Looking For A Small "Quick Access" Gun Safe

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gravis86

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I'll be receiving my CPL in the mail anytime now, and as such I'll be keeping a loaded gun around. As I am not allowed to carry at work, I'm looking for a small, quick access gun safe that can hold 1 or 2 handguns and a box of ammo.

I've been looking at the Gun Vault:
http://www.gunvault.com/handgunsafesminivaultstandard/

Is there another brand that I should also be looking at?

I'm looking to spend $50 to $100 on this. Tanks in advance.
 
Thanks for the quick reply, but I think I should clarify something. Tis is not to hold all my guns. (I have 3 already) This is just to hold my one (or maybe two) loaded guns to keep them out of the hands of little ones.
 
I have a GunVault 2000.

I really doubt that I'd be able to open it successfully in a hurry.

I now use it mostly to store the bolts that are removed from my rifles, to keep little hands away.
 
Ah, in that case yup... those are good ones. Just be sure to bolt them to something. I'm a fan of the show 'It Takes A Thief' and anything not bolted down gets taken.
 
I have the same problem with little ones around. I saw them on epay in your price range but I don't like the idea of leaving a key around or having to remember a combination when I'm half asleep and someone just kicked the door in. I've been thinking of one of the ones that open with your fingerprint. I saw those on epay for $3-400, might be worth the extra expense.
 
I have the same problem with little ones around. I saw them on epay in your price range but I don't like the idea of leaving a key around or having to remember a combination when I'm half asleep and someone just kicked the door in.
Click to expand...

Trust me. You will not have a problem hitting a 4 digit combination with your fingertips in the middle of the night while someone is kicking in your door.

You would be amazed at how easy it is and how much little thought it takes.
 
Try The Biometrics First

I have been very dissapointed by the biometric reader on my computer. It's very picky: Too easy to swipe too fast, slow, crooked, etc. Some mornings it takes 1/2 dozen goes to log in. I'd hate to have that much trouble in an emergency situation. I have a in wall gun safe that fits between the studs and has a keypad entry (and key for backup) with seperate settable PIN numbers to allow different users access. The one I have holds several rifles as well as handguns. They make a smaller handgun only one too. I can't remember the name of the company, but I'm very happy with it. If I can recall it, I'll post it.
 
I doubt your going to be able to get what you want for $50-$100.

I bought something like one of those probably 10 or 12 years ago, and it was $119.95 back then. It wasn't even the best you could get. I got it at Turner's Outdoorsman in Pasadena, California.

Be prepared to spend a little bit more than you had counted on.
 
I have a small lockbox like you'd see petty cash or girl scout cookie money in, the kind of thing you could pick up at wally world for $30.
I am worried about the baby girl, like you.
For now, it's on my bedtable, there is a single 4" 357 with one speed reload in it, the only key is on my keychain, and I unlock it every night and lock it back up in the morning.

I know there are problems with this, like:
-the whole box could walk off if someone were so inclined, it really should be bolted to something
-the lock isn't fort knox security
-eventually the girl is going to figure out there's something poppa does with that box every day
-the wife doesn't have a copy of the key yet

Aside from that, I'm not really planning on having to have special security to keep it away from little hands. My girl is only 15 months old, and she already knows about 25 signs, she knows what makes us laugh, and she knows when she's doing something we may not like. Kids are smarter than we give them credit for.

That reminds me, today I was going to find the sign for "gun" - doesn't seem to be in the regular baby sign language books.
 
I'm in the "don't risk techno gadgets" crowd. I bought a 'thumbprint recognition' safe and it would only open about half the time IF I wasn't nervous or sweating, which would be likely if I needed my gun in the middle of the night.

A 'bio' safe would have to show me 100 consecutive foolproof openings under varied conditions for me to trust it. YMMV
 
and then there is this one...

http://www.adgsports.com/catalog/index.php
Click to expand...

I was looking at one of those the other day.

Quite nice. Quick, definitive opening. Feels sturdy. Tamper warning. If batteries run out, you can use the key OR they have a spot externally that you can temporarily place a 9 volt battery to re-energize it.

The only drawback in my mind, was that you HAVE to use a 5-digit combo. You can't choose fewer numbers. That may not matter to most people, but I'm not sure if my wife can reliably remember 5 digits.
 
I have two of these: http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=313144

One is in the downstairs hall closet and the other is in my bedroom closet. 4 buttons - I can open it in about 5 seconds. It's big enough to hold my Beretta PX4 Storm and my KelTec P32 (in the pocket holster). They can be bolted to the wall and offer an nice, slim profile. You can set your own combo (3-6 numbers/letters) and it's equipped with an external terminal to use a 9V to power it up in the event that the batteries die (4 months of near-daily use and I haven't had to change the batteries yet)

It works well for me.

Jim
 
Hey Mazeman,

Not to high jack (sorry gravis)

If you liked those type, check out the Home Vault models on the gunvault.com website. They have all the same features and it has a "learn" mode which allows you to use fewer buttons... I have one of these and with a pistol rack, can fit about 7 or so handguns quite comfortably.

http://www.gunvault.com/homevault/
 
You need to really think about the electronic lock with key option. It's not for everybody. For my purposes, if the safe does not open electronically, that's a safe that failed to open. For security, the key would have to be hidden somewhere substantially far away. So, I don't even consider the key an option.

All things considered, I stick with simplex style locks...

http://www.vlineind.com/html/compact.html
http://www.titangunvault.com/

I've also turned my bedroom closet into a cheap safe room with one of these on the door...

http://www.shop.keyless-entry-locks.com/product.sc?categoryId=21&productId=61

That'll keep the kids out. If I put a heavier door and frame there, the closet would be quite secure against smash and grap thieves.
 
I've had a gunvault (single handgun model) for six years now, and I'm VERY happy with it. I can open it almost instantly in full darkness, by touch alone. Just chose a SIMPLE combination, and practice to aquire "muscle memory".
 
Thanks for all the replies, guys. I'll go to some of my local gun shops and check out the selections, and then maybe I'll buy one online. There's just too many to choose from.
 
Digital Entry Safe

I found a digital entry safe with keypad and backup key lock at Harbor Freight for about $20.00. They sell it most of the time for around $25.00 or so.

It holds 3 or 4 loaded handguns and loaded magazines for rifles.

It is bolted to my wall which is 7/16 Chip board so it is not going anywhere. It sets on top of my locked gun cabinet that is also bolted to the same wall and has the key for said gun cabinet inside it.

Makes it easy to access the loaded handguns in the safe and easy to get to the unloaded rifles in the cabinet.

I have been using it for about 3 months now and it has worked fine during that time period.

dzimmerm
 
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