Redundant Locks for Gun Safe

[Tod Hendricks]

Shopping for a new safe with redundant locking mechanisms, one digital one mechanical.

I dont trust the digital only locks, but would very much like the ease of use. I would like a system where I can use only the digital for access, and have the mechanical dial as a fail safe backup.

Rotobolt Doomsday Redundant or Securam SafeLogic extreme are two that seem to be ok.

Anybody have experience and or opinions on these?

Thanks Tod

 

[Ledd Slinger]

It a makes sense. I'm not in and out of my safe all the time so I don't need to open the door at record speeds. I just went with the mechanical lock so I never have to worry about anything. Takes me about 10 seconds to dial in the combo. There's some excellent safes out there that don't offer the combo locking mechanism. Wouldn't limit yourself to only safe's with that feature. Many other much more important features to consider. I would hazard a guess that if the manufacturer offers a combo lock, they must know there's not much reliability in the digital functions.

 

[Kevin Taylor]

There are safes with an emergency key if the key pad fails. Maybe cheaper than a keypad / dial combo.

 

[Tesoro]

I know a good bit about safes. If you want a 'real' safe that cant be pried open with a tire iron ( box store brands) then you can either go with one or the other but not both. Key locks are easy to pick.
A quality dial is the best choice and after you have used it for a short while you will be able to operate it quickly. But they are delicate and need to be treated accordingly so pay attention to the safe guy's instructions if you buy one!

FYI if you buy a good digital entry system you will find them to be reliable. My wife had one in her jewelry store because the digital could be used to program multiple combos for employees with lock out times after hours. It was used multiple times daily for 4 years and never missed a lick. And then we sold that safe and years later the digital access was still working fine.

 

[Tod Hendricks]

Thanks for the replies, I should clarify. I have gun safes, they are not the cheap versions, they all have dial locks, and the combos are burned into my brain.

The new safe is for the shop, for the convenience of not packing the project/s of the day back into the house in the evening, and more overall capacity is required. Quicker more convenient access is desired.

 

[NWnewguy]

I think that most of the digital keypad variety have a key backup for when the battery dies. I know the ones that I have seen do.

 

[Rsadams]

Once again unless you have one heck of a safe , let's be honest if someone come prepared they will likely get in.... Your best bet to me is an alarm for your home because it limits the time they have to work.... Don't put signs in the yard etc , just a decent home alarm... Plus you get the extra security for you and your family... These days you can add cameras or smoke detectors almost anything and access it with your smart phone or just have the monitoring.... A guy is not going to hang around when it goes off and the cops are on the way...

Depending on how far your shop or garage is , with today's wireless technology you can just add motion sensors there also from your house alarm...

 

[hikfromstik]

Here's the answer you seek . They have dual digital/mechanical locks . https://www.sturdysafe.com

 

[Gregfosterid]

Yes, the home security system is a very good solution for the safety of things in the house, if you live in an area with a high crime rate. But for favorable areas, I think, it is enough to store all your valuables in a good safe. I studied this topic a bit and I know such a model SentrySafe SFW123GDC with digital keypad and secondary locking key... But maybe later I will recall more reliable models of safes

 

[edwardware]

Shopping for a new safe with redundant locking mechanisms. . . Rotobolt Doomsday Redundant or Securam SafeLogic extreme. . .

If you're bothering to specify locks on a safe, why are you looking at Chinese crap? The Securam products I've replaced looked like they we're built in a gulag toaster oven factory. They seem appropriate on a Tractor Supply 16 gauge RSC, but not on a safe.

S&G and LaGuard both make first-world locks, for first-world safes; I would look there first. If you don't want to afford a redundant system from one of them, stick with a mechanical lock. Once you learn it, you can open a 3x dial in ~5 seconds.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

None of my digital safes have keys but the 2 s&g mechanical ones do- but its not for unlocking if you forgot the combo, its for day use only to get into it quicker while youre there

 

[akajun]

The issue with digital locks is not the keypad but the locking bolt which is basically a little electronic actuated bolt. Keypads are easy to change but if that bolt goes out, and they do, your screwed
Gonna require drilling and or cutting into it to open.
I have dial locks on all mine, and contrary to popular belief you can change the combos yourself , it’s not hard just buy the little tool and watch YouTube
Even if the tumbler does slip one day you can generally open them up by going one, two, three digits past forward on each number until it opens it just takes time.