Hi all,
So I have a larger 8-gun safe in my home that is very adequate for my needs.  However I would like to keep a smaller pistol safe bolted somewhere in my bedroom.  I'd like it to ideally have enough room for 2 handguns and 2 flashlights, I looked at sports authority and they have those "Stack-on personal safes" which are a great size and price range (about $150) for me.  However, after a few minutes of googling I was astonished at how easily they can be opened with a few simple tools (i.e. paper clip), so I tried it on the one I saw at sports authority and it worked (scary that those safes are DOJ certified)!  But that's a different topic for another time. 

Any recommendations?  I'm not looking for Fort Knox here, just a moderate safe that would at least slow down someone trying to get into my stuff.

Also, no kids around just me and the lady friend.

Thanks! 

While it is possible for someone to open it without a code/key I like my stack on pistol safe, securely bolted and out of the way its good enough for a single pistol.
Amazon has stack on, homak, gun vault and other small size safes. Unfortunately none of these will protect like a full size safe as you trade protection for size, weight, cost, etc and the reviews of most if not all of these products will reflect this fact.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0013LO0F6/?tag=2ahawaii-20
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000MNN8DG/?tag=2ahawaii-20
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B002HOLG2I/?tag=2ahawaii-20

Check out Gun Vault.  I have a micro vault, but you may want to look at a multi vault for more than a single handgun.  Biometrics are a waste of money.

if you dont got kids in the house, why bother with a safe?  Just don't use your $5k handguns laying around or as your primary weapon and you'll be fine.  Get a glock or something similar in price and save your cash for ammo or insurance (make sure your policy covers your guns, many do not include them).  The only reason why you get a small safe is to stop a kid from shooting themselves after you did not teach them proper safe handling and safety!




if you dead set on getting a safe, check out this youtube video first

DEFCON 19: Safe to Armed in Seconds: A Study of Epic Fails of Popular Gun Safes



DEFCON 19: Safe to Armed in Seconds: A Study of Epic Fails of Popular Gun Safes

Gun vault is good!

I would get the "gunvault".

Keep your HD pistol in there at night.

If you go on a long trip or something then just switch the pistol back into the regular safe.

Is the one you opened with a paper clip "stack-on" brand?

I have a gunvault 1000D and I love the thing.

if you dont got kids in the house, why bother with a safe?  The only reason why you get a small safe is to stop a kid from shooting themselves after you did not teach them proper safe handling

I DISAGREE 100% with this statement.

This thinking is why sandy hook happened.

I think every gun owner should be responsible in locking up their guns.

98% of all crimes committed with guns are with illegally obtained guns (stolen or black market)

I would get the "gunvault".

Keep your HD pistol in there at night.

If you go on a long trip or something then just switch the pistol back into the regular safe.

Is the one you opened with a paper clip "stack-on" brand?

I have a gunvault 1000D and I love the thing.

Hey KK,
Yeah the one I opened with a paperclip was a stack-on safe. There's an interesting documentary/investigatin on YouTube by Marc Tobias where he opens a number of popular Chinese made safes with simple tools.

I take a look at the gun vault ones. Thanks!

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000MPRHBS/?tag=2ahawaii-20

i have one of these for my HD pistol.  got it at home depot for about $35
its easy access for when I'm at home.  and safe enough to keep out of the hands of family and others in the home.
when i'm not at home I place the fire safe chest in my bigger safe for safe keeping.

thinking about picking up a gun vault to replace the first alert one.

I would get the "gunvault".

Keep your HD pistol in there at night.

If you go on a long trip or something then just switch the pistol back into the regular safe.

Is the one you opened with a paper clip "stack-on" brand?

I have a gunvault 1000D and I love the thing.

KK...............do you spend something like 2 hours every night trying to decide which pistol you'll be sticking in the small safe that night?

KK...............do you spend something like 2 hours every night trying to decide which pistol you'll be sticking in the small safe that night?

Nah, same gun in the pistol safe every night.

I have a gunvault 1000D and I love the thing.

Hey KK, you mind sayin how long you've had the gv 1000d safe?  I was going to pick up that model, but was conerned about the numerous bad reviews about battery life.

Hey KK, you mind sayin how long you've had the gv 1000d safe?  I was going to pick up that model, but was conerned about the numerous bad reviews about battery life.

I've had it about three years, I change batteries once a year, have had no problems so far

Hi:

I installed a SpeedVault 500 safe from Gunvault on the backside of my nightstand.  http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B006OGNLKA/?tag=2ahawaii-20

Totally out of sight, and it takes about 2 seconds to have my gun in hand.  Only one complaint: when you enter the combo, there is a "KLUNK" as the counter-weight drops and the door opens.  I don't think that noise will be the difference between life or death.  Once the door is open, the pistol's grip is right under my hand.  The safe also has an LED light that helps me see what I'm grabbing onto!  If you prefer, you can put tape over the LED.  Plus, you can turn on/off the BEEP when pushing the buttons.

I chose to go with buttons versus biometric.  No problem with misreading fingerprints, and I can share the code with as many people as I want to have access.

The safe is solid enough to prevent unauthorized access or random theft.  It is NOT strong enough to prevent a determined thief.  I don't worry about it being mounted to a moveable nightstand instead of the wall which is also an option.  When I'm away, I store the pistol in a sturdy safe that is more secure and fire rated.

The best handgun safe will be the one that is completely hidden from view and which you can still open quickly!  If you plan to keep the pistol in this safe 100% of the time, then look for a better one with both fire and theft protection.  Those will run you more than $150.

Only you can decide how much security is enough based on your use and the size/number of handguns.

Hope that helps!

Pricey as hell, but this is what I'm getting (replacing some piece of crap battery safes)

http://fas1safe.com/main.sc;jsessionid=F22060C186E9F6EB69DB9C2A3AF9B3DE.qscstrfrnt03

I'm sold on cyper type locks. I think mechanical cyper locks are worth the extra money and piece of mind that they will open when needed.

Pricey as hell, but this is what I'm getting (replacing some piece of crap battery safes)

http://fas1safe.com/main.sc;jsessionid=F22060C186E9F6EB69DB9C2A3AF9B3DE.qscstrfrnt03

I'm sold on cyper type locks. I think mechanical cyper locks are worth the extra money and piece of mind that they will open when needed.

Nice! Now thats what I'm talking about!  Lately I've been a big fan of those binary cipher locks over the cheap chinese locks.  Pricey for sure, but I think worth it for the peace of mind.

Here's a good one by Gunvault - no biometrics just good old push button combo   Has lots of good features an AC adapter being one, it flips the lid open with authority.  My only complaint really is why do these companies always use black foam!  Can't see shit Cap'n.  So reline the floor at least with white foam it helps out.  Dump the shelf.  And don't use Duracells either.

http://www.opticsplanet.com/gunvault-multivault-deluxe-handgun-safe.html

I've had a Gun Vault "Mini Vault" safe for my HD piece for about 3 years and I love the thing, definitely a good choice! 

There's one on Craigslist right now as we speak