Best Handgun Safe for home with Kids

[xduser504]

Hello All,
I’m Looking to get some feedback on your experience on what handgun safes are the best way to go. I have owned and shot guns all my life but now I have a child and need a way to secure my gun. There are a bunch of options regarding gaining access like key fob, wristband, fingerprint, combination, etc. I like the basic approach of mechanical combination locks since I am a little Leary of electronics failing me in the middle of the night, but I see the need for super quick access because a failed lock renders the gun useless. Please share your experience and advice of different brands/types.
Thanks!

[krotsman]

This is a thread from a few weeks ago. Started out about disguised safes, but there are a lot of opinions about regular handgun safes in the thread. It's worth a look for you.

https://www.bayoushooter.com/forums/...24#post1653024

[Bonephish]

Buy a real gun safe. At night, keep a gun in your nightstand drawer. During the day, carry or put it in the safe. If you want a locked box to put your gun in temporarily, buy a Stack-On pistol/ammo cabinet.

[3fifty7]

http://www.fas1safe.com

Take your pick.
I bolted mine to my bed frame and keep a spare mag and spare light in it.

[340six]

Buy a real gun safe. At night, keep a gun in your nightstand drawer. During the day, carry or put it in the safe. If you want a locked box to put your gun in temporarily, buy a Stack-On pistol/ammo cabinet.

That is what I did so as not to fumble around if needed or lessen it some

[dougstump]

Keep in mind that if you really needed it, you probably will not be able to open up a handgun vault. My suggestion is a large frame semi auto, full magazine in place, but nothing in the chamber. A child isn't strong enough to rack the slide but you can charge it in an instant.

Now for a "war story".

Long ago in a galaxy far far away (30 years ago in another state) the wife insisted on keeping her 9mm in a handgun vault bolted to the nightstand on her side of the bed. It was the type that you are supposed to put your hand on it and it would open, and under ideal conditions it always opened up on the first try. I kept the Colt 357 on my nightstand right next to my glasses. Note that even with no children, the wife was always hounding me how unsafe this was. One morning about 1:30 or so, a punk kicked in the front door. Wife tries to unlock her handgun vault, and it won't open. I grabbed the Colt as the intruder enters the bedroom and fire off two shots. Both hit (gut shots) despite still being half asleep, in the dark, and not wearing my glasses. Wife is still trying to open up her vault.

I called 911 and said to send the police and an ambulance as the suspect was down. Wife is still trying to open up her vault. The ambulance arrived in four minutes (I was still on the phone with the 911 dispatcher), however they refused to enter until after the police had secured the scene. The Police arrived after seven minutes, I opened the cylinder on the Colt and handed it to the police officer. Wife is still trying to open up her vault.

Medics bundled up the suspect and transported him to the hospital with police escort. Police want to see the wife's weapon to see if it had been fired. She still can't get the damn vault open. Police getting pissed that she "refuses" to show them her pistol. About an hour later she finally calmed down enough that she could finally get the damn vault open!

Turned out the punk was wanted in two other home invasions where the homeowners were killed. He was tried and convicted for the first break in (both husband and wife were killed) and got two life sentences (served consecutively) without parole wearing an ostomy bag. The second break in & murder was held just in case he ever gets out, my break in never went to trial.

Seven minutes for the police to arrive and a handgun vault that won't open. The landlady was upset over the stain on the carpet. And no, I never got the Colt back!

[340six]

To bad the Colt was taken. Stolen.

[xduser504]

Wow! This story is literally making me rethink the entire gun safe idea. This is the exact reason why I don’t want any resistance in access to my firearm such as an electronic lock or even mechanical that COULD fail or I could fail to open it due to adrenaline or whatever. On the other hand it’s just as bad if my son was able to hurt himself with something I have in the house to protect my family. Thank you for sharing your story.

[xduser504]

Thanks for the share, seems people favor the fast brand of safe. I am really trying to come to terms with *Locking* my gun up for Incase there is an emergency where literally every second matters. I like the hidden safe idea but we currently are renting so mounting isn’t an option as of now until we find a new house. I like the idea of a big safe but still need to get to it and put code in...

[xduser504]

Just thought of a question for this situation, how often did she practice getting her gun out of the gun vault and what kind of lock was it for example, combination or biometric, key?