| A handgun safe is a must for those who keep a | | | | your neck, or by keeping the safe unlocked when |
| loaded revolver or pistol at hand for home defense. | | | | you're in the room (when you're in bed, for example). |
| A quality pistol safe will keep your gun from curious | | | | Push-button combination locks are popular for pistol |
| children, as well as snatch-and-grab thieves. | | | | safes. Most models allow you to set the combination |
| Cable locks and trigger locks are almost useless for | | | | yourself. There are models with mechanical push |
| home defense. Cable locks require time to remove, | | | | buttons as well as models with electronic keypad |
| meaning that your access time will be measured in | | | | buttons. |
| minutes, not seconds. Trigger locks are cumbersome | | | | Mechanical push button locks, if well-constructed, are |
| and equally slow. What's more, trigger locks that | | | | durable and reliable. While mechanical locks don't offer |
| install within the trigger guard can be dangerous to | | | | some of the additional features that electronic locks |
| use with loaded handguns, as the locking mechanism | | | | do, they afford security at an affordable price. |
| can sometimes press the trigger. | | | | Electronic keypad locks are the most popular for |
| There are numerous handgun safes on the market | | | | pistol safes. Some safe models allow you to select |
| with varying levels of speed of access, features, and | | | | from tens of thousands of different combinations. |
| price. Before selecting a handgun safe for your home, | | | | Some also allow multiple combinations to be used, so |
| consider the following information. | | | | that friends or family can each have his or her own |
| HANDGUN SAFE CONSTRUCTION: | | | | code. One disadvantage with electronic keypad locks |
| It is important to recognize that no handgun safe is | | | | is that many types can be defeated with the use of |
| 100% theft-proof. Given enough time, even the | | | | a nine-volt battery. The technique is simple, and |
| dumbest thief will be able to either open your safe | | | | criminals often learn the technique while in prison. |
| right in your home, or take it with him to open later. | | | | A disadvantage for both mechanical and electronic |
| The purpose of a safe is to make access to your | | | | combination locks is that they require you to |
| safe too time-consuming, so that the thief moves on | | | | remember the combination, which can be difficult to |
| to other items in your home. | | | | do under stress. |
| Therefore, construction of the safe is paramount. | | | | Biometric pads have become increasingly popular as |
| The thickness of the metal is an important factor, as | | | | prices have come down. These pads read your |
| thin metal can be defeated with hand tools. Look for | | | | fingerprints and unlock instantly. Pricier models of |
| safes made from 14 or 16 gauge steel. | | | | handgun safes reprogram the lock each time you |
| Some handgun safes have recessed doors, which | | | | open the safe, taking into account slight changes in |
| make the doors more pry-resistant. Other types | | | | your fingerprint caused by callouses, bruises, cuts and |
| have exposed seams; if this is the case, there should | | | | so on. A prime disadvantage with biometric pads is |
| be sufficient metal on the inside of the seamed walls | | | | that an abrupt change to your fingerprint can lock |
| protecting the seams, so that the safe can't simply | | | | you out. Even a bandaid could prevent you from |
| be pried open with a screwdriver. | | | | gaining access. |
| Hinges are another consideration. Hinges that are | | | | Whether you're looking at electronic keypad |
| recessed or on the interior are generally considered | | | | combination locks or biometric locks, make sure that |
| to be the best, as they're nearly impossible for a | | | | the safe has a mechanical key override. As any |
| thief to get at. If you're looking at a safe with | | | | computer user knows, electronic circuitry is not 100% |
| exposed hinges, make sure that the hinge is designed | | | | reliable. |
| so that the pin(s) running through it can't simply be | | | | ADDITIONAL HANDGUN SAFE FEATURES: |
| punched out. | | | | As you move up the price ladder, pistol safes offer |
| Safes should have pre-drilled holes allowing you to | | | | additional features that you may find useful. For |
| bolt the unit to your floor, wall, trunk of your car, or | | | | example, interior lights make it much faster to access |
| wherever else you plan to install the safe. To slow | | | | your gun in the dark. |
| the thief down, you'll want to use large bolts driven | | | | Many models feature motion sensor alarms. Some |
| into wooden floor joists, i-beams, or other thick | | | | have audible or visual alarms to let you know if |
| foundations. Therefore, the pre-drilled holes should be | | | | someone has tried to access your safe. Some also |
| able to accommodate bolts at least 1/4" in diameter. | | | | will block access after a certain number of invalid |
| SAFE ACCESS LOCKS: | | | | entries. |
| There are several types of locking devices available | | | | Some models of handgun safes have an outlet for an |
| for handgun safes. The simplest and least expensive | | | | exterior power supply, which saves on batteries. Low |
| is a key lock. While not as quickly accessible as other | | | | battery indicators are another popular feature. |
| types of locks, well-constructed key locks offer the | | | | Keeping a firearm for home defense is an intensely |
| same level of security. The disadvantage to key | | | | personal decision. If you choose to do so, securing |
| locks is obvious: if you don't have the key with you, | | | | your handgun in a safe will give you the peace of |
| you can't open the safe. This disadvantage can be | | | | mind knowing that a criminal will probably never use |
| overcome by keeping the key on a chain around | | | | your gun, and that your children will be safe. |