Gun Safe question

rjakin · Mar 31, 2013

Hello everyone,

I am looking at getting a new gun safe ( BIGGER ) . It seems that all the models that I am interested have what they call a electronic locking mech. For some reason this really makes me question if this is a good idea. Anything I have ever had electronic has always gone on the fritz.

Anyone have an opinion on the electronic safe parts?

ATCclears · Mar 31, 2013

I got a Liberty Safe from NWSafe (supporting vendor on here) and went with a manual lock. I'm happy with it.

Peter

jbett98 · Mar 31, 2013

They are rather handy if you are accessing the safe a lot. Changing the code is a snap.
Any quality combination dial like a Sergeants & Greenleaf will have a key that locks the dial and allows easy access also, but changing the combination is more difficult.
There are YouTube videos showing how thieves drill a small hole and fish out the wires that when jumped with the 9v battery will unlock the safe.
I took the inside door panel off, and used a lot of hot glue to cover the wires and make it a lot harder for some thief to try and fish them out.

rjakin · Mar 31, 2013

jbett98 said:
They are rather handy if you are accessing the safe a lot. Changing the code is a snap.
Any quality combination dial like a Sergeants & Greenleaf will have a key that locks the dial and allows easy access also, but changing the combination is more difficult.
There are YouTube videos showing how thieves drill a small hole and fish out the wires that when jumped with the 9v battery will unlock the safe.
I took the inside door panel off, and used a lot of hot glue to cover the wires and make it a lot harder for some thief to try and fish them out.

Well shoot, If I go with a electronic lock, I might be the one drilling it to open the silly thing up!

Netspirit · Mar 31, 2013

Imagine waking up in the middle of the night and having to grab your weapon. Can you do it reliably, quickly and quietly? If the place is dark, you probably do not want to be searching for the keys and then the keyhole, or trying to blindly find the key combination - this is when one of those newer biometric (fingerprint-based) safes can be handy. If you go with that, make sure the model has a "battery low" indicator.

jbett98 · Mar 31, 2013

The electronic locks come with a master key that will open up the safe if for some reason the keypad goes south on you.

jb11 · Mar 31, 2013

I would go with a dial and key.A coworker of mine had a digital keypad type and the board failed in it twice,he was verry frustrated.

chase · Mar 31, 2013

I had a manual lock then switched it out for electric. So much faster and can be done blindly. I prefer quality electronic lock.

rjakin · Mar 31, 2013

Netspirit said:
Imagine waking up in the middle of the night and having to grab your weapon. Can you do it reliably, quickly and quietly? If the place is dark, you probably do not want to be searching for the keys and then the keyhole, or trying to blindly find the key combination - this is when one of those newer biometric (fingerprint-based) safes can be handy. If you go with that, make sure the model has a "battery low" indicator.

Well heaven help anyone who wakes me up in the middle of the night from a deep sleep! Even my dog knows better then to do that! If that were to happen I do not need a gun.................. I usually go straight to the nuclear option!

edogg · Mar 31, 2013

Netspirit said:
Imagine waking up in the middle of the night and having to grab your weapon. Can you do it reliably, quickly and quietly? If the place is dark, you probably do not want to be searching for the keys and then the keyhole, or trying to blindly find the key combination - this is when one of those newer biometric (fingerprint-based) safes can be handy. If you go with that, make sure the model has a "battery low" indicator.

Or you could get a GunVault to secure your home defense weapon. I don't know of too many people who actually have their gigantic gun safe in their bedroom.

Ligito · Mar 31, 2013

I have an electronic lock, no key.
It has a lighted keypad and is lots quicker than a dial combination lock.

Netspirit · Mar 31, 2013

edogg said:
Or you could get a GunVault to secure your home defense weapon. I don't know of too many people who actually have their gigantic gun safe in their bedroom.

I do - in the closet space adjacent to the master bedroom

The master bedroom, lockable and big, is a good place for family members to barricade themselves and use the heavy artillery, if needed.

However, I also use GunVault ("mini") for quick bedside access to pistols. They are easy to operate in darkness, if needed.

Ligito · Mar 31, 2013

Netspirit said:
I do A good place for shotguns is the master bedroom where family members could barricade themselves and use the heavy artillery.

However, I also use GunVault ("mini") for quick bedside access to pistols. They are easy to operate in darkness, if needed.

And generally easy for a bad guy to leave the house with it, if it isn't bolted solidly.

Netspirit · Mar 31, 2013

Ligito said:
And generally easy for a bad guy to leave the house with it, if it isn't bolted solidly.

Yes, it should be bolted. As for the bad guy: I would rather part with all my weapons than put my family members at risk. If the bad guy comes when they are home I do not want him to be standing between them and the safe (kept in the garage or some other remote corner) - I want the safe where it may be needed.

PDXSparky · Mar 31, 2013

jbett98 said:
The electronic locks come with a master key that will open up the safe if for some reason the keypad goes south on you.

You left out a word: "some". As in Some safes with electronic locks have a backup key. Mine does. Others I looked at did not.

deen_ad · Mar 31, 2013

Netspirit said:
Imagine waking up in the middle of the night and having to grab your weapon. Can you do it reliably, quickly and quietly? If the place is dark, you probably do not want to be searching for the keys and then the keyhole, or trying to blindly find the key combination - this is when one of those newer biometric (fingerprint-based) safes can be handy. If you go with that, make sure the model has a "battery low" indicator.

Imagine waking up in the middle of the night and having you weapons locked up!! Never going to happen to me, A locked up gun is worse than one with the ammo locked up, at least if you have the gun you can throw it at them!

fishorgolf · Mar 31, 2013

Liberty Safe with a electronic key pad, we wouldn't change a thing,

PuddleMonkey · Mar 31, 2013

Electronic if you're buying quality.

Phillyfan · Apr 1, 2013

I am in the market as well. Are there any brands out there that you guys feel are of poor quality? Do you get what you pay for or are some more priced on their name?

deadeye · Apr 1, 2013

Phillyfan said:
I am in the market as well. Are there any brands out there that you guys feel are of poor quality? Do you get what you pay for or are some more priced on their name?

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