Gunvault safe heads up

[getsome]

I bought a GunVault model GV1000C small touch pad electronic safe for $125.00 at a gun show last October from a vendor....It looks like a nice little one pistol safe with a 4 button electronic pad on top for the combination...The vendor said he had sold lots of them in the past and they work well and I was in the market for something like it to be able to get to my pistol in the dark if needed so I picked one up from him...I had seen them advertised in several gun magazines so I was familiar with the brand but not the product so I took a chance without doing any research....

I started using it in November and the first thing I noticed was that it works off of 8 AA alkaline batteries and the battery mounting location is bolted to the inside top of the box under the protective foam which must be torn loose in order to get to the battery compartment....Getting the battery compartment out almost requires you to be a triple jointed midget Houdini contortionist and that is the easy part, getting the whole package with fresh batteries back in place is next to impossible....

I finally got it done and programmed in my combination and screwed the safe to the floor, so far so good....The instruction book says to only use Duracell batteries so I went out and bought a 20 pack thinking that would do it for a good while....Well in less than 3 months I'm on my second 20 pack of batteries because the thing eats them every 3 weeks or so and then it won't open unless you use the key plus it gives you no low battery warning beep or LED and you find out the batteries are dead again because it won't open with the combination pad...I do the Houdini thing again and replace all 8 expensive Duracell's and it will work another 3 weeks then dead again....Not good for a product you may depend on to open first time every time in the dark to save your life while someone is breaking in your house trying to kill you!!!

I looked on the internet and see this is a very well known common problem with this unit and many have complained about the extremely short battery life....I called the GunVault customer no support number and the guy was very rude and said he had never heard of such a problem....Since I bought it at a gun show and paid cash the only sales receipt I have doesn't have a date or company name on it and he refused to admit there is a problem or offer a solution to correct the issue under the 1 year warranty so at this point I'm S.O.L......

I hate to bash a product but I really tried to be nice and ask the Gunvault rep for help with the problem or how to go about either getting a new safe or repairing my 3 month old safe and was basically told to pound sand so as a service to my Kahrtalk forum friends I would advise you to stay away from GunVault products and look for another brand if you are thinking of buying a small electronic gun safe....

[KKing]

Thanks for the heads up, I'm in the market right now

[downtownv]

Companies are stupid... that $125 POS just got wiped off the list of any member here and if word went to another forum... well think what that costs them. A business reputation is the most valuable asset and many businesses don't get it!

[KoolBreeze]

+1 on the thanks for the heads up. I looked at those a while back on Amazon and other sites and saw a few complaints on the battery life.

My wife bought me a Sentry Quick Access safe for the night stand drawer for my birthday a few weeks ago. It is similar to the Gunvault and has an automatic gas shock that raises the door when you open it. I haven't had it long enough to have an opinion on it yet, but it works fine so far. I'm not sure I'll keep it long term though. I bought it to prevent my little ones (8 & 3) from getting a hold of my handgun, while still allowing me quick access to it. What I don't like about it is that it only has a 4 key keypad with up to a 6 digit code, that's only 4096 possible codes. It wouldn't take long for someone determined to get into it to crack that code. I wish it would lock the electronic lock out indefinitely after 5 or 6 wrong entries and only allow access via the keyed lock. Don't get me wrong, I intend to teach my girls about guns, in fact my 8 year old already loves to shoot but I still wouldn't want them gaining unauthorized access to them.

[micotu]

This is why I always look up online any sort of electronic device greater than $20 before purchasing to read user reviews. I spend the majority of my time at Best Buy on my phone, looking up things I am thinking about buying that I see there.

[Short Bus]

I got a Stack-On QAS-1200 foe about $60 just after Christmas. I like it so far, but it could open a little quicker.

http://www.stack-on.com/categories/quick-access-safes--2/products/222

[jocko]

+1 on the thanks for the heads up. I looked at those a while back on Amazon and other sites and saw a few complaints on the battery life.

My wife bought me a Sentry Quick Access safe for the night stand drawer for my birthday a few weeks ago. It is similar to the Gunvault and has an automatic gas shock that raises the door when you open it. I haven't had it long enough to have an opinion on it yet, but it works fine so far. I'm not sure I'll keep it long term though. I bought it to prevent my little ones (8 & 3) from getting a hold of my handgun, while still allowing me quick access to it. What I don't like about it is that it only has a 4 key keypad with up to a 6 digit code, that's only 4096 possible codes. It wouldn't take long for someone determined to get into it to crack that code. I wish it would lock the electronic lock out indefinitely after 5 or 6 wrong entries and only allow access via the keyed lock. Don't get me wrong, I intend to teach my girls about guns, in fact my 8 year old already loves to shoot but I still wouldn't want them gaining unauthorized access to them.

siilarto that about 20+ years ago with 5 buttons that u pushed in a sequence that you set from the inside. It worked great but then I forgot the sequence and whereI stored the pattern even. . Unbleievable how bad I tore that vaultup to finalyt getit open. Not the vaults problem. I should have known better. stupid is as stupid does: forrest gump

[jocko]

+1 on the thanks for the heads up. I looked at those a while back on Amazon and other sites and saw a few complaints on the battery life.

My wife bought me a Sentry Quick Access safe for the night stand drawer for my birthday a few weeks ago. It is similar to the Gunvault and has an automatic gas shock that raises the door when you open it. I haven't had it long enough to have an opinion on it yet, but it works fine so far. I'm not sure I'll keep it long term though. I bought it to prevent my little ones (8 & 3) from getting a hold of my handgun, while still allowing me quick access to it. What I don't like about it is that it only has a 4 key keypad with up to a 6 digit code, that's only 4096 possible codes. It wouldn't take long for someone determined to get into it to crack that code. I wish it would lock the electronic lock out indefinitely after 5 or 6 wrong entries and only allow access via the keyed lock. Don't get me wrong, I intend to teach my girls about guns, in fact my 8 year old already loves to shoot but I still wouldn't want them gaining unauthorized access to them.

comeon, do u think anyone breakingin is gonna crack thatcode??? Hell they wll pry it off the floor or take a pry bar and pry the lid open, before screwing around trying tocrack the code,which IMO unless u know alot about math etc and how things work, u cold be theremonths trying to open the little vault. I ain't seen one that size that can fight a good size crowbar. Just sayin..

IMO these type of little vaults are meant to keep ur kids out of it andnot the BG..

[muggsy]

That wouldn't have kept my boys out. Those little buggers could crack Fort Knox. Just sayin'. :)

[KoolBreeze]

comeon, do u think anyone breakingin is gonna crack thatcode??? Hell they wll pry it off the floor or take a pry bar and pry the lid open, before screwing around trying tocrack the code,which IMO unless u know alot about math etc and how things work, u cold be theremonths trying to open the little vault. I ain't seen one that size that can fight a good size crowbar. Just sayin..

IMO these type of little vaults are meant to keep ur kids out of it andnot the BG..

Nope, I'm not worried about a thief cracking the code. They'll just stick it under their arm and leave with it I'd think, since its not bolted down. But I didn't get it to protect from thieves. I got it to protect curious children whom at some point may have all day, or even several days, to sit there and try to figure the code out.

I've read that you can open one of the simplex locks with 5 push buttons in under 10 minutes if you know what you are doing.

[wyntrout]

Dang! I wouldn't want to play you bet your life on an electronic POS like that!

I have a cheapie vault thingy for keeping the TSA out of it... combo lock on the outside... 4 digits... easy. The cable is wrapped around the spine of the wheeled luggage. It wouldn't do for a car mounted one though. A crowbar would easily defeat it.

If I were stiffed like that, I would go to every site I'm on and post your post from this forum. Nobody should be screwed with a life or death POS like that! Sh!t, I would join every gun forum to post there!

Wynn:)

[OldLincoln]

Another issue I read on electronic safes is that a big magnet will wipe out your code and revert to the factory default which is the same for all of them. The issue with my 1.5 cu ft safe is the battery lid pops off if I close the door too hard. Then I have to dig around for the key. I do have another that we've had about 5 years and the original batteries are still good (the last time I checked). I don't remember if I even have a key access for it.

[RRP]

I looked at a GunVault pistol safe a few years ago. It may have been the same model you bought, I don't know. In the end I didn't buy it, mostly because I don't have full confidence in electronic keypads or biometric scanners.

The model I looked at used AA batteries. I was concerned about battery life but noted an input jack for an external power source. If the unit is plugged-in and the batteries are used for back-up, I suppose it would last a long time. On batteries alone, not so good.

[Mike Brownhouse]

I have one of these, exact same thing. Batteries never last for me anyway, so it's not surprising. I just use it for storage, not emergencies.

[340pd]

Watch this before you buy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erGOJxQIf5c

[JFootin]

I bought a 1.3 cu. ft. gun safe at Amazon recently. It does not have an electronic lock, which I would never have on a safe. The price was fantastic and it included FREE Super Saver Shipping to my door! I think they are shooting themselves in the foot with the shipping, the cost of which is about $75. Tell me, how can they make any profit?

SentrySafe SFW123DSB 1.23 Cubic Feet Combination Fire-Safe (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005P12F2K/ref=oh_details_o01_s01_i00)

[RRP]

JF, I followed your link. That looks like a nice little safe. The price is right, too. How many handguns do you suppose it could hold?

[Bawanna]

I don't like any kind of lock that requires a battery. Same with push button combos on big gun safes, I'll take the old dial type long any day even though I usually good an have to run it 3 times to get it open.

I also don't like locked home defense guns except when your not home or your just deterring your kids. I can't imagine trying to get into one with gallons of adrenaline flowing in your veins and it not cooperating.

I just received an email about just such a thing, a new government approves safe, I'll go see if I still have it.

What you might do is rig an eye loop, eye bolt or something and fill that puppy with lead or cement. Probably make a dandy anchor for your boat.

[Bawanna]

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=34a_1317870586

Not funny but probably will happen.

[getsome]

That sounds like a good idea but after I fill it with cement I want to drop it off a cliff on that A-Hole GunVault Customer NO Support dude's head I got into it with yesterday....How'd that feel Mr. Wile E Coyote, what a jerk!!!!...

[Bawanna]

That sounds like a good idea but after I fill it with cement I want to drop it off a cliff on that A-Hole GunVault Customer NO Support dude's head I got into it with yesterday....How'd that feel Mr. Wile E Coyote, what a jerk!!!!...

Maybe you could charter a helicopter or airplane ride and get the bastard in the parking lot, or just drop it on the roof of the place and hope for the best.

What price satisfaction ya know.

[Scoundrel]

That sounds like a good idea but after I fill it with cement I want to drop it off a cliff on that A-Hole GunVault Customer NO Support dude's head I got into it with yesterday....How'd that feel Mr. Wile E Coyote, what a jerk!!!!...

If you're any good with wiring, you could get a DC adapter at Radio Shack and wire it up to the battery terminals, so you don't use batteries anymore.

I'm surprised they haven't designed an AC power unit with battery standby yet. But I guess they only want to do their R&D once, then milk it for as much as they can.

[downtownv]

anybody familiar with these? Good? bad?
Stack On Safe Biometric Lock Fingerprint Thumb Firearms Pistol Gun Vault Mini

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380558620672&fromMakeTrack=true

http://www.ebay.com/itm/190754689794?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

[Scoundrel]

I bought a 1.3 cu. ft. gun safe at Amazon recently. It does not have an electronic lock, which I would never have on a safe. The price was fantastic and it included FREE Super Saver Shipping to my door! I think they are shooting themselves in the foot with the shipping, the cost of which is about $75. Tell me, how can they make any profit?

SentrySafe SFW123DSB 1.23 Cubic Feet Combination Fire-Safe (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005P12F2K/ref=oh_details_o01_s01_i00)

I notice that safe has a combination and a barrel lock (bicycle lock style). I'd be very interested to know whether it's a "good" one or whether it can be opened with a pen. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-LWGJzglho

[divotmaker]

Don't know about the specific biometric safes questioned on the ebay sites above. However I tried a Gunvault biometric...supposedly a decent brand.

Gunvault GVB1000 Mini Vault Biometric Gun Safe

You can see on Amazon. My experience like many others it that fingerprint technology is NOT ready for primetime at these price points. I have to use the key to open mine most of the time. So...if you are hoping for fast access at night or under stress...I would not trust cheap biometric safes.

[Scoundrel]

Watch this before you buy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erGOJxQIf5c

I've also seen YouTube videos of people opening locked car trunks with a plunger, but that doesn't make it true. What the car door YouTube video did not show was the person standing outside the camera's field of view pressing the button on the remote.

This video was heavily edited, and did not show whether the gun safes were set properly or tampered with before letting the kind have it. I'm not impressed with a video that cuts to a scene of a safe that might or might not be locked, shows the kid lifting it an inch and letting go, and then the kid or dad turning the dial to open it.

I'd just like to see something more comprehensive before I believe it, that's all.

[JFootin]

I notice that safe has a combination and a barrel lock (bicycle lock style). I'd be very interested to know whether it's a "good" one or whether it can be opened with a pen. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-LWGJzglho

I don't know about a pen. But the key lock doesn't bypass the tumbler; it is just an extra lock.

[Scoundrel]

I don't know about a pen. But the key lock doesn't bypass the tumbler; it is just an extra lock.

Oh, that's good. I didn't look at the details. I saw the key lock and figured it was an override. Assumptions... :blushing:

[JFootin]

JF, I followed your link. That looks like a nice little safe. The price is right, too. How many handguns do you suppose it could hold?

It surprised me how much room it has. It is more than a foot in all 3 directions, has one shelf and room for papers and some hanging hooks on the door. I have 4 pistols and they are never all in the safe. It could probably hold up to a dozen pistols in zippered gun pouches side by side on both shelves. I never intend to have that many pistols, so it can hold my camera and some other stuff along with my pistols. Now, if I buy some long guns I'll have to go shopping again.

[RRP]

It surprised me how much room it has. It is more than a foot in all 3 directions, has one shelf and room for papers and some hanging hooks on the door. I have 4 pistols and they are never all in the safe. It could probably hold up to a dozen pistols in zippered gun pouches side by side on both shelves. I never intend to have that many pistols, so it can hold my camera and some other stuff along with my pistols. Now, if I buy some long guns I'll have to go shopping again.

Thanks for your reply, JF. Quality looks good and at that price, especially with free shipping, I am tempted.

I have a full size gun safe, but I need to find a better way to organize my handguns. Right now, they take up too much shelf space in the safe. A dedicated safe for pistols might be the answer.

[Rotorflyr]

I had (well still have actually) one of those gun vaults. Didn't find changing the batteries to be a big deal, nor did I have to do it very often. Having said that the key pad basically ceased to function after about 2 years. It still "beeps" but the code isn't recognized and won't take reprograming, so it's now open and closed strictly by the key and since its actually no longer used for firearms thats not a big deal.

Were I looking at something like that again, I'm honestly not sure what brand I'd go with, or if I'd go with a keypad, a fingerprint/bio-scan type, or a strictly mechanical lock.