Stolen guns! Need best biometric safe

[dirtengineer]

My parents had two pistols stolen from their house. They have a safe for most of their firearms, but kept one pistol each in the bedroom. Fortunately, insurance covered it, unfortunately, some dirtbag has two guns. I am still hopeful that the cops will recover them at a local pawn shop.

I am considering pooling cash with my siblings to get them a personal safe for the bedroom. I have a Dosko (which is ok) that isn't made anymore. I see that there are lots of biometric safes on the market now, but have widely varying reviews on owner satisfaction.

So sell me on a new personal safe. Needs to be large enough for at least two duty size pistols. I want it simple enough that my parents in their late 60's won't have problems under a stressful situation.

 

[a1abdj]

Keep in mind that most of the fast access pistol safes are only designed to keep kids from getting to the guns. They offer very limited burglary resistance.

If your bad guy has a screwdriver, and is willing to spend 30 seconds of his time on it, he's going to get in. If it's simply a smash and grab, you may be OK so long as you bolt them down to prevent them from taking the entire thing.

 

[OTR]

http://www.ftknox.com/redesign/pistolboxes/
If i was going to buy a bedside safe, I think I would choose this one. It has a very easy punch code mechanism and appears to very pretty beefy for what it is. I'm sure many others will have good recommendations as well.

 

[PPS43]

Watch this video before buying a safe.

 

[Shadow 7D]

There are MUCH better options
watch the mythbuster episodes on locks, the biometric one was EASILY spoofed, and there are more than a few youtube video's where they show a guy simply removing the face and bypassing the lock by removing the battery wires and connecting them to the lock motor.

My point is, most of those lock boxes are just there to keep kids and otherwise honest people out, Like the SAFE SPECIALIST (that's a sub cat of locksmith) said, little knowledge and a screwdriver pops most of those.

Search here for FAS1 (I think) a member who makes quick access boxes that look a bit more sturdy than what you'll find at the gunstore.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=459871

 

[dirtengineer]

Thanks for the info, keep it coming.

I realize that lightweight pistol boxes aren't equivalent to real gun safes, but they do make the job of the thief a little more challenging and certainly louder. If we forgo security measure because they aren't completely effective, we wouldn't bother locking our front doors or having windows on our houses.

By all means, post what you think are better solutions, that is why I am asking!

 

[dirtengineer]

There are MUCH better options
watch the mythbuster episodes on locks, the biometric one was EASILY spoofed, and there are more than a few youtube video's where they show a guy simply removing the face and bypassing the lock by removing the battery wires and connecting them to the lock motor.

My point is, most of those lock boxes are just there to keep kids and otherwise honest people out, Like the SAFE SPECIALIST (that's a sub cat of locksmith) said, little knowledge and a screwdriver pops most of those.

Search here for FAS1 (I think) a member who makes quick access boxes that look a bit more sturdy than what you'll find at the gunstore.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=459871

I would like to see that Mythbuster episode. You don't happen to know more details like what season/episode number?

The FAS1 does look like a higher quality safe. Too bad it doesn't fit two pistols so we would have to get two safes. Also, my Mom has a revolver, so I would have to double check the fit.

 

[a1abdj]

Too bad it doesn't fit two pistols so we would have to get two safes

It will fit two pistols (depending on their size).

I use one myself. It will hold one in the holster, and one upside down and backwards at the bottom.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

I had a similar need not that long ago. I looked very seriously at biometric safes. My personal opinion was they arent quite ready for primetime. I went with Fort Knox and their gun boxes. It has a simple five digit pad that doesnt rely on electronics. Cost around $200. For the bedroom and sleeping at night they could open it just as they go to bed. That way no fumbling. Same thing if they have a lock box in living room when they relax in the evening.

 

[dirtengineer]

It will fit two pistols (depending on their size).

I use one myself. It will hold one in the holster, and one upside down and backwards at the bottom.

Do you think it will fit both a S&W M&P and a Ruger SP101?

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I'd just cut a slit in the mattress and put a handgun in it on each side in kind of a his and her's set up.

 

[dirtengineer]

Watch this video before buying a safe.

That is an interesting video. Defeating a safe by making an impression of a finger doesn't bother me at all. Defeating the key lock or the electronic lock quickly and quietly is bad. I don't think you could ever get away from the crow bar attack from these small and lightweight safes, but at least it is loud.

 

[leadcounsel]

Why not just lock them in the main safe when they leave, and retrieve them when they return?

Those small bedside safes are designed to keep curious kids and houseguests from gaining your nightstand firearm, not from thieves. Thieves can just carry away or smash those small safes.

For giggles, you can fill a few of those cheap safes with bricks so they have their hands full of brick filled safes when they rush out of the house, only to discover later they stole worthless crap!

 

[FAS1]

Those small bedside safes are designed to keep curious kids and houseguests from gaining your nightstand firearm, not from thieves. Thieves can just carry away or smash those small safes.

I agree that most are not designed to be much of a deterrant to theives, but there are a few that are made to withstand an attack better than others. Find one that is 11 gauge or thicker steel to start with. Bolt it to something solid and it can't just be carried away. At least it will slow them down and they will have to make some noise removing it.

For giggles, you can fill a few of those cheap safes with bricks so they have their hands full of brick filled safes when they rush out of the house, only to discover later they stole worthless crap!

Now that would be funny if you could only see the look on their face when they opened it.

 

[firesky101]

I have one of those cheapy first alert safes I no longer have a use for. It is full of lead ingots I got for a steal figuring I would cast some bullets someday. Figured it would keep any grubby little hands off the lead, but that thing weighs a ton. I would laugh if someone stole it.

 

[Shadow 7D]

I got one of the cheapies, the electronic crapped out and the importer is out of business...
now if I had a lead ingots, yeah, that'd go under the bed...

And FAS, that Frank bought one of your boxes, that's a pretty good endorsement right there.

 

[FAS1]

I got one of the cheapies, the electronic crapped out and the importer is out of business...
now if I had a lead ingots, yeah, that'd go under the bed...

And FAS, that Frank bought one of your boxes, that's a pretty good endorsement right there.

Absolutely! Frank has bought a couple and his endorsement means a lot to me. I have learned quite a bit from Frank and your posts as well over the last couple of years. I am still quite small when it comes to the available handgun safes on the market and only sell online. As I hope to expand my product line very soon I always want to offer a well made quality product instead of slick advertising. Thanks again.