Biometric gun safes are more popular as compared to an electronic gun safe because one does not have to fumble for a key or have to stay calm enough to punch in the code during the crisis.
There are 5+ new biometric gun safes being launched every quarter and many of them have innovative and incredible features you’ve never heard of. But, if you choose any random fingerprint gun safe out there, there are few things that can go wrong, such as power failure, limited lifetime, fingerprint mismatch error and so on.
That’s the reason why we’ve decided to dig more about these biometric gun safes. We’ve tested approx 140 biometric gun safes at our labs and to be honest, most of them sucked. Still, there are many robust gun safe models we’ve found, and here are the details about those best biometric gun safe models:
The 6 Best Biometric Hand Gun Safes
Here are the best biometric hand gun safes reviewed by thegunsafes expert’s team. Let’s take a look at the individual gun safe models.
The Verifi Smart is designed and manufactured by one of the reputed names in the market Zvetco Biometrics and is known for its robust and highly secured durable design. After making complete research and comparing all aspects we recommend Verifi Smart.
This Smart.Safe with Biometric technology rules out the conventional and traditional gun safes with its high-end security. This gun safe has premium sensors that are being used by DOD, DHS, and other United States government departments.
Another best thing about this gun safe is you can store up to 40Â users (with one fingerprint per user) or 10 users with 4 fingerprints per person or anything in between.
The sensor of this gun safe does not light up like other cheaper optical finger sensors. However, the LCD backlighting will allow you to get some light during the night use of this gun safe.
It takes only one press on the activating button to light up the fingerprint scanner and the safe can be opened with a single swipe. Talking about battery life, this gun safe has a longer battery life and thus gives a longer functional time before changing the battery.
You can have a secondary key for this gun safe which would go under the nameplate which enhances its security levels.
Talking about fire safety, the Verifi Smart is not fireproof but that’s okay because this safe has a thick gauge steel cabinet which gives you the ability to store your guns safely. You should definitely go for this beast if the price is no barrier for you and if you are serious about your gun safety.
2. BARSKA
It is of topmost priority to keep your gun, pistol or any firearms safe but checking options on a tight budget at times make things difficult. We understand the need for budget seekers but with no compromise on the product quality and thus we recommend BARSKA as the best value for money.
It has fingerprint technology making the gun safe limited to access only for authorized individuals and providing better security than the traditional safes.
It is a compact and durable gun safe made of sturdy steel material with fingerprint scanning as the primary access mode and features two backup keys as a secondary access. The gun safe measure around 31 pounds with a dimension of 16.5 x 7.75 x 14.5 inches and is constructed using minimal design. The gun safe has pre-drilled anchor points that help you permanently secure the safe to the floor or wall. The steel locker has two solid steel locking bolts for maximum security.
The use of Biometric Technology gives one seamless but authorized access to arms and guns.
It can store up to 30 fingerprints in its memory and is perfect for storing a gun, jewelry, valuables, cash, etc. The safe is easy to use, gives access to a weapon or anything stored instantly, and registers fingerprint in seconds.
As recommended by a customer while registering your fingerprint it is important to continue holding the initialization button while scanning your fingerprint for completing the process.
There are two backup keys for emergency and with better battery backup the BARSKA remains functional for a longer duration. It is necessary to keep the fingerprint scanner clean by wiping it with a piece of cloth after every use or else tech-savvy people might be able to open it.
Battery low indication can be easily realized when there are indicator lights flashing red after the door closed with 3 repetitive beeps.
3. GunVault MicroVault XL MVB1000
If class and convenience are what you are looking for you then this is the one for you. The GunVault with the MicroVault series makes it portable and is integrated with high standards of security with a dual locking system.
It can be used for keeping your gun and other important things like documents, papers and its portable feature makes it a great choice.
It’s built with 18 Gauge steel construction making the safe robust and durable for best security. The precise fittings make it almost impossible to open it with hand tools. It has two backup override keys that give the user safe and easy access in case of any problem.
It has a high-strength locking mechanism that keeps it restricted to use only for authorized individuals. It has interior foam padding that protects the valuables or firearms from damage. In order to keep it secured to a fixed object, it also has a 4-foot long security cable with it.
It has an advanced patented no eyes keypad along with a biometric pad that gives quick but restricted access to authorized individuals only. It can save up to 120 fingerprints. The safe uses a high-end algorithm that gives instant recognition to the registered fingerprints but a low rejects rate.
There is audio feedback that can be activated that confirms the correct entry. The process of enrolment of the fingerprint is easy and completes in one step.
The best thing about this one is it can be secured using two levels of security with the inclusion of both a biometric and a passcode system. In the case of power failure or system issues, it can be opened using the backup key.
It is powered by a 9Volt battery that gives it enough back-up and longer function time. One of the exclusive features is its 5 years full warranty for fire and burglary.
4. Sentry Quick Access
The strong and compact sentry quick access can be used for keeping your revolver or pistol safely and the design and feature of the sentry give the user very quick access to it. The exclusive part is an easy method of access but with high-end safety due to single-handed access with the help of biometric technology.
The machine is built strongly so that it cannot be broken by unauthorized people and is designed with heavy-duty 12 gauge solid steel that gives instant access but with complete security.
It comes with a pry-resistant door that prevents unauthorized access and the integration of compression gas opens and holds the lid in an open position. It has a good internal storage space that holds either a full-size automatic gun or revolver of J & K size.
The security of the box is maintained using the combination on the electronic keypad along with fingerprint scanning. The safe has easy to program digital keypad with zero audible feedback and also can detect up to two pre-programmed fingerprints making it a gun safe with single hand access.
It can also be opened using a mechanical override key. Most of the customers are highly satisfied by the accuracy and rapidness of the fingerprint recognition which takes only a few seconds after swiping your finger to open up.
It is pretty easy to operate the sentry-box and take out the firearms in case of an emergency within seconds. It doesn’t have a loud locking mechanism and bolts but is designed with a feedback lock and compression strut for whisper-free entry.
5. GunVault SV500
The GunVault SV500 is well designed and designed for maximum security. It is not only integrated with safety features but is custom made for keeping your handgun secured in its drawer-like structure that opens up using biometric technology. The gun safe is not only durable and strong but is quite spacious on the inside. It gives fast access to the user.
The SV500 has strong and high-end construction made of heavy-duty 18 gauge steel that gives maximum security and durability. It is also equipped with a high-strength lock mechanism making it virtually impossible to open the vault using hand tools.
It is not only strong on the outside but has maximum interior convenience with interior courtesy light that illuminates the gun or anything inside the vault even in low light. The inner side of the vault has soft foam that prevents any damage to your valuables.
The vault or gun safe comes with two security layers where one can use the digital keypad for quick access. On entering the key combination the drop-down drawer is activated and opens up for quick access. Along with that it also has a backup override key that can open the drawer in case of emergency.
Customers are highly satisfied with the design and flexibility of its mounting option. The electronic keypad beep sound can be turned on/off at your convenience. It is very easy to install by simply reading the manual.
The settings can be changed and the vault can be programmed easily. The only negative part that was found by most of the customers is the mechanical latch noise during the locking and unlocking of the SV500.
6. BARSKA Mini
On drawing a comparison to other safes the BARSKA-mini is smaller in size and one of the most compact with fingerprint scanning. It is a simple and user-friendly safe that also doesn’t hurt your pocket.
It is a durable and robust gun safe that is compact and light in weight. It weighs as light as 12lbs making it portable as well. It is ideal for keeping handguns and other valuable items.
It is compact but spacious enough to store two handguns securely. It has factory pre-drilled anchor points that enable the user to permanently secure and fix it to the floor or mount it on the wall. The gun safe is made of sturdy steel and has two solid deadbolt locking systems.
It is secured with biometric technology and thus the access to it is restricted only to the authorized user. It is able to store up to 30 different users. It is very easy to register fingerprints and it takes only a few seconds.
It is user-friendly and gives quick access to guns or valuables and by one simple swipe the gun safe opens up. While opening the gun safe it doesn’t make a loud noise but gives out only a silent whisper. In the case of an emergency, there are 2 backup keys for a mechanical override.
In order to provide maximum security, it is important that you keep the fingerprint scanner clean and make sure that you wipe it after every single use.
The battery used in the BARSKA-mini is long-lasting and can last up to 2 years. There is an indicator for low battery and in case a battery is low there are 3 beeps heard after the door is closed and an indicator light flashes red.
The 4 Best Biometric Rifle Safes
Not everyone has handguns but rifles and legally it is important to have a strong and sturdy rifle safe to keep the rifle safe and secure.
If money is not a constraint and you are looking for a feature-rich and strong rifle safe, we recommend Large Biometric Rifle Safe by BARSKA.
There are many companies that manufacture rifle safes but after thorough research and drawing the comparison between many rifles safe, the clear winner is the BARSKA-Large It is highly secured with advanced Biometric technology and thus restricts access to only authorized users.
The rifle safe is made of steel material giving it a durable and strong frame and has a 5-point deadbolt system for maximum security. The interior space of the rifle safe can be adjusted as it has removable 12 position racks and thus helps in keeping things organized inside the safe.
The inside of the gun safe is made up of soft material to avoid damage to valuables or rifles. It weighs around 114lbs with a dimension of 57 inches x 13.75 inches x 13.75 inch. The safe has 6 pre-drilled mounting points which can be used to attach the safe firmly to the floor or mount on a wall.
The safety and security of the rifle safe are maintained with advanced Biometric Fingerprint Technology. It is able to store and recognize up to 120 different users and registering new users is extremely simple and easy.
The rifle safe gives easy access to your valuables by simply pushing the power button, scanning your fingerprint and you are ready to turn the handle. In the case of power or battery failure, the safe can be opened with backup keys.
The rifle safe is operated on the 4-AA battery that is included with the packet and lasts for a longer time. It has a silent access mode where the user can open the safe without any noise.
There are few customers who did complain about the mechanical tubular lock design and found it to be weak. It is spacious enough to hold 6 rifles inside and the beep noise can be enabled/disabled according to one’s convenience.
2. BARSKA Quick Access
We have completed extensive research to find out which has good features and is a bang for the buck as well.
If you are looking for a rifle safe that is integrated with biometric technology, user-friendly, spacious, and also pocket-friendly we would definitely recommend Quick Access as the best value for money. It is also backed up by a warranty of 1 year from the manufacturer.
BARSKA is known for manufacturing some of the best and sturdy gun and rifle safe. The safe is designed in a way that is ideal for storing rifles and other valuables. It is spacious and tall enough to store up to three rifles securely and the interior of the safe has a removable storage shelf for guns and ammo.
It is made up of strong steel material and the manual three points solid deadbolt locking system makes it easy for the user to open it easily with one turn motion. It has factory pre-drilled anchor points that enable the user to secure it firmly to the floor or mount it on the wall. It weighs 66 pounds with a body thickness of 2mm.
The security and safety of the rifle safe are maintained using advanced biometric technology and with one single swipe, the user can open the safe.
It can store up to 120 different users and it is very easy to register fingerprints in seconds. The biometric works flawlessly are easy to program and recognize fingerprints with a low failure rate. In the case of an emergency, secondary access can be done with two backup keys.
It works on 4 AA batteries that are included with the Quick Access and is long-lasting and will last for around 2 years. It is noiseless safe and doesn’t make a sound while opening it. In order for the safe to work perfectly wipe the fingerprint scanner after every use. In the case of a low battery, there is a red indicator that flashes after closing the door of the safe.
3. Steelwater Heavy Duty
This model is heavy duty and highly secure which is durable and robust that provides maximum security to your valuables. It is large in size and has the capacity for multiple guns. If money is not a problem or you are looking for a safe that enables you to store your rifle collection along with other valuables, this is a perfect choice.
The rifle safe is constructed of 12 Gauge steel composite and has a thick door of 4 ¾ inches for maximum security. It has in total 9 solid steel locking bolts of 1″ each along with 6-chrome plated active bolts and 3 inactive bolts on the hinge side for locking the safe firmly.
The safe is equipped with a gear-driven bolt system that protects the safe from drilling, prying, and attacks by burglars. It has 8-inch drill-resistant hard plates and the spring-loaded relocking bolt prevents burglary after the primary lock is removed.
It has ½ inch pre-drilled holes for installing a dehumidifier and also comes with ½” pre-drilled factory holes for mounting it to walls or anchoring it to any solid structure. It is spacious enough to hold 12 to 16 long guns inside it. One of the exclusive features of the safe is 45 minutes of fire protection at a temperature as high as 1550°F.
The inclusion of an EMP-proof Electronic lock system along with highly secured double-sided bypass keys makes it easy for authorized individuals to access the safe and keep it secured from unauthorized people.
The digital keypad is user-friendly and has a non-volatile memory. It can be reprogrammed easily with 3-8 user codes. It runs on a 9V alkaline battery that gives a long-lasting operation.
4. Steelwater Standard
Steelwater Standard is the perfect choice if you have multiple rifles in store and need to secure them for maintaining their safety of them. It is a long and strong rifle safe that is spacious enough and can accommodate within it 8 – 10 long guns.
We cannot call it extremely pocket-friendly but the digital security system along with its built provides maximum protection to your firearms and valuables.
It is made of 14 gauge steel and has a composite 3 ¾ thick door that cannot be opened easily without authentication. It has in total 9 1″ each solid steel locking bolts along with a direct drive lock and bolt system that enables the user to open the safe at one go by turning the handle.
It has drill resistant hard plate that protects the lock from being drilled and the spring re-locking bolt prevents burglary even after removal of the lock. It has a heat-activated expandable door seal that prevents the door from smoke and water in case of fire. It has pre-drilled anchor holes to mount the safe to any surface.
To the interior, it has removable shelves so that we can adjust the valuable storage as per requirement.
It is secured with help of a chrome digital keypad and it can be reprogrammed with 3-8 digital user codes. The digital keypad comes with non-volatile memory. The rifle safe is equipped with a strong EMP Proof Electronic Lock System along with a highly secured double-bitted bypass key to open the safe in case of emergency.
It is backed by a 9V alkaline battery and it lasts for a longer time. It gives almost 45 minutes of fire protection even at a temperature of 1550 Degree making it heat resistant. The interior of the steelwater has a soft layer to keep the valuables free from damage. It is noiseless safe and on opening it you will hear a sound not louder than a silent whisper.
Reasons for Having a Gun Safe
There are many reasons to have a gun safe if you have a gun in your possession but the primary reason is to keep yourself away from trouble and keep it away from children.
If you have a gun or pistol or rifle you need to ensure the safety of people around you and immediately purchase a gun safe to keep it secured. Here are a few reasons why having a gun safe is a must.
Requirement by Law
Having a gun as possession requires a lot of legal formalities and in some states of the US, one of the legal requirements is a compulsory gun safe.
The rule was implemented when there was a sudden rise in unintentional gunshots with thousands of individuals admitted to the hospital for treatment. So if you have a gun but not a gun safe you might have to face the brunt of heavy penalty or even jail in severe cases.
Misuse by others
A gun is your possession under legal jurisdiction but you cannot guarantee the fact that it will not be misused. If your gun is not kept safe and secured in a gun safe for which only you have access, it can be misused by anyone but only the owner will face legal action.
In order to prevent anyone from misusing the gun or committing any crime using your gun, it is necessary that you lock up your weapon.
Children
It is practically impossible to keep an eye on your child 24 hours and you never know when your children get hold of the deadly weapon leading to accidents.
There are many cases of accidental death due to shots fired by children under the age of 6 or above. In order to avoid such a situation, it is always recommended to have a gun safe that cannot be opened by your kids.
Theft
There are many cases across the US where a crime has been committed by a stolen gun and the owner has to face legal actions.
Any firearms that are kept openly or unsecured are easy targets for thieves which are later sold to criminals or used to frame you. To keep yourself safe, it is thus important to have a gun safe the moment you take possession of the gun.
Legalities of Biometric Gun Safes
Legalities about Gun Safes and Gun Handling vary depending on where you are from. If you check the laws from different states and regions, you will find a particular set of laws. As you might know, even the accidental use of guns causing harm is enough to put you in trouble, such as homicide.
California is a place that does not compromise when it comes to the safety of guns and storage. And that’s why the California Department of Justice website has tight requirements on the different aspects of a gun-safes.
- Shall be able to fully contain firearms and provide for their secure storage.
- Shall have a locking system consisting of at minimum a mechanical or electronic combination lock.
The mechanical or electronic combination lock utilized by the safe shall have at least 10,000 possible combinations consisting of a minimum of three numbers, letters, or symbols. The lock shall be protected by a case hardened (Rc 60+) drill-resistant steel plate, or drill-resistant material of equivalent strength. - Bolt work shall consist of a minimum of three steel locking bolts of at least 1/2-inch thickness that intrude from the door of the safe into the body of the safe or from the body of the safe into the door of the safe, which are operated by a separate handle and secured by the lock.
- A gun safe shall be capable of repeated use. The exterior walls shall be constructed of a minimum of 12-gauge thick steel for a single-walled safe, or the sum of the steel walls shall add up to at least 0.100 inches for the safes with two walls.
Doors shall be constructed of a minimum of one layer of 7-gauge steel plate reinforced construction or at least two layers of a minimum 12-gauge steel compound construction. - Door hinges shall be protected to prevent the removal of the door. Protective features include but are not limited to hinges not exposed to the outside, interlocking door designs, dead bars, jeweler’s lugs, and active or inactive locking bolts.
- We too consider these rules to be important. So, all the products you can see on our list are compatible with the laws for gun safes.
That having said, your particular locality may have additional takes on the gun safety standards. So, it is essential to make sure that the gun safe you purchase is compliant with the requirements put forward by local authorities also.
Now that you have an idea about fingerprint recognition gun safes and their legalities, we will move on to our review of the best biometric gun safes.
Why Do We Need a Fingerprint/Biometric Gun Safe?
It is very important that you spend your money on a Gun Safe that is safe, secure, and cannot be broken easily. There are gun safes with the traditional lock and key security but they can be opened using clips or duplicate keys and thus are not safe.
In order to maximize the safety and protection of the gun, it is important to purchase fingerprint recognition gun safes and ditch the lock-key models.
The first and foremost benefit of using a Fingerprint Recognition Gun Safe is the utmost level of security and limited access to only authorized individuals. It is simple and easy to access and instead of punching a digital button, the safe will open with one simple swipe of your finger.
It is much faster to use as well to register as compared to other locks and using the fingerprint scanner doesn’t require you to spend much time unlocking the safe. In the case of the lock key system or passcode locks, you have to wait for a few minutes before getting access to your gun or valuables.
There is no requirement of remembering passcodes or combinations to open the safe. All it takes is the placement of your finger.
The level of security in the case of a fingerprint scanner is more as in the case of models that give access with a passcode or key, it is easy for one to get hold of the combination or key but not your fingerprint.
In case you have an intruder or invasion in the house, the traditional models would need light to be operated but fingerprint scanning models work even in low light.
Bottom Line
So this comprehensive guide gives you detailed information about top choices for handgun safes and rifle safes with the integration of biometric technology.
We have tried to cover the top ones on the market so that you can refer to the guide before purchase. We have includes safes which are most affordable and also the one which has won all-rounder criteria.
If you have a firearm or weapon it is important that you keep it safe and secure and protect your family from accidental gunshots.
Keeping a gun without a gun safe makes it more prone to misuse or committing a crime by others in case it is stolen.
All you need to do is get a gun safe and lock the gun to avoid uncalled accidents. All the gun safes mentioned above are designed according to legal guidelines and completely secured.
The Review
Biometric Gun Safe Reviews - Top Picks at a Glance
Biometric gun safes are considered as the most efficient and convenient gun safe storage devices. If you are planning to buy a biometric gun safe but confused about which is the best biometric safe for you - go through these biometric gun safe reviews. We have curated this list of biometric safes after testing hundreds of gun safes in our labs.
Review Breakdown
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Verifi Smart.Safe.
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BARSKA
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GunVault SV500
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Sentry Safe
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GunVault SV500
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BARSKA Mini
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Barska Large
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BARSKA Quick Access
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Steelwater Heavy Duty
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Steelwater Standard
Biometric Gun Safe Reviews - Top Picks at a Glance DEALS
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