Benefits of Choosing the Best Gun Safes
Gun possession is quite a demanding responsibility, this is why keeping your weapons safe means ensuring they remain in the best condition and safely kept away from the reach of children or strangers.
The great thing is, there are a number of great safe boxes out there specially designed to ensure the safety of your firearm.
There are some with biometric features while others come with the classic designs, making sure that you have a variety of options to pick from.
Choosing a safe could often be challenging and this is a major reason for the introduction of this review, we intend to educate you on some of the most reliable gun safes on the market.
This review is divided into two major sections; rifles and the other part which will include the best safety options for your handguns.
A question among many that often arises especially when dealing with the 2nd Amendment Rights as well as protecting a person’s right to carry firearms on private property; still there are a number of important factors one must consider to have a gun safe in possession.
Child safety:
A more crucial discussion than the preservation of the 2nd Amendment often involves ensuring kids’ safety away from firearms, especially in the absence of parental guidance. It’s of no importance if the state law does not require you to have a gun safe, owning one could prevent any accidents and ensure that no curious child gets involved in an accident at home.
Personal safety:
In the absence of a gun safe, concealing a handgun becomes a rather difficult task. This gets worse in a case of a rifle, as their longer barrel makes them harder to conceal.
Let’s imagine you and your family are home while an invader gets in, discovers a firearm, and points it directly at you and your loved ones. Even in cases where this weapon may not be pointed towards you, they may steal it and decide to commit different atrocities, leaving you with a number of legal issues to handle.
Not illegal:
Before buying a gun or opting to have a gun safe in your possession, it’s best you check the local laws of your region to understand if it’s a requirement that you have a safe and ensure your weapon remains locked in it when there’s no need for it. Certain states such as California have specified requirements regarding gun safes, this further implies that you to follow these specifications for strict adherence to the laws of the city you reside in.
Investment protection:
It is popular knowledge that guns aren’t particularly cheap and the same can be said about their maintenance. This implies that all gun owners spend a sizeable amount on these weapons.
Insurance institutions may not cover the entire cost of your guns and other related accessories. Certain AR-15s cost as much as $5,000, there are companies that could cover $3,000 or less in any case of a firearm. The good part is, gun safes take care of this worry, as your investment is safe behind waterproof and fireproof cover.
Cost-effective:
While we know that you love to get the best deals and save as much money as you can on any product we get, an insurance company could decide to reduce your insurance rates only if your firearms remain in a safe.
Ensure to make the necessary findings with your insurance company so as to know what discounts that come with having gun safes at your residence.
Damages from water and fire:
There are situations we sometimes find ourselves in that are totally out of our control and accidents may happen from time to time.
Some of these accidents may see some properties go up in flames while others could get damaged by floods. In any case of such scenarios, you ought to be sure of the safety of your firearms. Certain gun safes can withstand up to 1,800F for as long as an hour.
Protection beyond firearms:
Several gun safes, mostly those for rifles can accommodate multiple firearms, ammunition, and a number of other items. A gun safe will not only offer protection to your guns, but it can also protect other valuable items in your home.
Never gets lost:
Sometimes, we are all prone to forgetting the location of some of our belongings from time to time, and in some odd scenarios, certain individuals may even forget where last they left their weapon, which could be a potentially dangerous situation.
Owning gun safes could prevent such from ever occurring.
Why would you not want to? : Some may point out that gun safes hinder quick access to a weapon, but this does not ring true. Pistol safes have been designed to grant quick access and can also be kept in convenient spaces in the home. Certain tech like Bluetooth, RFID, and biometric tech can let you access the safe without the need for a combination lock or key to open.
1. SentrySafe QAP1BE
This is a suitable bedside safe and it comes fully equipped with a biometric lock that lets you gain single-handed entry, letting you respond to certain high-pressure situations. The anti-tampering feature ensures that intruders are kept out and cannot pry into your safe, the gun-strut door grants you access to your weapon.
A downside to its gun-strut door design is its lack of stealth, as reviewers say that the door isn’t as quiet as the manufacturer paints it out to be.
The SentrySafe QAP1BE can be kept at a bedside or mounted into a wall, with a solid construction ensuring longevity.
Pros
- Grants you quick access to your weapon as it opens quickly.
- Can hold up to two guns
- This safe can be bolted down as well.
Cons
- The SentrySafe QAP1BE cannot save multiple fingerprints, just two.
2. Fort Knox FTK-PB
The Fort Knox FTK-PB uses mechanical buttons that give great feedback and allow you to open the safe quickly (in less than 2 seconds). This lets you gain access to your weapon quickly in any case of an emergency.
This safe weighs about 20 lbs, as it is made of steel doors as well as ten gauge steel bodies, offering adequate room for your weapon and some ammunition.
The Fort Knox FTK-PB is easy to mount, with four pre-drilled holes situated at the bottom to help you mount the safe with ease.
Pros
- Reliable safe for both your weapon and ammunition
- Lets you gain quick access to your weapon
- Offers adequate protection
- This accommodating safe can store a large handgun such as a Glock 17
- Easy to mount
Cons
- No water-resistant feature.
3. V-Line Quick Vault Locking Storage
If you encounter difficulties in keeping track of your numerous keys, or in an emergency, you forget where you left the keys to unlock your gun safe, then this should be one of the best safes for you.
The V-Line Quick Vault Locking Storage has been designed using a Simplex Lock code system that delivers up to 1,081 possible combinations, keeping your valuables safe.
This gun safe is small and has a sleek design and can be mounted between the wall studs. This means that you can hang a portrait over it to conceal it from visitors and other unauthorized individuals. This V-Line Quick Vault Locking Storage for Guns and Valuables is roomy, letting you keep your weapons and even certain small jewelry.
This safe can only be used when mounted on a wall and has been preset with pre-drilled holes.
Pros
- Offers two different shelves giving you more room for storing valuables.
- It comes with pre-drilled holes for mounting.
- You get a combination lock feature
- It also has a surface that can be painted, making it easier to conceal in your home.
Cons
- This safe can only be accessible when mounted.
4. Barska Quick Access Biometric Rifle Safe AX12752
Though rifle safes are not as popular as the conventional handgun safes, they are still very vital. Protection of your rifles from burglars and humidity makes sure that your weapon is in good condition and is available when it’s required.
When you get a rifle for home protection, it’s best to have it safely locked away, especially when it is loaded.
The Barska Quick Access Biometric Rifle Safe AX12752 has a biometric security system that lets you unlock this huge safe quickly. For users who may have doubts over the biometric technology, Barska has solved any problems relating to this by creating a dependable lock that unlocks when required.
This safe’s slim design can hold rifles and shotguns and is California approved. The Barska Quick Access Biometric Rifle Safe AX11652 can save over 100 different fingerprints. This will be useful if you have an injury on one of those fingers and you need to access your rifle.
The safe is pre-drilled for easy installation and comes with all the necessary mounting tools, batteries as well as backup keys.
Pros
- Easily accessible
- The door has a great design
- Tumbler system feature
Cons
- It is quite expensive
- It has a small capacity and may pose some difficulty when trying to extract corner guns.
5. Paragon Lock & Safe
This safe has been designed using an 18-gauge powder coating that provides an extra layer of security. It is outfitted with hinges that add extra theft protection and prevent any form of drilling. This safe can fit eight rifles and the matted bottom gives room for extra cushioning.
This safe is solely meant for rifle storage and it is not advised to use it to store valuables. This 55-inch tall safe can store a pistol, ammunition, and other objects in a small lockbox as well as a simple design that should attract buyers interested in the basics.
Pros
- Has an interior lockbox for suitable for storing pistols and other objects
- 18-gauge powder coating gives it more durability and extra security
- Concealed hinges protect against thieves
Cons
- Not enough locking bolts
- Multiple key options
- The interior can be considered too simple in comparison to other options in the market.
6. 7550 Paragon Safes 8 Gun And Rifle Safe
Another safe from Paragon that has also been designed with an 18-gauge powder coating. The hidden hinges ensure that the safe is protected, while a heavy steel construction is useful to ward off any form of drilling to break in.
The Paragon safe design allows 8 long guns to conveniently fit in and protected by a matted bottom, providing extra cushioning.
Additionally, the interior construction is simple with more emphasis laid on the storage of rifles than other valuables. A small lockbox is built into the top of this 55-inch tall safe that can hold a pistol, ammunition, or treasured personal belongings.
This simple safe with two sets of keys for the interior and exterior locks, with the main door safely guarded by two solid locking bolts.
Pros
- Has an interior lockbox
- Coated in an 18-gauge powder that offers more durability
- Possesses hidden hinges
Cons
- Has multiple keys
- Has only two locking bolts
7. BARSKA Biometric Safe
BARSKA’s biometric safe is a protected means of keeping your firearms and a number of other valuable personal belongings. This safe model can store up to 30 different fingerprints, letting multiple users operate the safe.
A user can save several fingerprints to help in accessing the safe in tight situations. In the odd instance where the biometric scanner may not function, the BARSKA has backup keys that are unique in design, making the lock almost impossible to break-in.
This safe has a spacious interior, measuring 16” × 7” × 14” is roomy enough to store a number of items. This safe comes with the necessary hardware to help you mount it in any spot of your choice.
Pros
- Allows users to store multiple fingerprints
- Large storage accommodation
Cons
- Heavy and difficult to move around
- Overly sensitive fingerprint pad
8. Stealth Handgun Hanger Safe Quick Access Electronic Pistol Security Box
This safe is a steel cube that can store up to five different handguns in a uniquely designed hangar system. The Stealth Handgun Hanger Safe can be mounted on a nightstand and possesses similarities to armored boxes.
Additionally, this safe locks up tight and includes a number of great features such as an integrated light.
It is quick to open and close while operating silently, making it perfect for homeowners looking to defend their homes against intruders.
This safe may be considered small when compared to others on this list, which is ideal for someone to steal. In light of this, the manufacturers have added a cable that ensures the security this safe.
This safe is perfect for your bedroom space and is a great investment in a quality lockbox.
Pros
- Comes with a tight lockup
- Great layout
- Integrated light
- Top-notch armor
Cons
- Oddly shaped
- Though it’s on the heavy side, this safe could easily be stolen.
Choosing the best gun safes
When it comes to firearm protection, gun safety is a top priority. However, there are a number of other factors to consider before getting a safe.
Size:
You need to consider the storage space in your home as well as the number and type of firearms you want to store in the safe. This will help you decide what size of safe to consider before making that purchase.
Steel Gauging:
When going for a safe, you have to ensure to get one that only allows access into it with your permission. Having a high steel gauge means that your safety is guaranteed, as it is more difficult to break into such material. Steel is available in various gauges, although, for your gun safe, it’s best to stay at 8-gauge or above.
Door durability:
The thickness of your steel door determines how durable your safe will be. A thick door measuring over 5/16” is ideal to stop burglars from looking to pry into your safe. Steel doors give owners that extra durability while increasing fire protection.
Bolts:
Thick bolts are durable and great for your safe. Also, multiple bolts keep your firearm secure in its safe. Some safes can have as many as ten steel bolts, while others may have just two.
The lock mechanism:
You definitely want a safe that is secure, while still offering you quick access when the need arises. If you are more concerned with quick access, getting one with biometric scanning may be the way to go, but if you are not particular about quick access, then a safe with key or combination locks will work just fine.
Mounting and anchors:
Protection of your firearm goes beyond keeping it away from fire, water or thieves, as you have to worry about how mobile your gun safe is, is it easy to cart away if stolen? Or would the thief struggle to dismount it?
Getting a safe with anchors and a unique method of mounting is very important.
Alarms:
There are certain safes equipped with alarms that notify you when someone is toying with your safe. Other safes will sound an alarm when moved.
Failsafe Locking:
Certain combination locks prevent burglars from guessing your combination code, as these safes lock up when the incorrect codes have been inputted multiple times. This may come back to haunt you especially if you can’t remember your codes.
Battery-Powered:
If you are not ready to deal with the stress of changing batteries, then you should not opt for one that has electronic keypads. In event that you do, try to get a safe with a backup feature such as a key.
Maximum Protection:
Everyone wants a safe that offers maximum security, this could mean locks that cannot be easily picked, a combination that cannot be easily cracked (or guessed), as well as a safe that cannot be stolen easily. Get a safe that is water and fireproof, giving your valuables maximum protection.
Tips
i. Obtain homeowners insurance: A safe is also an investment so getting insurance for it is important. You need to alert your insurance company, letting them know of your gun safe possession.
ii. Try getting a dehumidifier to protect your safe: Humidity is harmful to your firearm, so get a humidifier to make sure it lasts longer.
iii. Maintain an organized gun safe and monitor always: This is important in preventing any freak accidents in case of emergency.
iv. Conceal your safe
v. Avoid leaving the safe’s door wide open
vi. Do not leave tools too close to the safe
vii. Ensure to keep ammunition and powder in separate safes away from your firearm: Gun experts recommend that you get smaller safes for storing your ammunition.
Conclusion
Having a place to store your weapon is not only beneficial for you, but it is also useful for others around who may not know how to properly handle firearms. This is a great reason why gun safes are solid investments no matter the kind of weapon you use.
The best thing to do while looking for a safe is to find one that meets your need as well as your budget. You need something that ensures your firearm stays secured, concealed, and will also let you gain quick access to your weapon when need be.
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