Handgun safe near bed recommendation

[nhluke]

Father in law would like a safe to keep near his bed. He would like it to have quick reliable access, capacity of 2 preferred. Have any of you found such a thing? The little I've messed with them, I struggled with finding reliable access.

Thanks

[TSKNIGHT]

I have a GUNBOX brand bio-metric handgun safe by my bed.
The GUNBOX has a dual locking mechanism. One is by finger print and the other is with an RF card or bracelet.
I like the design and that it is very secure, but I don't rely on the finger print ID to unlock it. They have some issues to work out with it.
It has to be plugged in, but has a battery backup that is good for 2-3 days.

The finger print ID works only about 80% of the time sometimes requiring multiple tries before it will unlock. I use the RF card. It works every time.
The drawback with that is I have to remember to have the card there when I am in bed, but take it with me when not there, just like I would do with a key.

The picture is from before I secured it to the night stand. I bolted the nightstand to the floor and wall, then bolted the GUNBOX to the stand.
I won mine in a drawing and have been using it for about 4 months now. If I were to buy a safe, this one is vastly over priced to have the technical issues that it has. JMO

Here is their web site if you are interested. https://www.thegunbox.com/

[LumberZach]

I have a small safe someone gave me for laptops, but I saw them in gun stores before. It has a numeric lock and I'd highly recommend that. Stay away from finger print locks. They suck. I've had it for over 4 years, and just changed the batteries for the first time and only because I was thinking about how I've had it for so long. I'll try to find a link.

[Aztecf]

I have a couple of these around the house and one bolted to my bed frame, extremely well built.

http://www.fas1safe.com/

[gdubya]

I have one of these in the corner of my bed, cable locked to the bed frame. Some folks like and some don't but it's the only one I am confident I can unlock in the dark by feel, and have a backup key just in case. I get about a year out of a good 9v battery opening almost it almost every day, and when it is low it just flashes red lights and takes a second longer to open. If you swap batteries quick, you don't have to reset the code either. They make multiple sizes. YMMV.

http://www.opticsplanet.com/gunvault-mi ... -safe.html

[shooter115]

I have the single gun version of this one and have no complaints, but this sounds exactly like what you are looking for. http://www.opticsplanet.com/gunvault-multi-vault-handgun-safe.html

[nhluke]

Thank you all for the info/opinions!

[MNblockhead]

I have a V-LINE Top Drawer (http://vlineind.com/ProductDetail.php?product_id=27). I did a lot of research and tried out a number of options at various stores before getting this safe. I'm very happy with my purchase. My reasons for going with this safe include:

1. No electronics to fail. No batteries to change.

Originally I was going to get a biometric safe. There are some neat options, but electronic can fail, batteries need to be changed. Also, I've used various biometric devices for over a decade. For doors, time-stamped logins, on my computer, and on my smart phone. The technology has greatly improved, but it is not perfect. Even if it doesn't fail, if you are woken by door being kicked in at night, with your adrenaline pumping at the same time as waking from a deep sleep, you are more likely to mis-position your fingers on the finger print reader. I think biometric safes are a great choice for gun safes to keep your collection, hunting rifles, or guns that you you will not need to get to in a self-defense emergency. I wouldn't rely on them for bedside self-defense.

2. No key.

Not only do I not want to fumble for a key in the dark in an emergency, I'm terrible about misplacing my keys. But not only do I not want to rely on a key, I DON'T WANT THE OPTION of a key. A key is something my young children or their friend could find. Yes, I drill gun safety and respect into my young boy. YES, it is my responsibility to make sure they could never get at the keys. But I know my weaknesses and I know how good kids can be at finding what you think you hid well. Not having a key as an option is just safer and more convenient for me.

3. Secure Enough

My bedside gun safe is a balance between security and quick access. Obviously, not putting it in a safe allows for the quickest access. But I have two young kids and despite my training them, I don't want to have to rely on that. Also, I want to minimize any change of my wife or I causing a negligent discharge (if I wasn't worried about kids, I would have some sore of holster rigged to the side of the dresser near the bed or something.

This isn't about security from theft. A determined thieve with a crow bar could detach the safe from its mounts and run off with it to smash open elsewhere. But they would still need to find it and be willing to take the time, where they could be spending time grabbing jewelry or electronics and getting the hell out.

Again, the security here is to keep my kids or their friends from ever having access.

4. Easy to operate in pitch-black darkness.

My safe uses a simplex lock. I can enter the combo by feel. I don't have to be able to see any numbers. I've practiced this many, many times, including setting an alarm for the middle of the night so I have to get into the safe from a deep sleep. There is no other safe I have that comes close to the speed of access that I have with this safe. Some high-end biometric safes may be a bit quicker, I've not tested them in realistic scenarios. But I'll trade a second of time to access for the reliability of a simplex lock. Dealing with keys and dials are just too slow for a self-defense bedside lock in my opinion.

5. Decent size.

I store a Springfield XDM 9mm with a Crimson Trace Lightguard as my primary home-defense pistol and I put my Glock 42 in its keydex pocket holster in it after I've locked down the house for the evening.

I'm reconsidering this approach though. My though was that in case of a breakin, I could grab the Springfield and, if time allows, put the glock in my pocket as a backup.

Now I'm thinking that I will get another safe and put it in my guest room. My springfield will remain in the safe next to my primary bed and the glock will go into an unmounted (so the safe can be move when I have guests staying over) v-line safe in the guest room where I'll put my glock at the end of the day. That way I have quick access to a pistol at night on both levels of my home. Also, I often work late and will crash in the guest room so as not to disturb the wife. This will ensure that I have ready access to a pistol. Similarly, if I'm working downstairs, I won't have to run to safe upstairs.

Also, I find that I can get my gun in hand more quickly if I only have one in the safe. I re-actively take more care grabbing my Springfield when I know my other gun is in the safe, even though the other gun is in a holster, making negligent discharge of it impossible.

DOWNSIDES

I really love the V-line simplex top drawer safe. But there are some downside. It opens by lifting the lid up. So not great for mounting under the bed or on a wall. It works well in a drawer, but then you have the extra step of opening a drawer. It is best place on top of nightstand or dresser. V-line also makes slide-away and desk-mate safes that open from the front. These work on the same principle. But, for me, I find I'm much quick pressing down on the buttons from top and trying to position my hand and finder and push from the front, especially when waking from a deep sleep in the dark. YMMV.

Simplex locks are fairly easily hacked. I you read the literature of various hacking groups, you'll find number tables to practice, that once proficient, will allow someone to fairly quickly get into a simplex lock. A smash and grab type is not likely to known this or take the time, they'll just pry it off the wall or desk and take it to be opened elsewhere with a crow bar. But a dedicated teen-ager could spend spend a couple hours and eventually get into the safe. There are only 1081 practical combinations (not sure if the v-line safes support half presses, but I wouldn't recommend using them in your combo for an emergency gun, your adrenaline will make it hard to have the fine motor control needed to enter half presses as distinct from full presses).

But, again, I'm not using this as my front-door lock, or for the safe to entire collection of guns. I just want quick access to my gun but still make it very difficult for young children to get at it. I believe that a simplex lock it still more secure than lock that uses a key. I've found the V-Line Top Drawer to be the best compromise on ease of access and security. I'd be happy to learn of better options.

[MNblockhead]

Oh, and on the V-line, if you want to test the ones on display at your local gun store, it is common that the staff do not know the combo, but just as likely that they never changed it from the factory default.

The factory default on a five-button v-line simplex lock should be:

if you imaging the five buttons as

[A][B][C][D][E]

Press [B] and [D] at the same time and then press [C] and turn the knob clockwise.

Close and turn knob counter clockwise to re-lock. This should give you a good idea, in store, how it operates and how comfortable you are with this kind of lock. Something you can't really do with biometric safes (never known a gunstore to want to take the time to register your fingerprints with a safe for testing it out or customers that would want to store their fingerprints in the display safe).

[cobb]

I have 2 of this exact model, brand is V-Line

Total, I have 3 V-Line brand safes. The 2 that I have and can be mounted to a bed frame I do not believe are available anymore.
http://vlineind.com/Default.php

[linksep]

http://www.gunvault.com/sv500.html

Menards had these on sale a few weeks ago for something like $69 IIRC.

[westhope]

I have 2 GunVault GV 1000S models. They have been working fine for me. I have the one by the bed bolted to (between the wall and back) of the nightstand at a slight angle toward the bed to ease access. Batteries easily last one year or more. I do change them out every year. More than room enough for a full size 1911 with spare magazine and small flashlight. I put a spacer at the bottom of the GunVault to keep the gun higher for a little easier access. I usually keep the safe locked, only occasionally open it. I do not want to keep it open all the time in case I forget to lock it when the grandkids visit.

The one thing I did have a problem with was the access code. The manual states that multiple buttons can be pressed simultaneously for one segment of the code. Although this is true, in practice if you do not press the buttons exactly simultaneously, it will read the entry as two segments of the code and cause a fault code. Also, although there are slots for 4 of your fingers, the buttons are hard for my little finger to press, so I did not use that button position as a portion of the code. So in reality, you have 3 buttons to program a 4 to 6 digit code. Really that is enough to prevent entry.

I would recommend the GunVault GV 1000s or MV 500 STD models. I see WalMart has these for $99 and $104. I do not see the need for the Deluxe (lighted) model but it would be OK if you want a light. I do not like the Biometric models. Too many mis-readings of the print.

Although I have never had problems opening my electronic GunVaults, I do like the concept of mechanical locks like the "V-line" safes.

[ex-LT]

http://www.gunvault.com/sv500.html

Menards had these on sale a few weeks ago for something like $69 IIRC.

Looking at the Menards website, it's showing discontinued, so may have been a clearance price.

[linksep]

I thought it was a really good price... guess I should have bought a couple... it was also during an 11% rebate.

[Holland&Holland]

I have a V-LINE Top Drawer (http://vlineind.com/ProductDetail.php?product_id=27). I did a lot of research and tried out a number of options at various stores before getting this safe. I'm very happy with my purchase. My reasons for going with this safe include:

1. No electronics to fail. No batteries to change.

Originally I was going to get a biometric safe. There are some neat options, but electronic can fail, batteries need to be changed. Also, I've used various biometric devices for over a decade. For doors, time-stamped logins, on my computer, and on my smart phone. The technology has greatly improved, but it is not perfect. Even if it doesn't fail, if you are woken by door being kicked in at night, with your adrenaline pumping at the same time as waking from a deep sleep, you are more likely to mis-position your fingers on the finger print reader. I think biometric safes are a great choice for gun safes to keep your collection, hunting rifles, or guns that you you will not need to get to in a self-defense emergency. I wouldn't rely on them for bedside self-defense.

2. No key.

Not only do I not want to fumble for a key in the dark in an emergency, I'm terrible about misplacing my keys. But not only do I not want to rely on a key, I DON'T WANT THE OPTION of a key. A key is something my young children or their friend could find. Yes, I drill gun safety and respect into my young boy. YES, it is my responsibility to make sure they could never get at the keys. But I know my weaknesses and I know how good kids can be at finding what you think you hid well. Not having a key as an option is just safer and more convenient for me.

3. Secure Enough

My bedside gun safe is a balance between security and quick access. Obviously, not putting it in a safe allows for the quickest access. But I have two young kids and despite my training them, I don't want to have to rely on that. Also, I want to minimize any change of my wife or I causing a negligent discharge (if I wasn't worried about kids, I would have some sore of holster rigged to the side of the dresser near the bed or something.

This isn't about security from theft. A determined thieve with a crow bar could detach the safe from its mounts and run off with it to smash open elsewhere. But they would still need to find it and be willing to take the time, where they could be spending time grabbing jewelry or electronics and getting the hell out.

Again, the security here is to keep my kids or their friends from ever having access.

4. Easy to operate in pitch-black darkness.

My safe uses a simplex lock. I can enter the combo by feel. I don't have to be able to see any numbers. I've practiced this many, many times, including setting an alarm for the middle of the night so I have to get into the safe from a deep sleep. There is no other safe I have that comes close to the speed of access that I have with this safe. Some high-end biometric safes may be a bit quicker, I've not tested them in realistic scenarios. But I'll trade a second of time to access for the reliability of a simplex lock. Dealing with keys and dials are just too slow for a self-defense bedside lock in my opinion.

5. Decent size.

I store a Springfield XDM 9mm with a Crimson Trace Lightguard as my primary home-defense pistol and I put my Glock 42 in its keydex pocket holster in it after I've locked down the house for the evening.

I'm reconsidering this approach though. My though was that in case of a breakin, I could grab the Springfield and, if time allows, put the glock in my pocket as a backup.

Now I'm thinking that I will get another safe and put it in my guest room. My springfield will remain in the safe next to my primary bed and the glock will go into an unmounted (so the safe can be move when I have guests staying over) v-line safe in the guest room where I'll put my glock at the end of the day. That way I have quick access to a pistol at night on both levels of my home. Also, I often work late and will crash in the guest room so as not to disturb the wife. This will ensure that I have ready access to a pistol. Similarly, if I'm working downstairs, I won't have to run to safe upstairs.

Also, I find that I can get my gun in hand more quickly if I only have one in the safe. I re-actively take more care grabbing my Springfield when I know my other gun is in the safe, even though the other gun is in a holster, making negligent discharge of it impossible.

DOWNSIDES

I really love the V-line simplex top drawer safe. But there are some downside. It opens by lifting the lid up. So not great for mounting under the bed or on a wall. It works well in a drawer, but then you have the extra step of opening a drawer. It is best place on top of nightstand or dresser. V-line also makes slide-away and desk-mate safes that open from the front. These work on the same principle. But, for me, I find I'm much quick pressing down on the buttons from top and trying to position my hand and finder and push from the front, especially when waking from a deep sleep in the dark. YMMV.

Simplex locks are fairly easily hacked. I you read the literature of various hacking groups, you'll find number tables to practice, that once proficient, will allow someone to fairly quickly get into a simplex lock. A smash and grab type is not likely to known this or take the time, they'll just pry it off the wall or desk and take it to be opened elsewhere with a crow bar. But a dedicated teen-ager could spend spend a couple hours and eventually get into the safe. There are only 1081 practical combinations (not sure if the v-line safes support half presses, but I wouldn't recommend using them in your combo for an emergency gun, your adrenaline will make it hard to have the fine motor control needed to enter half presses as distinct from full presses).

But, again, I'm not using this as my front-door lock, or for the safe to entire collection of guns. I just want quick access to my gun but still make it very difficult for young children to get at it. I believe that a simplex lock it still more secure than lock that uses a key. I've found the V-Line Top Drawer to be the best compromise on ease of access and security. I'd be happy to learn of better options.

+1 on this safe.

I have the same model for the same reasons. It works great. No batteries to worry about. Can be accessed in pitch black and with your eyes closed. Of course it helps to keep a light in their too and open your eyes after you have retrieved your gun.


I have safes on every level of my home. The others are various electronic locks but this one I want to not have to trust a battery in the middle if the night. They are all set to the same code so only one code to remember.

These safes are not intended to protect the contents. They are for quick access to a loaded gun while keeping kids from getting into them.