Best way to keep your handgun safe yet accessible bedside?

[Rhino]

What is your opinion on the best way or device to keep your home protection handgun accessible and still safe at your bed-side?
Speed Vault, (biometric)
Keyed safe?
Night stand?

Just wondering/ looking

[blues]

What are your circumstances? Small children in the home? Adults only? There's no one "best" depending on your particular needs and concerns.

[Rhino]

I have the wife and one child left at the home, He is 17.

[Gadfly]

I have the wife and one child left at the home, He is 17.

17 year olds have friends over. Friends can not be trusted. Safe of some kind is in order.

[shootist26]

I have a Fort KNox pistol safe w/ simplex lock. Highly reliable and straightforward to use. I bolted it to a stud at least somebody can't pick it up and run off with it easily.

[JTQ]

17 year olds have friends over. Friends can not be trusted. Safe of some kind is in order.
Yep, drunk kids at teen party while parents were away.

http://www.northescambia.com/2011/06/teen-arrested-in-shooting-death-of-west-florida-high-student

[RJ]

I have a Fort KNox pistol safe w/ simplex lock. Highly reliable and straightforward to use. I bolted it to a stud at least somebody can't pick it up and run off with it easily.

Another option, still a Simplex Lock though:

https://www.amazon.com/V-Line-Compact-Keyless-Storage-Security/dp/B001H3QGJS/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=simplex+lock+gun+safe&qid=1582233149&sr=8-2

[blues]

I have this one bolted down in the bedroom. (Gun on nightstand at bedtime, locked away otherwise.)

V-Line Brute (https://www.amazon.com/V-Line-Brute-Heavy-Quick-Access/dp/B00K20E8S8)

I can fit a Glock 19, 17 and a J-frame in there at the same time with one layer of the pluck foam removed.

[Cookie Monster]

I have this one bolted down in the bedroom. (Gun on nightstand at bedtime, locked away otherwise.)

V-Line Brute (https://www.amazon.com/V-Line-Brute-Heavy-Quick-Access/dp/B00K20E8S8)

I can fit a Glock 19, 17 and a J-frame in there at the same time with one layer of the pluck foam removed.


I got two of these, small kids in the house. One for the bump in the night gun (in the closet) and one for the carry gun when I get home. Even if I was single dude with no one ever visiting, I would roll the same way. I also got a V-Line safe for an AR and I like that a bunch too.

[peterb]

A couple of reviews:

https://www.luckygunner.com/lounge/guide-quick-access-pistol-safes/

https://www.luckygunner.com/lounge/the-best-and-worst-quick-access-safes-for-rifles-and-shotguns/

[fatdog]

I have had great luck over decades now with the Vline simplex lock safes, I use one of the Ft. Knox simplex lock versions bolted and chained into the console of my car for the days when I am flying and have to leave the pistol behind.

My bias towards them is the "no batteries" and I can work the combination in the dark, or without seeing it at all. Simple to set your own combination.

[msstate56]

I have a Hornady branded electronic safe. It has a keypad, RFID panel (I use a wrist bracelet) and a backup hidden key entry as well. It’s got a wall plug, and internal battery backup. That’s about as many redundant ways possible, but still keeps it inaccessible to others. The door pops open when it unlocks. I’ve been using it for about 4 years.

[Poconnor]

I use a V-line rifle box with a simplex lock lag bolted to the wall. Recently I was at a locksmith and was impressed with the liberty smart vault that opened by fingerprint

[karandom]

I've very happy with my ShotLock Handgun 200M Solo-Vault. I keep it under my bed with a cable lock securing to the bed frame so you can't casually walk away with it.

I can access it in less than 3 seconds once you memorize the key strokes and its big enough to (just) fit an M9A3 and the construction seems robust.

I'm sure the electrical stuff is 99% reliable, but I prefer mechanical from a peace of mind standpoint.

https://www.amazon.com/ShotLock-Handgun-200M-Solo-Vault-Mechanical/dp/B00844HGVU

and the cable lock I use:

https://www.amazon.com/Master-Lock-8417D-Python-Keyed/dp/B000XTPNZK

[El Cid]

Simplex lock is what I trust.

My preference: http://www.fas1safe.com/

[Francis]

I've been very happy with the FAS1 Magnum XL (https://products.fas1safe.com/product.sc?productId=13&categoryId=1). Mine has the standard holster that keeps a G19 along with a holstered G26 and 4 loaded mags in the bottom. My favorite feature is the key lock can disable the simplex lock so that the combo will not work.

[ssb]

I currently use a Safariland QLS plate drilled into the nightstand with ALS holster mounted to it. This allows for safety from the pets and also requires a conscious action to draw, keeping me from unintentionally ending up with my finger on the trigger in the middle of the night. The gun is also my carry gun, so at the end of the day it goes off my belt and into the holster. The only time it is left "unattended" is while I'm asleep next to it. All other guns are locked up in one of the safes.

I currently have no children.

[Brazos Dan]

We are in our 70's with no children in the house. I keep a handgun on the nightstand within easy reach. Most often it is a da/sa w/safety (safety on).

I seldom keep a chambered striker on the stand unless it is in a retention holster that covers the trigger. If necessary, a rifle is only about 5 steps away.

[bofe954]

I have this one bolted down in the bedroom. (Gun on nightstand at bedtime, locked away otherwise.)

V-Line Brute (https://www.amazon.com/V-Line-Brute-Heavy-Quick-Access/dp/B00K20E8S8)

I can fit a Glock 19, 17 and a J-frame in there at the same time with one layer of the pluck foam removed.

Can you measure that and tell me how tall it is with the lock? Ad says 3.6 inches and it just looks taller to me. Need something to fit under a shelf...

[blues]

Can you measure that and tell me how tall it is with the lock? Ad says 3.6 inches and it just looks taller to me. Need something to fit under a shelf...

Stand by one and I'll be back and edit this post.


ETA: Mine's in a bit of an awkward spot for a perfect measurement, but I'd say 4.5" to be safe...from the base to the top of the knob.

[Tom Duffy]

I keep a small, single gun GunVault safe on my nightstand. Since I'm not confident that I can press the 4 buttons (kind of rubbery feel) reliably when I'm in a hurry, I unlock the safe when I go to bed and relock it when I get out of bed. I don't recommend the safe brand. I own a 5 of them and over time the electronic lock has broken on 3 of them. You then have to use the key to unlock them. I'm told that a simplex lock is the best solution.

[RJ]

I seldom keep a chambered striker on the stand unless it is in a retention holster that covers the trigger. If necessary, a rifle is only about 5 steps away.

Good point.

If I had a spare $800, I’d pick up a nice steel Ruger Revolver for a bedside / walking around the house gun.

[blues]

I keep my G17 on the nightstand but it is in a Raven holster I've owned for a few years that gently hugs the Streamlight TLR-1 HL and keeps the trigger covered. The retention is minimal and is removed from the firearm without any effort or drama. (But is sufficient to prevent an unforeseen mishap.)
(I have to thank Tom @DSG for recommending it to me a few years back.)

https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-uxoc9dc/images/stencil/1024x1024/products/209/1145/0Z0A1406__45224.1450463081.jpg?c=2

[FAS1]

Can you measure that and tell me how tall it is with the lock? Ad says 3.6 inches and it just looks taller to me. Need something to fit under a shelf...

The dimension they give is the box. The knob ads 1" to that. Also, with the door opening up how will this design work under a shelf once it's secured? Seems like a thinner design with the door opening from the front would work better. There is a model with a Simplex lock available that is 3-5/8" wide that can be mounted on it's side so the door opening like this. El Cid mentioned the website earlier in the thread.

[BobLoblaw]

I have this one bolted down in the bedroom. (Gun on nightstand at bedtime, locked away otherwise.)

V-Line Brute (https://www.amazon.com/V-Line-Brute-Heavy-Quick-Access/dp/B00K20E8S8)

I can fit a Glock 19, 17 and a J-frame in there at the same time with one layer of the pluck foam removed.

I also purchased one of these as a quick access daytime safe for my wife and to keep kids out when I'm asleep. It's pretty heavy and easy to operate. The hydraulic arm makes a distinct "whoosh" sound when opening which I like (but my wife doesn't care for it at 5 AM every morning). Only downside is the door is somewhat slow to open due to the hold-back from the hydraulic arm. Might cost a half second at most so not a big deal for my purposes.