Not sure if this is where to post this question. But here goes and if the Moderator wants to move it, then so be it. So here goes. My Brother-In-Law wants to keep his nightstand gun in a small safe. He would like to know what are good safes and which to stay away from. He would prefer a safe that opens by fingerprint or a push button safe. Any inputs both positive or negative would be welcome. Also where to get them would be helpful.

Thanks,
AJ

__________________
USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

When the time comes for me to need the weapon in question, I don't want any encumbrances. Trying to push buttons, turn keys, etc. at 4 a.m in the dark isn't conducive to self defense.

If he's worried about children or grandchildren...educate them.

I grew up around guns and so did my children. We were all educated at an early age. No problems.

I knew there might be a curiosity factor; so, in addition to educating about the potential dangers of firearms, I told my children they could look at the guns anytime they wanted as long as they asked and we did it together.

When my grandchildren were small, I simply put the revolvers somewhere higher up, like the chest or dresser until they left.

My recommendation is the cheapest and, to me, the most practical...no safe at all. I'm sure you'll get many opinions.

I have a Fort Knox pistol box I purchased when my daughter was a baby. I agree with the education, but my toddler's life wasn't worth the chances. Plus what happens if you have company with children and someone goes wondering thorough your house?

I don't like anything with batteries. There's nothing no batteries to die and the push buttons on the Fort Knox are pretty well fool proof. If you're worried about opening it under stress, practice just like you would drawing your pistol from a holster.

Original Pistol Box | Fort Knox

I agree with diyj98. Mr. Murphy will rare his ugly head at the most inopportune times.

Stay away from anything with batteries or any other electronics for a safe you depend your life on. Something with a mechanical lock is ideal.

I have a Fort Knox that will fit an SBR in one vehicle and a V-Line pistol safe under the back seat in another vehicle. They are hidden from plain sight and bolted to the vehicle. Both have push button simplex locks and are not apt to cause problems.

__________________
Bill

I could recommend Hornady's Rapid Safe. This one pictured is for small to medium-size revolvers or semi-autos. It uses RFID technology (see the wrist band) with five devices to electronically open the safe. It can also be opened with a four digit sequence or, if no power is available, you can unlock it with a key.

Attached Images

Hornady Rapid.jpg (75.5 KB, 54 views)

I agree with sjbrdn. My Dad was a Federal LEO. He never locked up his gun or unloaded it, just put it up in the closet with his hat covering it. My brother and I were taught well about gun safety and never thought about touching it or letting ANYONE know it was up there. We had respect for what our parents told us to do, or not to do. I have been startled awake a few times, and though it was nothing that I needed to be armed for, I want as few barriers as necessary between me and my pistol. The one question I have is this, if you don't bolt the safe down to the, let's say, bedside table or to the bottom of the drawer, what is to stop a burglar from simply picking up the safe and taking it with them? What if they get into your bedroom before you wake up, grab it and run? Unfortunately, most are fairly easy to open if you don't have the code, key, or whatever.

__________________
Have Canon, Will Travel

I was taught from a very young age to respect my parents all adults firearms and dogs too
Didn’t stop me from pulling out my dads revolvers when he wasn’t home
I had ACTS and PROVE drilled into my head but as a 13 year old I didn’t always do the right thing
I once belted on a pair of my dads single actions and did a “quick draw looking in the mirror , I saw 45 Colt hollow points in the cylinder in the reflection … had I dropped the hammer , I would have shot a hole through the master bedroom door down the hall out the front window into possibly the horse field or the pigpen .
Yes definitely get a safe lol education just means they know better but won’t necessarily do what was taught

__________________
the rules? there are no rules

At bedtime my pistol goes in my nightstand drawer. When I arise and get dressed said pistol goes in my pocket.

Easy access means easy access.

__________________
Music/Sports/Beer fan

I don't like anything that can fail and keep me from being armed but I do step up security when grand children are in the house. A gun in a pistol rug with 3 tumbler combination lock, flashlight, and assisted opening knife is what I prefer. In a hurry, I just cut the lock off.

You can purchase items like this Secure Vault, then Mount it securely to your bed frame or a nightstand. This runs about $125.00.

Attached Images

	IMG_0209.jpg (126.7 KB, 26 views)
	IMG_0210.jpg (84.5 KB, 35 views)

As far as easy but secure storage, I prefer the V-Line safes which use a mechanical push button system to open. No batteries to worry about. You can screw it down to a surface with a mounting plate and, as I have done, obtain additional plates so I can move it to my vehicle.

However, as with all things guns, procedure and brain housing group are your best assets.
I don't worry about fumbling combos in the dark.
At night I open the latch. In the morning I lock it or take the piece with me.
I don't have littles in the house that might wander in in the dark while we sleep though.
In that case, practice, practice, practice with whichever system you choose is needed so you can have it locked at night.
Good luck and choose wisely.

They're not really designed to prevent theft, just someone from easily accessing your loaded firearm. Some like the Fort Knox are designed so they can be bolted to a floor or wall if theft is a concern.

I got one from Harbor freight of all places. It has programmable finger combo ( 4 buttons) . It has a key backup. I only bought it because it was an open box and I had a coupon. It actually works great. Even has a light inside when door opens. You could always unlock it at bedtime and lock in the morning.

Personally, I’m like Mr. Rustyt; at bedtime my gun is on the nightstand beside the bed. Although it’s not my EDC, it gets put elsewhere after I get out of bed. Also, I use a .38 Spl M36, sometimes a 15-3. I want a da/sa revolver. The 1 1/2 to 2 seconds, or more, is how long it takes for gun safe access. And I have a dog, which helps. The gun is put away after I get up. My EDC is downstairs.

__________________
Waiting For The Sun.

I have a little different take on keeping your night stand gun in a safe. I think having to open a safe, and the fingerprint ones take about 2 seconds, gives you a little bit of time to think about what you are doing. If the time it takes between getting the gun out of a draw or getting it out of a good, accessible safe is enough to make a difference, there's a pretty good chance that you've already lost the encounter.

It's not technically a safe, but I really like my Stop Box. Easy to access, no electronics, and enough to keep kids or guests out.

Just my opinion ……..

But if you’re worried about taking 5 seconds to access your gun from a pistol safe, you seriously need to harden your perimeter.

Some states have laws requiring you to use a pistol safe. I’ve been using V-Line for over 20 years. Had two other electronic safes that failed within two years of purchase.

It’s just been my wife and I for many years. I still use a pistol safe. People visit. Some with small children. Everybody’s happy.

__________________
Life Is A Gift. Defend it!

I have and like Gunvaults.

Thanks for the information. He has told me that he has ordered one. Many reasons cited both for and against safes. None were even close to why he wanted the safe.

__________________
USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

Which is??

Really not for me to say. Personal/family matter.

He found this on line and said he is ordering it: Biometric Gun Safe Wall Mounted Handgun Safe Elite – GLORYFIRE(R)

__________________
USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

I do not trust ANY of the bedside or night table sheet metal gun boxes. They are way to easy to get into, except when your adrenaline is pumping! They are a false sense of security, can slow you down when you really need it and IMHO are a joke of security. I'd rather see someone pick a really great hiding spot than use one of these boxes,. There are plenty of great spots to hide Roscoe. While laying in bed one day, let your imagination work! Out of sight = out of mind!

If you have young kids, then hide the gun and/or magazine or speed loader in two different locations. Takes a second to ram in the mag and rack the slide. Practice makes perfect. Make SURE you never access Roscoe in front of the kids - no matter how well trained you have made them.

I do not think the point of a bedside safe is to prevent Ocean's 11 type heists, but rather to keep kids and guests away from your firearm. I opted for a simple option that allows me to access my gun fast, even in the dark, with no technology whatsoever.

I got a chamber lock/smart box (You get a smart box with chamber lock) for my shotgun and revolver to keep my toddler from being able to load my shotgun while I am at work. Luckily since I have trained her not to touch it, she has never even tried to, and I keep it locked in my bedroom during the day. During the day my revolver is on me at all times, so the stop box does not get as much use, except at night when I sleep. As some mentioned, you will want to have access to whatever your home defense weapon is at night and not have to fumble around to unlock it. I personally keep my shotgun unlocked at night for this reason.

Stopbox makes a good, simple product, that works for its intended use. Will it prevent determined thieves from getting the guns? No. Then again that is not the purpose of these kind of safes. The whole point is to keep young kids and nosy guests from playing with the guns. I recommend Stopbox if that is what your brother-in-law is looking to do. If he is trying to prevent thieves I would go with a vault or much larger safe, or better yet a safer neighborhood.

Chief,

I think you know that pistol boxes are intended for short term quick access storage.

And you want people to separate their guns and ammo? Then try to retrieve them when needed? No way dude.

Not realistic at all.

__________________
Life Is A Gift. Defend it!

I have young kids and even I do not keep ammo separate. My handgun is on me until I go to bed and when I go to bed I remove the chamber lock off my Mossberg 500 as my home defense primary. The only time my 686 is in stop box is at night, and the only time my chamber lock is on is during the day, and they are always loaded. If they aren't then what is the point, so I agree with this wholeheartedly.

During a late night adrenaline dump an unloaded gun becomes a high priced hammer.

__________________
Music/Sports/Beer fan

...the same thing. But you have to know your kid. There came a time when he started hanging with unsavory types and I guarantee you they would have gotten into my guns. That's why I locked them all up. In that case I chose being safe rather than sorry. It would have been irresponsible to do otherwise.

Also, if relatives kids are in the house, guns get locked up. I think it's about time I got a bedside safe for myself.

__________________
"He was kinda funny lookin'"