The Best (and Worst) Quick Access Safes for Rifles and Shotguns 

That's a very honest review! "Here are some options, but... they all kinda suck..."

Now we want to see these puppies reviewed by LockPickingLawyer.

Like my father used to say "Locks aren't meant to keep criminals out. They're made to keep honest people honest." Also from my personal experience when buying a safe, It's not about buying a safe that someone can't get into. It's buying time to keep the robber long enough that you might catch him or a neighbor report it or buying time against a house fire. No safe is unbeatable just some are tougher to get in.

I took over the bathroom linen closet and turned the entire thing into a cabinet with a magnetic lock. Best safe is one that doesn’t look like one in the first place👍🏼

Hello! This is the Lock Picking Lawyer and today we have several small safes presented on the Lucky Gunner. *10 seconds later.....* So in conclusion I cant recommend any of these to secure weapons.

I’ve watched this video 3 times now. Tons of good points. Really value your opinion and your search for good information keep it up! Love it!

Actually, the _Snapsafe XL_ is more than a little larger than the 6"Hx40"W standard model underbed unit. Mine is 7"Hx48"Wx24"D overall. Lots of room inside for several guns, ammo, and other valuables. Very impressed with mine after 5 months. Great video! It's good to discuss this stuff now. Later it will probably be legally required.

Excellent presentation. I have been searching the market for a storage case for a shotgun, with easy access for awhile now, and the ones that you presented are not only very practical, but affordable. Thank you for the time you put into this video.

Nightstand it is

Ive had a digital wall safe in our bedroom closet for 15 yrs, use it daily for my duty and secondary pistols, paid under a $100 , never had an issue, your mileage may vary

Great point about visibility/temptation.

As always, a good video. I appreciate the honesty of your reviews.

The V Line Closet Vault II almost looks like a maintenance panel. You're spot on that installation would be troublesome (to put it politely) but for closets, garages; that's an awesome option (if at an expensive price point).

Just bought a mossberg 500. Looking like I'll just have to hang it high on the wall and hope we only have short burglars around here.

Would like to see an updated video on this same subject!

I really appreciate these videos, I recently bought the Fort Knox Pistol Box and am very happy with that (and it came with a Front Sight class for FREE!) Great Points on all of these.

Great video, keep them coming. Try out the hidden furniture type units or more long gun units until you find a stand out and hopefully the industry notices the feedback

Thank you for your comprehensive review. Your information is clearly and completely stated without hesitation or repetition. Again, thank you! I do wonder what is available in a higher cost bracket.

Thanks for the thorough, objective reviews.

I got a shot-lock years ago because of the reasonable price and mechanical lock. I agree about the visibility thing, but if someone is already messing around in our bedroom I don't think hidden is going to be a deterrent at that point. I had to drop the rear sight for clearance reasons as you mentioned in the video, but there was no issue with attaching a light laser combo on the left forward rail (for thumb activation). Glad you did not point out some obviously better option I would then have to run out and buy.

Thats where DYI comes in. Just make your own gun shelf like the ones tactical walls makes. People have already done it.

I love my Shotlock. Solid, secure enough and very easy to use. My car safe, uses the same Simplex lock with the same combination. No batteries either.

Thanks for your videos. I enjoy topics like this.

Let’s use the word safe with care. There is a difference between a real safe and an access denial device. One keeps them secure from theft and fire. Others keep them out of the hands of kids but still allowing it to be accessible for immediate access

Still only about halfway through the video. But it's nice to see someone review something actually in their possession; so many people review items by merely looking up specs and reviews and showing stock photos.

I've had the VLine safe for a couple of years, and I like the quick access mechanical lock.

Excellent work sir. Thanks for your thoughts.

I couldn't agree with this review more. When looking for a quick access safe, I immediately decided against any electronic locking mechanisms for failure/battery issues. I decided to go with V Line. I have both the long gun and shotgun version. Easy to open, reliable lock system. But as he stated, they are not anti theft safes. They could be pried open easily. They are there to keep children from gaining access. Luckily, they are thin enough that I was able to easily mount them to the wall in an inconspicuous area.

I bought my brother an in-wall Stack On gun safe for $49. He mounted it in the closet of his home office. It does you need a key to open, but it is a very well hidden safe for his AR and Maverick 88. It’s white and blends in with sheet rook real well in the dark. He has a very clever place he hides the key too. He only has a shot gun, a rifle, and his carry pistol so it’s a great fit for him.

Awesome video. Love your reviews.

Love this video. I have my eye on the AR shot Lock for a while now. When I was a bachelor my AR was my go to HD gun but now that I'm married with step kids I keep my M&P full size in a pistol safe next to the bed. I would really like to use the Shot Lock in such a way that it is concealed in a cabinet or behind my clothes in the closet.

Thank you for this informative post. I was in big hope that you would have shown a product suitable for my Bullpup shotgun. Only because their popularity is so great right now. Thank you once again.

Thanks a lot for the info. Now i know what i need!!

Good video. Very informative. Thank you.

Very well done, thanks.

Perfect! Thanks!

I think that be drawer would work for me. Not so much for the quick access so much but definitely for another firearms I don't used on a daily. I don't have a lot of space, so a big gun safe isn't really in the cards right now, nor am I really in a position to get a bunch of guns anyways. But for range stuff or a rifle or shotgun that I'm not using for home defense, I would definitely go with the big under bed safe. Great vid!

Those are some viable options for a variety of income levels and personal needs. But if anyone feels the need for firearm access during their sleeping hours, my personal experience has taught me (been there, done that) that any time delay in accessing that firearm could change the outcome of a personal protection event. Waking up and processing what is going on, requires a lot of time in the grand scheme of things. One needs to be able to grab their firearm (with a light mounted on it) and be ready to address the breech/threat, immediately. Keeping a firearm on a nightstand, on the floor next to the bed, on a rack mounted between the mattress and box springs, or someplace similar, is the only way to go. Of course, some customizations have to be made for specific family needs, and that's exactly what this video conveys. The caveat is, maybe *nothing is better when it comes to an intermediate, "one or few gun" safe. Thanks for the video.

Got a holster bolted to the back of my bed board between my matress and board near my head. Not visible at all and very quick acess at night/ during foreplay ;)

I wish Fort Knox would make that shotgun safe in a drawer-style, or at least have the door on the long side. The construction and lock look good, but it seems like it'd be hard to grab your shotgun quickly in a home invasion.

I like the under bed storage with large sliding drawer the most. Bolted down, of course, and only for non-emergency access.

My car safe is a V-line underdesk. Mounted it upside down beneath the rear seat. It comes in handy.

Great informative video 😎 👍🏼

This is one of the best RU-vid channels by far.

Dude you got me. Subbed

Thank you, great video. Not sure what I should do 🤦‍♂️🤷‍♂️

Ok, good review, what better ones are available for the greater than $400 cap?

the secure it 52 is also really good looking!

I have the barska. Never had issues with it. Opens up 100% of the time. I replace batteries once a year

Are there any that you would suggest that are in the higher price range? Can you do a video on that?

Agree on electronics in safes, especially since they’ve shown how to open them with a strong magnet.

How is it possible that there’s only two manufactures making long gun simplex “safes” Fort Knox and v-line

Chris: "Here are some safes. If they have any electronics, I don't trust em. " Saved everyone 9 and a half minutes. ;)

I wish the sentry safe HDC11E defense center was still available, it was expensive but def my favorite design.

I don't have kids nor do small children come over. Rarely does anybody come over. I personally keep my self defense rifle locked and loaded in a guitar stand in the corner of my room, right behind me at all times. It's on the second floor and not in sight of a window, even if you could look into it from the second floor. Seeing how all of these seem to suck in one way or another, that only reinforces my choice.

I bought a key lock Sports Afield 6 gun cabinet. It's way weak but I keep it in my shop which is fortified with a security door, alarms and barred windows that I built myself.

The SecureIt Fast Box is well designed and can be mounted in a vehicle if desired. I also have been using a Verifi pistol safe with a fingerprint reader for over a year. This one has a high end reader, and has never failed to read my fingerprint once. It gets used twice daily, and I trust it. You're right that mechanical locks are overall more durable, as there are less things to fail. However the one thing to keep an eye on with some button style mechanical locks, is the paint on the side of the buttons will show wear marks over time, if there's any rubbing contact. I've "cracked" some before by just looking for the wear. Just something to check and keep an eye on.

Well done.

I have a combination lock that I'll put the first 2 numbers in and leave the last one 3 or 4 spins away takes me a second to open it when I leave the house I rest the dial and boom no need for electronic nonsense.

Great review as always on a subject that doesn't get a lot of attention. Another option while not really a "safe" is the Tactical Wall 1450. It is childproof and with a magnet or RFID release mechanism it is super fast to open and because it just looks like a mirror I highly doubt any criminal would realize it is a safe. There is the installation factor but if you can hang a picture on the wall then you can install it in about 15 minutes and your wife gets a full length mirror as a bonus!

So basically, someone needs to make that drawer setup with a simplex lock and everything’s golden. I want an under the bed storage option.

Unfortunately in South Australia (where I live) Guns can not be Used for Personal Protection (unless you're a Licensed Security Officer) and not for Property Protection at all. Under Our Gun Laws, storing a Gun with a Bolt loaded and Ammunition in a Loaded Magazine is Completely Illegal and if detected during an Inspection would cost Me My Gun Licence and Confiscation of all My Guns and Ammunition. For Us it's Gun in One Steel Box, Ammunition in another Steel Box and Bolts in a Third Steel Box (with Assembly being Required before Gun were Operational and just try loading a Magazine in a High Stress Situation; it simply wouldn't work. You Guys are just so Lucky.

I,m old school , keys are best for me , when I get home unlock it for quick access , before I leave lock it , I know its not perfect but I don't worry about cheap electronics/leaky battaries ;-)

The Shotlock and "rack" type security devices are more appropriate for a business or office than a "home security" device... That said, they're handy for securing/hiding a gun in a closet, some place out if sight where there may not be room for a full safe, even a single gun size. I've seen one mounted inside a closet, horizontally over the door frame. You have to go in, turn around and reach up to get the weapon. Nobody thinks to look up there and it's hard to leverage it loose, even if they found it. These devices do have their place, behind the door in a "security" office (where the safe and daily business is done), in a vehicle, etc.. Andcto address your concerns about nothing securing the muzzle from being pried, just take a piece of aluminum which is 2-3" wide and about 4" long, bend it at a 90° in the middle, drill a hole in the,middle of one side big enough to put the muzzle of the gun through, then drill a couple of holes in the other half just big enough to put a lag bolt through and (pre-drill) run the bolts into a stud at the right level where you slide the muzzle through the hole and lock the gun down. Basically just make the same sort of bracket they'd give you if they weren't cheap (like the one product had). It's easy to make a bracket.

I suggest mounting those wall mounts next to a coat rack and hang a thick coat over it, to make it look like its part of the coat hanger.

I was able to rake the shotlock open as fast as I could with the key. Basically 3 seconds and a bobby pin gets you what you want.

As far as the snapsafe under the bed safe goes - if you take the drawer out to use the cable or to bolt it down, good luck ever getting the drawer back in. I tried for hours to get the drawer back in until the rails finally bent. I called Midway (where I bought it) who passed me to Honrady (who at some point bought the snapsafe brand) and I got a replacement. However, now im too afraid to take the drawer out so its essentially a heavy carrying case if anyone chose to try to steal it. Seemed like a good idea, but in practice the mechanical parts are too fragile to ever be able to secure it properly.

Thank you

It's the massive safe where you keep the ammo and most of the guns... it's the loose timber like wall or floor plank or secret cavity in the innocent-looking writing desk where you keep the loaded quick access defense weapons.

I would love to hear your thoughts on Tactical Walls and other such concealment storage options. I think this is worthy of a video.

I’m at a loss as to why these safe manufacturers don’t offer safe options (like the Hornady or Shotlock options especially) that accommodate firearms with popular accessories like side saddles, lights, optics, etc.

I want one of the tactical walls those things are awesome and they really do look nondescript

Are there any plans for reviews of vehicle safes? I'd like to be able to keep a firearm in my car without someone being able to just smash the window or pry open the trunk and take it.

good for all

why not unlock it when you go to bed assuming its in your bedroom that way if someone breaks in you are ready to rock. then lock it when you wake up in the morning

I used to just keep the rifle under the bed and the carry piece on the nightstand. Then I had kids. After that I modified the bed frame to hide the rifle. I keep a mag in a pistol safe (along with the M&P 40) in the nightstand. That's also where I dump the rest of my EDC like my watch, wallet, Fenix PD35 and phone (drilled a hole in the back for the charging cord). This forces me to access the safe EVERY NIGHT and, more importantly, every MORNING when my alarm goes off (when I'm sleepy). I also need to access the safe in the middle of the night if the phone rings (happens often enough in my line of work). This builds muscle memory. I can literally open that damn thing in my sleep. After all, there's no point having a safe in your room if you can't get into it in a hurry.

You should have included in your discussion if they had a fire protection rating.

I have the first one and I have had 0 issues with it. I ve owned it for a year and thumb print works every time and it also has a silent mode so that it doesn't alert to anyone

3:69 Seems like if you are at home you have those extra locks unlocked, and when you are away or go to work you would lock it up. Extra responsibilities but compared to that flat fort knox shotgun safe that doesnt have any mounting holes on the inside to mount on a wall and for have the price; it aint too bad.

Its a security vs access issue. The more access you have to an item the less secure it is, and the more secure the item is the less access you have to it. In my personal experience, the V Line is a good enough compromise between security and access.

Good honest review. Do you have any experience with the SecureIt Fast Box? I’m considering it and would use it vertically, in-wall/secured-to-stud and hidden by a mirror. The V-line options look like a “close-but-no-cigar”, and the SnapSafe is horizontal only, which is not what I want. Downside to SecureIt is it’s not fire-proof. I have 2 pistols and plan on building an AR this year. I need something in the “middle” but everything I see out there is either huge for tons of rifles or small for handguns only. Fast Box is the only “middle” option I’ve seen so far. Thanks much!

Great video. However, it would be nice if you were able to find some other shotgun wall mounts/vaults that might fit one with optics (I have ghost rings and cannot find a wall mount that works yet). I've been told the Hornady AR model will hold a Mossberg 590 with optics but would rather a professional opinion and/or research.

Damnit. I agree with previous comments. "They all kinda suck and I don't have any real answers" is what this video should've been titled. I appreciate that you don't know everyone's needs. But the scenario you're providing (a master bedroom long gun safe for late night break in/anti-kid gun storage) is pretty damn universal which means you could at some point give an original opinion (which is ultimately what all your subscribers subscribe for). It's not like saying, "what's the best safe for my truck?" (of which there are hundreds of variables). Can you dial it in a bit? I'm not going at you.....I love your videos, site, and channel. I've bought 1000's of rounds from you. From all your inferences, I'm assuming.....a large (enough to cover the gun) heavy sheet metal safe with multiple bolt points to the frame with no numerical keypad, no key capability, and no biometric pad. Assuming mechanical is probably the way to go, it also needs to be large enough to take the shotgun side saddle, a possible optic (however you could quantify the size of that) and an AR mag? Please refilm. We don't have access to the same safe options. You can do this. If all the options out there are lacking, say so. And then offer a better solution. They'll listen to you. The rest of us are waiting on a better option....

Securit fast box 40, or 47....$300, very solid

Pls do another video for what you consider "the BEST cost no object" quick-access safes. Ones YOU would bet your life (and family) on.

Chris how could you forget the American flag safe? It is gorgeous, inconspicuous, and accessible!

Had something similar to the V line and When somebody broke into my house while I was at work they were able to pry the bottom open and steal all my guns. Don't get a safe in less it locks in 3 places

thanks

I very much agree with your statement about humans becoming fixated on what they see. That is precisely why I have an handgun safe bolted to my master bedroom's closet shelf. There's a bb pistol in it, a box of ammo, and pile of junk mail in envelopes. The general idea is for it to capture their attention, occupy a good bit of their time getting it torn loose of the shelf, and then when removed mimic the weight and sound of a safe with a gun, ammo, and documents, envelopes, and who knows? Maybe even some cash. Hopefully this will keep them occupied past their comfort zone as far as a time limit and cause them to flee with what they assume will be a good bit of valuables.

Plus, that shotgun lock doesn't cover the trigger, which is ludicrous!

It's amazing that there are so many bad or "just adequate" options out there, not just for gun safes, but for various products for the gun community. The gun industry really needs a visionary like Steve Jobs or Elon Musk.

The fancier VLine wall box seemed like the ticket for me, but I discovered my house was made with somewhat wide studs, so I wouldn't be able to secure it at both sides, which is problematic to say the least. I think I'll just have to compromise and use the shotlock, it seems to do the job okay enough and I can just velcro my shotgun card to the outside for easy access

If Hornady quit the stupid electronics and did a Simplex lock it would be a great option.

I have the Barska biometric safe. In my experience, it opens first time every time. Did you store multiple copies of your thumb/finger? The only problem is that it has to be bolted down, or it falls over when you open the door.

Should review TacticalTraps quick access safe

I can see myself putting the last safe vertically behind my bed, not gonna be as fast taking it out as you said but it takes very little space and acts as a spacer for the sockets

Can you do a full size review?

Lucky Gunner brand comes out when?

Most of my guns are in the hardest to access location: The store.

you should check out the SecureIt Fast Box Model 47 Gun Safe.