Biometric locking mechanisms are quickly becoming a favorite for gun owners. There are numerous perks to this kind of locking mechanism that really outshine the competition for your home gun safe. The main perk is the quick and easy access that can be granted with a fingerprint scanning lock. This kind of locking mechanism is best suited for gun owners that keep their firearm in a safe for purposes of home security. Biometric locking mechanisms can be outfitted on any kind of safe; and are even in recent years being used for laptop computers and automobiles.

Imagine the scenario of a home intruder late at night in your suburban home and in your moment of panic you cannot properly enter your combination safe in a timely manner or you fumble with your digital keypad and the automatic lock down goes into effect. With a biometric finger scanner you have the quickest and easiest way to access your gun safe in case of a home emergency requiring self defense for you and your family.

The additional perks of a biometric fingerprint scanning mechanism is that it can be programmed to read a variety of fingerprints including those of your family as well. In the past these have been at times untrustworthy and inaccurate but with advancements in technology these scanners are quickly becoming incredibly reliable. Biometric locking mechanisms are quickly coming to represent the pinnacle of avant-garde home security.

Furthermore it is possible for those seeking additional security to pair a biometric lock with a digital keypad. This allows for additional security and a wide range of customizable options. Also, biometric locks are not solely limited to fingerprint scanning but can also include retinal scanning, voice recognition, or even face recognition. For the purposes of a gun safe, fingerprint scanning is likely the quickest and most accurate of the bunch but there are many options to choose from.

Bear in mind the perks of a biometric locking mechanism when you plan to purchase your next home gun safe. The ease of access it provides could be the difference between a thwarted robbery or a dangerous situation for your family.

There is so much to know about safes, it would be hard to tell you all there is in just one blog post. Rather I like to think that if you are a reader of the Safe Gun Safes blog you gather quite a bit of information and have become a more knowledgeable safe owner or buyer. Here are some visual descriptions of different kinds of safes we’ve talked about to help give you a better idea of what we’re talking about!This is a FIRE safe. It gives FIRE protection and is engineered and insulated to protect its contents against HEAT. It is NOT designed to keep out an experienced burglar.

This is a BURGLARY RESISTANT safe.
It is engineered and constructed to protect cash and valuables against experience burglars. It gives little protection against heat.

This is a COMBINATION (COMPOSITE) safe

It gives both burglary and fire protection. The outer material is metal and the inner layer is a special composite material that provides both burglary and fire resistance.

This is an INSULATED VAULT door. It gives similar protection to that of a fire safe but is somewhat limited in it’s degree of burglary protection.

Can your gun safe be cracked open? If you walk into your house and your gun safe is open and all your guns are gone can you convince your insurance company that they were stolen? Just a few minutes of time and you can arm yourself with enough information to select a gun safe that provides the security you need and that can stand up to most insurance inquiries.

Gun safes are usually protected by two types of locks: electronic and mechanical combination

Mechanical Combination locks have four basic security groups:
Group 1: A UL rating given to a mechanical combination lock able to withstand 20 man-hours of expert manipulation as well as other specifications listed in UL 768

Group 1R: A UL rating given to a mechanical combination lock equal to a group 1 lock which has the added feature of being X-Ray resistant, and which meets other requirements listed in UL publication 768

Group 2: A UL rating given to a mechanical combination lock able to withstand reasonable expert manipulation as well as other specifications listed in UL 768

Group 2M A UL rating given to a mechanical combination lock able to withstand 2 man-hours of expert manipulation as well as other specifications listed in UL 768

Electronic locks
An electronic locks may incorporate various digital access control features, such as biometrics. Electronic locks usually provide advanced auditing and key control capabilities, but generally are not any more secure than traditional locks.

Type 2:  A Residential Security Container (RSC) rating of TL-15 or TL-30. The ‘TL’ rating means the safe has been tested for a net working time for a specific number of minutes using high speed drills, saws and other sophisticated penetrating equipment.

Type 1:   U.L. defines Type 1 Electronic locks as highly resistant to expert manipulation.  It should be noted that there really isn’t much “manipulating” you can do with an electronic lock.  There are no tumblers or wheel packs that could betray the combination.  There are no mechanical auto-dialers that can run through the many thousands of combinations in a matter of days.  In fact, on most locks, if you enter the wrong combination too many times the lock will disable itself for several minutes, making any kind of guesswork or systematic dialing attacks somewhat cumbersome.  In addition, electronic locks are completely radiological proof, making them much cheaper equivalents to a Group 1R Combination lock (x-raying a electronic lock will reveal a circuit board…not very helpful in determining the combination). Type 1 Electronic locks are suitable for just about any safe, from simple RSC containers up to the most expensive U.L.-TL Rated safes.

Come in to your local gun safe store and compare the selection and prices of safes and locks. You will be surprised at how little it cost to step up to a higher security rated safe.

When you start contemplating the purchase of your first gun safe you will shocked about all the security concepts that previously never crossed your mind.   Are you protecting your guns from theft, fire, water, or children?   How valuable are your guns?   What measures would a thief utilize to gain access to your gun collection?

You can always talk to us about your security needs and you can do a drop of  fun research on the Underwriters Laboratories website  (www.ul.com).   When you first get to the ul.com website, utilize the “Search UL” box on the left.   Type in “gun safes” and click on the “Magnifying Glass”.   My favorite article is “Ten things you did not know about UL’s safe testing”.   In this article the UL team talks about using chisels, wenches, screwdrivers, power saws, cutting torches, crowbars, abrasive cutting wheels, jackhammers, even specified amounts of nitroglycerin” to simulate a safe attack.   (note:  I think I want a job at UL). The results of this specific range of tests are noted on some safes as the “Attack Resistance”.   For example, a safe that bears a Class TRTL-15×6 rating should resist a hand tool and torch attack for a minimum of 15 minutes. A TRTL-30×6-rated safe, which would protect important documents or store money, should withstand an attack for 30 minutes. The ultimate safe rating — a TXTL60 — should withstand an hour’s worth of attack that includes the use of 8 ounces of nitroglycerin.    (I like this test the best.)

I don’t think you need to withstand a  nitroglycerin attack with your gun safe… but perhaps?   In my next blog we can talk more about fire testing and rating standards.

When you read through the array of blogs about Gun Safe Beds you definitely come across a lot of people who see humor in these rather remarkable devices.   Perhaps, if I did not come from a family that basically owns an arsenal I too might not understand the need for a gun safe bed.    You might have a few rifles for large game hunting, a few for small game hunting, a few for waterfowl, a couple to keep the coyotes in check and then a few target practice rifles… before you know it you have a storage problem.     Here is where the gun safe beds come into play… its out of sight … no additional space required…  too heavy to carry away… and  definitely dry.    So, before you move to a new house or lose your girlfriend due to lack of space you should consider one of these devices.   We can deliver your gun safe bed in any size you need.