7 Best Handgun Safe [Complete Guide 2023]
The best handgun safe has different requirement than a standard rifle safe. In most home, car, or self defense situations, being able to quickly access your weapon could make all the difference.
Does this mean that easy access is the goal? In most cases, no. The goal is safe and easy access. You want to be able to access your weapon quickly, but you also want to keep others from accessing your handgun. Safety is always priority number one.
What to look for when choosing a handgun safe.
Size
Choosing a handgun safe size depends primarily on your use. Is this going to be a nightstand safe for emergencies? Or is this going to be a safe on a shelf or in a closet with multiple handguns stored.
The nice thing about handgun safes is that they come in a variety of sizes. So depending on your need, you can find one small enough to slide into your backpack, or large enough to hold four or 5 handguns.
I do suggest having a nightstand safe that gives your quick access to a home defense weapon, while at the same time keeping your handgun locked and stored for safety.
Speed to Open
In a life or death situation, do you want to be fumbling around with a key or large safe rotating mechanical lock on a rifle safe? No.
Instead, you need something that is easy for you to open, but not for anyone else.
Modern safes have biometric fingerprint options, single hand mechanical options, as well as keypad code options for quick access.
Whatever option you choose, make sure you practice with it. Just like any tool, you do not want to be unfamiliar with it in a high stress situation. It should come second nature. Spend the time to practice accessing your handgun.
Security
Safety is the number one concern with any knife or gun. When thinking about purchasing your first handgun, the next thing you should buy is something to store it safely.
You may think that your kids, or family are trained on how to safely handle a firearm, but it is impossible to insure that every single person who enters your house or car is going to be trained in firearm safety. It is better to be prepared.
What is the best handgun safe?
Here are my top picks for the best handgun safe.
- StopBox (Editors Choice)
- Vaultek LifePod 2.0 (Best Overall)
- SentrySafe Quick Access Digital (Best Budget)
- Fort Knox Pistol Box (Best Mechanical)
- Hornady Rapid Gun Safe (Best Car)
- Liberty HDV-150 (Best Biometric)
- Vaultek MX (Best Modular)
StopBox (Editors Choice)
Specs
Exterior Size : 11.25″ x 7.9″ x 2″
Interior Size : 8.75″ x 5.75″ x 1.5″
Weight : 28 oz
Lock Type : Single Hand Mechanical
Construction : Polycarbonate-ABS
My Take
I am a big fan of my StopBox. It is my go-to bedside handgun safe. It is easy to access, lightweight and completely mechanical.
I like the mechanical aspect, because I don’t have to worry about battery life or electronic malfunctions.
The biggest downside of the StopBox is the lack of combination options. In the standard StopBox there are only six possible combinations. This still keeps kids away from your gun, but it is not a completely unbreakable handgun safe.
Vaultek LifePod 2.0 (Best Overall)
Specs
Exterior Size : 12.25″ x 8.5″ x 2.875″
Interior Size : 9.625″ x 7.25″ x 2.125”
Weight : 52.8 oz
Lock Type : 4 – 8 Digit Keypad
Construction : Impact Resistant Proprietary Material Blend
Battery : 9V
Battery Life : Up to 1 year
My Take
The best thing about the LifePod 2.0 is that it is completely customizable. There are foam inserts, trays, and straps that are completely customized for your intended use.
In addition, this safe is water resistant, TSA approved, and airtight. This makes it the best travel safe on the list.
The secure straps and foam inserts make it easy to secure your handgun in the safe. You can throwing it in a backpack or duffel with confidence that your handgun and anything else is safe and secure.
SentrySafe Quick Access Digital (Best Budget)
Specs
Exterior Size : 12.1″ x 9.9″ x 3.2″
Interior Size : 9.7″ x 6.7″ x 2.2″
Weight : 190.4 oz
Lock Type : 1 – 8 Digit Keypad
Construction : Steel
Battery : 4 AA Batteries
My Take
There are not a lot of gun safes available for under $100. This is one of the only ones on the market, and is a better option than nothing.
However, I would recommend saving a little bit of money and getting a better safe.
This is a great safe as long as it works. However, the gas strut failure is a common issue that needs to be sent in for warranty repairs. It is not a guaranteed failure; however, in a life and death situation, you want things to work.
Fort Knox Pistol Box (Best Mechanical)
Specs
Exterior Size : 12.5″ x 10.5″ x 4.5″
Interior Size : 11.625″ x 10.25″ x 3.625″
Weight : 352 oz
Lock Type : Single Hand Mechanical
Construction : 10 Gauge Steel
My Take
It’s heavy. This is a good and bad thing, it just depends on your intended use. Fort Knox is a great name for this safe, because it is the most solid safe on this list.
If you are looking for a stationary safe in a bedside table, car, or dresser, this Fort Knox Pistol Box is rock solid and easy to open.
This safe has all the ease of access that StopBox provides, but has a much sturdier build.
Hornady RAPiD Vehicle Safe (Best Car)
Specs
Exterior Size : 12″ x 6.4″ x 2.2″
Interior Size : 7.5″ x 5.6″ x 1.7″
Weight : 80 oz
Lock Type : 4 – 6 Digit Keypad or RFID tag
Construction : 14 Gauge Steel
Battery : 4 AAA Batteries or 12-volt car adapter
My Take
I see a lot of people store their handguns in the middle console or glove compartment in their cars. And while that is better than leaving it out open on the seat, it is not the ideal option.
In addition to not being secure, it is also harder to access your handgun in the event of immediate need.
The RAPiD vehicle safe solves this problem by allowing you to have up to 5 RFID tags to quickly open and access your handgun. If you don’t have a tag available, you can still use a code or key to open you safe.
The only downside of this safe is that it is kind of small. If your handgun has a barrel over 4 in, it will not fit.
Liberty HDV-150X (Best Biometric)
Specs
Exterior Size : 11.75″ x 10″ x 2.75″
Interior Size : 10.875″ x 7″ x 2.625″
Weight : 144.8 oz
Lock Type : 5 Digit Keypad or Biometric Finger
Construction : 14 Gauge Steel
Battery : 3.7 V Rechargeable Battery
My Take
Liberty is known for making some of the best rifle safes on the market. Their handgun safes are just as sleek and secure as their other products.
The Liberty HDV-150X stores up to 30 different fingerprints. This allows you to give access to multiple individuals in your home and store multiple fingers for quick access.
This safe is small and light enough to store in drawers and to travel with. It is not the lightest option on the list, but it is a happy medium.
If you are looking for the same safe but without the biometric scanner, Liberty makes a HDV-150 that can save you a little money.
Vaultek MX (Best Modular)
Specs
Exterior Size : 15″ x 11.5″ x 11.6″
Interior Size : 13″ x 8.6″ x 11″
Weight : 512 oz
Lock Type : 4 – 8 Digit Keypad, Biometric Finger, or Nano Key
Construction : Hybrid 12 Gauge and 14 Gauge Steel
Battery : VP6000 Rechargeable Battery
Battery Life : 3 – 4 Months
My Take
If you are wanting store multiple handguns and magazines in one safe, the MX gives you the ability to customize your storage for maximum efficiency.
The MX can store up to 8 handguns. In addition to that it has the ability to connect to Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to receive notifications when it is tampered with, or to monitor humidity levels.
The Bluetooth or Wi-Fi models also have the option for a Nano Key. The Nano Key is a biometric scanner that can be placed in a remote location for quick and easy access without reaching for your safe.
What is the best handgun safe?
The best handgun safe is different for every situation. However, there is no excuse for not having a safe. It should be the first purchase you make after buying your first handgun.
