Gun Safe Reviews: The Best Options in 2017

Gun Safe Reviews & Comparisons :

If you own firearms, keeping them secure isn’t an option. You have to own a gun safe. It is part

of proper gun safety and is even more important if you have children. You probably came to this

site knowing that you need some type of firearms security but maybe you aren’t quite sure about

where to start. Here at our site you will find several in-depth reviews of the most popular and

efficient models on the market.

Our Detailed Buyer’s Guide:

First we are going to jump into the key points that you truly need to evaluate before making a

gun safe purchase. Our goal is to make sure that whether this is your first purchase ever, or

whether it’s your fifth gun safe purchase, that you have all the information you need to make an

educated decision. The biggest part of the process of buying a gun safe is making sure you are

asking the right questions before you buy. There are several key items that you need to address

before you buy so you don’t end up needing a new safe a few months later. Below are some of

the key elements you need to look at when analyzing your first or next gun safe purchase.

Size: This is important for several reasons. The first reason is “will it fit” where you want it to.

Some individuals don’t have a problem with a gun safe sitting in their living room. If you are

like me and have a spouse that prefers to keep your firearms out of sight, this can become

problematic. You need to make sure that you are measuring the correct dimensions of your safe

before you buy one. You need to make sure that you are measuring your Width, Depth, and

Height appropriately to ensure your new safe fits where you want it to. Some of the typical

things people don’t think of are listed below when taking measurements into account:

Does the depth of the safe include the handle? Sure I can get that safe through sideways

at the advertised depth, but does that advertised depth include your handle and

combination lock?

Do you have anything overhanging in an odd fashion where it might disrupt your safe’s

height? I know for me, I have at least 3 inches of space between my shelving unit and

safe which is great for storage of small items.

If your safe is relatively thin and heavy, does it need to be anchored down? Thinner wider

safes have a tendency to lean forward when the door opens. Get some shims or bolt it

down if you can.

Weight: Is your safe heavy enough? A 300 pound safe is unlikely to deter theft. You can lift a

safe out of a house with a simple hand truck and some time if you are looking at a safe that’s 300

pounds or less. If you are buying a safe in this weight range, I’d HIGHLY recommend you bolt it

down. Anything 500+ pounds should be adequate to give anyone trying to take the safe out of

your house at least a little bit of trouble.

Lock Type: Buying a large safe? And if so is it your only safe? If your only safe you own is a

large safe, save yourself the time and get an electronic lock. A Manual lock will be a nightmare

if you have an intruder in your home at midnight and need quick access to your firearm. Good

luck turning that dial with Joe criminal lurking around your house. If you have a smaller hand

safe, than this is much less of a concern. If you have a bedside hand safe that serves as your

primary firearm access, you are probably fine sticking with a manual lock for increased security.

Can I bolt down? This is important because if you can’t bolt down, you need a heavier safe. A

lot of houses are built with post-tension slabs these days, and unless you want possible

foundation issues, you shouldn’t be drilling into the concrete foundation of your house. Save

yourself the trouble and just get a heavy safe that doesn’t require anything to be bolted down.

Do You Have Enough Room? This is one of the most crucial questions. Does your safe have

enough room for you to GROW? Nothing is more problematic than buying a large heavy object,

installing it in your home and realizing it’s just not big enough. You need to make sure you buy a

safe that’s got enough room for it to expand with your family and your firearms.

Fire Rating? This is personal preference. For me I cared far more about all the other topics than

I cared about fire rating. Yes it’s nice to have, but was not nearly as much of a deciding factor as

the rest of the topics we’ve already covered. If you live in a place where fires are common, this

might be more important to you.

If you’ve gotten nothing else out of visiting our site, I hope this buyer’s guide helps point you in

the right direction. The questions we have here are designed to make sure you know exactly what

you need to ask yourself before making one of the biggest investments you will ever make in

home security.

The Top 3 Best Biometric Choices For Your Handguns:

Biometric gun safes are smaller versions that recognize your fingerprints to open the locking

mechanism. The primary function of biometrics is quick access and easy mobility. They should

typically not be used for housing valuables, but rather firearms you will need the quickest access

to. They are a great tool for firearm security so you can keep your firearms away from your

children. Due to being smaller in size, they can be victim to theft in the event of a burglary, so

use caution when storing your valuables. Many units offer a combination of both fingerprint and

sequential button coding so you can access the contents either way in case the fingerprint

recognition stops for some reason.

Should I own a fingerprint recognition unit? The best part about owning one is that they are

probably not only one of the securest ways to store a firearm in a compact location, but they are

also the easiest to access in the case of an emergency. They are usually compact and slimmer,

making them the bedside companion. They can usually hold one small firearm, which in my

opinion should be equipped with a flashlight. Most small modern firearms have a tactical rail

which will allow a flashlight attachment so you can easily see intruders during a potential

evening encounter. Fingerprint recognition models are also great for a first time purchase if you

are just a one gun household. Especially for the budget conscious, if you don’t plan on expanding

your firearm collection, then this is a great pick and should be considered a great option for

smaller versions. The choices represented here are a few of our favourates biometric in the

category, and each of them is worthy of consideration.

The Top 3 Small Manual Locking Handgun Safe Choices:

Less technological than its’ biometric cousin, smaller manual and electronic locking models

have their place. Smaller manual and electronic locking versions are generally the same size as a

fingerprint recognizing unit, but are operated using a digital locking keypad or key lock system

instead of fingerprint recognition. They are typically cheaper than biometric versions, but will

make it a little more difficult to grab your firearm in an emergency situation. Electronic locking

mechanisms are unlocked using an electronic key code combination. Manual locking safes can

usually only be accessed by a key. It should still perform just like like others do when unlocking,

you just need a code or a key to open it which can be cumbersome in the dark if you are up

against a late night encounter.

The good thing about small electronic locking or manual locking versions is that they are

typically cheap, and have a lot of good manufacturers that produce them. Personally, this is the

type I’d be using for a backup firearm that is not my primary use or carry gun, and I’d be using it

in the places I spend the most time that aren’t my bedroom. A den, library, or home office, are all

ideal places to stash these smaller vaults. This way you have access to a firearm in need, but

probably don’t need the speed of a fancy fingerprint controlled lock. You can usually expect to

spend about half or a little less than half of what you would spend on a Biometric for a small

electronic locking or manual locking model.

Top 3 Long-Gun Full Size Models:

There are many reasons why you should be looking at buying a full size version for your first

purchase. I know that many people have smaller living quarters and can’t afford the cost and/or

space it would require for a full size safe. If you are part of this crowd, I’d suggest looking at our

Small Fireproof model, or our a Biometric unit. If you have enough closet space, and own at

least one long-gun, I’d strongly recommend buying a full size for your first purchase. My first

purchase ever was technically a full size model. I outgrew it in less than a year. The primary

function of a large safe is to protect your firearms, valuable and most importantly, your family

from unauthorized access. Having a good, solid full-size behemoth will not only ensure that your

firearms are kept secure, but also prevent your firearms from falling into the wrong hands in the

event of a robbery. Full sized models are typically constructed out of premium gauge steel and

are tough to move or break into.

This makes them the valuable resource for protecting the things that matter most to you and your

family. I’ll cover more in my buyer’s guide – but the one thing I can tip I can give you that’s the

most important is always buy a bigger one than you plan to need so you can grow into it. Buying

a second full-sizer in less than a year wasn’t part of our plan and luckily I was able to sell the

other on craigslist before Amazon delivered my new one. Buy the right one the first time around

and you won’t have to deal with any of the hassle of outgrowing your first purchase too quickly.

This should be considered a great option in the larger categories and is recommended. We

decided not to clutter up our page too much, so you can feel free to review our complete list of

Long-Gun models by clicking the link here.

Top 3 Small Fireproof Options:

Small Fireproof models are a great option for valuables and other items that you may not feel

comfortable placing in a smaller version. They also work well for handguns but since they are

bigger than fingerprint or small electronic locking models, you will need a bigger place to store

it. Usually small fireproof brands will house about 3 cubic feet or less and have a decent fire

rating. Keep in mind that the primary function of these is to protect against fire, not theft.

Because of their small stature, Small Fireproof versions are much more likely to be stolen in the

event of a burglary.

They are good for protecting documents and even storing small firearms, but I would be cautious

of storing large amounts of valuables in a smaller gun vault. The exception to that is if you can

anchor it down. Small fireproofers have their place and if you are able to anchor them down,

they are for hand guns as well as valuables while being easily placed anywhere in the home due

to coming in a more compact package than standard full size options.

What we aim provide you with our detailed manufacturer reviews:

There are a lot of things to determine when making a purchase such as size, weight, capacity,

anchoring ability and of course cost. Every size of vault has its benefits. If you don’t have a lot

of money to buy your first, I would strongly encourage you to look at a biometric brand like the

Barska. They are smaller, easily accessible and secure. If your first purchase is a larger Long

Gun version, I would suggest an electronic lock for quick access if you plan to only own one. If

you intend on owning more than one, then picking a dialing lock can be a better choice to keep

the cost low while buying a biometric or electronic locking version for immediate access to

smaller firearms. I will cover all of the items you should be asking yourself in detail in our

buyer’s guide section so you know what questions to ask when looking at buying your own. Now

that you’ve read about some of the most popular types as well as our favorites, I want to make

sure I’ve highlighted some of the main reasons that you need to have some way of locking up

your firearms. If you haven’t fully committed to buying a one as of yet and are still on the fence,

please consider the following reasons why owning a gun vault is a must.

o Child Protection: According to a recent study, Guns kill twice as many children

as cancer, and 5 times more than heart disease. This in itself is more than enough

reason to own a gun vault to properly secure your firearms. You may not have

children, but that doesn’t mean your family, or neighboring children won’t have

access to your firearms if they visit your home. Protecting America’s youth from

firearm accidents starts with you being a responsible gun owner.

o Theft Protection: While not quite as important as protecting children, a strong

gun vault will protect your firearms against theft. Many people put other

valuables in their firearm vaults along with their firearms. If you plan to lock

away money, gold, silver and/or important documents I would highly recommend

purchasing a model that’s heavy or can be bolted down. Even if you do not plan

to store other valuables with your firearms, bolting yours down should always be

considered unless you have a post-tension slab which will not allow you to do so.

Bolting yours down or buying a heavier model will save you money in the long

run by protecting you against theft in the event of a robbery.

o Liability Protection: Depending on your state laws, if your firearms are stolen,

you may face liability from a legal standpoint. Owning a gun safe in states that

hold you accountable is an absolute must. Owning a firearm is your constitutional

right, but it’s also your job to make sure they are properly secured.

o Fire Protection: Many of today’s models have fire protection or fire ratings. This

not only will help keep your firearms secure in the event of a catastrophic fire, but

also any other valuables that you might own that you want to keep secure. House

fires have grown at an alarming rate and you need protection that adequately

protects against disaster. This is always a great idea to keep things out of harm’s

way.

o Cheaper Insurance Rates: In some states, legislation is being reviewed to

propose that firearms owners will need to carry liability protection to insure

against the potential firearms accidents. Whether or not this passes will be the

subject of a lot of scrutiny. That being said, it’s more than likely that you will

qualify for cheaper insurance rates if you have appropriate firearm security in

your home. Why risk being caught needing a more expensive policy when you

can insure against higher rates and properly protect all those around you? Owning

one here is a win-win situation. There’s also a possibility that your actual

homeowners insurance carrier may offer a discount for purchasing a certain

model with a certain security rating.

Manufacturer Reviews Including Top Selling Models:

First we are going to look at manufacturers that focus on smaller models that usually include

fingerprint recognition. If you are looking for a long gun model, you will find our reviews on

larger models, keep reading. We break down our top 3 favorite larger vaults along with their

manufacturers in detail.

GunVault Co. Overall Review:

GunVault specializes in just one thing and that’s smaller handgun vaults. They make plenty of

options with biometric fingerprint recognition and some with just a key to lock up your

valuables. They do not really focus on larger models which is why they are a leader in the

smaller safe niche. If you are looking to buy a safe for your handgun, you can’t go wrong with

any model that they offer. There are other popular manufacturers that we will cover a bit later on,

but GunVault is by far the brand with the most popularity. All of their models come with an

exclusive 5 year fire and burglar warranty which is not something that most other manufacturers

will offer. They’ve also been around for 20 years and make their safes exclusively in the United

States which is outstanding for those of you that prefer to buy American made.Another great

point about GunVault products is that they are typically ready to ship online. We always prefer

companies that stock with Amazon because it takes the shipping headache right out of the

equation. You know right off the start that you are getting a quality product that will be shipped

right off the bat. With that being said, let’s take a look at GunVault’s top selling product and find

out if this is something that might fitSo what is GunVault’s Top Selling Model?

This was a tough call for us to distinguish so we decided to go ahead and cover 3 of theirs that

consumers seem to prefer. We could easily distinguish which one sells the most volume, but the

bottom line is that all of these sell massive amounts – it just depends on what you are trying to

use it for.

GunVault: One of the Best Gun Safes For Your Car:

At a glance, the NV200 NanoVault with Key Lock may look like a great choice due to cost. But

what you have to consider is that during an emergency situation, you are going to want to have

quick access to your handgun. That rules out anything that needs a Key. For this reason, we

prefer the MV500-STD due to the biometric technology that will make reaching for your gun

simple.

The Best GunVault Model for Your Home Office:

Some people like to keep a gun readily available in their office under their desk. Maybe your

house or apartment is laid out that your office or den is closer to the access points in your home

than your bedroom. If you spend a lot of time in your home office, then you can easily pick up

our favorite safe that will mount directly under your desk. The GunVault SV500 with digital

keypad is the best option to store your firearm away from visibility while still giving you quick

access to your gun.

It’s price friendly. It’s a efficient way to lock up your

handguns and other valuables in your home office or really any other place where you need

immediate access to the gun. The lock is easy to operate. It may end up being a little slower to

operate than a model with fingerprint recognition, but not by much. It’s made of 18 gauge steel

and it has multiple mounting options that others do not. It’s big enough to fit a full 1911 which

makes it ideal for almost any type of handgun. It has a backup override key, and once your code

is entered, the drawer drops down quickly.

Our Favorite GunVault Choice for Your Bedroom:

This wasn a tough one for us to give you our choice on. While there are other options you can

pick from, the GV2000C ended up as our choice for a compact option that you can keep under

your bed or anywhere in your bedroom. We love this model due to the fact that it has two

separate sections that you can use to store other valuables outside of a handgun. The patented

“no eyes” keypad allows you quick access to anything you have stored inside. It will not fit on or

under your nightstand but these bedside gun safes will, so please read the full article if you are

looking for something to keep near you while you sleep.

Like its smaller cousin, the MV500, it has over 12 million programmable user selected codes in order to access the contents of the vault. We are pretty high on this model mostly because the size is larger than most options with fingerprint recognition, and it gives you the option of storing more than one handgun if you aren’t ready to commit to a full size vault. While you can certainly choose cheaper options, you can’t go wrong by picking up the GV2000C.

Thank You and Wrap Up:

Now that you’ve looked through our complete comparison guide, you should be equipped with

all the information you need to make a purchase. In my opinion, (and as evidenced by our

reviews) safes are not a one-size-fits-all type of situation. Everyone has different needs and

different requirements. In my opinion it’s also important to have a larger main vault and an ideal

a secondary backup used for your bedside, office or in any other place you’d need to have quick

access to a firearm. I personally own both a long gun model and a biometric hand version and

feel the biometric option is great for quick access and convenience. While there are many places

you can put a smaller model, I was able to mount my biometric safe behind my headboard and

now with a swipe of my hand, I have access to my firearm on demand. Only you can decide what

model is going to best fit your needs, but now that you’ve spent some time with us, you have all

the information you need to make an educated decision after reading up on the most popular

brands.

We have covered a lot of material here on our site, and you have some fantastic choices to

choose from if you are looking for a new gun safe. I would refrain from buying used, as you

never know what kind of abuse that particular safe may have been through. I would also

encourage you to go for a vault that’s as big as possible so you know that you will always have

plenty of room to grow. Nothing is worse than buying the wrong model from day one. You will

only create more headache for yourself as you realize that you just need to buy a bigger one and

then figure out to do with the first one you bought. Make sure you reread our research since

we’ve taken all the guesswork out of it for you if you still don’t feel like you have the right idea

or information that you need prior to making a purchase.

Thanks for taking the time to check out our site. If you have any questions at all or would like to

see another brand reviewed that we haven’t included, please feel free to reach out to us at any

time on our Contact Page. Make sure you stop and take a look at our Buyer’s Guide for important

questions to ask before making your purchase if you haven’t already answered all your questions by reading

through our gun safe reviews. We hope that our information is useful to you and that you find the best gun safe

for your needs.

Source: http://www.pickbestgunsafe.com