If you will remember, I modified my gun safe last summer from a digital combination to a mechanical one. I also moved and was contemplating a dual safe system. So here is what I wound up doing:
My main safe is on the other side of the house and has a mechanical combination. The upside here is that this safe is resistant to someone having a backdoor, and it is also resistant to EMP events. Still, the mechanical lock is slower to operate, meaning in an emergency, it will take more time to access firearms. The lock is also less convenient, and for access to EDC, it isn’t ideal.
Still, I may need to access guns frequently or in a hurry, so I wanted a safe that had stuff in it that I may need. So I settled on a Vaultek RS 800i as my “hot safe.” This safe has a fingerprint lock for rapid access, with a PIN keypad as backup. There is also a key override if the electronics are somehow not working. It also alerts my phone of its status, entries, and any attempts at messing with or breaking into the safe. The safe is large enough for an AR, a shotgun, some ammo, a couple of handguns, and some miscellaneous stuff like my car keys, some cash, etc.
The safe works well. It allows me to keep my EDC locked up. It gives me secure, rapid, ready access to firearms right there in my bedroom. I like the safe, and it works well.
7 Comments
Univ of Saigon 68 · March 11, 2024 at 12:31 pm
I don’t trust safes that need electricity, chips, or fingerprints to open. The solution to the speed problem is to pre-dial the entire combination except for a few numbers. Example: for combination 10 – 20 – 77, dial the 10 & 20, but stop at 80 on the last number. Then you only have to move from 80 back to 77 to open it.
Divemedic · March 11, 2024 at 1:01 pm
Because that is more secure? That is some stupid shit. You have just reduced your safe from 1 million possible combinations down to ten or so. You might as well not even lock it.
Univ of Saigon 68 · March 13, 2024 at 10:30 am
I respectfully disagree, Divemedic. An intruder finding your safe would have no idea what your procedure was, or how far to turn it to complete the combination.
Botan · March 11, 2024 at 12:34 pm
While this article is centered on gun safes it is applicable to anyone/everyone who has valuables, documents, medicines, etc. that they don’t want to lose in a fire, theft, etc. I have both mechanical and electronic safes. It is also a good place to store your computer(s), backups, etc. but have them in faraday boxes/pouches, etc. for protection from EMPs and massive Corona Mass Ejection (CME) from the sun. Placing items in water resistant containers (Pelican cases and the like) in flood prone areas would be a help. Having a decoy safe may also delay any theft as well. Medications, documents, etc. can be sealed in zip lock bags inside another zip lock bag – note remove as much air from inside the bags as possible to prevent leakage into the bags.
Barefoot Peckerwood · March 11, 2024 at 6:15 pm
While having a gun safe is prudent, having a safe for the weapon you need in the event of a break in is not. Unless you have children running around, it’s nothing but a hindrance in your response.to intruders
Divemedic · March 11, 2024 at 6:43 pm
Until you come home to find an intruder armed with the guns you left lying about. Why make it any easier for them?
Gryphon · March 11, 2024 at 7:30 pm
One thing to remember about Combination Locks, even very Good ones – I used to have a Commercial, Asbestos-Insulated Safe the size of a double-door Refrigerator, (gotten Cheaply from a friend who had a Safe-n-Lock Shop) that was so Heavy it had to be Loaded/Unloaded with a Forklift. So it ended up in an Unheated Shop. One Winter, I went to Open it, and the 5-Disc S & G Commercial Lock wouldn’t Open… Called Terry, He remembered I had it in the Shop; said that the Cold had probably bade the Lock Discs stick together, and to put a Heat Lamp in front of it. 2 Hours later, it worked fine. Shooting for the Day was Canceled.
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