The little lock boxes for car use usually come in two flavors (discounting biometric stuff): key or 4 digit mechanical combo
Plusses and minuses to each method.
What's your take?
Plusses and minuses to each method.
What's your take?
vehicle lock box, key or combo?
- Thread starter Jayne
- Start date
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Just get a giant pair of boxers, rub some chocolate on them to make stains and wrap the gun in that. You can leave it right out on the seat, noone is touching it.
I'd go with the 4 button combo sort myself.
I'd go with the 4 button combo sort myself.
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What are you after?
You just want to lock a gun up when you leave it in there?
Don't like the combo, some are hard to work with no or low light.
Bio suck if you are a guy and do stuff with your hands.
Never got one to work good.
Key lock is what I would do.
But then again I would build it to fit what I need.
You just want to lock a gun up when you leave it in there?
Don't like the combo, some are hard to work with no or low light.
Bio suck if you are a guy and do stuff with your hands.
Never got one to work good.
Key lock is what I would do.
But then again I would build it to fit what I need.
9outof10mms
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Combo.
Real world application story:
Took the family out to WA state several years ago. I use my truck lock box as my checked gun box. Packed it all nice and neat, even wove the steel cable through the suitcase frame (so you’d have to steal the whole suitcase to get it). Closed it all up the night before like a good boy who wanted to stay right on schedule. Got everyone to the airport early early AM (like 5am) only to find an absolutely circus mess of people. Apparently the Boy Scouts had an international meeting in VA and CLT was the main airport for them all. I’m talking security line out the front door. Panic mode is already setting in for making our 7am flight.
I get to the counter to check our bags and my gun—and ohhhhh S. I picture exactly where the key to my box is: sitting on my dresser with my truck key attached because I looked right at it and thought “won’t need that for a week so I’ll leave it right here.”
This is where the palpitations began. If you’ve ever flown with a checked gun you’ve probably encountered the “open it and let me see if” check. I was about to be screwed as there was no way in hell I’d make it home and back in time for the flight. Thankfully the chaos of the crowds made the bag check lady not ask and simply handed me the orange card to slip into the bag with the lock box.
Cleared that obstacle.
Now fast forward to landing in SEA, I needed to get the gun out of the box to, you know, carry. So we hit the first Lowes store we see to get a pry bar. Then the fun began of prying the damn thing open in the back of the rented mini van in the parking lot.
Luckily there was a sporting goods store across the street which had combo versions of the same metal box. I went over and bought it and all was right in the world once again.
So, kids. Combos all the way.
Example specimen: https://a.co/d/iGn3IKL
Real world application story:
Took the family out to WA state several years ago. I use my truck lock box as my checked gun box. Packed it all nice and neat, even wove the steel cable through the suitcase frame (so you’d have to steal the whole suitcase to get it). Closed it all up the night before like a good boy who wanted to stay right on schedule. Got everyone to the airport early early AM (like 5am) only to find an absolutely circus mess of people. Apparently the Boy Scouts had an international meeting in VA and CLT was the main airport for them all. I’m talking security line out the front door. Panic mode is already setting in for making our 7am flight.
I get to the counter to check our bags and my gun—and ohhhhh S. I picture exactly where the key to my box is: sitting on my dresser with my truck key attached because I looked right at it and thought “won’t need that for a week so I’ll leave it right here.”
This is where the palpitations began. If you’ve ever flown with a checked gun you’ve probably encountered the “open it and let me see if” check. I was about to be screwed as there was no way in hell I’d make it home and back in time for the flight. Thankfully the chaos of the crowds made the bag check lady not ask and simply handed me the orange card to slip into the bag with the lock box.
Cleared that obstacle.
Now fast forward to landing in SEA, I needed to get the gun out of the box to, you know, carry. So we hit the first Lowes store we see to get a pry bar. Then the fun began of prying the damn thing open in the back of the rented mini van in the parking lot.
Luckily there was a sporting goods store across the street which had combo versions of the same metal box. I went over and bought it and all was right in the world once again.
So, kids. Combos all the way.
Example specimen: https://a.co/d/iGn3IKL
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I had one identical to this (they’re probably all the same just with different branding) fail into the unlocked position. Complete piece of crap.
BigTwig
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OP
The goal is to have something to lock the pistol up when it's not on me. Not 'rapid access', not going to take it off when I'm driving and put it away, only for going into a prohibited place and want something more secure than tossing it under the seat.
OP
Wasn't going to go with the cheapest chicom unit on these, which is a departure from my normal mode for sure.
OP
Just noticed that the combo version I was looking at (snapsafe) has a TSA over-ride key spot. Not really relevant in this application but still a 'feature' to think about.
…and yet when flying with a pistol, I’m required to have my own personal lock on the case that TSA can’t override….
Weird they would include that.
I like combo or bio with a key backup….
My wife had a small combo gun safe (gun vault) that would work most of the time so we just used the key.
After a few years the solenoid didn’t have enough power to trip the mechanism - a bit of oil helped for awhile but even that didn’t work - The Gun Vault tech people were no help and their lifetime guarantee is useless.
I would have liked to get one of vertical cases but not after their crappy service..
My wife had a small combo gun safe (gun vault) that would work most of the time so we just used the key.
After a few years the solenoid didn’t have enough power to trip the mechanism - a bit of oil helped for awhile but even that didn’t work - The Gun Vault tech people were no help and their lifetime guarantee is useless.
I would have liked to get one of vertical cases but not after their crappy service..
OP
I have a Gunvault NV100 that I bought years ago for around $12. My daughter used it in her dorm room to keep her jewelry in, no firearms. The box is here unlocked, but she still has the key in Apex with her. I went onto the Gunvault website and they have a tab for replacement key. Clicked on it and up pops a form asking for name and address, model number and lock number and then submit.
2 days later I get an email from them saying that I need to fill out their attached form, have it notarized and then send it with $20 for a replacement key. I replied that I understand the need for security, but the box is open, sent pics, and their website should list all of this instead of having the useless pop up form to fill out. I told them I could get a new box for about the same price of their replacement key, driving to and paying a notary. Also told them that I could replace the entire lock assembly with a better quality lock w/keys for less than $10 in 2 minutes and sent a picture of the lock removed.
I finally told them to just trash my key request, same as I was also going to do with the low quality Gunvault box. Didn't hear back from them.
2 days later I get an email from them saying that I need to fill out their attached form, have it notarized and then send it with $20 for a replacement key. I replied that I understand the need for security, but the box is open, sent pics, and their website should list all of this instead of having the useless pop up form to fill out. I told them I could get a new box for about the same price of their replacement key, driving to and paying a notary. Also told them that I could replace the entire lock assembly with a better quality lock w/keys for less than $10 in 2 minutes and sent a picture of the lock removed.
I finally told them to just trash my key request, same as I was also going to do with the low quality Gunvault box. Didn't hear back from them.
