I read some of the older threads on quick access “safes” but am wondering what those of you with kids are using nowadays. I have my first due in just a couple days and sometime in the next year I will have a curious mini-me getting into everything he can get his little paws on.
The most recent thread I could find was 3-4 years old and am looking to see if technology has changed or advanced at all.
Ideally looking for 2 safes one for a pistol and another for a long gun. I prefer a mechanical lock, simplex style. One will be bolted to the side of the bed frame and hold a G17 with light and a spare mag. And a second I would like to mount in a closet, preferably between studs, and hold either a carbine or shotgun.
Like all other quick access storage devices, it is a deterrent to kids less than 12 that offers no real burglary or fire protection. A determined robber or Columbine Kid WILL gain access if you give them a hammer, crow bar, and 10 minutes.
Too much, I am sure! Amsec is nice though, I have a BF series.
I really want to get one of these FAS1 safes and mount it to my bed frame. They have models that accept suppressed pistols as well. But I have zero experience with them and to be honest can’t remember how I got on their email list.
So your concern is the baby climbing to the top of the bookshelf in the middle of night and finding his carry gun? He made it sound like he was looking for somewhere to put his pistol at night where it was easy to get to when he needed it.
Go ahead and invest in a real safe. The time it takes to gain access is nominal. That time also allows you a chance to gain a safe level of situational awareness. Buy a model one size bigger than you think you will need. Security for your family should be layered and designed in a manner that promotes early threat detection. Congratulations on the new family member.
This isn’t quite the best advice. I have a real safe, but it was too big to bring into the upstairs master so it lives in my garage. I have also been looking for something a little more quick access to keep either a rifle or pistol in my bedroom. No need to spend another $2k for one gun storage.
Already have a full size, thanks anyway. I started this thread asking specifically for a small quick access safe to prevent a child from having access to, a ready to go, pistol and long gun.
Exactly. As gun owners we have a duty to properly secure our firearms. If everyone would see this, it would take some of the wind out of the collective sails of the gun prohibition movement.
Call AMSEC because there are multiple lock options including the Group II Combination lock.
I’m fine with the electronic lock. It runs off a 9 volt battery. I change mine every 9 months or so, and I open the safe at least twice daily. It will chime at you if it gets too low. The lock has a lockout feature and will not allow entry for 15 min if you enter the combination wrong more than 5 times in a row.
OK I’m leaning towards the FAS1 for the pistol. Now I am still looking for the long gun. Still prefer in a closet between the studs. Does anybody have experience with one of these? Specs make it look a little flimsy. But I have not handled one to know for sure. http://vlineind.com/ProductDetail.php?product_id=70
Manage your expectations. Anything other than a truly burglary-rated safe is going to be a “residential security container”, at best. It will not stand up to an attacker with a modicum of time and basic hand tools. It’s simply a container to keep little hands from having easy access to a firearm.
The flaw: A common hack for opening electronic safes is to fish a bent metal rod, bar, or stiff wire around the door, hit the reset button, then reset the access code and open the safe. The same can be done with the Fast Box as it has numerous mounting holes on each side and vent holes on the back.
The fix: Take off the cap of any plastic soda or drink bottle and use a hack saw to cut off the threaded top. Even out the bottom of the threaded top with sandpaper, then use JB Weld to glue that threaded top around the red reset button inside the cabinet – be sure that you can still close the door without interference. Let it cure and you’re done. Take the cap and screw it onto the threads. Now someone can poke around all they want and they won’t be able to reset the code, and with a screw top cap you’ll have access to change the code whenever you want. A few cents and few minutes invested.