Product Reviews 20

The first thing that stands out about this particular gun safe is its overall sturdiness. The Homegear 5 Rifle Electronic Gun Safe offers users a door that is 4mm thick and walls that are 2mm thick for an appropriate level of security. It can stand alone or you can mount it to studs in your wall for a more permanent security solution. There’s enough room for 5 rifles, but it’s closer to 3 if you store them with their optics.

Here are the impressions that we noted about our time with this gun safe so you can maybe see if it has the ability to meet your needs.

The Built-In Double Lock Is Its Best Feature 

Sometimes you just need to put some things behind two locks instead of one to make sure they stay safe. Instead of purchasing a separate portable safe to store inside of this one, Homegear has equipped their electronic gun safe with a separate lockbox at the top of the unit. It’s the right size for a pistol, handgun, or valuables that you’d like to keep separate from your other belongings.

The Lock Can Be a Bit Touchy

There are a couple of very forthright public reviews that state you can easily open the lock on this gun safe by forcing the handle into a specific position. With enough force, anyone can break into just about any safe – that’s just a fact. We used the method described in those reviews in an attempt to pop open the door and although we did get some handle movement after about 15-20 minutes, the lock held firm. If we’d put in another 20 minutes, the lock probably would have given way. We’re more concerned about the keypad placement – bigger fingers can mishit the numbers and that could be touch-and-go during an emergency.

Get Your Own Mounting Hardware

There are anchors included with the purchase of this gun safe, but they aren’t very user friendly. A quick trip down to the hardware store will proactively stop a really bad headache from coming your way. The same could be said of some of the other components that are made from plastic with this particular gun safe. Yet at this price point, for what you receive, the value proposition is still a pretty good one.

Think of It as a Security Cabinet 

Will this gun safe protect your firearms from a fire in your home? Doubtful. It definitely won’t protect your documents or other media. What it will do is stop curious fingers from playing with your rifles and make it difficult for an intruder to access your firearms if they get to the gun safe before you do. If we could change one thing about the design of this safe, it would be to add a protective layer over the reset switch – something you can do on your own.

Is this the best gun safe for you? If you need to store a few rifles safely, then this is one of the few affordable solutions we would trust. Give it a look today to see if it will meet your needs and we think your conclusion will be the same as ours.

Click here to check pricing on Amazon and get an awesome deal on the Homegear 5 Rifle Electronic Gun Safe.

Offering users a fast access digital keypad, 18 gauge steel construction, and multiple mounting options, this looks to be one of the best gun safes on the market today. The GunVault SV 500 is designed with a fast activation drop down drawer that is intended to give users faster access to their firearm when the need arises. You also have a backup override key just in case.

Does the GunVault SV 500 SpeedVault live up to its expectations? Or is it more of a product that was marketed well to the defensive firearm industry? We’ll let you decide because here is a summary of our experiences with this gun safe.

We Love the Mounting Flexibility 

You can mount the GunVault SV 500 in corners, along walls, or even at the foot of your bed if you want. As long as the surface is strong enough to hold the gun safe, then you can place a defensive firearm anywhere in the house safely. We’d like to see a place or two for an extra screw/bolt in a perfect world, but that’s our only complaint in this area.

You Can Actually See Your Firearm at Night 

When you’ve got a possible intruder in your home, time is of the essence to protect yourself. Unfortunately in the dead of night, there is rarely much light at your disposal. The GunVault SV 500 is equipped with a nice floodlight that will let you quickly grab your gun and go. Of course an intruder can also see this light and it’s really bright after you’ve become accustomed to the dark, but overall we see this as a positive feature.

The Design of This Gun Safe Is Rock Solid 

Although this gun safe doesn’t have the thickest steel in the industry today, the design more than makes up for it. There is virtually no place where someone could quickly pry open the GunVault SV 500, so you can rest assured that your firearm (or other valuables) will be protected. Will it withstand someone trying to drill out the safe? Doubtful. For immediate need, however, it gets the job done and the mounting hardware won’t let someone pry it off your wall very easily.

Some Good, Some Bad with the Locking Mechanism 

The keypad entry is very easy to program. This makes it really easy to protect a firearm and have access to it – assuming that you remember what your entry code happens to be. If you can’t remember your code and you lose your backup key, then you’re not getting into this safe unless you have the upgraded biometric lock. There’s a low battery warning, but it only works if you are actually using the keypad. The keypad also makes noises that could alert an intruder, but these can be turned off with a little work.

Overall we feel like the GunVault SV 500 is one of those gun safes that everyone should have in their home if they have a defensive handgun they need to protect. You can place this safe anywhere, quickly access your firearm, and the vault is padded to prevent damage to the firearm as well. We highly recommend it.

Click here to check pricing on Amazon and get an awesome deal on the GunVault SV 500 SpeedVault Handgun Safe.

The problem with many of the pistol safes that are on the market today is that they’re only large enough to hold one gun. There are some that hold 2-4 guns, but they tend to be made from inferior materials or have a lousy locking mechanism so you don’t really maximize your firearm protection. The Fort Knox Original Handgun and Pistol Safe is large enough to hold two standard service handguns or three subcompacts plus the magazines so you have an effective all-in-one solution.

The Features of the Fort Knox Pistol Safe 

The primary feature of this particular safe is the heavy duty nature of its construction. Made from 3/16” 10 gauge steel, you won’t be able to open up this safe unless you use an acetylene torch or you punch in your access code. The Simplex mechanical locking device features a push-button design that will quickly open thanks to the gas-strut assisted door. For this size of a pistol box, you will struggle to find a safer solution.

Here are some of the additional features we felt was of note after giving this Fort Knox handgun safe a test run.

• It has an antiqued silver coat finish that helps to give the gun safe an added level of durability for everyday use.
• It can be mounted to a drawer, shelf, or the floor for an added level of strength and security if needed so a thief can’t just pick up your pistol box and run away with it.
• There is a foam interior lining, which the manufacturer describes as being similar to an egg crate, to give your guns a better level of protection.

The bottom line is this: you’re going to get what you pay for. Many might see the price point of this Fort Knox gun safe and cringe, but it is a great safe that will last a lifetime and has a warranty that proves it.

Is This Gun Safe Better Than a Biometric Safe? 

Everyone has a personal preference when it comes to gun safe accessibility. Some people prefer a lock and key. Others like the modern security of a biometric lock that scans a fingerprint. This Fort Knox gun safe offers users about 1,100 different combination possibilities with its push-button design, which makes accessing your gun about as easy as possible even if the middle of an emergency. The lock itself is a bit difficult to change the combination on once set, but that’s really the only drawback of this particular gun safe.

You could cheap out and purchase a gun safe for around $50 and be satisfied with the results. You could also invest in a safe that is just as good as your defensive firearm and not have to worry about what happens to it when you’re not at home. It isn’t a fire resistant box and it isn’t waterproof, but it is sturdy and reliable and sometimes that’s all you need.

Click here to check pricing on Amazon and get an awesome deal.

With 2.14 cubic feet of storage capacity, you may find that this durable safe could meet your firearm storage needs today. The First Alert waterproof fire safe has one of the best fire ratings in the industry today, giving you an internal temperature of 350F or less for 60 minutes or more even if the external temperature is 1,700F. Forget about water getting into this safe, although internal condensation is an issue which must be considered.

Could this be the best gun safe to meet your specific needs? Here is a look at the features we found to be useful with this particular First Alert model.

1. Waterproof really does mean water stays out. Many “waterproof” gun safes say that they can withstand 2-4 feet of water for 30-60 minutes. That’s not waterproof. This First Alert safe can be fully submerged in water and still protect your firearms.
2. The keypad locks you out with the wrong code. Once you’ve programmed your electronic lock on this First Alert safe, it is designed to lock people out if the incorrect codes are used. If that happens, the only access available is the emergency override key, which means you have less to worry about from a thief trying to hack into your safe.
3. Take a close look at the hinges. First Alert has equipped this safe with patented Delta hinges, which makes it virtually impossible for someone to pry the door open from that point. When you combine this feature with the interior shelves that are removable, a hanging key rack, and a storage pocket in the door, you can even store media items within this safe and have it be protected from harm should the need arise. The shelves are made from plastic, however, so they may not be suitable for every firearm.
4. It comes with a carrying handle. Weighing in at over 130 pounds, this is not the lightest of portable safes that you’ll ever come across. Some might say the handle even encourages a thief to try to steal the safe and crack it open later. Ultimately we feel like this is a feature that each person needs to decide on whether it is useful or not. We liked it because it made placing the safe into a permanent home easy – but we can also see why some may not want to have it.
5. You’ll probably just take the plastic combination cover off. The cover that “guards” the combination is made from plastic. It makes an irritating noise when it clunks back into place and the sturdiness of the cover itself we feel is somewhat questionable. A simple fix: you could take the cover off so you don’t have to flip it open whatsoever.

At this price point, you’ll struggle to find the waterproof and fire resistant features in any safe being offered today. For that reason alone, we would encourage everyone to give this safe a trial run. It is effective, durable, and has enough space to store most handguns or pistols with ease.

Click here to check pricing on Amazon and get an awesome deal on the First Alert Waterproof Fire Safe.

We feel that there are three qualities that every portable gun safe should have.

1. It should be easy to access.
2. It should be lightweight for easy portability.
3. It should have strong security features.

The First Alert portable handgun safe is designed to accommodate most modern pistols or handguns that you may need to take along with you. It meets the standards that most concealed carry permits require for keeping a firearm in your vehicle, yet incorporates padding within the interior that actually works to stop movement damage that can happen when you’re taking your firearm with you.

This might be the best gun safe in regards to making a great first impression. Does that impression change once you begin to use the safe? Let’s take a look.

It Is Made From 18 Gauge Steel 

This portable gun safe is made from the same quality of steel that you’ll find in many top end safes that you’d mount at home. You’ll also receive a steel cable that will help you to secure this safe in the trunk or stow-and-go sections of your vehicle. We love the fact that First Alert also included mounting holes so that you can bolt this portable safe to your vehicle or even to a wall at home if you prefer.

Not many gun safes in this category could be described as “solid.” This one can be. Outside of the small mounting holes for the 1500 lb steel cable, there is no way to really access this gun safe outside of going through the lock. That mounting design also means that this safe isn’t water-resistant, so you’ll need to keep it away from all moisture to keep your firearms safe.

It Has a Reliable Locking Mechanism 

To be fair, First Alert created a portable handgun safe that looks like it has been equipped with a biometric lock. It is not. This safe has a “no look” keypad where you input up to an 8 digit code in a way that someone would have to be looking directly at your fingers to determine what the code happens to be. The keypad is silent when entering the code as well, so if you are opening it up for defensive purposes, the only thing an intruder can hear is the locking mechanism opening up.

There Is a Surprising Amount of Capacity 

With 3 inches of depth, this 10×12 portable gun safe weighs just 4 pounds when empty, making it very easy to carry with you anywhere. It can easily hold one large handgun; yet can safely store two smaller pistols without damage as long as you create a barrier within the safe to prevent your firearms banging into each other. The spring locking mechanism doesn’t get in the way, works reliably, and it keeps curious fingers away from something they don’t need to be handling.

The First Alert portable handgun safe is easily one of the best gun safes in this category. If you’re looking for a safe and secure way to transport your handguns or other valuables, we would strongly recommend taking a long look at this option. We believe it can get the job done.

Click here to check pricing on Amazon and get an awesome deal on the First Alert Portable Handgun Safe.

Having a holster with flexibility can be a good thing, but it can also be a bad thing. Sometimes that flexibility stretches out too far and your firearm can be so loose that it falls out of the holster. It can also be so tight that your entire holster comes with your firearm when you draw it. The Blackhawk Serpa CQC carbon fiber concealment holster provides you with a custom molded holster that has been specifically made for your firearm.

The advantage here is clear: when your gun perfectly fits in your holster, you can just draw it when necessary without worrying about anything else.

This Is a Level 2 Retention Concealment Holster 

What we love about this particular holster is the automatic locking mechanism it contains. When you insert your gun into the holster, the Serpa lock will click to let you know that your firearm is truly secure. You can also choose a matte option for your holster if you prefer and it comes with either a belt loop or a paddle platform so you can conceal your firearm as you prefer.

The draw gives you a full grip that lets you use your preferred technique. You won’t have to practice new drawing techniques when you invest into this holster.

There are some limitations we discovered of which you should be aware. For certain firearms, we noticed that the Blackhawk CQC holster will only work with round trigger guards or specific sub-models within a manufacturer’s regular line. Some compacts also have a little overhang over the muzzle.

Can This Really Be a Concealment Holster? 

There is one other key point that should be mentioned. When using the paddle system for this holster, we noticed that there is a tendency for the firearm to ride pretty high on the hip. It also protrudes just a bit, making it difficult to tuck inside the pants for some specific firearms – especially a Glock. You could wear this outside the waistband and cover the firearm with a jacket or sweatshirt, but to wear this as an IWB holster, you’d want to have a firearm with a slimmer profile.

You’ll also want to double-check the exact type of firearm from the list provided by the manufacturer before you finalize any purchase. Because each holster is custom formed for the firearm, you must have an exact match for your concealed carry needs to be met.

We like the added security with the finger retention. It can stand up to the wear and tear of daily use with ease. Not many products today perform as expected, but this holster exceeded our expectations. The Blackhawk Serpa CQC carbon fiber concealment holster earns our highest recommendation because it keeps your firearm secure, is comfortable to wear, and automatically puts you into the best defensive posture possible should you need to draw.

Click here to check pricing on Amazon and get an awesome deal on the Blackhawk Serpa CQC Carbon Fiber Concealment Holster.

Question: when you have a couple of rifles that you’d like to store, does it make sense to purchase a gun safe worth $2,000 or more to do so?

Answer: Of course not. Yet when you begin to look at gun safes that hold 1-3 rifles, you begin to discover that there are very few gun safes that meet your expectations. That’s why when we got the chance to check out the Barska Quick Access biometric gun safe, we were really excited to see if it would provide a different experience for gun owners.

We were not disappointed. Here are the key takeaways from our experience with this particular gun safe.

1. The biometric technology gives you an advantage. You’re able to store up to 120 different authorized users with the fingerprint scanners on this rifle safe. Of course that might be overkill for 3 rifles, which is its maximum storage capacity, but that does give you enough room to upload the identities of all your hunting buddies, your family, and other trusted associates.
2. Securing this safe takes 15 minutes max. Barska has equipped this rifle safe with pre-drilled anchor points, allowing users to be able to secure it to either the floor or the wall pretty easily. As long as you’ve identified your placement before the safe arrives, you’ll be able to secure your new gun safe in just minutes.
3. The biometric lock can be a little stubborn. Powered by AA batteries, we found that the biometric sensor can be a bit stubborn when detecting a person’s fingerprints. Not only does the screen need to be perfectly clean for you to get a good reading, but your fingerprints need to be in perfect condition. If you have some dirt on your fingers or you’ve picked up a cut somewhere, there’s a good chance your request for entry is going to be rejected.
4. Don’t store your rifles with optics in this. We say this if you have more than two rifles to store in the Barska rifle safe. You’ll need to flip the rifles around to store sideways if you have optics on your rifle because of the small capacity of this safe. It won’t hold more than two rifles if you have them installed in this way. Although it will get the job done, we see this gun safe working better for rifles that have no optics or modifications that change its profile.
5. A shelf has been added to the interior design. We like this addition because it gives you the chance to store a pistol, the mags for your rifles, or other small items that you’d like to protect. Not every gun safe designed for rifles puts a shelf in, so it was a pleasant surprise.

Overall our impression was above average. We see this being the best gun safe for those who are looking for more of a storage locker for their rifles than a comprehensive security solution for the home. If that happens to be what you’re shopping for today, then we would definitely recommend the Barska Quick Access rifle safe to you.

Click here to check pricing on Amazon and get an awesome deal on the Barska Quick Access Biometric Rifle Safe.

What do you do when you want to have a defensive firearm by your bed at night, but your gun is bigger than what a portable gun safe can hold? The American Security Defense Vault attempts to bridge the gap in that need by offering you a slide-out draw gun safe that fits nicely underneath your bed. You can cable the gun safe to your bed frame, anchor it to the floor or a wall stud if you prefer, and that will potentially give you the security you need should the unexpected happen.

What can you fit inside the American Security Defense Vault? There’s enough room for a couple of rifles or a couple shotguns, a couple of handguns, and a few accessories. The pull out shelf is lined with felt to help protect your firearms, but the height restriction of this safe means you’ll likely need to remove any optics or accessories.

Not Fireproof, Not Waterproof, But Highly Effective

We’ve taken a thorough look at the public reviews and given this gun safe a thorough up and down and discovered that all of the negatives we can find are rather cosmetic in nature. For the American gun owner, there is a certain pride in buying products that are made in the USA. This gun safe is made in China. The quality is there, but if you want to take some patriotic pride in your purchase, the only pride you’ll get is the fact that this company has offices in the States.

This defense vault isn’t fireproof. It isn’t even remotely water-resistant. Although that isn’t necessarily an issue when being stored under the bed, if you have young children who are prone to bedtime accidents, you might wish to start having the kiddos sleep in a cot beside the bed instead of crawling into bed with you.

We also found the outside of the defense vault is a bit easy to scratch and dent. It doesn’t necessarily affect how the safe operates, but could be bothersome to some users.

We Are Satisfied With the Locking Mechanism

Some electronic locking mechanisms have a bad reputation because they can be accessed without a security code. If you get the right combination of vibration and movement, the theory is that you can unlock virtually any gun safe that isn’t equipped with biometrics. We tried working this lock in every which way possible, trying to force the defense vault open, and were satisfied with the quality of the lock.

If your rifles or shotguns have a longer than standard barrel, they will not fit in this defense vault. You’ll need to look at the defense vaults which replace the box springs in your bed for better results if this is the case.

Our first impression of the American Security Defense Vault was an overall positive one and with continued use that didn’t change. If you need a bedroom solution for a rifle or shotgun, then we highly recommend giving this gun safe a trial run.

Click here to check pricing on Amazon and get an awesome deal on the American Security Defense Vault.  

When push comes to shove, the best gun safes are often nothing more than a glorified lockbox. You get charged a premium price for your product simply because it has been “designed” to hold your firearms. AmazonBasics has a security safe which will provide you with 0.5 cubic feet of storage space that is protected by an electronic lock and two backup keys. It might not have a felt interior, but the floor of the safe is carpeted to protect your firearm from scratching.

Then there’s the price – at just $50, it’s easy to see why this security safe is often the #1 bestseller in its category. We decided to give this safe a test run and here’s what we found from our trial period.

You Can Store Up to 4 Handguns 

There’s a removable shelf that comes with this gun safe, giving you enough storage space to comfortably store up to 4 handguns. We could fit 2 1911s in this security safe with the shelf in place. The shelf isn’t carpeted, however, so you might want to install some felt on it or protect your firearm in some other way if you plan on using it in that fashion.

Security Is Pretty Solid

AmazonBasics has equipped this small little safe with two live-door bolts and concealed hinges that make it virtually impossible to pry this thing open. The digital keypad can be reprogrammed with your own unique passcode whenever you feel the need to update it. You’ll need to open the safe the first time with the override key, but then you can use it however you wish and find yourself satisfied with what this product can do.

There’s a 4 Point Mounting Design

You’ll likely want to mount this security safe if you’re planning on using it to store firearms. There are four holes in the back of the safe and more in the bottom of it, allowing you to place it on a floor, wall, or shelf pretty easily. You have direct access to the contents of the safe through these holes, which is why this protection is not fire resistant or waterproof. Mounting it improves these qualities and helps to deter people from just picking up your safe and taking off with it.

Quality Control Issues? 

With our trial run, we had no issues in using this security safe. In the public reviews, however, there is a consistent complaint about the safe arriving with a door that is misaligned. Take advantage of the return policies to exchange your security safe if this happens to you. The benefits that this safe can provide you far outweigh the small risk that comes from this manufacturing issue.

Sometimes the affordable solution also happens to be your best option. For the AmazonBasics Security Safe, it might not be the best gun safe solution for everyone, but it could meet your specific needs. Because of this value and the level of security it provides, we believe it easily qualifies as one of the best gun safes available today.

Click here to check pricing on Amazon and get an awesome deal on the AmazonBasics Security Safe.

When you’ve been approved for a concealed carry permit, it becomes important to find a holster which is comfortable, but still keeps your firearm accessible. We found that the AlphaHolster Belly Gun Holster does just that. It wraps around your belly just above the waistline of your pants, allowing you to securely carry a firearm in a position that is easy to draw. You then just wear a shirt over the holster that allows you access to the firearm should it become necessary.

Made from lightweight and ventilated elastic, here are some of our observations from using this holster over the period of a couple weeks.

1. Expect your belly to get a bit sweaty by the end of the day. The elastic is comfortable and the holster can be positioned for a right-handed or left-handed draw. What you’ve got to get used to is the added sweat that forms around your belly, especially if there is a little extra belly there. You don’t feel restricted by the holster, but you will want to change your clothes after a long day.
2. You can carry up to three mags. This holster has placement options for two spare magazines. You can also choose to carry your firearm loaded for a third magazine. An elastic strap comes over the back of your firearm above where you would load it to keep your weapon secure. The spare mags then drop into similar holders. The spares feel a little loose at first, but you get used to it. You could purchase a couple Velcro straps if it becomes too bothersome.
3. Many people will know you’re carrying if you don’t dress right. This is a form-fitting holster. If you’re wearing a tight shirt over the holster, people will be able to see the bulge. From our experience, we recommend wearing an un-tucked dress shirt or Polo over the firearm, followed up by a jacket of some type, to reduce the appearance as much as possible.
4. It might dig into some folks. We gave this holster to one of our larger colleagues and he said that it wasn’t a bad fit unless he had to bend or sit with the holster. Then it would dig into his stomach and leave red marks like a pair of pants does when they’re a size too small. On the other hand, it’s also big enough that some of the skinnier folks will struggle with the single-strap band that keeps the holster in place because the elastic tends to curl with wear.
5. The mag loops are useful for other items as well. We found that the magazine holders in the holster also worked pretty well for carrying flashlights, pocket knives, and even a spare packet of Skittles if that’s you’re thing. It’s this addition, in fact, that really makes this one of the best holsters on the market today. 

We feel like the AlphaHolster Belly Band Holster has hit a home run with this product. Some users might see a drawback here or there, but overall the experiences we had with this product were outstanding. If you’re looking for a comfortable concealed carry holster, this is a great place to start the shopping process.

Click here to check pricing on Amazon and get an awesome deal on the AlphaHolster Belly Gun Holster.