Pistol Quick Access Lock Boxes

[sumpnz]

All - My daughter is now getting old enough (she'll be 2 a couple months) that I need to have some way to secure the HD pistols (1 each for my wife and I) such that little fingers can't get access, but we can quickly if needbe. What brands do you all recommend?

Main requirments are that it be able to fit at least a medium size pistol (Sig 245 and a .38 snubbie, possibly a Ruger P94), provide reliable and very fast access, and be able to be securely mounted in a nightstand/headboard/under the bed/other location as recommended. Cost is a definate concern, but is not the largest driver.

I would probably want 2 of these pistol boxes, one for each side of the bed rather than a single box holding both guns.

 

[Thefabulousfink]

I can't remember who makes them, but there are quick opening safes the are designed for emergency situations. they are built to bolt on the under side of desks, tables, closets, even your car dashboard . It is a metal safe that is designed to drop open once the combination has been entered. They hold one handgun in a fixed holster so that when the safe opens the grip is presented to you, suspended in mid air.

Think of the movie "the Punisher" when he had his revolver set up to deploy from under the kitchen table now put a steel box around it and a quick opening combination lock so that your kids can't reach it.

Again, I wish I could remember who makes them, but this sounds perfect for a situation where you want to keep your guns out of the hands of your kids, but still want to have quick access to them in an emergency.

 

[AZLibertarian]

...I need to have some way to secure the HD pistols....

I've got one of the larger models of these. IIRC, there has been some discussion here a while back on the security of the round tumbler locks, but you've got a couple of years before you have to worry about your daughter picking the lock.

 

[K-Romulus]

do a search on "gunvault" or "simplex"

These two terms were used in many discussions of quick-access pistol boxes.

My story: I have a Gunvault that I bought last spring, and another that was older (three years old).

The older one stopped working after about two years . . . the electronic lock just crapped out. I thought it was a battery thing, so didn't bother to change the batteries for a while, and just used the key. Battery change didn't help - dead as a doornail. Gunvault supposedly went out of business at that time, so I had nowhere to complain. I just use the busted Gunvault as a generic storage box for ammo, etc.

The newer one eats batteries like nuts - eight AA every other month or so. Bad feeling to do the combo when you get home at night, you hear the "click" of the lock, but the door doesn't open! Other people have written here about this battery issue. When it still worked, the older one's batteries lasted much longer (about six months), so maybe it's a new quality-control thing. Gunvaults are suposedly being re-marketed by a new company now.

In addition, the new one doesn't like me trying to quickly do the buttons to get it open. I practiced simulated SHTF-rushed openings, and about 40% of the time the lock didn't like me jabbing at it, and I had to either slow down or re-do the combo.

After researching here some more, I am awaiting delivery of the R&D Enterprises handgunsafe (http://www.handgunsafe.com/). People who have them swear by them, both here at THR and at TFL. Guntests reviewed the product and said it was the best for the money.

The handgunsafe uses the Simplex lock, which has its own issues with potential hacking due to its finite number of combinations. A search here for "simplex" should pull up the threads with details. For my purposes, it's secure enough.

 

[starfuryzeta]

While pricey, I just received the Compact Console Caddy from R&D enterprises. I am very impressed with the speed that the simplex mechanical lock can be manipulated and the robust fabrication of the box. I think it is built better than the car it is going into.

 

[LJWebster1]

I'm getting the Armloc Magnum (click on Products). http://securecase.com/ You can lock it to your bed frame, so it is right there when you need it. The locking mechanism is portable, so you can take it with you and lock it to your hotel bedframe if you'd like. It has a red light over the combination keys, to help you see, but the best thing of all is that you can actually dial in the combination so that the lock is open, but the case stays shut until you bang on the side. ONce you do that, it falls open. So, even if kids guess the combination, unless you've told them, they don't know to bang the side, so it won't open. THis would allow for a very quick draw in the middle of the night.

 

[a1abdj]

V-Line makes a safe that's a little lighter than the handgun safe previously mentioned, and they cost less.

The handgun safes are built like tanks, but in my opinion it's a little overkill.

 

[Inline_6]

I have both a Gunvault and a V-line. Both are very nice, high quality products. The GV is a bit faster and easier IMO, but it's larger than the V-line and therefore will be more limited in where you can place it.

 

[SLCDave]

If you are looking to keep little hands off the guns, not necessarily looking for Fort Knox, Brinks makes a little lockbox with a push button lock:



$25 or less at Wal-mart, ShopKo, Costco, etc.

 

[torpid]

K-Romulus:

After researching here some more, I am awaiting delivery of the R&D Enterprises handgunsafe (http://www.handgunsafe.com/). People who have them swear by them, both here at THR and at TFL. Guntests reviewed the product and said it was the best for the money.

+1
I am incredibly pleased with the one I purchased, and it is insanely tough compared to other simplex ones I've checked out.

(I also previously had a battery eating Gunvault that occasionally wouldn't open when I went to get my pistol- no more electric locks for me!)

.

 

[sumpnz]

Thanks to all for the input, especially K-Romulus and torpid. You guys convinced me. I've just placed my order for the 4811-S from R&D.

 

[GoBrush]

http://www.sportlockllc.com/c-23-safelock.aspx

This company has lots to choose from I like the top load it is availble with push button combo.

 

[torpid]

Thanks to all for the input, especially K-Romulus and torpid. You guys convinced me. I've just placed my order for the 4811-S from R&D.

Great!
That's the model I purchased as well- check to see if they still have the funny label on the box about not dropping it on your foot.

The thing is like a tank. What sold me was a comparison test I read years ago where they tried breaking into a variety of popular small pistol box safes, and by the end this was the only one they couldn't get into at all.

Plus after my previous Gunvault fiasco I love the fact that I could walk away from this safe for a decade and it would still open the first time i tried it. Plus- no key lock to pick (or even "Bic" ).

.

 

[sumpnz]

That's the model I purchased as well- check to see if they still have the funny label on the box about not dropping it on your foot.

When it gets here I'll let you know.