Gun Safe! Electronic or Mechanical Lock?

[Ishooter]

I just bought a Champion gun safe with electronic lock, and I'd like to hear your thought about pros and cons of electronic lock vs. mechanical lock. I know it's a little late to ask after I bought it, but I can return it if I have to.

I also wonder that my safe is fire resistance, but its lock key pad is made of plastic, so will it burn under fire and how can it be opened if the key pad is burn? What if the battery runs out? Any comments & sharing?

[The Fugitive]

Electronic is the way to go, at least for me it is. Electronics usually come with a key in case battery runs out or it breaks on you like you mention. Should use standard batteries that you can buy at the store. Don't worry, you'll like it. Your probably going to keep on opening and closing it because of the buttons.

[halifax]

I've got one of each. Mechanical takes longer but I trust it will always work. I have had to re-try the electronic one (SG) several times before it would open on more than one occassion.

[lowk_18]

I just bought a safe myself about 6 months ago and went with a mechanical lock. Google "gun safe mechanical vs digital" and you'll find endless debate over which is best. One manufacturer stated the the vast majority of their customer service calls were in regard to digital locks. One person pointed out that digital locks are automatic locking vs the mechanical lock. I can't count the number of times that I've closed my safe door thinking I was going to go to the range in the morning or whatever and ended up leaving my house with the safe unlocked the next day.

My suggestion is that if you don't hate your current configuration and it's not giving you any trouble, keep it. Keep some spare batteries handy and don't worry about it.

[RedFord150]

I have both.
The bigger safe is both key and combo, all mechanical.
The bedside safe is electronic. Homak uses 4 AA Batteries on the inside. It also has a pair of contacts on the outside. If the inside battery pack goes dead, you can put a 9 volt battery up to the exterior contacts and use it to enter your electronic combo.
So far, no issues with either safe.

[bsg]

i have an old Browning ProSteel safe with manual combination lock; i personally prefer the manual lock style, but both styles have upsides and downsides....

-Brady

[Rob454]

I like them both. For quick access electronic is the way to go.

[gregorylucas]

For speed access in cases of pressure I would go electronic.

-Greg

[kazman]

electonics are fine. just don't do biometric. technology not ready yet

[JHermsen]

I've had both. Mechanical is slow and the tumblers can become "misaligned" if you spin the lock quickly ( I was not ham handed in my opinion). That causes the combo to change by one to several digits. Not fun trying to figure out.

I have electronic now, changed to them. As long as you change your batteries you'll be fine.

[savasyn]

I had an electronic lock (SG) die in my Fort Knox safe about 6 months after I got it. Luckily, I was able to get it open one last time so I could swap it out. Fort Know overnighted me the new one and gave me all the support I needed. Haven't had a single problem with it since.

I have another safe with a mechanical dial. It's not the best out there, but it works just fine. As I understand it, they can fail as well if abused, so be careful with a dial if you have one.

I can't say which I prefer either. I like the simplicity of the dial but the speed and changeability of the electronic one.

[Mike's Custom]

I like the electronic locks but I get into my safes every day and several times a day. The NEW S&G electronic locks now have a mechanical release unlike the old locks that used a small motor and a worm screw to lift the locker. I actually had the old style worm screw strip and I had to have it opened by T&T here in Bakersfield. The new lock eliminates this. As for the face, the battery and key pad are on the outside but the control is on the inside. If someone breaks off the keypad then you have to just plug in a new pad and enter your PIN and you are set to go. I can't vouch for any other model electronic lock but the S&G and it works great.

[RollingCode3]

Small safe (gunvault) for quick access = Electronic lock
Big safe = Mechanical lock

[esskay]

Small safe (gunvault) for quick access = Electronic lock
Big safe = Mechanical lock

+1 to this, electronic safe for quick access to defensive guns and mechanical lock on larger safe for storage.

As a side note, I have become very quick at opening a dial lock and it only takes a little bit longer than opening an electronic lock, but I can imagine if I were under extreme stress that I might get fumbly and overrun numbers...

[Cnynrat]

I prefer electronic - quick access, which helps me keep the discipline to always keep it locked even if I think I'm going to be back in it shortly.

I change the batteries every year around the first of the year whether they need it or not.