A gun safe could be the most important investment you make as a firearm owner. Whether you’ve only got one gun or a whole arsenal, you need a place to store them safely.
Because the chance of a home invasion is greater than zero for everyone (regardless of where you live), you need to have at least one firearm secured but handy to protect your home and family. A safe guards your valuables from theft, secures them from little hands, and keeps them out of sight from prying eyes. Some safes even protect against natural disasters like fire and flood. But which is right for you?
Maybe you’ve only got one or two handguns. Or, maybe you have a bunch of guns, but you want a handgun stashed in your bedroom for emergency protection. In either case, you need a bedside safe — one that’s made for quick access while still offering more security than a drawer or a box.
No matter your gun situation, there’s sure to be a great gun safe to keep your heaters hidden but handy. Let’s take a closer look at what makes a good gun safe and explore some of the best handgun safes on the market today.
What Makes a Good Gun Safe?
When you’re looking for the perfect gun safe, there are several criteria to consider — but most important is what you need from a safe. Most folks are looking for a safe that is secure, easy to access, and reliable. Meaning it’s easy for you, but not others, to open.
However, reliability is usually a problem with big, cheap, vault-style safes. These models have a super cheap locking mechanism that may not be accurate, forcing you to try several times to open it. That’s not a great scenario when a crackhead is kicking in your door.
To make sure you get at least an adequate safe, consider how each of the following affect quality.
Level of Security
Most bedside safes aren’t built like Fort Knox. They’re small enough to fit under a bed or in a nightstand drawer, so they can be carried off if not secured to the floor or some other permanent part of your home. They’re really meant to keep your gun out of reach of kids, guests, and thieves of opportunity. But a determined criminal is gonna get that gun (and probably open a big safe, too), so you want something that’ll make these tasks as difficult as possible.
Size
What kind of gun do you use for home defense? Many folks opt for a pistol, but with so many videos surfacing of multiple assailants breaking into homes, more and more people are opting for a rifle as a home defense gun. But bigger safes that hold rifles aren’t as handy — and they sure won’t fit in a nightstand drawer. Single-rifle safes are stored strictly in a closet or under the bed, and there are certainly good options for both.
Speed of Access
A home invasion is full of terror and uncertainty. To give yourself the best chance of survival, you want a safe that performs under pressure. It needs to give you access to your gun in a few seconds — no longer. You don’t want to be spinning a wheel to a combo lock in the dark while your family is shrieking in panic. You want that blaster in your hand pronto. As you’ll see, you now have choices featuring biometric (fingerprint) access, radio-frequency identification (RFID), pattern locks, and more.
Reliability
As with your gun, the reliability of your safe is of paramount importance. If it malfunctions or fails to open, you’re screwed. Luckily, most of today’s offerings are pretty reliable. You only run into issues when batteries get low (they get progressively slower in activating/opening), or the power is out, in which case you’ll have to use the key backup.
Flaws in Gun Safe Design
Bedside safes give you the quickest and easiest access to your gun in the event of a home invasion, particularly at night. However, they’re not without their quirks and issues.
- Biometric Issues - Biometric safes can be fickle because your finger won’t always hit the scanner the same every time. You might have wet hands, or dust could build up on the scanner (it happens more than you think). If possible, try a biometric safe before you buy it and see how “off” your finger can be before the safe denies you. If you do get one, clean it frequently to keep the reader free of debris.
- RFIDs Are Unreliable - RFID safes (using a programmed “key” to open) don’t have the dust and fingerprint issues, but you need the key handy to open the safe. Manufacturers offer a variety of RFID keys to accommodate just about everyone. Some keys are in the form of a sticker, so you can stick it to the back of your phone or anything else you keep on your nightstand. Others, like Hornady, offer a wearable bracelet that accomplishes the same goal. But what if you lose the bracelet or quit wearing it, or your phone isn’t handy? Then you’re out of luck, Chuck. Being prepared is more than simply buying gear; it’s a state of mind that could demand slight alterations to your lifestyle.
- Batteries Can Fail - Most of these safes are battery-operated, which presents an obvious flaw. However, they’ll warn you as the battery is dying. Some open the mechanism a tad slower while others beep or flash an LED. Keep up with your battery’s health by periodically opening the safe. After all, you open it pretty often to train and shoot, right?
- Size - Finally, the last and perhaps most obvious flaw with bedside safes — they’re small. This makes them more portable than we’d like, but they offer some protection from theft and tampering while fitting within the dimensions of a drawer or under your bed. However, just about every drawer-sized safe has provisions to secure or anchor it. Some have bolt holes and others have a cable that feeds through the box to attach to a bedpost or similar feature.
The Best Bedside Gun Safes
Here are some of the best gun safe models on the market now.
Best Two-Gun Model: Hornady Two-Gun Keypad Vault
Need to keep a couple of boom sticks closeby? This is what you need. Hornady’s Two-Gun Keypad Vault keeps two guns horizontal (or one gun and other valuables) with either a four- or six-digit passcode and a keyed backup. It runs on three AAA batteries. It’s pretty plain Jane, but does the trick without excessive bulk, meaning it can fit in many different places.
- Access Mechanism: Keycode/passcode with spring-loaded door
- Dimensions: 12.7" x 9" x 8.8"
- Highlights/Extras: Interior light turns on when safe is opened
- Price: $170
Best Compact Model: SnapSafe KeyPad Vault
This mighty mini runs on four AA batteries, with four keypad buttons offering more than 12 million code combo choices. The SnapSafe Keypad Vault is the winner in the compact category, so it should be no surprise that it’s the smallest of the bunch; its dimensions are that of a sheet of paper, 8.5”x11”. It fits inside small drawers or under a car seat. When accessed, the lid pops up, and you lift it the rest of the way, which isn’t as cumbersome as it sounds. You can add a level of security to the KeyPad Vault using the supplied cable and attaching it to a piece of furniture.
- Access Mechanism: Four-button keycode, keyed backup
- Dimensions: 8.5” x 11” x 2.25”
- Highlights/Extras: 20-gauge steel housing
- Price: $115
Best “Hidden in Plain Sight” Option: Hornady Night Guard
This is definitely one of the coolest bedside gun safes. The Hornady RAPiD Night Guard Safe blends perfectly into just about any bedroom with its innocuous shape (that of a regular old digital clock). However, it can be a bit bulky. It keeps time, plugs into the wall like a regular clock for its power source, and even has two USB charging ports on the back! When home invaders kick in your door, you’ll need the RFID key to unlatch the drawer within the unit, revealing your peacekeeper. It offers a heavy duty cable that leashes to the back of the safe and attaches to a sturdy pole or bed leg. It’s a tad more expensive than most, but for the seamless blending into your bedroom, crazy level of built-in technology, and the proven Hornady name, this is a great choice for a bedside safe.
- Access Mechanism: RFID slide drawer with keyed backup on rear
- Dimensions: 12” x 10” x 3.5”
- Highlights/Extras: Friggin’ USB charging ports! Who else thinks of that?
- Price: $334
Best Budget Option: SnapSafe Portable Lockbox
If you just need a small box to store a gun, a simple lock box will do the trick. If you’re a cheapskate, SnapSafe has you covered with a two-pack of keyed lock boxes for less than $100. That’s a hard price to beat, however you get what you pay for. It probably won’t deter a real thief; he’ll just rip it out of the wall or drawer and open it later. Or, he’ll use a screwdriver on the spot to pry it open. But if you just need to keep things safe from casual guests or unwanted attention, this is a good option. Just make sure your gun will fit the dimensions of the box you choose. There are a few size options, but overall, this is best for smaller frame guns (don’t try cramming a Desert Eagle in here).
- Access Mechanism: Key
- Dimensions: 9.5” x 6.5” x 1.75” (smallest)
- Highlights/Extras: Three sizes offered
- Price: ~$100
Best for Long Guns: SecureIt Fast Box Model 40/47
To use a rifle for home defense, you need a way to keep your long gun loaded and handy. SecureIt’s Models 40 and 47 correspond to their lengths, so if you’re a Fudd with a deathwish, you’ll want the 47-inch version to secure your trusty Trap Model Remington 1100 with 28” barrel and fixed full choke. (HINT: Please don’t use this as a home defense gun — clay pigeons will not invade your home).
If you keep an AR-style rifle, the 40-incher will do handsomely, and is deep enough to keep a loaded 30-round magazine inserted. Both Fast Boxes will store two guns as well, and can be mounted vertically for closet storage or horizontally for under-bed use. Both use a 9V battery for power and a four-button combo lock to access your guns.
- Access Mechanism: Four-button keypad
- Dimensions: Model 40 is 6.75″ x 40.25″ x 13″, Model 47 is 6.75″ x 47.25″ x 13″
- Highlights/Extras: Multiple anchor points for bolting into studs/floorboards
- Price: From $260
Best Biometric: Vaultek VT20i Biometric Pistol Safe
If you’re the kind of person that likes to super-size your Big Mac and get the top-of-the-line truck, you’ll want the VT20i. It’s got a biometric reader and plugs directly into your wall’s power supply. Bluetooth lets you access the safe or turn it on and off from your phone, and it features specific reinforcement meant to defeat pry bars. In this case, futuristic tech definitely beats old-school brute force, and this safe does just about everything but your taxes.
Inside, the VT20i can hold two guns and a spare mag for each. Rounding out the whole package is 16-gauge steel construction, which adds heft. Many bedside safes are made of thinner 20-gauge, which is fine, but 16 gives you added security.
- Access Mechanism: Spring-loaded door accessible by code, Bluetooth, or fingerprint
- Dimensions: 11.5" x 9" x 2.625"
- Highlights/Extras: Bluetooth, anti-pry protection, heavier 16-gauge steel, interior LED light
- Price: ~$290
Best Vertical Storage: Stealth Handgun Hanger Safe HS310D
This guy is a little chonkier than the rest (19 lbs!), but the extra girth is worthwhile if you’ve got a couple of handguns to protect. The size of the Stealth Handgun Hanger Safe lets you keep up to five blasters safely stowed, but still accessible. Its front-opening door makes it a better fit in a closet or on top of a dresser than inside a nightstand drawer.
However, included in the extra heft is a hanger system that keeps three pistols suspended by the barrel (no, this won’t hurt them). This is nice because they won’t fall all over each other in the safe. You can place another two guns below the three hanging. For security, there are four buttons that let you enter a code up to six digits long. For brute strength, the body is made of 16-gauge steel and has built-in anti-pry tabs. At a minimum you’ll want to secure it to something with the included cable. But if you want to get serious about this thing not leaving your house unless YOU want it to, four bolt holes adorn the bottom so you can fasten it to the floor.
- Access Mechanism: Keypad and keyed backup
- Dimensions: 9" x 9" x 12"
- Highlights/Extras: Hanger system that keeps guns upright, room for five guns
- Price: $170
Fastest Access: GunVault SV500 SpeedVault Handgun Safe
Quicker than a Western desperado, the SV500 is spring-loaded and ready to get you in the fight NOW. The design holds one handgun pointed downward. This uses gravity and the weight of the loaded gun as assists to the opening mechanism, which springs open when the code is input. The SpeedVault uses a patented keypad that GunVault calls the No-Eyes keypad, meaning you can access it without looking, a plus for low- or no-light scenarios. The raised buttons give a greater level of tactile definition and recognition because they’re arranged in a square pattern instead of a line. The SpeedVault also offers multiple mounting options, with wall stud mounting as the most popular.
- Access Mechanism: Spring-loaded door
- Dimensions: 3.5" x 6.5" x 13"
- Extras: Lightning-quick, 16-gauge steel construction
- Price: $180
Best Blend of Security and Size: Stack-On PDS1800 Drawer Safe
This is the mighty mini bully of the bunch. The Stack-On PDS1800 features a twin deadbolt locking mechanism often found on large floor safes. Plus, with all the features, this might be the best value of the bunch. It’s got a biometric scanner, a numeric keypad, and a keyed backup if everything else fails. Internally, it’s got room for two pistols and has an LED light pre-drilled for mounting screws or bolts. Plus, at $80, it’s a screaming deal.
- Access Mechanism: Biometric, keypad, and keyed backup
- Dimensions: 8.75" x 12" x 4.5"
- Extras: Feature packed with redundant entry mechanisms
- Price: $80
Final Thoughts
Not even a few years back, there weren’t many options for small safes ideal for a home defense gun. With biometric scanners and RFID keys becoming more affordable, bedside safes have proliferated with loads of technology — even Bluetooth. Keeping in mind these won’t stop a truly determined thief, you’ll still find lots to love about the bedside safes listed above.
Looking for great gear to enhance your shooting experience and keep yourself and your family safe? At Pro Armory, we have great deals on ammo and tactical gear. Get what you need from a veteran-operated team you can trust.
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