June 04, 2013
By Richard Nance
Anyone who owns a firearm for home defense has an obligation to ensure their firearm is accessible in the event of a home invasion, and securely stored to prevent a child, untrained adult or criminal from obtaining it. The manner in which you store your firearm depends on the presence of young children in the home, the number of firearms in your collection, your particular home defense plan and a myriad of other factors, not the least of which is your budget.
Whether you have a few dollars or several thousands to spend, it's your responsibility as a gun owner to ensure your firearms don't fall into the wrong hands. Don't put it off any longer. Tragedy can strike at any moment, and when it does, there's no going back. There are many great gun safes on the market, and you need to consider your options before making a purchase. Here's a look at firearm storage options ranging from less than $15 to more than $5,000.
GunVault AR-01 MagVault One simple, economic storage option for an AR-15 is the
GunVault AR-01 MagVault . The MagVault, which is constructed of glass reinforced nylon, is designed to fit in the magazine well of a .223/5.56 chambered AR-15 and lock securely into place. Once seated, the MagVault prevents a round from entering the chamber. The MagVault is unlocked by a simple turn of a key, making it a safe and practical option whether you're home, traveling or at the range. This is one storage option that fits anyone's budget. For shotgun owners, GunVault also makes a BreechVault based on a similar concept.
Price: $24.99
Liberty National Series Magnum 56 The
Liberty National Series Magnum 56 is a beautifully designed safe that sports external ball bearing hinges, a 'Monster Mech ' feature that helps to alleviate pressure from the locking mechanism and slip clutch technology for smooth operation. The Magnum 56 is constructed of heavy-duty, three-piece, 7-gauge steel. It weighs a whopping 1,340 pounds and has a 2.5-hour fire protection rating. The Magnum 56 comes with a limited lifetime warranty.
Price: $5,199
Master Lock 90KADSPT The
Master Lock 90KADSPT is a key-operated trigger lock made of steel and zinc. It fits over the trigger guard of many handguns, rifles and shotguns. As you might expect from Master Lock, this trigger lock features a four-pin tumbler cylinder to prevent picking. The unit even comes with rubber pads to help protect the firearm's finish.
Price: $13.99
9G Products Inprint Micro I own a
9G Products Inprint Micro , which I keep near my bed. The unit has always functioned properly and is plenty big enough to hold a full-sized pistol, spare magazines, flashlight, etc. Like most other handgun safes, the Inprint Micro can be mounted to prevent theft. The piece of mind this safe has brought me has more than made up for the minimal financial investment.
Price: $239
Patriot Gun Safes Biometric Authentication Safe Patriot Gun Safes Biometric Authentication Safe is capable of storing handguns laptop computers and many other valuables. It can be mounted just about anywhere using the 3/8-inch bolt-down hardware provided with the unit. This safe has plenty of room for a small flashlight or spare magazines, which could come in handy during a home invasion.
Price: $299
GunVault SpeedVault SV500 The
GunVault SpeedVault SV500 is another innovative GunVault product. It is designed to hold one handgun and has several mounting options. This unique gun safe is operated by biometric technology and is powered by a single 9V battery. Up to 120 fingerprints can be stored into the unit. The SV 500's spring-loaded door is programmed to open at the touch of an authorized user's fingerprint. I'm a big fan of biometric safes because they allow you to determine who has access to your firearm. In addition, you can store a fully loaded firearm in a biometric safe for quick access when you need it most. The SV500, like most other biometric safes on the market, comes with a key that will also open the unit. The SV500 is an excellent way to safely store a handgun. Price: $209.99
War Dog Platinum Model War Dog manufactures heavy-duty, yet portable, 'drawer style ' safes that can be hidden under the bed or stored covertly in the rear of an SUV. The
War dog Platinum Model boasts one-piece, 14-gauge steel construction and gloss powder-coat paint with a silver colored lock. It features interior illumination and a biometric keypad, with a rotary key lock as a backup. The Platinum Model weighs a svelte 185 pounds. It comes with a hardened drill plate and is backed by a limited lifetime warranty.
Price: [imo-slideshow gallery=318],999
Bulldog Car/Personal Vault Safely secure your firearm in a vehicle, boat, or any tight spot with the
Bulldog Car/Personal Vault . The box comes with a secure mounting bracket that can mount just about anywhere! Find these for sale at
Cabela's .
Price: $29.99 - $34.99
Pendleton Custom Safes Pendleton is a name synonymous with high-quality, well-designed closet safes. Pendleton stocks no inventory because each of its safes are custom built around a specific gun collection with over 45 customizable options, including shelving, paint and interior features. At the heart of a Pendleton safe is its proprietary 'Revolution Technology, ' which allows a carousel holding the firearms to rotate 360 degrees with either the push of a button or manually, depending on the features you choose. This makes your entire gun collection easily accessible; no need to dig through the safe to hunt for a particular firearm. LED lighting completely illuminates the interior of the safe. Pendleton safes even feature electronic moisture control.
Price: Varies
Richard Nance
Richard Nance is the founder of Nance Training & Consulting. He is lifelong martial artist and retired police sergeant with 26 years of service. His assignments included patrol supervisor, firearms instructor, SWAT team leader, and defensive tactics program supervisor. In addition to providing firearms and combatives courses, Richard is the Gun Tech Editor of Guns&Ammo magazine and the Self-Defense Editor of Handguns Magazine. He co-hosts Handguns TV and hosts Guns&Ammo's new Personal Defense digital video series. Richard is also a regular contributor to Outdoor Sportsman Group's Special Interest Publications (SIP) division.
Full Bio + |
See more articles from Richard Nance
Enjoy articles like this?
Subscribe to the magazine.
Get access to everything Guns & Ammo has to offer.
Subscribe to the Magazine
