Gun Safe Help Needed

[clfergus]

I am wanting to upgrade to a new gun safe and Mendards has a nice Stack on 28 gun on sale. It has a electronic lock and I have always had combination. I think it does come with a backup key in case the electronic lock fails.

It would be nice to use a keypad and change my combo. Any negatives about an electronic lock if it has a backup key?

 

[Mgderf]

I've had one of the Cannon versions of the same one you're looking at for just over 3 years now.
Still working on the original batteries!
I have a back-up key, but I also have a battery back-up box that will plug into the face of the electronic lock to provide power without opening the door. You still need to punch in the combination, but you can open the electronic lock even if the internal batteries are dead.

I got mine on a "Black Friday" sale. I gave $400 for it.

 

[MCgrease08]

Watch this before you get a Stack-On. This will help you ask the right questions before you buy. I had been considering a safe from a big box retailer, but after seeing this I've changed my mind. I plan to save a little while longer and get something of much better quality.

[video=youtube_share;ltK-bDbADa8]http://youtu.be/ltK-bDbADa8[/video]

 

[Faine]

And then you'll start saving and get a Johnson

Stack on makes locking gun cabinets, that's probably the best way to put it. They can suffice to keep toddlers and the like out if you're smart enough to keep the keys away from them.

Because its relevant.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=m_NZjRSdpcc

 

[Ericpwp]

What's the lowdown on electronic locks vs an emp?

 

[MikeDVB]

What's the lowdown on electronic locks vs an emp?

Against a real EMP? The lock will be dead.

 

[Faine]

Against a real EMP? The lock will be dead.

I don't know why I've been laughing about this reply for the last 10 minutes but it's killing me, lol.

 

[Ericpwp]

That's what I thought, and why I think electric locks w/out keys are dumb.

This comes to mind.

[video=youtube_share;UAxARJyaTEA]http://youtu.be/UAxARJyaTEA[/video]

 

[MikeDVB]

I don't know why I've been laughing about this reply for the last 10 minutes but it's killing me, lol.

.

I got a chuckle out of posting it...

The safe I'm looking at ordering [for guns + valuables] has a dual redundant lock. Electronic for quick access, mechanical dial for 'SHTF/EMP/Electronic lock failure'.

It's expensive - very expensive - but considering the value that will ultimately be stored inside ... I can't see why people go cheap on a safe and then store 10x or 100x or even 1,000x the value of the safe INSIDE said safe...

 

[bmwguru]

The safe I'm looking at ordering [for guns + valuables] has a dual redundant lock. Electronic for quick access, mechanical dial for 'SHTF/EMP/Electronic lock failure'.

It's expensive - very expensive - but considering the value that will ultimately be stored inside ... I can't see why people go cheap on a safe and then store 10x or 100x or even 1,000x the value of the safe INSIDE said safe...

Care to elaborate on which safe you are considering?

 

[1911ly]

That's what I thought, and why I think electric locks w/out keys are dumb.

This comes to mind.

[video=youtube_share;UAxARJyaTEA]http://youtu.be/UAxARJyaTEA[/video]

That was a excellent Twilight Zone episode!

As a side note. Any EMP strong enough to make electronics like that fail will probably not be survivable anyway. Personally, as someone that has worked on electronics for 35 plus years. I'd take a mechanical lock over an electronic. And if I had to buy a electronic it would have a mechanical option for sure!

 

[MikeDVB]

Care to elaborate on which safe you are considering?

Fort Knox. I see a quality safe as an investment and not a 'cost'. I sent an Inquiry out to Johnson as well to ask if they had a couple features I was after like the dual locking system.

 

[Faine]

I don't like the idea of an electronic lock on my safe, there are enough ways to get into a safe as it stands without opening the door, so to speak, for the electronically gifted criminal, or the lock-picking criminal. Give me a good ole fashioned dial and we'll call it a day.

 

[MikeDVB]

I don't like the idea of an electronic lock on my safe, there are enough ways to get into a safe as it stands without opening the door, so to speak, for the electronically gifted criminal, or the lock-picking criminal. Give me a good ole fashioned dial and we'll call it a day.

No matter what you use - there are ways around it. I am currently researching the electronic lock to figure out how it works/how it can be bypassed.

 

[Faine]

Oh, I understand completely, but putting multiple entry options for yourself means you do so for criminals as well, and thus increase the % of people generally capable of bypassing your security measures. Now if it's just one or the other, ok, I'll still go dial, but its better than a dual entry option, imo.

http://www.accurateshooter.com/technical-articles/electronic-vs-dial-locks-on-gunsafes/

 

[Informed Decision]

I work at Lowes so I'm a little bias'd. The gun safes we offer seem pretty good IMO but I'm sure there are better out there through dedicated safe companies.

 

[BCMPatriot]

Bought my Liberty Centurion from a buddy for 500$. Best 500$ I've ever spent. Aside from moving the 500lb sucker, I haven't had to change the battery in 4 years. Not sure what I would do if there was an EMP though

 

[jh1978]

I think a CME (Coronal Mass Ejection) would be more likely to take out an electronic safe lock than a deliberate EMP event. Looks like we had a real close call 2 years ago... Huge Solar Storm of 2012 Would Have Sparked Calamity on Earth

Either way, mechanical lock is the only way i'd go.

 

[MikeDVB]

I'm headed up to Johnson Safe in Zionsville in the morning to look at a few safes. May pick up something they have sitting on the floor, not sure yet.

 

[hANNAbONE]

Liberty Timber Ridge 64 gun ... quality piece - very happy with it