399Nov 13, 2026
Short answer: Liberty Centurion 24 wins this one, 8.7/10 against 8.3/10, mainly on price and warranty and returns. Steelwater Heavy Duty 20 answers with steel thickness and fire rating.
What really separates them?
The entry-level question in one pair: a famous name with thinner steel, or a lesser-known one with more of it. The Centurion 24 is $829, 14-gauge, with a 40 minutes fire claim, a UL-listed lock and Liberty's lifetime warranty in writing. The Steelwater is $570 more for 12-gauge steel, 60 minutes at 1875°F, 10 bolts and interior lighting, but we could not read its warranty or return terms. Our formula sides with the Liberty because price and stated cover weigh heavily. If you can get Steelwater's warranty in writing, the heavier box is the better safe for the money.
Decide
Which one is for you?
Choose the Liberty Centurion 24 if
- You want to spend less: $829 against $1,399
- You want the stronger cover: transferable lifetime warranty that covers fire damage and attempted break-ins; the lock is covered for 5 years (10 years for $99 or life for $159), per Liberty's warranty page
- You want the "made in USA" claim in writing: "Made in the USA with American and global parts", per Liberty
Choose the Steelwater Heavy Duty 20 if
- Steel thickness comes first: 12-gauge steel, against 14-gauge steel
- Fire is your main worry: 60 minutes at 1,875°F, by the brand's figures, against 40 minutes at 1,200°F, by the brand's figures
- You want more ways to open it: keypad + key, against keypad
2 safes in this table: scroll sideways to see them all
| Safe | ||
|---|---|---|
| Type | Long-gun safe | Long-gun safe |
| Capacity | 24 long guns (claimed) | 20 long guns (claimed) |
| Body steel | 14-gauge steel | 12-gauge steel |
| Fire rating | 40 min at 1,200°F (brand's claim) | 60 min at 1,875°F (brand's claim) |
| Ways to open | Keypad | Keypad + Key |
| Approvals stated | CA DOJ | CA DOJ |
| Locking bolts | 7 | 10 |
| Weight | 375 lb | 453 lb |
| Outside size | 59.5 × 28.25 × 20 in | 59 × 28 × 18 in (add 3 in for the handle) |
| Inside size | Not stated | 56 1/4 × 25 3/8 × 14 1/4 in |
| Made in USA | Yes, per the brand | Not stated |
| Warranty | Lifetime | Not stated |
| Returns | 30 days | Not stated |
| Shipping | Charged or quoted | Charged or quoted |
| Sold by | Liberty Safe | Steelwater |
| Where to buy | Check price at Liberty Safe | Check price at Steelwater |
✓ marks the better figure. "Not stated" means the seller's page doesn't publish it. Fire ratings and capacities are the brands' own claims. Prices checked November 13, 2026 at the seller named in the table.
Which one is built stronger?
Liberty Centurion 24: 14-gauge steel body; folded steel frame ("Dual Fusion"), per Liberty; 7 locking bars, 3/16 in thick; 375 lb. Steelwater Heavy Duty 20: 12-gauge steel; 4 7/8 in composite door with two layers of fireboard, per Steelwater; 10 solid steel bolts, 1.5 in across: 7 active, 3 fixed on the hinge side; 453 lb.
Gauge runs backwards: a lower number is thicker steel. The Heavy Duty 20 is 78 lb heavier, which helps once it is bolted down and hurts on delivery day. Approvals stated on the pages: Liberty Centurion 24, CA DOJ; Steelwater Heavy Duty 20, CA DOJ. A listing we can't read on the seller's page is one we can't count. Bolt down whichever you choose.
Which one protects better against fire?
Liberty Centurion 24: "40 Minutes Fire Protection at 1200°F", per Liberty (liberty's product text says 40 minutes for the Centurion 24; the comparison table lower on the same page still prints 30 minutes). Steelwater Heavy Duty 20: "60 minute fire proofing at 1875°F", per Steelwater.
These are the brands' own figures, quoted as written; no gun safe is fireproof. The test temperatures differ, so the minutes don't compare directly: a shorter time at a higher temperature can be the harder test. Our gun safe fire rating guide explains how to read these numbers.
Which lock is easier to live with?
Liberty Centurion 24: S&G Spartan electronic lock, UL-listed per Liberty. Steelwater Heavy Duty 20: digital keypad described as EMP-proof, with a double-bitted bypass key, per Steelwater. Power: one 9-volt battery.
More ways in means fewer bad surprises: a key or a mechanical lock still works when a battery is flat. Whichever lock you choose, the code and the keys stay with the adults; the guide to California DOJ approved gun safes links the official child-safety advice, and storage laws differ by state.
What do they cost, and what cover do you get?
On November 13, 2026: Liberty Centurion 24 $829 at Liberty Safe, Steelwater Heavy Duty 20 $1,399 at Steelwater. That is $570 between them.
Warranty: Liberty Centurion 24, transferable lifetime warranty that covers fire damage and attempted break-ins; the lock is covered for 5 years (10 years for $99 or life for $159), per Liberty's warranty page; Steelwater Heavy Duty 20, no warranty term on the pages we read. Returns: Liberty Centurion 24, 30 days from purchase, per Liberty's refund policy; Steelwater Heavy Duty 20, no return window on the pages we read. Delivery: Liberty Centurion 24, priced at checkout: curbside, in-home or in-home with bolt-down, per Liberty; Steelwater Heavy Duty 20, no delivery terms on the pages we read.
Where to go from here
Full reviews: Liberty Centurion 24 review and Steelwater Heavy Duty 20 review. Both appear in our ranking of the best gun safes, fireproof gun safe, best rifle safe, budget gun safe, american made gun safes.
Other head-to-heads: Liberty Centurion 24 vs SecureIt Agile 52, Browning Sporter 23 vs Steelwater Heavy Duty 20.
Still deciding what kind of safe you need? Read our guide: Gun safe fire ratings explained.
By Grant Holloway, editor, gun safes · updated November 13, 2026
Liberty Centurion 24 or Steelwater Heavy Duty 20: quick answers
All head-to-headsIs the Liberty Centurion 24 better than the Steelwater Heavy Duty 20?
In our formula, yes: 8.7/10 against 8.3/10, with the edge on price and warranty and returns. The Steelwater Heavy Duty 20 is ahead on steel thickness and fire rating, which may matter more in your home.
Which is cheaper, the Centurion 24 or the Heavy Duty 20?
The Liberty Centurion 24: $829 against $1,399 on November 13, 2026.
Which has the thicker steel?
Liberty Centurion 24: 14-gauge steel. Steelwater Heavy Duty 20: 12-gauge steel. A lower gauge number means thicker steel.
Which has the better fire rating?
Liberty Centurion 24: 40 minutes at 1,200°F, by the brand's figures. Steelwater Heavy Duty 20: 60 minutes at 1,875°F, by the brand's figures. Both figures are the brands' own claims.