Bedside Pistol Lock Boxes

[BuffCyclist]

Alright, so I already am aware these are not "safes" and are at best, lock boxes. I need a box to lock up my CCW at night, in addition to when I'm at work (university setting, can't carry). The reason for locking it is our 5mo daughter. She is starting to become mobile. The other various rifles, shotguns and pistols that aren't for daily use are locked away in large Pelican cases with a keyed and a combo lock on each, so those are all secured (and the ammo is in a separate ginormous lock box that is keyed differently and those keys are always with me).

After originally looking at a variety of GunVaults and reading real reviews on them (knowing that people who are happy don't always write reviews but those who have major mechanical failure of anything will ALWAYS write strongly worded reviews), I have seen quite a few instances of major mechanical failure (specifically a cable that connects the unlocking solenoid to the locking bar). I also never liked the idea of an electronic lock. Change the battery on a yearly schedule like your smoke detectors you say? My reply is, smoke detectors have batteries?!

Anytime someone complains about the GunVault mechanically failing and GunVault refusing to fix/replace it, someone recommends the FAS1. At first I'm like, oh man that thing is COOL!!! But I still haven't bought one, because if I'm going to spend that much money on it, I want to get the biggest one (not the suppressor model, the Magnum XL) available to store 2 pistols, or various misc items in the bottom. However, the price is really getting to me. Sure, I realize its 7ga steel and impenetrable by my 5mo daughter. But frankly, if she's getting out her reciprocating saw or oxyacetylene torch to break into a 7ga steel box next to my bed, I think my wife and I have other problems.

Other alternatives are the Fort Knox Original Pistol Box. But the price isn't that much lower than the FAS1 (about $20-25). Okay, onto the VLine To Draw at $175. But I like the depth of the Fort Knox OPB (~4.25" usable depth vs 2.25" on VLine), as again, I could store 2 pistols on the bottom layer and my CCW on the top layer so I don't have to fumble grabbing a pistol out of the box.

I already have a Center of Mass pistol box (think GunVault NanoVault 300, but mine is keyed). However, in the sleep deprived state my wife and I are currently in, the key sits in the box all night because the last thing I want to do is fumble with finding the key and putting it in the box at night to get my pistol.

Lastly, I need to figure out mounting and perhaps that will just settle everything. When I moved to the east coast, we got rid of a lot of stuff. One thing was my old broken and decrepit nightstand. I bought one the other day on amazon, thinking I'd mount the FAS1 on the side (between bed and nightstand) or backside of nightstand. Without going into a rant on the poor quality of that nightstand and misrepresented description, I am in the process of returning it. Yes, I could mount the pistol box on the bed frame, but that means I'd have to get out of bed, get on the floor and lift up the bed skirt to access it, and my wife doesn't like the idea it's at our daughters eye level now that crawling is happening. My dresser is on her side of the room, and there are no physical shelves in the closet for me to attach a box to, they're all wire dinky stuff held in by brad nails basically. We're renting otherwise I'd put in some real shelves or one of those in-the-wall-rifle-safes.

Am I over thinking all of this? Has anyone else had this problem and if so, how did you solve it?

[mcantar18c]

I've been wrestling with this idea myself for a while... almost 9 months now

I'm extremely opposed to restricting access to a defensive tool in such a way that it causes a delay in the operation of it. This excludes anything with a key or combination.
I'm also against anything with electronics... fingerprint scanners don't always hit on the first try, batteries die, and sometimes shit just fails. Unacceptable.

The best thing I've come up with is to have a breakthrough container. It doesn't need to be burglar proof, just baby/toddler proof. Something like a lockable box on your nightstand with a heavy screen (screen door type) material or thin plexiglass lid that you could transfer your carry gun to at night and easily punch through and grab what's inside if needed.
Maybe a short AR or 12ga in a "nice display case" made of thin plexiglass on a side table or something could be done as well.

[BuffCyclist]

Interesting idea, but that sounds like it would still have a lock (keys or combo).

I've also never tried punching through plexiglass, but that seems like it would be ... difficult?

[lex137]

I look forward to where this goes cause my 7mo. Need something to put on my nightstand as well and I'm not big on electronics either.

[ray1970]

You guys are putting way too much thought into this. If you are just wanting to keep stuff away from a toddler you can pretty much just put it in a place high enough that they can't get to it. On top of the refrigerator, a shelf mounted high on the wall, maybe on top of some sort of china cabinet type thing. Just make sure there isn't anything they can use to climb up that high nearby.

[kwando]

Magnetic strips placed high enough inside a closet or on a wall? No key and out of reach of a toddler.

[BuffCyclist]

Thanks for the responses guys, I've seen these responses in all my research. Yes, they are valid points. However I don't want to hide it, I want it locked (okay, not me, but my wife and I have convinced her that a good hiding spot is sometimes better than a lock).

While yes, hiding is good for now when all she can do is crawl. But, when she turns 5yo, if my niece is any indication of what 5yo's do, she'll get into anything with the use of a chair or step stool, at which point a shelf is not out of reach.

Besides, I'm looking for a bedside solution and last I checked I don't have a refrigerator or china cabinet next to my bed.

[ray1970]

My comment was based solely off of the 5 and 7 month olds and whatever that were mentioned above.

Hiding something from a 5 year old isn't the best idea. You'll definitely want to lock things up as the toddler gets older.

[ray1970]

Besides, I'm looking for a bedside solution and last I checked I don't have a refrigerator or china cabinet next to my bed.

Then where do you keep your beer?

[BuffCyclist]

Then where do you keep your beer?

I have been diagnosed with celiacs, I can't drink beer...

But thanks for rubbing salt in THAT wound...