What's A Good Handgun Storage Safe?

[BruiseLee]

I'm thinking of picking one up for quick but secure access in my house. I don't have any children, but I had some friends over recently who had a young son. While we were talking at the dinner table, the kid wandered into my bedroom and grabbed one of the stuffed animals my sister bought me out of my room. I was thinking, thank goodness the kid didn't dig around my room and find my S&W M66! When you are a bachelor, you just don't think like a parent about kid safety on a regular basis. At any rate, the incident got me thinking a handgun lock box might be a good idea.

Does anybody here have experience with a model they've used that they either like or dislike? Do you think keys are the way to go, or are push buttons the way to go? I'm leaning towards push buttons, because who is going to have keys in their pj's at 3:00AM in the morning?

Also is electronic the way to go or not? I've seen pistol safes that light up at night, making access easier, which seems like a good idea. On the other hand, dead batteries are just another thing that can go wrong and we all know about Mr. Murphy's Law.

I'm thinking a portable pistol safe would also be useful to legally transport an unloaded handgun to the indoor range here in the very Second Amendment unfriendly state of California. I certainly can't see any judge, jury, or cop claiming a pistol safe is NOT a locked container, even here.

Oh, by the way I already have a full sized safe for theft protection, so that is only a secondary concern. The main thing is to prevent unauthorized casual access for others, and quick emergency access for me.

 

[jthuang]

R&D Enterprises's Handgun Box is my favorite. The Simplex lock version is what I like ... no batteries to die! Seamless design, recessed door, and made in the USA!

I think their website is handgunsafe.com

 

[Emptymag]

I picked up a GunVault several years ago for the same reason. (Visiting children) I also use it when I go on vacation as it can be bolted to the floor.

It's quick and easy to open by "feel" and when I say quick, you wouldn't believe how fast that spring-loaded door pops open! Keep your hand out of the way!

Here's a link. (Note: Those prices on the site are WAY higher than I paid)
http://superpageshosting.com/gunvaultcom/gunvaultmulti/

Do some searching, there are others on the market that are similar.
Good luck, and it's good to hear of your concern for keeping the kids who may not know better away from your gun.

 

[SkiLune]

Gunvault on ebay. Standard model should set ya back no more than $100. Well worth it, IMO.

 

[timchristian]

I recently picked up a ADG Secure Vault Electronic Top Load Gun Safe from here and I'm very happy with it. Top loading, spring loaded lid, opens by electronic keypad or standard key. And the price is much less than others I looked at.

And if you want something really simple and lightweight for transporting your handgun, take a look at the In Car Safe from Center-of-Mass.

 

[Sprout]

R&D Enterprises's Handgun Box is my favorite. The Simplex lock version is what I like ... no batteries to die! Seamless design, recessed door, and made in the USA!

I think their website is handgunsafe.com

+2

My brother and I each have one, and we both really like them.

 

[karz10]

I bought a discontinued model from R&D enterprises, the one that opens from the top and fits into the console of the SUV, came as advertised, very heavy duty box, so I'm sure their other ones they still sell are good.

I'm looking at one of these http://titangunvault.com for under the bed, and/or under the seat of the car (keeping the R&D in the SUV, and this one either at home or in the car). Things that attract me to the titan:

* Removable from the inside, mount the bracket to anything, and w/ the combo you can go inside and remove it from the bracket and take it w/ you on a trip. Add a security cable and strap it to anything anywhere, or get an extra bracket and mount it in the car for trips, etc.

* Once open, the interior holster puts the gun in your hand, nice in the dark I'm sure

* One thing I learned w/ the R&D, and I'm sure this one's the same way, you can always punch in the code once entering your vehicle, or entering your room, and just don't turn the latch. Then, if you NEED it, turn the latch and you're in, then if leaving, and you don't need it, turn the latch the other way, and it erases your code to leave it in secure mode while gone. So you're literally a second away from getting in for quick access when you're around, and then reset the code before you leave.

* The various brackets seem like they would make it easy to mount vertically, horizontally, on it's end, on it's side, basically any way that works for your application.

* I talked to this guy before, and he told me he's making an attachment to work w/ existing units to store a spare mag w/ it

* He also said I could get either the standard holster, or one that accomodates a weapon light, since for home defense storage, I would keep a G19 w/ a tac light on it

* The way the lid opens, makes it more versatile too. I looked at the gunvault, and many similar competitors, and many of them have the keypads on the top of the box, and the lid opens downward, which is fine if it's bolted to an easily accessible area, but put it under the bed, or what I wanted to do, mount it to the underside of the bed, and the door opens into you hand, making it hard to reach around the door and into the box to grab the gund off the upside down ceiling of the box, not to mentioned trying to reach around to the 'top' of the box that is now upside down under the bed. I bought a similar gunvault type box from local store and brought it home to try this, and it wasn't gonna work. But something like the titan or R&D that opens from the end, w/ the simplex buttons on the end, makes for easier weird mounting like under the bed, IMO you could also mount one of these styles to the rear of a nightstand or dresser, to a wall, or other places around a bedroom, and IMO have easier access and button pushing angles compared to the gunvault types.

However, if you're looking for a cheap version of the gunvault type, it's hard to beat the wally world box (DACS sportsafe) http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=2221464 for $55 and free ship to store, that's the best bargain box I could find, but at the end of the day, I didn't feel it was going to suit my needs, but that's just me...

Karz

 

[Jayb]

The main thing is to prevent unauthorized casual access for others, and quick emergency access for me.

Buy a holster. Or find an intruder who will wait whiile you get your gun out of the safe. All due respect sir, but really.... think about it. Even in California, I'd think you can carry in your home.

 

[Shipwreck]

Gunvault Deluxe. They make 2 sizes, and I have the smaller size. But, they make the standard model, and a deluxe model for both sizes. The deluxe has a motion detector and a few other features. Worth the extra $15 or so.

 

[intune3]

My Double Pistol Safe by Gunsafe/Gunvault/Doskocil uses batteries at an alarming rate. Average life of a fresh load of batteries is 6 weeks. Not recommended.

 

[FAS1]

Look here in the Group Buys section. This is one option for you. We have sold several to THR members so far.

Glenn

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=459871

 

[kimbernut]

GunVault

Intune3 you have a faulty unit. I would contact GunVault for replacement.They do have a pretty good warranty. My GunVault came with instructions to replace batteries every year whether they need it or not. I have replaced mine every two years for the last 6 years and have never had a problem.There is a key if you forget and let the batteries die. I make it a habit to check mine at least monthly.

 

[lebowski]

I have a gunvault model that plugs into the wall and has batteries as a backup.

That said, I prefer to have my home defense guns more readily accessible (such as in my nightstand drawer). Get a regular safe and use it for when kids or over, or put a lock on my door.

I'm a bachelor, too, and now that I've purchased a regular gunsafe I plan on giving my gunvault to one of my friends who has kids.

 

[swinokur]

I have Gunvault next to my bed. It contains both of my Glocks. I simply open it at night when I go to bed and relock it when i get up. I have a 2 year old in the house. She never sees it open. NEVER.

I keep my shotgun in a cheap Stack On cabinet. Open at night relock in the morning. works for me.

YMMV

 

[GlockFu]

I got one of the Titan Gun Vaults mentioned above. A bit pricey but its a great unit! No batteries and very quick to get into. When I take road trips I take it off the mount in the matter of a minute or so. Then I take a regular laptop cable and attach it to the box and loop it around my trunk hinge bar for safe keeping when I need to leave it in the car.

If you have the money for one... definately get one!