Gun Safe Problems

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DS Gun

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Less than a year ago I bought a gun safe. I got it from Sam's Club and it says Western Winchester on the front. It has a SecuRAM electronic combination controller.

We went on a vacation for 12 days and we just got home. I thought it would be a good idea to lock up my car keys in the safe just to be extra careful since the car would be sitting in the garage. Of course I also have a bunch of other stuff in there as well. The problem is now I can't get into the $%# thing! I have never had any problems but today I enter the 6 digit code and it just beeps twice and nothing. I try again and it beeps twice and then beeps every 5 seconds for 5 minutes. The password is 100% accurate so that is not the problem. I have not been this stressed out for ages... I am of course worried about my other items but I need those car keys to get to work.

Has anyone else ever had this problem? Recommendations? I replaced the 9 Volt battery with a new one and that didn't work. I am planning on calling the SecuRam company tomorrow but wanted to check here for suggestions also. I am so pissed. If I didn't spend so much money on that safe I would be drilling/sawing/whatever to get inside.

Thanks for any help. :banghead::banghead::banghead:
 
I think you're going to have to call a locksmith.

Thank you, by the way. I'm in the market for a safe and was on the fence between a mechanical vs. electronic lock, I think you have convinced me to go w/ the mechanical.
 
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Mechanical all the way. Your battery died which usually defaults the code, and this is going to cost you a house call. Sorry bud.
 
sounds like your safe could be made by granite safe. you may try calling them. they are in fort worth, tx. they make/made alot of safes for winchester and bass pro shops under the redhead brand. a locksmith can drill it open too but it still wont work properly. did you get any paperwork with the safe? mine is a granite from bass pro and has a pretty good warranty although i cant rememeber what it is. good luck!
 
Sometimes mine won't open and I turn the handle hard right first and then left and it opens. Other than that it sounds like time for a locksmith.
 
I do have some paperwork and it is by Granite Security Products. I am going to give them a call tomorrow. It has been less than a year since getting this safe. I was worried about getting an all electronic lock and now I wish I had listened to my worries. Never again.

The original battery was fine and the keys still beeped when pressed. I only replaced the battery to ensure the battery wasn't the issue.
 
When you call the locksmith out, ask him how much to convert it to a mechanical lock and if he can bring that with him on the first trip.

Everytime I've talked to a locksmith they recommened mechanical locks over electronic locks. They've just seen too many electronic locks fail and replacing them can be a regular occurence.
 
Thank you thank you thank you preachnhunt! I tried doing what you said twice and the second time around I heard the locks release. I grabbed those car keys so fast you can't imagine. I wonder what happened and whether I should be worried about it breaking down now. It was so expensive and so hard to move around to just get rid of it. I have not closed it yet but tried the keypad several times with the door open and it is working fine now.
 
I wonder if I could change it to a mechanical lock, that would be nice. I know that would probably void my warranty but the warranty is only for a year anyways.
 
Looks as though your safe has the same foot print as a traditional combination lock. It will have to be professionaly installed by a locksmith or safe technician. Make sure you call someone who know's what they are doing.

I am installing a digital lock on a safe for the local sheriffs dept. I tried to convince them not to but they insisted. So be it.
 
Thank you thank you thank you preachnhunt! I tried doing what you said twice and the second time around I heard the locks release. I grabbed those car keys so fast you can't imagine. I wonder what happened and whether I should be worried about it breaking down now. It was so expensive and so hard to move around to just get rid of it. I have not closed it yet but tried the keypad several times with the door open and it is working fine now.
Click to expand...

You had back pressure on the lock. This is where the bolt work of the safe is resting against the bolt of the lock. The little solenoid inside isn't strong enough to operate properly due to that pressure and voila, you get the proper beep indicating a correct combo, but the handle won't turn.

Common problem with gun safes, and the solution you just learned will work every time if that's the only problem. You can also put pressure on the handle in the locking direction and hold it while entering your combo.

Most UL rated locks are interchangeable. You can easily switch from an electronic to mechanical and vice versa.
 
I am in the market for a safe as well. Good to know.

I think I have decided on a mechanical dial rather than digital though. I would prefer that it last "forever" and I definately don't trust the electronic lock to do that.
 
I would like to be able to open this one with a key as well, that would be nice. I am going to research switching this one to a mechanical lock. Thanks all for the help!
 
Im happy you got it open and also happy I learned this trick since I have a similar safe. Good thing I joined this site!
 
DS Gun said:
I would like to be able to open this one with a key as well, that would be nice.
Click to expand...

Can any expert here comment on the security of a lock with a key option. Is a pure combination lock without the key option more secure?

It seems like a key option adds a path of entry that may be easily compromised by someone who can pick locks. Plus, people tend to place such keys somewhere in the house, like in their nightstand or in their "secret hiding place" that isn't really too secretive.
 
Now just think if it had been a SHTF situ and you were trying to get your guns out of the safe...

Like many who think guns should be 'locked away' would have you store them... in a safe.
 
Can any expert here comment on the security of a lock with a key option. Is a pure combination lock without the key option more secure?

It seems like a key option adds a path of entry that may be easily compromised by someone who can pick locks. Plus, people tend to place such keys somewhere in the house, like in their nightstand or in their "secret hiding place" that isn't really too secretive.
Click to expand...

This is an area where people can get confused. The safe the poster is talking about has a key override. Many gun safes also have key locking dials. This key has nothing to do with the lock, but simply keeps the dial from turning.

Many of the safes with key overrides are not as secure as you would think. They use non UL rated locks which in many cases do not have the safeguards against bouncing or other simple attacks. They key locks also tend to be easy to pick open.

I have never seen a UL rated lock with a key over ride, although they do make redundant locks that use mechanical and electronic functions in the same lock. They also make redundant locks that use electronics only.

If you do want your safe to operate with a key, you can install a UL rated keyed safe lock on the safe. These locks will also fit easily into where your existing mechanical or electronic lock is mounted.
 
Well my safe, with an electronic keypad, has a manual key override in case the battery goes totally dead or I forget the combination. It's a PITA to use; you have to remove the digital kepad which is done by taking out some screws. But then the mechanical key overrides and allows you to open the door. Then, with the door unlocked, you can redo the electronic combination just like when it was new.
 
the exact same happened to me

but according to the directions, it says if you enter the right code and it does not open, push down on the handle to the left ---well I did ...and now the damn thing keeps spinning! crap! any suggestions? can a lock smith get past this?
 
Am I the only one interested in making a gun "room"? Thinking of one of those key pad locks on the door. Have the walls filled with guns and a work table in the center :)
 
I bought a Winchester safe from Sam's Club and it has a traditional combination lock, went in there a month later and all they had were ones with the digital locks. Was kinda disappointed at the time, but in retrospect I'm glad I got the one I got. No problems with it at all.
 
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