In my house there are small gun safes hidden everywhere, in the pantry, the TV stand and in my bedroom closet. I like to know that a firearm is always accessible to me in an emergency, but I don’t like carrying on my body when I’m trying to relax in front of the TV at night (and no matter where I wear my gun it always seems to dig in when I’m lounging). I also have a 2 year old who likes to creep into bed with me during the night so again I can’t leave a firearm out on my nightstand, but I want to know that if I heard a break in downstairs, I would be able to get to my gun fast enough to protect my family.

There are so many great options out there for small, accessible gun safes that it can be hard to narrow down which safes are best and which one you would want to keep in a specific location, then you have the question of whether to go bio-metric or use a code. Personally I’m wary of bio-metric safes, my phone has a fingerprint recognition panel to un-lock it and in my experience it can often take two or three attempts, now that’s frustrating when you’re trying to read an email, but it could be deadly when you’re trying to access a firearm. I like safes with codes and I practice entering the code regularly so that I can keep my access time down. However I have included both bio-metric and code based safes in this list as I know for many people, the potential speed of bio-metric safes outweighs the risk of it not accurately reading your fingerprint.

GunVault SV 500 SpeedVault Handgun Safe

$152.97

This handy mountable gun safe comes with a choice, you can buy it with a bio-metric entry system, or a code based system depending on which you prefer. It has a fast action drop down drawer that allows you quick and easy access to your firearm in a position that allows you to get a good grip that will help you get on target fast.

Because this safe can be mounted it’s perfect for use in the bedroom where you can mount it to the side of the bed for immediate access. This is obviously superior to the closet gun safe as you don’t even have to get out of bed to access your firearm. It also mounts in other places such as under a desk or table and comes with a number of different mounting options.

Sentry Safe Quick Access Safe

$99.52
This is a great small safe just right for one pistol with space for magazines and ammo. It’s portable but does come with screws if you want to screw it down and prevent someone from walking off with it. This is the perfect small safe for keeping in a draw somewhere accessible as it’s very compact. There is also a portable version designed for use in vehicles with an attaching cable.

The lid is operated by a gas operated strut which helps the lid to pop open, giving you fast access to your firearm. Like the Gun vault, this safe comes in both a bio-metric and code based entry system options.

First Alert 5200DF Portable Handgun or Pistol Safe

$78.99

The First alert portble handgun safe comes with a “no see” code entry system, that means that you simply place your fingers on the panel and you can enter your code without having to look for numbers. This is a great feature when you’re in the dark and don’t want to let intruders know that you’re up by turning on the lights.

It has a spring loaded open/closure for ease of access and is large enough to hold two handguns. It also comes with a cable to secure it in a vehicle if you wish, making it a great multitasker

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Sarah Carling

Sarah has an unbridled obsession for the shooting sports and is actively involved in her local shooting community. She is Vice President of her local gun club, leader of a Well Armed woman chapter and competitive USPSA shooter.

As a Brit living and working in the USA, her views on gun ownership and the second amendment have evolved over the years, allowing her to fully understand both sides of the gun control debate and she regularly speaks on the matter to help others understand why she feels the second amendment must be protected and why she chooses to be an advocate for the shooting sports.

Latest posts by Sarah Carling (see all)

• Security Guards Shoot Intruder at WTTG FOX 5 in Washington, D.C. - November 16, 2018
• Police Identify Masked Gunman Killed in Shootout at McDonald’s in Birmingham - November 16, 2018
• Man Turns Himself In for Shooting at IHOP in Nashville - November 16, 2018