An important responsibility of gun ownership is making sure your firearm can never get into the wrong hands. When you’re carrying, this is a matter of either keeping it on your person or in a purse that never leaves your control. When you are not carrying the problem is, how to store your gun and ammunition in a way that prevents others from getting their hands on it.

One way is to store your gun and ammunition locked in separate locations so unauthorized persons never have access to both. However, for the gun you keep for home protection, I highly recommend you keep it loaded and readily accessible, but only accessible by you!

It’s not uncommon for people to think, “I’ll just load the gun if I need it,” but this line of thinking has consequences. Under stress our heart rate increases, and at around 115 BPM it’s common to lose fine motor skills and finger dexterity. These are the EXACT skills needed to load a firearm.

I’ve experienced this myself during training and I’ve seen it happen to a friend who was truly in fear for her life. As we talked about the situation afterwards, I could see a light bulb moment happening as her expression changed, and she came to the realization that she didn’t have time to load.

Your best chance for successfully protecting yourself or your loved ones is to have your firearm at hand, loaded, and ready to use. But is it possible to do that without endangering others in your household? Yes, many gun safes that are designed specifically for that purpose.

Gun safes come in all sizes, from about the size of a box of candy all the way to a double-wide refrigerator, and with a variety of features. Your circumstances will dictate the best fit but when choosing safe storage, I optimized for 1) Security, 2) Portability, and 3) Quick access.

A few I’ve tried

Just to give you some ideas, here are the options I’ve tried in my search for a workable solution…

This was the safe I purchased after moving into my first apartment. Honestly, I had no idea what I was looking for other than a fireproof and waterproof safe to protect my gun and important paperwork. The downfall is that it’s not specifically designed for a gun and not quick to access. It doesn’t bolt down to anything which means a thief could walk off with it.

Features:

- Method of entry – key

- fire-proof/ water-proof

- Handle for carrying

I wanted a safe with quicker access, so I purchased this one with a biometric fingerprint reader. The reader takes just a few seconds and the spring-loaded door pops right open. The product description claims there’s capacity for one handgun, but I can fit two compact guns inside. A hole in the bottom means it is not airtight/waterproof, but it does allow you to bolt the box to something stationary. When not bolted, it can be transferred to a different location, but it’s a bit bulky for traveling. I wrote about a funny babysitting experience with this safe HERE.

Features:

- Quick access with three methods of entry - key, biometric finger-print reader, key code

- If the battery dies, you can always use the key

- Spring loaded door

- Option to bolt down

This safe seemed perfect for storing a few extra firearms that I don’t use every day, but it still offers the quick access entry and spring-loaded door. It holds 5 guns, three on top and two on the bottom shelf. Hangers allow you to keep your favorite three in the ready position so they can easily be drawn when the door pops open. If I pick up or move this safe, I can hear the guns moving around, so I like the idea of having it bolted down in a more permanent location. I have the older version, but this newer model comes with a power port which can be used instead of battery power as well as an inside light. It is quick to access, but not as fast as the previous safe, so I prefer this one for longer term storage.

Features:

- Methods of entry - Key, Electronic code

- If the battery dies, you can always use the key or plug into an outlet

- Hangers and shelf to organize guns

- Inside light

-Power Port

After the babysitting incident I wrote about HERE, I started looking for a portable lockbox to use when I travel and found Vaultek, who gifted me their LifePod in return for a write-up about my experience. The original plan was to take it on vacation to the Grand Canyon, but that didn’t happen due to Covid. I have, however, taken it on several overnight trips and even on a rock climbing trip. I’ve been using this safe every day and it quickly became my favorite!

The LifePod is run by battery and opened by electronic code or key plus manually opening a latch on two sides. If the battery dies, you can either use the key or plug it into an outlet to use the electronic code. If you’re concerned about the lock being picked, you can disable the keyhole from the inside of the box. You can also secure it to your bag or something heavy with the included cable. The LifePod is airtight and weather resistant and comes with a layer of foam on the bottom of the box to protect your items. You can purchase a pluck foam insert which allows you to create a cavity in the shape and size of your firearm by pulling away small pieces of the foam. This protects items and prevents them from jostling around inside the safe. It’s also lightweight, transportable, and TSA compliant, which means you can fly with it in your checked baggage.

Features

- Methods of entry - Key or Electronic code plus manual latches

- Lightweight, transportable

- TSA compliant

- If the battery dies, you can use the key or plug into an outlet

- Airtight and weather resistant

The LifePod quickly became my favorite and I’ve been using it every day, but this safe was not designed for every day use. The latches on the side are noisy and add a step to opening the box, which I’m willing to put up with for a smaller, light-weight safe for travel, but it’s probably time to consider a Vaultek option that was designed for use in the home.

I’ve had my eye on their VT10i Bluetooth+Biometric safe, which has several great features. The ones I’m most excited about are the biometric scanner that can store multiple fingerprints, and the capability to pair with the Vaultek smart app. Using this app, you can manage user accounts, track usage history, check battery status, and even open the safe!

This one is definitely going on my wish list.

I hope this post helps you find a safe that fits your lifestyle and needs. As I would with a holster, I encourage you to practice drawing your gun from the safe (unloaded) to train the operation into muscle memory. Keep your guns secured and be “Safe!”

“Chime-In!”

What features do you look for in a safe?

*After falling in love with the LifePod, I joined the Vaultek affiliate program. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.