Panic at the gun locker in the night

[Shawn Dodson]

I got a GunVault MiniVault well over 2 decades ago. I still have it and it's flawless.

When I first got it, I set my alarm clock on the weekends to wake me up at 2:30 A.M. so I could test how easy/difficult it was to open when I awakened from a deep sleep.

I found that complex combinations that require pressing two buttons at the same time caused me problems with getting the MiniVault open right after waking up.

Lesson learned. I use a combination that only requires pressing a single button one-at-a-time. Yes, it's not as secure, but it's better than not being able to enter the correct combination when half asleep.

(The MiniVault has a feature that detects when somebody tampers with the combination lock.)

One other test I did was I put a $20 bill in it and told my daughters they could have it if they could open it. They tried and tried and tried but failed.

 

[Old Hobo]

I'll be honest - if I had to react to a break-in from the shower, I don't know if the firearm or the sight of a wet, naked, fat old guy will be more lethal to the intruder. I mean, he might die laughing. Legally, could I be held liable for that...inquiring mindless want to know...

Subject: Old

Might not the tub also be old?! ... as in an old iron tub.

Use that tub's iron to your advantage. Could not that tub provide some cover in addition to concealment?! Wooden door to yaw the bullet and an iron intervention to deflect its path = a good thing for you as you hand-out leaden gifts at high velocity in recompense.

I cannot afford the felon gold. I've but lead instead. 'Tis awful to the head I'm told.
.................................

 

[lightman]

I'm glad that this was a false alarm and you were not a victim. I'm also glad that you considered this to be a wake up call and have made other plans.

 

[Riomouse911]

Hmmmm. And naive folks think electronic gun mechanisms and magic rings are the way to go, huh? A prime example of Mr. Murphy and his laws in action. At least it wasn’t some tweaked out burglar looking for a fight.

For me, a CZ 75 SP-01 is on the nightstand. It goes in the safe when I am out or guests are over. I have had to jump up and get it one time, when the Santa Ana winds apparently kept a door from fully closing and a gust blew it open just enough to set off the alarm at 0300.

Stay safe.

 

[armoredman]

Subject: Old

Might not the tub also be old?! ... as in an old iron tub.

Use that tub's iron to your advantage. Could not that tub provide some cover in addition to concealment?! Wooden door to yaw the bullet and an iron intervention to deflect its path = a good thing for you as you hand-out leaden gifts at high velocity in recompense.

I cannot afford the felon gold. I've but lead instead. 'Tis awful to the head I'm told.
.................................

I wish - my wife would LOVE an old claw foot cast iron tub. The one we have is 22 year old plastic.

 

[Ignition Override]

This keeps happening, multiple times. Why didn't the homeowner, several times, at least yell out "I've got a gun --Go Away !" ?? Shout out Something......

MSN

It could never be any of our sons or daughters if they were under the influence or very fatigued/under high stress?

 

[JTHunter]

I got a GunVault MiniVault well over 2 decades ago. I still have it and it's flawless.

When I first got it, I set my alarm clock on the weekends to wake me up at 2:30 A.M. so I could test how easy/difficult it was to open when I awakened from a deep sleep.

I found that complex combinations that require pressing two buttons at the same time caused me problems with getting the MiniVault open right after waking up.

Lesson learned. I use a combination that only requires pressing a single button one-at-a-time. Yes, it's not as secure, but it's better than not being able to enter the correct combination when half asleep.

(The MiniVault has a feature that detects when somebody tampers with the combination lock.)

One other test I did was I put a $20 bill in it and told my daughters they could have it if they could open it. They tried and tried and tried but failed.

This works for you, esp. as you have kids. I agree in a situation like that, a lockbox of some kind is appropriate.
Some people have trouble pushing even a single button. I have peripheral neuropathy, particularly in my right hand. The thumb and first two fingers are tingling all the time and when I use them to try and pick up something, it feels as if I'm wearing leather gloves.

 

[JTHunter]

Subject: Old

Might not the tub also be old?! ... as in an old iron tub.

Use that tub's iron to your advantage. Could not that tub provide some cover in addition to concealment?! Wooden door to yaw the bullet and an iron intervention to deflect its path = a good thing for you as you hand-out leaden gifts at high velocity in recompense.

I cannot afford the felon gold. I've but lead instead. 'Tis awful to the head I'm told.
.................................

Is it "cast iron"? If so, cast iron isn't likely to help as cast iron is "impact brittle". While the bullet will likely shatter on impact, the tub wall will too in a manner similar to a BB or pellet hitting a glass window. Those metallic shards will then hit you hiding in the tub.

 

[armoredman]

Not cast iron - AR500 steel.

 

[Arcticfox]

Hmmmm. And naive folks think electronic gun mechanisms and magic rings are the way to go, huh? A prime example of Mr. Murphy and his laws in action. At least it wasn’t some tweaked out burglar looking for a fight.

For me, a CZ 75 SP-01 is on the nightstand. It goes in the safe when I am out or guests are over. I have had to jump up and get it one time, when the Santa Ana winds apparently kept a door from fully closing and a gust blew it open just enough to set off the alarm at 0300.

Stay safe.

Gun vaults are great in theory, but in this urgent (perceived) instance, even I couldn't get it open. If a bad actor were really after me, I would have had to resort to hand to hand. It was certainly an eye-opening experience.

 

[Arcticfox]

This keeps happening, multiple times. Why didn't the homeowner, several times, at least yell out "I've got a gun --Go Away !" ?? Shout out Something......

MSN

It could never be any of our sons or daughters if they were under the influence or very fatigued/under high stress?

In my instance, I didn't want to give my position away.

 

[pharmer]

I'm sorry I couldn't read every opinion. I have all my guns locked up, except my EDC. That one is hand's reach 24/7. Been that way 40+ years. When my son was under 5 I put it "up high." At 5 I took him shooting regularly to de-mystify guns. Never a problem. OP says he has a CWP, keep that one handy. Bio-metrics ain't happening at "dark-sleeping-night." Joe

 

[Jim Watson]

Is it "cast iron"? If so, cast iron isn't likely to help as cast iron is "impact brittle".

After watching a remodeler attack a built in iron tub with a sledgehammer, I would consider one reasonable armor in emergency.

 

[onibaba]

Appalling that the question has to be asked.

 

[roscoe]

This is exactly why my gun safes are not electronic or dependent on electricity. Running around looking for a key or some way to power it with a cord is literally the kind of thing I would have nightmares about.

You can leave a mechanical gun safe/vault alone for any length of time and not have to worry about batteries, electronics going bad in humidity, whatever.

 

[Navy87Guy]

I don’t trust electronic safes. My large safe has a Sargent & Greenleaf lock and I use V-line boxes for quick access in the bedroom and the living room. It takes me less than 2 seconds to open in the dark. It holds the gun and spare mags. I have a rechargeable motion light inside the drawer (which I like - YMMV). They can be hard mounted to a piece of furniture (or the floor) which makes them difficult (but not impossible) to remove. I’m only concerned about keeping the guns safe from “casual” intruders/robbers and any curious visitors. If someone gets into my house and has enough time and the right gear, nothing will keep the guns secure for very long.

Slide-Away Heavy Duty Large Capacity Handgun Safe - V-Line Ind.

*Thousands used by several government agencies, click to view partial list. All V-Line Cases and Cabinets will be shipping with a two year supply of Cortec corrosion inhibitor! The Slide-Away is V-Line's new American made multi-purpose heavy duty security case. The Slide-Away is constructed of...

vlineind.com