Biometric Gun Safes: some important factors to consider before purchasing

By Gun-Safe-Guru, onJanuary 12th, 2013

GunVault MVB500 Pistol Safe MicroVault BiometricA biometric gun safe is a gun vault that is equipped with a fingerprint recognition locking mechanism. If you are a gun owner it is your responsibility to ensure that your firearms are stored properly in order to prevent any kinds of accidents. Gun safes are available in all standard safe sizes, from small ones with just a few cubic feet of space to enormous vaults. Depending upon your requirements, you can either purchase a gun safe that unlocks only for those people who have authorized fingerprints or one that opens only for those whose retinal scans have been authorized to open the safe. However, there are several factors that should be considered while purchasing a gun safe which can help you in purchasing the best biometric gun safes.

  • It is recommended to choose biometric gun safes that allow you to store at least 10 different fingerprints. This feature will help you in adding other responsible adults to the memory in case of emergencies.
  • Secondly, it is also important to know the “false acceptance rate” of the gun safe that you are willing to purchase. This is the percentage of fingerprints the sensor will allow to be incorrect and still open the safe. Most fingerprint guns safes have false acceptance rates that will vary from 0.0001 to 0.1 percent.
  • It is also imperative to choose a biometric handgun safe that has a backup key which can be helpful in those cases where the fingerprint identifications fail. Additionally, issues such as abrasions or cuts can also give a false reading. Therefore, it is best to have a backup key and store it in a safe place in order to ensure 100 percent accessibility at all times.
  • Do not forget to check the warranty, as well as the servicing options offered by the manufacturer. Moreover, make sure that you shop only at secure websites that also offer a replacement option in case you wish to return the gun safe.

If you are contemplating purchasing a biometric safe, visit GunSafes.com for an extensive collection of reasonably priced options.

Gun Safe Buyer’s Guide: What Size?

By Gun-Safe-Guru, onDecember 12th, 2011

Right after cost, the most common concern for gun safe buyers is size.

What size gun safe do you need to store your weapons? What do the specifications mean?

It can be a little confusing when taking a first look at safes and numbers.

For example, one of our most popular models, the Liberty Fat Boy, states it is a 64-gun safe. This means that without using any of the shelving units for ammo or accessories, you can store up to 64 long guns. This depends, of course, on how bulky the rifles are, and if they have scopes or accessories.

Another popular model, the Browning M28F, states it is a 11 to 29 gun safe. This means you can store up to 11 long guns, and as many as 29 pistols.

The Cannon CO 54 safe states it can hold 48 guns. But take a look at the picture. As shown, the configuration will hold about 8 long guns and maybe a dozen pistols. In order to get optimal storage, you would have to remove all those great shelves.

This may work for some people, but we’ve found that once you have a gun safe, you want to store a lot more than just guns in it.

That’s why we always encourage people to buy bigger than they think they’ll need. Whether it’s your ever-growing gun collection, your important documents, or your one-of-a-kind collectibles, your gun safe will become a trusted place to keep things safe.

So when thinking about size, also think about the types of firearms you have, the additional accessories you’ll want to store, and whether you’re willing to give up shelf space for gun space. Then, always get the biggest safe you can afford. We’ve often found people wishing they bought a bigger safe, but never wishing they’d gone smaller.

High Security Safes

By Gun-Safe-Guru, onOctober 12th, 2011

Sometimes you need to store guns, sometimes you need to store documents. Sometimes you need to store things that aren’t any of my business whatsoever, and you darn sure don’t want them to be anyone else’s business.

When security is your number one concern, look for safes with a TL-15 or TL-30 rating. TL is the Underwriter’s Laboratory testing standard that means a safe can withstand 15 or 30 minutes of serious break-in attempts. When I say serious, I mean construction-grade power tools, carbide blades, heavy-duty drills, and two guys tag-teaming with sledge hammers.

High security safes with these types of ratings can’t accommodate long guns, but they can fit anything smaller than a bread box, often with multiple shelves and up to 15 cubic feet of total storage space.

GunSafes offers TL-15 and TL-30 rated safes from Mesa, Socal, and American Security here.

I don’t know what you’ve got that needs this kind of security, and frankly I don’t need to know. And all you need to know is that if security is your priority, look for the TL rating, and look no further than GunSafes.com

Modular Gun Safes

By Gun-Safe-Guru, onSeptember 15th, 2011

If you want an easy option for placing and moving your storage system, whether for guns or valuables, look into modular-type safes and cabinets.

These units are shipped in pieces, and typically assemble in a matter of minutes. Best of all, they can be put together right where you need them, and taken apart if you need to move.

Modular safes are the perfect solution for people who live in high rises, or who move frequently. These are also great if you have to negotiate narrow staircases or fit your safe into an awkward place, like a closet or niche.

SnapSafe makes a great modular safe called the Titan. Not only is it convenient to move and assemble, the heaviest part of the entire safe is the door, weighing in at 90 pounds. This means an average man can haul and manipulate the safe pieces without any assistance. In fact, our SnapSafes rep put a safe together in our showroom, unaided, in about 15 minutes.

There is also a smaller SnapSafe, the Little Titan closet vault, perfect for storing small arms and valuables.

Other less secure options are the modular cabinets from Stack-On. These don’t offer the same degree of fire and theft protection, but are a great solution for keeping guns out of young hands and important documents safe.

All of these options are very affordable, with cabinets priced at $160, and SnapSafes from $770 to $880, including shipping. You’ll save even more money assembling and installing the safe or cabinet yourself. And when it comes time to move, you’ll be really happy you went with a product that can move so easily with you.

Quick-Access Gun Safes

By Gun-Safe-Guru, onAugust 29th, 2011

There are many reasons to have a gun safe in your home: protecting your firearms from damage, preventing theft, and keeping them from the hands of children.

But as important as all these considerations are, if you keep a handgun for home protection, it will not do you a lot of good locked up in a safe when you have mere seconds to respond to a threat.

That’s why there are so many options in quick-access gun safes at GunSafes.com.

There are small and large models, safes that open with fingerprints or codes, and even safes that hold only the trigger mechanism, for super-fast access as well as peace of mind.

By far the most popular handgun safes we carry are the GunVault line. GunVaults have a molded finger bed and operate with a simple 4-key combination you can program. These vaults are also available with fingerprint recognition that you can program to accept a number of different prints.

Homak also makes a line of safes with quick and easy keypad access. These offer a vertical profile, rather than GunVault’s more horizontal function.

Another interesting option is the Sooner Thor handgun stand. This stand keeps your pistol at arm’s reach, handle ready, by locking the area around the trigger. This keeps the gun secure and prevents firing, but allows you to actually have the gun in your hand before it is even unlocked from its stand.

As you can see, there are many options for quick-access gun safes, in a variety of styles and prices. Check out our entire selection of pistol safes, and you are certain to find something that will fit your unique needs and circumstances.

Out of Sight

By Gun-Safe-Guru, onAugust 24th, 2011

When it comes to keeping your items secure, out of sight is definitely out of mind.

Although there are plenty of safes that can protect your valuables from thieves, it’s even better if the thieves don’t know you have valuables, or a safe, in the first place.

There are several options for keeping things covert. At GunSafes.com, we have safes that fit into the wall or floor, to be covered by artwork or a carpet, as well as safes that look like electrical panels or refrigerators. There are vaults that replace all or part of your bed’s box spring, and vaults that are designed to sit flat against the back wall of a closet. We also have RocLoks, which are very realistic and durable locking landscape rocks, for hiding keys or other small items. And of course, if a safe is small enough, you can hide it inside many kinds of traditional furniture pieces.

Biometric Safes

By Gun-Safe-Guru, onAugust 10th, 2011

In the world of guns and gun safes, few topics are as divisive as biometric safes.

Those who love them, really love them, and those who don’t, well, they just really don’t.

The benefits of a fingerprint recognition safe are, of course, that it is nearly impossible for an unauthorized person to gain access. Each safe is coded to accept only the prints you wish it to recognize. This also means you can have remarkably quick access to your safe–a big plus if you’re using it to store your home security weapon.

Smaller fingerprint-recognition safes are generally more popular than full-sized safes, but the big boys are out there, and many find them to be a secure and convenient option for storing gun collections and important documents.

People who dislike biometric safes cite the possibility of not being able to get into it when they need to, or a battery going dead at an inopportune time. Though these are valid points, with better technology as well as options like direct AC connectors with battery back-up, these issues become a little less relevant each day.

Is a biometric safe right for you? Check out our video to see some of the features, then go to our biometric page to check out all the styles and brands available.

Barska Biometric Safes

When Security Matters

By Gun-Safe-Guru, onAugust 8th, 2011

Here at GunSafes, we don’t really endorse one brand of safe over another. There are so many models and styles of gun safe, in so many price points, that what works for you might not work for someone else.

We can say, though, that most of the time, you get what you pay for. Just look at this post from a public firearms forum:

“I live in a rural area where there are no neighbors to hear an alarm. Last year on May 19 my home was broken into. My Browning safe put up a good fight and won, but unfortunately my Cannon safe gave up 13 long guns, two pistols, and a laptop computer. Please don’t think just any old safe is really safe. I lost a lot of family history that day because ‘it would never happen to me,’ and I tried to save a dollar. I now know the meaning of priceless. Spend the money buy a quality gun safe.”

I’m not here to tell you that Browning is better that Cannon, or that a $3,000 safe is going to work better for you than a $1500 safe. I will say that there is a difference in manufacturers, and a difference in prices. You also can’t compare Cannon’s cheapest model with Browning’s most expensive.

What you can do, though, is research exactly what you  need. Decide beforehand the amount of space you require. Are you more concerned with fire or theft? Does a standard dial lock suit you, or would you be better served with an electronic lock? Only you can decide the features and degree of protection you need.

Once you have an idea of what you’re looking for, give us a call or open a chat window. Nobody knows more about gun safes than the reps at GunSafes.com

You tell us what you’re looking for, and we’ll give you the straight dope. Whether your priority is saving money or saving your legacy, we’ll make sure you find exactly what you need.

Our goal is your satisfaction, and the peace of mind that comes from knowing you and your valuables are protected. When security matters to you, give us a call.

Best Prices, Best Practices

By Gun-Safe-Guru, onAugust 1st, 2011

Why is it that GunSafes.com has the best prices on gun safes?

To start, we are the top retailer of gun safes on the internet. Moving so many safes means we can narrow our margins, thereby offering our customers better prices.

In addition, we do not charge sales tax (unless you live in our home state, Idaho) and shipping is free.

We have a small team of dedicated and knowledgeable gun safes sales reps, who know the products inside and out, and who maintain close relationships with all our gun safes manufacturers. So not only do you get the benefit of their combined years of experience, you also have powerful advocates who can exert their influence should any issues arise.

We also have special relationships with our shippers, and because we do a lot of business with them, they can offer us the best possible prices on both curbside and white glove delivery.

Best of all, should you find a better price on a gun safe, GunSafes.com will do our best to price match it.

GunSafes has made a science of easy ordering, customer support, quick delivery, and simple returns. We also provide technical support throughout each step of the process.

At GunSafes, our goal is to make online shopping easy and pleasant. That’s why we offer the most brands and models, the most friendly and helpful sales reps, and, of course, the best prices on gun safes.

Gun Safe Buyers Guide, part 5 : Gauge of Steel

By Gun-Safe-Guru, onFebruary 25th, 2011

One question we get asked quite frequently is “What gauge of steel should my gun safe have?”   This is a tough one to answer because some are looking for more protection than others.  In my opinion, a gun safe with less than 12 gauge steel is more of a “gun cabinet” than a gun safe.  12 gauge is a good starting point, but for something that is more resistant to torches, saws, and axes, I would look at 10 gauge or thicker.  For those looking for one of the thickest solid steel safes available, I would point them towards the Pendleton King Series gun safe.  Not only does it have a 1/4″ of solid steel throughout the safe, but it is also unique in that it has a circular design with a rotary gun rack for quick access to your guns and valuables.  Combine this was LED lighting, moisture management system, and a completely adjustable interior, and you have a top of the line safe.  Any thicker than that and you’re talking about bank type safes and vaults.  In fact, Pendleton Safes are made in the same factory that produces many of our countries bank vaults.  That means that they’re MADE IN THE USA!

When you start explaining the steel thickness in inches and not by gauge, you’re talking about some pretty thick metal.  Pendleton Safes offer a minimum of 3/16″ solid steel on their gun safes.  That’s equivalent to a 7 gauge steel.  You’ll also find this thickness of steel in Browning’s Platinum Plus gun safes.

Another thing to keep in mind when buying a gun safe is how the body and doors are measured.  If a manufacturer is claiming a 1″ door, is that a solid 1″ piece of steel?  Probably not.  In most cases it is a thin layer of steel, then fire insulation, and then another piece of steel.  These composite doors can mislead some people, so keep that in mind and feel free to ask questions.  To many smash and dash burglars, just the site of a steel gun safe is enough to keep them from even trying to break in.  It’s the more sophisticated burglars that are going to have the tools and time to break into a safe.  In many cases though, a 10 or 12 gauge steel safe may be all you need for your particular situation.

Below is a guide to show you the thickness (in inches) for a certain gauge of steel.

Gauge  /  Inches

16           0.0625

15           0.0703

14           0.0781

13           0.0938

12           0.1094

11           0.1250

10           0.1406

9              0.1563

8              0.1719

7              0.1875

6              0.2031

5              0.2188

4              0.2344

3              0.2500

2              0.2656

1              0.2813 

Gun Safe Buyers Guide, Part 4 : WHAT IS A DEHUMIDIFIER?

By Gun-Safe-Guru, onOctober 22nd, 2010

If you’ve been roaming the net for information about gun safes, your research has likely pointed you towards a lot of sites mentioning dehumidifiers. It might sound out of place when you’re talking about a gun safe, but in fact it’s very important.  In this section of the gun safe buyers guide, we’ll talk about dehumidifiers;  what they are and how to pick one out.

Gun Safe Dehumidifier

What does a dehumidifier do?

A: The purpose of a dehumidifier is to eliminate condensation from forming inside the gun safe.  Condensation can cause metal to rust and can leave your safe with a nasty smell.  Depending on where your safe is located and what your climate is like, condensation can form inside a safe due to the change in temperature or in areas of high humidity.

What are the different types of dehumidifiers?

A:  There are two main types of dehumidifiers for gun safes.  An electric and a desiccant.  The desiccant dehumidifier works great in safes that are not near an electrical outlet.  Desiccant is a hygroscopic substance that has the ability to attract water molecules from the surrounding environment through absorption.  The desiccant needs to be recharged after it’s absorbed all that it can.  This is usually a period of 2-6 months, depending on the brand and how much it’s being used.  The desiccant can be recharged in your oven so it can be used over and over.

The electric dehumidifier is the more popular of the two.  This dehumidifier, also known as a “Golden Rod”,  heats to a surface temperature of about 140 degrees.  Its purpose is to maintain a constant temperature throughout your safe. Maintaining a warm temperature in the safe lessens the chance that water vapor will condense and promote rust.  It usually comes in the form of an 18″ rod that can be mounted to the floor or wall of your safe.  Installation is easy: The cord is removable so you can wire it through your safe and plug it in.  To take up even less space, there is a flexible dehumidifier as well.  This one can be bent to contour the corner of your safe.

Do I need a dehumidifier?

A:  This is a tricky question.  If the safe is going to be located in a climate controlled area like your home, it may not need a dehumidifier.  If the door is opened often enough, this will also help prevent condensation.  However, in some areas of high humidity, even a safe that is placed inside a home can collect condensation.  It might be best to call a GunSafes.com rep to speak about your particular situation.

If the safe is going to be placed in your garage, basement, or any area that does not have a controlled climate, I would recommend a dehumidifier.  The temperature change in these areas can cause condensation in the safe which will result in rust forming on your precious guns!

Which dehumidifier is right for me?

A:  First you’ll need to choose between electric and desiccant.  If you have the electrical outlet available, I would go that route.  Make sure the safe you are buying or the safe you own has a hole in the back to pass the cord through.  If not, you’ll want the desiccant.  Some people even feel the need to combine the strength of the electric with the dependability of the cordless desiccant.  That way if they are away on a trip and the power goes out, they know that their precious items will be protected.  Some people even double up and get two dehumidifiers if they live in an area of extremely high humidity.  It’s all about your individual situation.

For advice on your particular situation, leave a comment here or speak to a GunSafes.com rep at 800-540-1695 ext 401

Gun Safe Buyers Guide

By Gun-Safe-Guru, onOctober 18th, 2010

We just launched a new section of our website called the Gun Safe Buyers Guide. This is a great place to do some research before your next gun safe purchase.  You’ll find a Q&A section with great answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.  Whether you have a question about a lock type, a fire rating, or you’resimply looking for a glossary of terms, this is a section of GunSafesBlogger.com that you have to check out.  As always, feel free to post a comment or ask a question.  You can find the gun safe buyers guide link located in the yellow bar at the top of this page.

Gun Safe Buyers Guide, Part 3 : DELIVERY & INSTALLATION

By Gun-Safe-Guru, onAugust 31st, 2010

In this section of the gun safe buyers guide, I’ll focus on the delivery and installation for gun safes.

Q: How are gun safes typically shipped?

A:  Due to their weight, gun safes are shipped via a truck freight carrier.  This is typically a semi-truck (18 wheeler), but it can sometimes come on a smaller box truck (UPS type truck).  The safes are packaged with corner protectors and cardboard and they are bolted down to a wood pallet so the driver can easily move the safe with a pallet jack.  Most curbside deliveries that are over 150 lbs come with a liftgate.  A liftgate is a mechanical lift on the back of the truck that lowers the safe down to the ground level.  If a safe is shipped “curbside”, that means it is left at the curb.  On occasion, if the truck is able to do so, they will lower the safe on the driveway a little closer to the home.  This depends a lot on the driver, the truck, and the slope of the driveway.  Sometimes a large semi-truck just cannot back down a particular driveway.  In that case it will be left at the curb.

Q: How do you move a gun safe into your home?

 A:  There are several methods and I think I’ve heard just about all of them.  I’ll start with the easiest:  Hiring a company to move it in for you.  This service is called “White Glove” and there are usually several levels of service available.  The first level (Bronze) is where the delivery company will wheel the safe into your garage for you.  They drop it off inside your garage which is ideal if that’s where you plan to keep it.  Keep in mind, the pallet will still be attached to the bottom of the safe.  The next level of service (Gold) involves the company bringing the safe inside your home into a room of your choice.  They will also remove the pallet that is bolted to the bottom of the safe.  If the safe is under 900 lbs they can also move the safe up or down two flights of stairs.  Once the gun safe is in place, the movers will take away all the packing debris and leave the it ready to use.  If the delivery is out-of-the-ordinary or requires a lot of assembly time, a Platinum white glove service is also available. 

The next method of delivery is for the “Do-It-Yourself-er”.  By arranging some helpers or friends to move it from the curb into your home, you’ll avoid paying any additional delivery fees.  I’ve heard all kinds of stories about rolling a safe on ping-pong balls or other various methods, but the most popular is to use a pallet jack or furniture dolly.  The pallet jack is a great tool because the safe is already attached to a pallet so the jack easily rolls right under.  The hydraulic lift on the pallet jack can make the move from the curb to your threshold very easy.  Once it’s at your front door (the threshold), you’ll probably want a crew of 3-4 people there to help lift it inside.  A furniture dolly would be helpful here as well. 

A new product that I’m really impressed with is the Shoulder Dolly.  This simple piece of equipment makes it easier and safer to lift heavy objects.  It doesn’t give you “superpowers”, but it can make large and awkward items easier to handle so you can use all your strength without losing your grip.  Keep in mind the weight limit is 800 lbs and you’ll need two capable lifters to move a heavy safe.  The nice thing about this product is that a one-time purchase can be used over and over for several different objects.  I highly recommend using the ShoulderDolly not only for gun safes, but for all your furniture or appliance moving needs.

Shoulder Dolly

Q: Can a safe be mounted to the floor?

 A:  Most of the time, yes!  In fact most manufacturers pre-drill the mounting holes and recommend that you bolt the safe into the floor.  Sometimes the mounting hardware is included as well.  If not, the bolts can be picked up at your local hardware store.  Even if you are mounting the safe in the garage or basement and you have a concrete floor there are lag bolts that you can use.  The advantage to mounting your safe is that it won’t tip over and it adds another level of security by making it harder for someone to break-in.  The best way to pry into a safe is by tipping it on its side, so eliminating that method of entry is ideal.

Q: What do I need to know about the delivery before ordering a safe?

A:  First of all, you’ll want to take good measurements of all the doors that the safe will be going through.  Compare those measurements to the dimensions of the safe.  The most important specification of the safe is probably the depth because a safe can be tipped on it’s side which makes the depth the widest measurement when going through a door.  You also want to check if the specification given includes the handle and hinge.  Most of the time the safe is shipped with the handle inside the safe to keep it from getting damaged, but you’ll still want to account for the hinge that protrudes from the safe body.

You’ll also want to plan the best route for the safe to go through your home to its final destination.  Is it easier to go through the front door, around the back, or through the garage?  Make sure to mention at the time of the order if you have a steep or gravel driveway, a section of grass to roll over, a fence, or any other obstacles.  This way the delivery company will make sure to bring the appropriate equipment the first time.  It’s also a good idea to think of a possible “backup plan” in case they’re not able to get the safe where you wish.  If the safe won’t fit or is too hard to maneuver into the location you choose, give them a secondary location to put the safe.

Q: I live in a rural area or have a long or unusual driveway.  What are my options?

A:  These deliveries are determined on a case-by-case basis depending on several factors.  It would be best to contact a gun safe account rep to talk to them about your particular situation before ordering the safe.  They can determine the best way to get the safe delivered.  If it’s not suitable for a truck to drive down your driveway, you may need to pick it up at the end of the driveway or at a delivery terminal in your city.  You can reach a GunSafes.com rep to talk about the different options at 800-540-1695 ext 401.

Gun Safe Buyers Guide, Part 2 : FIRE RATINGS

By Gun-Safe-Guru, onAugust 16th, 2010

More Q&A with the Gun-Safe-Guru.  This part of the gun safe buyers guide will focus specifically on the fire ratings for gun safes.

Q: Can you explain a gun safe fire rating?

A:  The fire rating is the amount of time a safe can endure a certain temperature while keeping the internal temperature below 350 degrees.  Paper begins to char at a temperature of just 400° F.  For this reason, most manufacturers choose 350° as the maximum internal temperature the contents of a safe can reach for the period of time that they specify for each safe.  During testing, safes are heated to a given temperature, usually between 1200° F – 1400° F, for up to four hours then cooled naturally. In order to pass the fire test, the safe’s contents must at no time during the test go above 350° F. This ensures that important paper documents will not be destroyed by the intense heat of a fire.  Some home and office safes are made specifically to hold media (cd’s, data drives, etc) and so their internal temperature must remain below 125° F because media tends to melt at a much lower temperature.  If you’re planning on storing any kind of media in your gun safe, we recommend putting a separate media safe inside your gun safe. 

Q: What amount of fire protection do I need?

A:  There are many factors that you should consider when choosing a fire rated safe.  Most safes fire ratings start at 30 minutes and as more fire insulation is added, the amount of time a safe can withstand a certain temperature is increased.  Consumer gun safe fire ratings top out at about 2.5 hours.  When deciding how much fire protection you need, ask yourself a few of these common questions:  

  • How far away is my home from a fire department?
  • Am I putting this safe inside the home or in a basement?
  • Do I have a lot of trees, brush, and other natural fuels near my home?
  • Am I in an area of high fire danger?
  • Can insurance replace the items that are in my safe or are they irreplaceable? 

There are many sources of information for this subject on the Internet, but most of what I’ve found points out that the average house fire burns for 27 minutes at 1100° F.   If your particular situation puts you in a better or worse scenario than the “average”, you’re going to want to pick a fire rating based on that information. 

Q: Why do safe manufacturers perform different fire tests?

A:  Unlike the fuel standards we have at gas stations or the electric ratings we have on appliances, there is no governing body when it comes to fire ratings on safes.  Because of this, many safe manufacturers can make bogus claims, but if you ask the tough questions and do your research you can usually sniff out a phony safe.  Some good questions to ask when researching a fire safe:

  • What is being used as the fire insulation?  Fireboard or composite material?
  • How many layers of fire insulation and on how many sides?
  • What is the warranty and does it cover fire damage?
  • Does the safe manufacturer have any BBB complaints? 

Q: What is a Palusol door seal?

A:  A Palusol door seal is a brand of intumescent door seal that is used to prevent smoke and heat from getting inside the safe.  Some manufacturers use Palusol, others use a generic brand, but they all work using the same concept.  When the seal is heated up from a nearby fire, the intumescent seal expands and seals the safe door shut.  This can also keep some water out, but it doesn’t make the safe waterproof. 

Gun Safe Buyers Guide, Part 1 : LOCKS

By Gun-Safe-Guru, onJuly 29th, 2010

Time for a little Q & A with the Gun-Safe-Guru.  We’ll break up this gun safe buyers guide into several parts.  Feel free to post questions at the bottom of this article or email me:  josh(at)gunsafesblogger.com

Q: Should I choose an electronic lock or combination dial lock?

A:  This is a personal preference, but I will list the pros and cons for both the electronic lock and the manual dial lock.  Most safe companies offer a choice of a dial or e-lock, but a few manufacturers like Winchester and Mesa only offer the safe with an electronic lock.  As far as security is concerned, often times both the electronic lock and combination lock carry the same Group II or Group I security rating.

Pros for the electronic lock:  Quick and easy access.  Change the combination at any time.  Easier to see under dim light. Door automatically locks when it is closed

Cons:  Possibility of electronic failure (although very rare).  Having to change the batteries (at least once a year).  Shorter life span (typically 10-15 years)

Pros for the combination lock:  No electronic parts, no batteries to replace.  More durable & longer lasting

Cons:  Turning the dial back and forth can be time consuming, especially if don’t land exactly on the right numbers.  Harder to see the numbers under dim light.  Door doesn’t automatically lock when closed, you need to spin the dial.  Be sure to spin the dial every time you close your safe door!

One thing to keep in mind about the e-lock:  Be sure to change your combination every once in a while otherwise the keypad will wear down, showing the numbers that you use most.

Q: If I buy a safe with an electronic lock and the battery dies, how do I get into the safe?

A:  You don’t need to get into the safe to change the battery.  Simply replace the battery located inside the keypad and your safe will be ready to open.  Most electronic locks feature a low battery alert that will notify you that the battery needs to be changed so you can avoid this problem all together. 

Q:  Can I determine the combination on a manual dial lock?

A:  The combination dial locks come with a predetermined code from the factory.  In some instances the combination can be changed, but that will need to be done by a certified locksmith.  This can be one advantage to choosing an electronic lock.

Q:  Can you explain the “lockout” feature on electronic locks?

A:   Most quality electronic locks have an automatic lock-out feature.  This feature disables the lock for a period of time (usually 15 to 20 minutes) if someone enters three or four incorrect combinations consecutively.  This safeguard keeps thiefs from trying several different combinations in a short period of time.

Q:  Do any of these full size gun safes have a key backup?

A:  Surprisingly enough, most full size gun safes do NOT have a key backup.  There are a few exceptions.  Rather than list them all here, just give me a call at 800-540-1695 ext 208 or email me:   josh (at) gunsafesblogger.com