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Father/son argument! Electronic gun safe vs combination

My son is going to buy a gun safe. He is thinking about one w/ key pad. I advised him to go with the combination. A gun safe is a life long thing he will own. Realistically electric solenoids will wear out and fail. I have one that went bad. Luckily I have a skeleton key that hangs in safe #1 and can open it. Now my keypad proudly has a NRA sticker over the numbers. Anyone have input to settle the arguments?
I had the same choice and went with tumbler dial type and I've been happy with it for...well, about 20 years.
 
Everyone I know with a digital has had a locksmith out within 2 years of purchase, and were advised to change over to a combination style. Which they did, and no problems since. Just my personal experience.

Paul
I have had mine for over 6 years with no problem. I change the battery every year and use a quality battery. Now they make a Dual lock that has a dial and a key pad and it can be open with either.
 
Good idea to keep an abacus and slide ruler around for that EMP. Just being a wise guy! : - )
Don't forget the beam scale and dial calipers for the reloading bench!

Agreed about burglar safe vs fire safe. Thanks to youtube; entry is only a matter of time; but pick a safe for the fire rating and my next question is what will the electronic lock look like after the fire? At least a combo has a better chance to be functional, though I suppose that after a fire, getting a locksmith out isn't really the main concern.

-Mac
 
Old school dial all the way. When I got my Liberty in 2001 I decided it had to have the keypad so I bought it and added it on. Good thing I hung on to the original dial because about a year later the e-lock quite working. Had to get Liberty so send out a locksmith who told me he would probably have to drill it or (worse yet) turn it upside down o_O to get it open.
He did manage without drastic measures but the replacement failed again about a year after. The guy that came out explained to me that the keypads had an inherent flaw and dealing with failure would be a never ending battle. Still, I had him rework the keypad again. Third time I was able to use some tricks he showed me and get it open myself. It stayed unlocked for about three years. When we put the house up for sale I had to get it fixed. The guy came back out and put the old dial back on. Three years later and we're still trouble free.
SO there's my vote!
 
Long story short, combo, nothing like solenoid failing and having to cut a nice rectangle in the front of safe for access, and an 5” hole in rear day before IBS match to get barrel out...
 

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I know at least two people maybe three with electronic locks that I’ve had to have a locksmith open them. I don’t know of anyone with a mechanical that is that have a locksmith open it
 
I bought my first safe about 15yrs. It has a S+G keypad and gets opened multiple times per week. I think I've changed the battery 2 or 3 times. My next safe will be electronic.
 
I have had my digital lock for over three years no issues. I change batteries every year. I buy fresh Duracell batteries. The main cause of failure in e-locks is not having the proper voltage from a weak battery over a period of time.
 
I have 2 safes with mechanical combos. I bought 2 electronic keypads made for safes and installed them myself. I agree 100% it's just a matter of time when something electronic will break. When mine does, I'll use the original mechanical dial to get in. The best of both worlds as it's much faster with the keypad and I don't need glasses as I do with the dial.
 

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