Advantages of biometric gun safes
- They provide quick access, even in dark environments by scanning your finger in a few seconds.
- You can authorize access for several users.
- The majority of them support key and passcode access for alternative access.
- They feature an advanced locking system that is resistant to prying.
- The best biometric bedside gun safe can also be mounted on walls and floors or secured in a cabinet or under a desk.
Features to consider while choosing a biometric gun safe
If you have been trying to figure out the best biometric fingerprint gun safe that you can program to add more user accounts and personalize access options, you have come to the right place as we break down the key parameters to keep in mind prior to your purchase.
Overall dimensions
A gun safe is meant to be placed in a concealed location away from prying eyes, intruders, and children; it should also be easy to access for emergencies where you need to instantly protect yourself. This can limit the options where you can install it, which is why it is important to consider the overall dimensions before making your decision. While there are large safes that house rifles, you can also get the best biometric bedside gun safe that can be bolted on your nightstand or underneath your bed. The Quicktec Rifle Safe Gun Safe has overall dimensions of 57.2 x 14 x 13.8 inches to store long guns. In contrast, the SOLOMONE CAVALLI Biometric Gun Pistol Safe makes the best small biometric gun safe for travel and tight spaces because it only measures 10.6 x 7.5 x 2.1 inches and can fit in backpacks and glove compartments.
Gun safes also vary in their shape. For example, you have to leave enough space underneath the GunVault SVB500 because it opens by sliding down a drawer with the gun holstered-up so you can use it immediately.
Interior dimensions
Since the overall dimensions of gun safes will generally differ from their interior dimensions, you need to confirm that the space available can accommodate your gun and other valuables in safe storage. The disparity could be attributed to the design of the model, the location of controls, padding of interiors, and additional storage compartments and shelves.
The overall and interior dimensions of the Viking Security Safe VS-25BL that features an adjustable shelf are 10 x 14 x 10 inches and 9.5 x 13.5 x 8.5 inches respectively. The YUEMA Biometric Gun Safe has overall dimensions of 14.9 x 11.6 x 8.6 inches while its plush PPF foam-padded interior with electronic controls on its top measures 12 x 9 x 5.3 inches.
The ideal interior space will depend on the size and number of items you need to secure. To be on the safe side, look for a safe with more storage space than you need, but not so large that you have to fumble around to find your gun.
Construction materials
The best-rated biometric gun safes are made of strong and durable materials that are resistant to rust, corrosion, scratches, and prying by unauthorized users. Although aluminum is used in some products, steel is the most common material used for the exterior, door and deadbolts because it holds up well against heat, moisture and even electricity. Great examples of sturdy gun safes include the Ainfox Electronic Security Safe Box that features solid steel walls, dual steel door locking bolts and powder coat finish that is resistant to stain and corrosion, and the Jolitac Biometric Fingerprint Security Safe Box that has a 5 mm thick motorized door with three 1-inch deadbolt locking bars and an exterior made of Q235 carbon steel and insulated with 100 um thick phosphate coating that is resistant to scratches, rust and corrosion. The latter model is also designed using laser cutting and seamless welding technology that is similar to the one found in the Viking Security Safe VS-25BL to avoid tampering and forced entry.
Remember to factor in the gauge, too, to establish the strength, durability, and level of protection you can expect from your intended safe. 14 to 18 gauge steel models such as the BARSKA AX11224 are thick and robust enough to avoid invasion.
Interiors are typically padded to protect the items in storage from scratches and dents. The YUEMA Biometric Gun Safe has an interior padded with plush PPF foam.
Fingerprint capacity
Biometric fingerprint gun safes differ in the maximum number of registered fingerprints they can store. An accurate scanner will only allow entry for authorized users by identifying their unique fingerprints. For the biometric reader to recognize your print, your finger must be clean, and in the exact location it was when you registered your fingerprint unless the sensor has a high DPI that saves your whole fingerprint.
Large fingerprint capacity is important because it allows you to grant access to more people and set up several fingerprints with your finger in different positions for quicker entry. For example, you can authorize access for all the adult members of your household or only the partners in your company.
Among the best rated biometric gun safes we have reviewed, the Quicktec Rifle Safe Gun Safe and the SOLOMONE CAVALLI Biometric Gun Pistol Safe have the largest capacity of up to 125 different fingerprints. Comparatively, the Viking Security Safe VS-25BL and the Jolitac Biometric Fingerprint Security Safe Box support a database of up to 32 fingerprints.
Also note that the majority of the models cannot let you delete an individual fingerprint record. You would have to erase the entire database and start afresh.
Other lock alternatives
Most people who look for the best small biometric gun safes are attracted by the use of unique fingerprints to provide convenient and instant access to your weapon. Authorized entry within seconds is one of the main selling points for such models because users do not have to remember security codes or locate keys in case of immediate intrusion or impending threat.
Fortunately, you don’t have to choose between either mode of entry because technology has made it possible to incorporate biometric sensors, passcode, and backup override keys in the same safe for multiple access options. These alternative methods come in handy if the reader malfunctions or if the batteries are drained and you cannot use the scanner. You can also program the safe to open with a combination of your fingerprint and passcode to add more layers of protection.
The Viking Security Safe VS-25BL is an example of a model that provides a variety of access options. It comes with a 500 DPI optical sensor that saves a database of up to 32 different fingerprints, programmable passcode of 4 to 8 digits, and two 4-prong cross keys for alternative access.
Weight
If you own one pistol or handgun, you may do well with a smaller product such as the Ainfox Electronic Security Safe Box that weighs 19.84 pounds and can be bolted to your room as a biometric bedside gun safe or mounted to the wall, floor or cabinet. Alternatively, you can opt for the SOLOMONE CAVALLI Biometric Gun Pistol Safe that can be tethered to your car or closet with the security cable provided with the package. It is one of the best small biometric gun safes that you can have on the move because it is light at 4.03 pounds, and its compact size fits in a drawer, backpack, or glove compartment. On the other hand, the Quicktec Rifle Safe Gun Safe which is designed to store long guns and up to five rifles weighs 89 pounds.
Warranty
Usually, biometric safes are covered by a limited warranty of one year. However, the GunVault SVB500 has impressive coverage for a small biometric gun safe; it comes with a limited warranty of 17 years for repairs and replacement.
The YUEMA Biometric Gun Safe deserves notable mention for its five-year money-back guarantee that would appeal to any hesitant buyer.
Extra features
Mounting options: While models like the SOLOMONE CAVALLI Biometric Gun Pistol Safe are designed to be secured by tethering them to a fixture with a security cable, the majority of other best rated biometric gun safes are available with pre-drilled holes and equipment for mounting to walls, floors and other surfaces. These include the BARSKA AX11224 which comes with an Allen wrench and mounting bolts and expansion nuts to anchor the safe to walls, floors, closets, cabinets, or nightstands; and the GunVault SVB500 that is provided with brackets and screws to mount and fasten it on either side and install it at the back of wardrobes or underneath desks and beds as long as you leave enough room for the slide-down door.
Pre-drilled holes: In addition to a tethering security cable, the Jolitac Biometric Fingerprint Security Safe Box comes with pre-drilled holes and anchor bolts so you can easily secure it to a wall, in a closet or on a shelf, or fasten it to the floor or underneath your bed. This saves money, time, and effort by eliminating the need to acquire extra tools to drill holes for installation.
Alarm features: These are audio alerts that are triggered after a few repeated entries of invalid passcodes. If you enter an incorrect passcode three times, the Ainfox Electronic Security Safe Box automatically locks itself and activates the built-in alarm for 20 seconds. The Jolitac Biometric Fingerprint Security Safe Box auto-locks and triggers its alarm for one minute in case of violent vibration or when you enter the wrong code five times. Alarms also alert you when the door is unlocked and some models make a sound, which you can opt out of, when you open the safe.
Interior light: This is a useful feature that enables you to quickly pick the item you want when storing multiple valuables.
