Like many, I am a parent and gun enthusiast that wants to protect my family. However, the worst possible scenario is having your child harming themselves or others with the very gun you intended to protect them with. This is an awful situation to imagine but as responsible parents we must have a plan in place to make sure we store our firearms in a safe manner and educate our children about guns early on.
- Jump To The Best Biometric Fingerprint Handgun Safes For Child Safety & The Money
- Jump To The Best Long Gun Safes For Child Safety & The Money
Have A Gun Storage Plan
My gun storage plan is divided into two parts: defense gun storage and non-defense gun storage. Defense gun storage is where I keep the firearm(s) that would be used to protect my family in the event an intruder comes into my home. The non-defense storage is where I keep my rifles and other guns that would not be used in an emergency situation to protect my household.
As you might expect the main difference between these two types of storage is time required to access the weapons, yet both require to be inaccessible to children at all times. The rifles that I take to the range for long distance shooting can be locked up securely in a safe, unloaded and with cable locks in place since I have no need to quickly use them in an emergency situation.
However, lets say you want to use a handgun for defending your household. You have two requirements for storage: quick access to your weapon while keeping the gun inaccessible to children. Lets look at some options available for all storage types.
Defense Gun Storage
In this storage category, fingerprint safes also known as biometric safes, are a great option. These allow you to program your fingerprint (and other approved fingerprints) into the gun safe allowing you to open and access your weapon immediately while keeping the gun inaccessible to children.
Although most of them can be bolted to something secure, they are not designed to be burglary proof, just childproof with the ability to access your gun quickly.
For defense gun storage I have a biometric safe containing a semi-automatic pistol that has a loaded magazine in the magazine well, however, there is not a round loaded into the chamber. I do this for one extra layer of security knowing that I can rack the slide quickly if needed, while my young children would not be able to (if for some low-probable reason they got access to it). The choice is yours and may depend on the type of weapon used and your particular situation.
Backup Keys
For any safe that uses a key or backup key don’t underestimate the ability of your child to find your secret hiding spot. The solution I use for my biometric safe that has a backup key (in case the batteries die) is to place the key at my workplace or inside a secure combination lock box. This way the key cannot be found in my sock drawer or similar and cannot be used to override the fingerprint scanner.
One last thing to note for those buying a Biometric safe is that some of them will come in a “factory” mode which means they will open for any fingerprint. Obviously you want to read the instructions of whatever safe you buy carefully and test it out before implementing it into your storage plan. Don’t let this scare you, the programming is easy and can be tested easily. With all that in mind, lets review the best biometric handgun safes for child safety and your money.
Best Biometric Fingerprint Handgun Safes For Child Safety & The Money
Verifi Smart.Safe. Fast Access Biometric Safe with FBI Fingerprint Sensor
At this time I believe it to be the best on the market. It comes with a cross-cut backup key which means the lock is more secure and tamper proof. There is a fantastic notification system that lets you know if someone tried to access the safe as well as who opened it last. To top things off, it comes with clear and easy instructions to program your fingerprints. If you want the best biometric handgun safe out there, this is the winner.
| Verifi Smart.Safe. Biometric Safe with FBI Fingerprint Sensor | |
|---|---|
| Rating out of 5 | 4.8 |
| Batteries | 4 AA |
| Battery Life | 2 years |
| Dimensions | 13.2 X 13.8 X 7.9 Inches |
| Construction | Metal |
| Handgun Capacity | 4-5 |
| Weight | 23 pounds |
| Mounts | Yes |
| Unique Fingerprints | 40 |
| Keypad Backup | No |
| Key Backup | Yes |
| Shipping | Free |
| Price | Check latest Price on Amazon |
VAULTEK VT20i Biometric Handgun Safe
One of the coolest things about this safe is that it has Bluetooth connectivity to your phone with an easy to use app that allows you to open the safe, see the battery charge level, change LED brightness level, enable/disable beeping from keypad and also shows a tamper log of failed opening attempts. It is tough, works reliably and will keep your gun out of the hands of your children. The only “con” I can really come up with is the somewhat short battery life however recharging the battery is quick and easy.
| VAULTEK VT20i Biometric Handgun Safe | |
|---|---|
| Rating out of 5 | 4.5 |
| Batteries | Rechargeable Li-Ion |
| Battery Life | 4-5 Months |
| Dimensions | 11.5 X 9.0 X 2.75 Inches |
| Construction | Metal |
| Handgun Capacity | 2 |
| Weight | 9.9 pounds |
| Mounts | Yes |
| Unique Fingerprints | 20 |
| Keypad Backup | Yes |
| Key Backup | Yes |
| Shipping | Free |
| Price | Check latest Price on Amazon |
SentrySafe Pistol Safe, Quick Access Biometric Gun Safe
It also has a four button key code to access your weapon for backup as well as a key backup in case your batteries die before you replace them. This safe opens quietly which in some situations is a definite plus, it also uses a piston to help open the lid making access easier once you have scanned your finger.
| SentrySafe Pistol Safe, Quick Access Biometric Gun Safe | |
|---|---|
| Rating out of 5 | 4.5 |
| Batteries | 4 AA |
| Battery Life | 6 Months or more |
| Dimensions | 6.6 x 9.7 x 2.2 Inches |
| Construction | Metal |
| Handgun Capacity | 1 |
| Weight | 12 pounds |
| Mounts | Yes |
| Unique Fingerprints | 4 |
| Keypad Backup | Yes |
| Key Backup | Yes |
| Shipping | Free |
| Price | Check latest Price on Amazon |
GunVault SVB500 SpeedVault Biometric Handgun Safe
| GunVault SVB500 SpeedVault Biometric Handgun Safe | |
|---|---|
| Rating out of 5 | 4.2 |
| Batteries | 1 9v |
| Battery Life | 1 Year |
| Dimensions | 6.5 x 3.5 x 13 Inches |
| Construction | Metal |
| Handgun Capacity | 1 |
| Weight | 7 pounds |
| Mounts | Yes |
| Unique Fingerprints | 20 |
| Keypad Backup | No |
| Key Backup | Yes |
| Shipping | Free |
| Price | Check latest Price on Amazon |
BARSKA Biometric Safe
One cool thing I like about this safe is that the key backup hole is hidden behind the nameplate adding another layer of defense against a curious child checking things out. For the money this is another great option to consider. The only improvement is the bolts provided with the safe, they will work but you may want to consider getting some loner ones from local hardware store.
| BARSKA Biometric Safe | |
|---|---|
| Rating out of 5 | 4 |
| Batteries | 4 AA |
| Battery Life | 1 year |
| Dimensions | 16.5 x 7.75 x 14.5 Inches |
| Construction | Metal |
| Handgun Capacity | 5 plus, depending on size |
| Weight | 31 pounds |
| Mounts | Yes |
| Unique Fingerprints | 30 |
| Keypad Backup | No |
| Key Backup | Yes |
| Shipping | Free |
| Price | Check latest Price on Amazon |
Non-Defense Gun Storage
For all the guns that you do not intend to use for self defense, there is no better option as far as child safety goes and burglary protection than a large heavy-duty long gun safe. The prices for these can start reasonably low and work there way up depending on how many guns you want to store and if you are looking for something that is fireproof for a long period of time. The options provided below are a great value for those looking to safeguard their guns without costing an arm and a leg.
Best Long Gun Safes For Child Safety & The Money
Steelwater Standard Duty 16 Long Gun Safe
For the money it is hard to beat the quality and size of this long gun safe. The construction is sturdy with 14 gauge steel and has 1.5″ diameter locking bolts that secure the 5″ thick door. It is fireproof rated for up to an hour and features LED interior lighting. This safe uses a keypad that works really and can be programed with a secure code 3-8 digits long.
Depending on its location you could also store a firearm used for quick access self defense since the code can be entered rather quickly. The door is removable when it is fully opened by lifting off the hinges, this helps greatly when transporting to your desired location. Also know that most companies are optimistic with the capacity of their safes, this is advertised as holding 16 long guns however 8-10 is more realistic. Although very reliable my only nit pick is that it requires a 9v battery to operate instead of a simple combination lock, but that’s just me.
| Steelwater Standard Duty 16 Long Gun Safe | |
|---|---|
| Rating out of 5 | 4.5 |
| External Dimensions | 59” x 22” x 16” |
| Internal Dimensions | 55.75” x 19.5″ x 12.5” |
| Construction | 14 gauge steel |
| Fire Proof Rating | 60 minutes |
| Long Gun Capacity | 8-16 depending on size |
| Weight | 330 pounds |
| Entry Access | Electronic Keypad |
| Shipping | Free |
| Price | Check latest Price on Amazon |
Scout 14 Long Gun Safe
This is another great storage option that will fit nicely in your closest without taking up too much space. It has a solid removable door and uses a combination lock to open. Simple and reliable. Advertised as a safe capable of storing 14 long guns, it is fireproof for 30 minutes and comes in at a hefty 240 pounds. For the price this safe offers a lot of value and is a sure way to keep young loved ones away from your firearms.
Scout 14 Long Gun Safe
Rating out of 5 4.3
External Dimensions 55" x 20" x 17"
Internal Dimensions
Construction 14 gauge steel
Fire Proof Rating 30 minutes
Long Gun Capacity 7-14 depending on size
Weight 240 pounds
Entry Access Combination Lock
Shipping Free
Price Check latest Price on Amazon
Stack-On SS-10-MG-C 10 Gun Fully Convertible Security Safe
So what if you are really limited on space and dollars? You are not alone, for many people a fireproof and flood proof long gun safe with a storage capacity of 25 rifles is just not an option. If that best describes you, this Stack-On safe is a very sensible buy that will offer a great non-defense gun storage option. It is advertised as “convertible”, but this just means that the inside has a removable shelf to customize your needs as well as add-ons that hold rifles with scopes. This is your best budget buy to store your firearms safely and securely.
Stack-On SS-10-MG-C 10 Gun Fully Convertible Security Safe
Rating out of 5 4.0
External Dimensions 12.5 x 15.9 x 55.1
Internal Dimensions
Construction 12 gauge steel
Fire Proof Rating No
Long Gun Capacity 5-10 depending on size
Weight 129 pounds
Entry Access Combination Lock
Shipping Free
Price Check latest Price on Amazon
Conclusion
For just about any gun owner is makes sense to have a storage plan in place, this is especially true if you have a family. In most cases it is advisable to have both a quick access storage device like a biometric safe as well as a larger heavy duty long gun safe. Whatever you choose I recommend you always keep the guns in the non-defense storage unloaded and consider using cable locks running thru the action. By doing this, if at any point you forget to lock the safe there is no opportunity for your child to cause any harm. Also begin talking with your children early on to explain the dangers of guns and what they should and should not do if they ever come across one.
Shoot safe!
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