Let's talk quick access gun safes

[2cammer97]

Screwdriver would get most of the smaller safes open...

OP, I use this one with good success for generally the same reasons...

http://www.gunvault.com/handgun-safes/multi-multi-deluxe.html

Deluxe...

Good to know. Thanks. That's also one of the ones I was considering along with StackOn. I understand people have doubts about the biometric but couldn't a keypad pose the same risks? Again, one reason I liked the Barska Standard is that it has both a keypad and biometric (as well as a hidden keyhole with key for backup).

Marcus

[ceyko]

Well, anything biometric I used sometimes is a little flaky. If you're finger is sweaty, gloves on, in a rush...scared etc, no promises it's going to open the first time.

Other than EMP, if you press the right button combination on the safe it'll open. It becomes second nature for your code once you've opened it several times.

Biometric is nice, but it can be finicky and that's why I decided against it for my purposes. I open/close mine everyday and also would rely on it in an emergency.

[Binky]

Interesting post with regards to EMP and locks:

"In a word, NO. I believe you would have no problems with an electronic lock in a safe after a nuclear EMP at 250 miles altitude or so. There are 3 "waves" of a high-altitude EMP that must be considered: E1, E2, E3.

The short-lived E1 pulse would be shielded by the safe itself. The lock's microcontroller might reset momentarily, but so what, it will still open the lock.

E2's wavelengths will be too long to fit in the aperture of the lock, and won't produce much of an electric field there.

E3, the one that knocks out the power grid, won't be conducted into your lock because it's battery powered, and its long, long wavelengths are far too large to generate a large electric field in that small space between the lock dial and the metal.

As an electronics engineer who was designed circuitry that had to operate near a nuclear explosion delivering a 1-megarad dose, I wouldn't worry about it."

[Gtracer]

Interesting post with regards to EMP and locks:

"In a word, NO. I believe you would have no problems with an electronic lock in a safe after a nuclear EMP at 250 miles altitude or so. There are 3 "waves" of a high-altitude EMP that must be considered: E1, E2, E3.

The short-lived E1 pulse would be shielded by the safe itself. The lock's microcontroller might reset momentarily, but so what, it will still open the lock.

E2's wavelengths will be too long to fit in the aperture of the lock, and won't produce much of an electric field there.

E3, the one that knocks out the power grid, won't be conducted into your lock because it's battery powered, and its long, long wavelengths are far too large to generate a large electric field in that small space between the lock dial and the metal.

As an electronics engineer who was designed circuitry that had to operate near a nuclear explosion delivering a 1-megarad dose, I wouldn't worry about it."

Well if you put it like that....

[2cammer97]

Well, I settled on the Stack On PS10B. It has the biometric and keypad (and back up key). It had the right dimensions to fit on our master closet shelves. The Barska with biometric and keypad wouldn't fit and I didn't want the one with just biometric read. It should do the job of keeping our 14 month old daughter and wife's 8 & 6 year old niece and nephew away from the pistols. Ill post of my impressions of the safe once I get it if anyone is interested.

Thanks again for the info guys.

Marcus

[ceyko]

Looks nice enough, I won't lie though - I hate the name "Stack On" on principle.

[franks]

im going to add that biometrics are new to safes but have proved reliable in many other realms. i worked for a company installing biometric time clocks for a while, installed several hundred, this was 7 years ago and all are still working thousands of times a week with no problems.

[ThreeFingerPete]

im going to add that biometrics are new to safes but have proved reliable in many other realms. i worked for a company installing biometric time clocks for a while, installed several hundred, this was 7 years ago and all are still working thousands of times a week with no problems.

Do you think that they're the same quality? I'm willing to bet that your time clocks didn't cost $129