Dial or digital?

[Ceemack]

I'm facing a decision on getting a safe with a dial lock or a digital lock. I'd be interested in hearing opinions from safe owners on the locks they've got...especially from anybody who got a dial lock and regrets it.

I already understand the potential reliability issues for each, so let's please not re-hash that topic.

[Carcassonne]

Dial locks have been around for over 100 years. I have them on all mine. One of my safes has both.

Digital is faster. I have heard of one digital lock failing. I can't remember what was done to fix it and get the safe open. Digital locks require electricity. If the battery fails, you can't get in. You have to replace the battery. That isn't a big deal unless you are in a hurry.



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[VictorFranko]

If the battery fails, you can't get in. You have to replace the battery. That isn't a big deal unless you are in a hurry.

Use a quality battery and replace annually when you replace optic batteries and smoke detector batteries.

[OCEquestrian]

I currently have three safes, have had five total, all with dial locks. Lots of steel plate and basic, reliable, fool proof systems are what work in my opinion.

[drkphibr]

both...in one device. peace of mind with a Secu Ram Safelogic xtreme. Have had it for years and love it.

[bsg]

I have an OldSchool Browning Limited Edition Gold Series and it came from the factory with an S&G (Sargent and Greenleaf) mechanical/dial combination lock. I've had it for 6+ years and the previous owner claimed to have it for 25+ years. this one is truly a joy to own and the locking mechanism is still smooth as butter with combination remaining spot-on with no deviation.

[splithoof]

If a crook breaks into your place, and can't force your safe, if it has a electric lock they may be able to pull the dial like you would when changing the battery on some models. They may simply cut the wires, and shove the wires back into the small opening. When they leave with the dial-head, they have now made it much harder for you to get back in. I don't know if all the electric models can have this done, but I have seen a few that's were susceptible.
Other concern is a potential EMP event that may wipe out the board. Slim, but worth considering.
If I were going to cut wires, I would try to force epoxy into the hole as well, to make it harder to fish wires back out.

[Old4eyes]

If your hands and eyes can handle the mechanical dial, I would suggest that over the electronic. I have the electronic (with key backup) on my nightstand boxes but the safe is S&G Dial. At work we were required to switch from S&G Dial to high end digital locks. I saw far more problems with the digital then I ever saw from the mechanical.

Access speed and convenience are the plus sides of the digital.
Reliability, battery and EMP are the minus sides.

[Cody]

If someone breaks into your house in the middle of the night, good luck trying to open a dial lock in a hurry and possibly in the dark with fuzzy vision from sleeping.
Most digital units warn you way ahead of time when the battery is getting low.

[Notpc]

If a crook breaks into your place, and can't force your safe, if it has a electric lock they may be able to pull the dial like you would when changing the battery on some models. They may simply cut the wires, and shove the wires back into the small opening. When they leave with the dial-head, they have now made it much harder for you to get back in. I don't know if all the electric models can have this done, but I have seen a few that's were susceptible.
Other concern is a potential EMP event that may wipe out the board. Slim, but worth considering.
If I were going to cut wires, I would try to force epoxy into the hole as well, to make it harder to fish wires back out.

Really? Sheesh!

[Guns and guitars]

If someone breaks into your house in the middle of the night, good luck trying to open a dial lock in a hurry and possibly in the dark with fuzzy vision from sleeping.
Most digital units warn you way ahead of time when the battery is getting low.

Hence why you keep your investment firearms, and the bulk of your weaponry in a dial safe and a handgun or two in a small bolted down electric safe.

[FAS1]

No regrets from me. I choose mechanical for its reliability and durability. I understand (especially as I get older) the benefits of the electronic push button lock, but they are not enough to overcome their shortcomings for me. My safe is not intended for quick access.

Quick access for me is also mechanical as i trust my training more than electronics.

[Garv]

Bad eyes for me = digital.

Replace the batteries on a schedule.
As a minimum, keep a new battery right next to the safe if it dies.
My spare is on a little magnetic box on the metal cabinet a foot away.

[FresnoRob]

Like Gary, the eyes and shaky hands so I have digital.
My wife can also open the digital, I think she would have trouble with a dial.

[ExtremeX]

electronic keypad for me...

I have no experience with it first hand, but I have also hear about people with dial issues... I think the real take away is buy quality stuff...

I see options for both dial and digital so if you really wanted both, you could get both on the same safe.