Handgun Safe?

[s4255]

Looking to get a handgun safe and was woundering what a good one would be? Need for 2-4 guns. Was looking at GunVault with bio scan. Retails for $300+ but found for $218. But are there any better ones out there?

[itsthelaw]

Food for thought...

I just purchased a 2-gun vault for bedside today. After a lot of thought, I went with a V-Line. I am planning to punch all the buttons on the mechanical combo other than the last one before I sleep and reset in morning. OR...I may just leave it open while I sleep. I have a young one in the house. I got it from Cabella's for about $165. I didn't want to rely on electronics. I need 2 in the house, so will decide on #2 after review of V-Line.

[AJBert]

Are you looking at one for storage or quick access? Can't say what to go with for quick access but if looking for storage, get the biggest one you can afford that is protected from fire.

Something funny about storing guns is they tend to multiply over time and you find you need a bigger space to keep them happy.

[7shot]

I've got the Gunvault 2000. It holds four guns easy and works just fine for keeping them locked and out of reach of the little ones. Now if your trying to keep your guns free from theft that isn't gonna happen.

[Bawanna]

Are you looking at one for storage or quick access? Can't say what to go with for quick access but if looking for storage, get the biggest one you can afford that is protected from fire.

Something funny about storing guns is they tend to multiply over time and you find you need a bigger space to keep them happy.

I'm with AJBert. Safes are like garages and motorcycles and womans.....well like garages and motorcycles, they are never big enough.
I too dislike any kind of lock that requires a battery or electricity or reading my finger prints, mechanical buttons or a dial are my choice. I don't have to put a tinfoil hat on my lock to protect it from EMP's or whatever those bad things Wyn always talks about.

Get something for one gun that's simple and secure if you gotta have it for younguns, or better yet or in addition too, teach them even at a tender age, it works and then get the biggest heaviest mother of a safe you can afford for storage. Then start filling it up. We'll help you with suggestions and such.

[chrish]

Looked at GunVault but the reviews were too sketchy for my liking. Lots of reports of goofiness w/ the bio reading mechanism. So I ended up w/ a Barska, better reviews. I couldn't be happier. Totally full-proof so far. Tested it against the 'drop test' from on end to see if I could trick the tumblers into opening, it doesn't. So I'm comfortable that it's a pretty solid safe. It's not fireproof, it's not thief proof (easily cut open with a dremel tool most likely). But for a bedroom quick access unit, it's (IMO) one of the best if not the best biometric out there for just a couple of guns and keeping them handy.

It's got a key override and I keep a key in my bank safe deposit box and the other on my person at all times. So if the power goes on the batteries, I can still get into it.

If you want fireproof, different category.

[muggsy]

Looking to get a handgun safe and was woundering what a good one would be? Need for 2-4 guns. Was looking at GunVault with bio scan. Retails for $300+ but found for $218. But are there any better ones out there?

First allow me to state that no one under any circumstances should buy a four gun safe. A minimum of a ten gun safe isn't too much to purchase. Once you've bought that first gun there is no stopping you. I personally own a walk in vault. :)

[s4255]

Well Muggsy, I wish I needed a walk in vault, but just getting started. Maybe in a few years. Would like to get a 10+ gun safe but to far ouit of my price range.

[Charlie]

I got another idea for ya , if you have a lock company near you see if they have second hand safes. I bought one that will hold all the hand guns I own and all their mags included with room left over for three hundred bucks. With help and a hand truck, two sixpacks,and a three foot longs with everyting on em , I now have a in the wall safe thats gaurenteed burgular proof. Now where did i write down them numbers? just sayin

[O'Dell]

I don't like the small ones. After the second burglary, I bought one from Champion that's about 6x3.5x3 feet and weighs eight hundred pounds empty. It'll hold dozens of hand guns, several long guns and thousands of rounds of ammo. Right now it has fifteen pistols, two rifles, and over 6000 rounds stored and has lots of room left over.

[Planedude]

I bought my Son-in-law the GunVault "two gun, Non Biometric" for a gift. I'll agree that it is not theft proof, but his Glock is locked up. With his, you slide your fingertips into the finger guide and push the buttons like a PIN number.
Interestingly he is an amateur musician and he says that he "plays the PIN like a music rif that he hears in his head. Thus it works without me having to think about button pushing". For him it is lighting fast and works everytime. Not being a player of anything past a Kazoo it never crossed my mind about that.
He screwed it to the bottom shelf of his night stand and while it is not really hidden you don't notice it till shown.
Good luck on your search.

[muggsy]

Well Muggsy, I wish I needed a walk in vault, but just getting started. Maybe in a few years. Would like to get a 10+ gun safe but to far ouit of my price range.

I've heard the words, "just getting started" from many a neophyte. Truer words were never spoken. I predict that by this time next year the size of your gun collection will double, if not triple. Your wife will be asking, "Why do you need all of those guns. Your answer, of course, will be, "Because they are there." It's a terrible affliction. Bawanna has it bad. Mines is just a mild case.:)

[Bawanna]

NO truer words.

My name is bawanna and I'm a gunaholic. If it weren't for boating accidents I'd have a huge pile of guns.

[ptoemmes]

I've heard the words, "just getting started" from many a neophyte. Truer words were never spoken. I predict that by this time next year the size of your gun collection will double, if not triple. Your wife will be asking, "Why do you need all of those guns. Your answer, of course, will be, "Because they are there." It's a terrible affliction. Bawanna has it bad. Mines is just a mild case.:)

Immutable law of nature. All (great) gun collections start with just one. Even if you buy more than one first time out - one of them is the first.

Same with (human) twins - one gets out first.

[les strat]

Just a public service announcement... Tractor Supply has their Cannon and Winchester safes on sale. I think the Win one is $100 off ($599),and the Cannon is $50 off ($459).

Wish I had the funds right now as they only go on sale a couple times a year.

[itsthelaw]

Immutable law of nature. All (great) gun collections start with just one. Even if you buy more than one first time out - one of them is the first.

Same with (human) twins - one gets out first.

Birth of a gun collection?

Tinman! Where you at on this one?

[Planedude]

Oh GAWD! Do I want to see what Tinman could do with that???:eek::eek:

[muggsy]

Looking to get a handgun safe and was woundering what a good one would be? Need for 2-4 guns. Was looking at GunVault with bio scan. Retails for $300+ but found for $218. But are there any better ones out there?

I guess I've pulled your chain enough. Try one of these if you can afford one.

http://www.shopbarska.com/Safes_1.html

[chrish]

I guess I've pulled your chain enough. Try one of these if you can afford one.

http://www.shopbarska.com/Safes_1.html

Yep! Those are the ones I referred to. I've got the first one (that's currently $199). I've got 1000rds of 9mm and 3 pistols in there for quick access.

They have holes in the back and bottom along w/ the hardware to wall/floor mount them. I haven't done that yet, but gonna be mounting it into my steel framed TV cabinet at some point. Very heavy.

[Bawanna]

Birth of a gun collection?

Tinman! Where you at on this one?

Paging Mr. Tinman, Paging Mr. Tinman.

We're waiting........................................... ...

[Tinman507]

http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/o542/tinman507/birthofagun.jpg

[Bawanna]

Now that's what I'm talking about! Very good.

I kind of envisioned the south end of a north bound cow but this is better.

[ptoemmes]

Now that's what I'm talking about! Very good.

I kind of envisioned the south end of a north bound cow but this is better.

My NIB HK 45c came out in a plasticky wrapper all drippy with - I guess - gestation goo. I could tell the stork had not delivered it.

My P45 was delivered, apparently cleaned up, and was sitting in the nursery when I came by and adopted it. A tad finicky newborn, it grew through the terrible twos and now is a right stout teenager - if you feed it right.

OK - I'll stop.

Pete