Best "Quick Open" Pistol Safe

[tenbrook]

I recently purchased a G17 for a home defense weapon. I now want to get one of those quick access safes for under the bed. I dont think I want anything battery operated or with a fingerprint release. What are the best options out there?

Thanks

Tenbrook

Something like this:

http://www.cabelas.com/prod-1/0027552223551a.shtml

[savasyn]

The one you linked to look pretty darn good actually. I was going to suggest the Amsec version of the same concept, but the v-line one might even before more pry-resistant.

Maybe look around for the same unit for less money at other places.

[emc002]

Biometric is the fastest, but since you don't want it try these. I have two of them and they're very fast.

[Sam]

I like the biometric gun vault but I have the standard one and it barely fits under the bed, anything wider but shorter of the same quality?

[Lumpia is sarap!®]

Gun Vault, MiniVault.

[tenbrook]

How does this biometric thing work? I was told by some of the guys at my local gun shop, that if you breath heavy on the fingerprint safes you can get them to open? These may not have been "gunvault" models but it got me kinda concerned as I have children in the house. Are all the "gunvault" models fingerprint activated? If not how do they open? I have had allot of people recommending the "gunvault" safes so maybe I should change my mind about not going battery operated.

[jazman]

I have one of the Simplex push button lock ones like the link you listed in your original post. It has worked great for me for many years and I would buy one again. Never have to worry about batteries going bad or losing keys. It is simple, quick and does the job. You can set your own combo, and can have it open with one button pushed if you care to. You can also do the buttons in the dark if needed which I have done a few times after hearing night noises.

[nick]

How does this biometric thing work? I was told by some of the guys at my local gun shop, that if you breath heavy on the fingerprint safes you can get them to open? These may not have been "gunvault" models but it got me kinda concerned as I have children in the house. Are all the "gunvault" models fingerprint activated? If not how do they open? I have had allot of people recommending the "gunvault" safes so maybe I should change my mind about not going battery operated.

Well, like a fool, I just spent 5 min pressing the release button and blowing hard on the bio pad of my Barska safe. I could see my fingerprint developing (in fact, I specifically planted it there about halfway through the exercise, to make it legible and all). It didn't open. Sounds like another urban legend to me.

[ldivinag]

i bought one of those gun vault clones from walmart.

one thing i liked about it was it also had a key option, just in case the batts in the thing died...

[PonchoTA]

How does this biometric thing work? I was told by some of the guys at my local gun shop, that if you breath heavy on the fingerprint safes you can get them to open? These may not have been "gunvault" models but it got me kinda concerned as I have children in the house. Are all the "gunvault" models fingerprint activated? If not how do they open? I have had allot of people recommending the "gunvault" safes so maybe I should change my mind about not going battery operated.

If you get into the practice of changing the batteries at the same time you change the batteries in your smoke detectors (each Daylight Savings change, or every 6 mos or so), you wouldn't have to worry about them going dead.

I don't want to go with the fingerptint/biometric ones because the technology isn't reliable enough for me yet. I like the Minivaults though, haven't heard anything bad about them yet...

hth

[Greg-Dawg]

+1 MiniVault!

[maxicon]

I'm a big fan of Gunvault, and have several of them. I like it because it's fast and intuitive, it works well in the dark, and it takes the fewest motions of any non-biometric handgun safe to open. Biometrics haven't been out in common use long enough for me to trust them, but I'm cautious about that.

If you've got a Gunvault in a good location, you put your fingers in the grooves and press the combo, the door opens below the safe and out of your way, and you move your hand back, then in, to get the gun.

With the Cabela's safe, you have to push the button sequence, twist the knob, the top opens up in the direction of your hand, and you move your hand back, then have to go below the lip of the box to get the gun.

I tested both styles a lot, and the Gunvault is much faster for me. I use Simplex locks a lot at work, and am used to working them, so that wasn't a factor. YMMV, as always - lots of people like the other styles.

The Simplex pushbutton locks are considered more reliable than electronic locks (though my 2 Gunvaults haven't had any problems yet). Anything electronic can fail, so it's important to keep the backup key available where you can get it very quickly, and to practice using it in the dead of the night.

With the Gunvault, if you fumble the combo 3 times in a row, you're locked out, and will need to use the key or wait 5 minutes. The key here is to practice fumble recovery - when it doesn't open, you have to keep pressing until you get the reset, then put your combo in again. If you just put your combo in again without the reset, you'll mess up the second one as well.

The key to each is to test them in a shop a bunch of times to see which one works best for you. Do it with your eyes closed, too, and with your weak hand. Once you've chosen one, practice, practice, practice. Be sure to practice at 3 am when you've just woken up for some reason.

[tenbrook]

Well I bought one. I decided on the one in the original link. I guess I am just kinda old school......

http://www.cabelas.com/prod-1/0027552223551a.shtml

Thanks For all the help!

[AraiGuma]

I also have the non-bio GunVault and I HATE it.

The battery holder and its location is terrible, four button operation is ok but not as quick and smooth as you would imagine, and inside is too small compared to its easily noticeable large outfit.

So if I were to buy another one, I will never buy one from them. My 2 cents.

[what2be]

I was told by some of the guys at my local gun shop, that if you breath heavy on the fingerprint safes you can get them to open?

Morons. End of discussion.