Safe lock, mechanical or electronic?

[Http404]

I'm picking up a new unit. On the fence in regard to lock type. Opinions welcome.

[SIP2000GLO]

Electronic with a backup key.

[stormvet]

I only buy mechanical, it’s what I’m comfortable with. Have two safes now with mechanical same combo. I’m in need of another, It will be mechanical also.

[pohorsky]

Really personal preference, but also what your access requirements are. Are you going to need quick access in the dark? Electronic is probably better.

[ldsnet]

Electronic will always be faster, but with batteries and solenoids, prone to breaking.
Quality manual lock safes have been in service for decades (but they are slow and require the operator to have some patience and precision)

[crotter]

Mechanical... My Liberty safe originally was optioned with a digital keypad lock. Had them swap it for a mechanical dial lock on delivery.

[Kurgan]

Mechanical. What if your neighbor builds a homemade EMP device.

[Hairball]

Personal preference, I use electronic on all of my safes. I have used them for decades and never had an issue. If you do go electronic, get something like an S&G and you should be good. There are several off-brands that are not that good so know what you are buying.

[EM2]

I have an old Sturdy gun safe bought used from a gun store that went out of business over 20 years ago, it has a mechanical S&G lock, no issues all these years.

Guy at work has an electronic lock on his safe and a couple years ago was locked out of it for a couple weeks until he could get a locksmith to break into it.

[RTE]

Mechanical is all I've had.
You want quicker axcess set the dial on the second number...turn to the last number and lock up and your in.

[repoman1984]

10+ years as a locksmith/safe tech. Avoid "S&G" brand locks electronic, avoid "securam" amsec ESL locks are best electronic. Lagard or S&G mechanical are fine.

[Http404]

Thank you everyone!

Love to hear from experience on this topic.

[Librarian]

Again, a vote for 'personal preference'.

I have not-so-good eyes and not so good hand steadiness, so mechanical is a real problem for me - hard to see a dial and hard to stop precisely on the numbers for me.

(You're not stuck on 9 posts - up to 12 just now, and posts in Off Topic are not counted.)

[JagerDog]

Dial for me.

Though I did have a Legard "anti-manipulation" lock fail on me and had to have it drilled. Replaced with S&G group 2. FWIW, the black dial with white numbers is much easier than the old silver dial with black numbers.

Whatever you need quick access to should already be accessed or stored separately.

[Ewok55]

An X-10 government approved safe lock is probably the best but they are like $1200 just for the dial & box assembly. They will not be the weak point in any gun safe!