If you want to have a handgun locked away in a safe, you want to be able to access that gun quickly in an emergency situation. That is why you need is a quick access gun safe. A quick access gun safe is a safe that locks your gun up just like any other safe while using modern, advanced technology that allow the safe to be opened one handed within seconds. In this article, we will dive into the specific qualities that you need to look for in a quick access gun safe, and then we’ll outline and discuss the top three best quick access gun safes on the market in 2024.
Short On Time? Here Is The Bullet List
- Best Digital Lock: Sentry Safe Quick Access Safe
- Best Digital Keypad: GunVault SV500 SpeedVault Handgun Safe
- Best RFID: Hornady Security 2600KP RAPiD Gun Safe
**Below are our more detailed reviews. Click the links above to see current prices or read customer reviews on Amazon.
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Quick Access Gun Safe Qualities
There are specific qualities that you will want to look for in a quick access gun safe if you want to consider it viable for home defense.
Rapid Deployment
The main reason for why you’re buying a quick access gun safe in the first place: you want to be able to open the safe quickly, so you can access the weapon inside as soon as possible. There are a number of different ways by which rapid deployment in a safe will be possible ranging from an electronic keypad or a biometric system where you either scan your fingerprint or a radio frequency identification (RFID) ring or bracelet.
As we mentioned in our introduction, gun safes are constantly being advanced by manufacturers looking to get ahead of the competition. Some safe will use a fingerprint and an RFID system together, while others even have a GPS tracker installed for extra security that will both notify you if your safe has been opened and where its location is if it has been stolen.
Affordability
This one is entirely dependent on your budget. While it may also seem obvious, it’s still worth talking about. If you have all the money to spend in the world, then you’re likely not going to be too concerned about price. Nonetheless, if your funds are tighter, then it’s important that you don’t overspend your money. What’s important for you to take note of here is that not all quick access gun safes are expensive. There are some nice ones out there that come with the same features that the more expensive ones do.
Storage Space
Most quick access gun safes tend to be small. They can fit one pistol or revolver, a spare magazine or speed loader, and maybe a small flashlight and some personal documents. While some safes will be able to hold a bit more than that, it’s important to remember that the purpose to a quick access gun safe is not to hold a lot of items like a larger safe. Rather, it is to keep your home defense handgun locked away while also giving you the ability to access it quickly.
As a result, it’s better to opt for a smaller and more low profile safe that you can keep hidden in a number of different locations around your home. For example, you can mount a quick access gun safe under your desk, to a shelf, in a pull out drawer, on your nightstand or along your bed.
Durability and Overall Build Quality
Since the whole purpose of having any kind of safe is to keep the items inside safe, locked, and secure, the durability and overall quality of the safe cannot be called into question. Never go with any safe that has thin steel or any plastic components. As a general rule of thumb, the best type of steel to have on your quick access safe will be 10 gauge steel. A 10 gauge steel safe will be heavy, but the trade-off will be that the safe can more easily resist axes, crowbars, sledgehammers, or whatever else a burglar or intruder would attempt to throw at it.
Besides the type of the steel itself, you would be wise to either research or physically inspect the safe that you are planning on buying. If the hinges seem loose in any way, if the same seems it could be vulnerable to prying, or if it’s noticeably lightweight as a whole, then you should avoid it. The heavier the safe is, the more expensive it will be but the tougher and more durable it will be as well.
Fire Safety
Burglars and intruders aren’t the only things that could get into and damage your safe. Another huge enemy of a safe is fire. While it’s absolutely imperative that your safe be constructed out of a strong and durable steel, it’s also important that your safe further has concrete lining and a fireproof seal around the inside edges that will expand when exposed to extreme heat. The heavy steel alone won’t be enough to resist a fire, no matter what kind of steel it is. The addition of the concrete lining and expansive fire seal will ensure that flames, smoke, and heat, in general, cannot get into your safe for the period of time that is advertised by the safe manufacturer. Gun safes can have a fire protection rating of anywhere from a half hour to two hours.
Now that we have discussed the qualities that you need to look for in your safe, the next thing we’re going to do is discuss our top three recommendations for a quick access gun safe that easily fulfills the requirements that we just outlined.
The Best Quick Access Gun Safes in 2024
Best Digital Lock Quick Access Gun Safe:
Sentry Safe Quick Access Safe
The first safe we’ll talk about is the Sentry Safe Quick Access Safe. Sold with a one-year limited warranty from the manufacturer, the Sentry Safe comes equipped with a backlit digital lock and a master override key that makes backup access more convenient. The safe is designed to be opened with only one hand and is also designed to be opened with absolutely no sound being heard while the key is unlocked or the hinges are opening. This quiet access could prove crucial in a home defense scenario where you want to keep surprise on your side.
Learn More On AmazonBest Digital Keypad Quick Access Safe:
GunVault SV500 SpeedVault Handgun Safe
The GunVault SV500 SpeedVault Handgun Safe is opened by a digital keypad. Once the code has been plugged in, the drawer will drop down instantly and present you with the grip of your pistol that you can then pull. In the event that the keypad fails, the safe also comes with a physical key for a backup. Constructed out of a durable steel on the outside but a protective foam on the inside to prevent scratches, GunVault built the SpeedVault specifically with home defense in mind. That’s why they’ve made it as flexible as possible in regards to mounting options around your home. In the event that you have to use the GunVault at night or in darkness, the interior will be lit up by a white light as soon as the drawer drops.
Learn More On AmazonBest RFID Quick Access Gun Safe:
Hornady Security 2600KP RAPiD Gun Safe
The Hornady Security Rapid Gun Safe is one of the first quick access gun safes released to use an RFID system for opening. The safe ships with an RFID card, bracelet, and fob, so you are given options in regards to what you want to use as your primary opening system. With so many options, you will always have a backup option should you lose one. Any one of these can then be held over the reader and the safe will instantly open to reveal your firearm inside. The durable steel construction and heavy duty dual-lug locking system add to the quality of the Hornady as well.
Learn More On AmazonBest Quick Access Gun Safe Final Thoughts
While it’s important that you keep your gun locked away and secured so that children and burglars don’t access it, it’s also important that you have the ability to access your weapon quickly so you can use it in an emergency home defense scenario. Thanks to the existence of quick access gun safes, you will be able to fulfill both of these needs. The Sentry Safe, GunVault, and Hornady are our top three recommendations for a quick access gun safe out of the multitude of models on the market. Each of these models fulfill the list of qualities and features that we believe your quick access safe must have, which is why they are at the top of our list. If you are interested in other gun safes please check out our gun safe buyers guide.
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