Gun Vault - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

infected · 08-24-2006, 08:25 AM

Didn't know where to put this post, so mods move it if needed.

Anyway, I'm about to purchase my first handgun (3" XD .40), and need a place to keep it. My highest priority is keeping it out of the hands of the 4 kids (18 months to 15 years) running around my house when i cannot supervise them. I am purchasing this for both concealed carry and home defense so I want to put it a container that will keep the kids out, but allow me fast easy access to it. I saw this safe called the GunVault at gunvault.com, and it looks like it'll do what I want. I was just curious if any of you had experience with it, or any insight into it. I am looking at the basic model as I will only have 1 gun for a while (it's going to be a bit before I can afford a second).

thanks guys!

bama · 08-24-2006, 09:23 AM

Gun Vault: I have had one for years, and never had a problem with them. I have read of some people who did, but if you look, you will find someone who hates every product. Summary: I like it.

docrice · 08-24-2006, 09:53 AM

I too was considering this a while back. The various reviews I read about it on this forum (check the search function) were mostly positive. However, it was a little too tall to fit under my bed, so I went with something else. One thing to consider is if you have small hands. The "palm print" on the GunVault has its fingers separated out kind of far.

infected · 08-24-2006, 10:23 AM

there is an army surplus store near my house that sells these, so I might just stop on buy and take a look.

DoctorDawg · 08-24-2006, 12:42 PM

I have a GunVault Mini and love it...very secure, and very easy to open in the dark (if you know the combo). Unless your kids know how to work a cutting torch they won't be gettin' into it before their eighteenth birthday. The guy who said it wouldn't fit under his bed mighta had the Jumbo (or whatever they call it).

My Mini cost $89 at Sportsman's Warehouse. The GunVault web site is sellin' 'em for $159, if memory serves, so shop around...

I couldn't find the optional 'security cable' anywhere (not even on the company's web site), but I called the company and they shipped me one. Handy for when you want to transport it in your car. It won't stop a determined thief with a bolt cutter, but it's more than adequate to foil the typical smash-n-grab punk.

The 'handprint' is a little too big for anybody who ain't a gorilla, but you don't really need it...it's more of a marketing thing than a useful feature. Your fingertips can find the buttons real easy in the dark. What really cracks me up is the braille numbering under the buttons. When I first saw that I thought "How nice...a gun safe for blind people. Wait a minute...."

docrice · 08-24-2006, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoctorDawg

The guy who said it wouldn't fit under his bed mighta had the Jumbo (or whatever they call it).

Actually, the Mini is still a bit too tall for my bed (my bed frame sits kind of low). I also had to factor in clearance between the bottom of the bed frame and top of the safe to squeeze my fingers above the vault.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoctorDawg

What really cracks me up is the braille numbering under the buttons. When I first saw that I thought "How nice...a gun safe for blind people. Wait a minute...."

Hah - I never thought of that.

[TASF]Overkill · 08-24-2006, 03:05 PM

I have a mini... I manufactured my own security cable for like 4 bucks with some hardware from Lowe's.

My only problem (currently) is that it's a pain in the ass to change batteries (How often do you have to do that, though?) and the adhesive for the rubber hand-print thing isn't worth a damn, and EVERY time I open mine, the foam on the roof has fallen down. The adhesive up there isn't doing the trick either. I bought some double-sided carpet tape and tried that, but it doesn't hold any differently. When I called the peeps about it, they said "Yeah, you can just pick up some industrial adhesive somewhere..."

Problem is, you have to pull the foam down to change the batteries... make it too sticky, and you rip the foam, then you have to replace that.

The metal housing feels really sturdy and professional. But everything bolted/glued/taped into it feels very 1970's RadioShack garage project.

DoctorDawg · 08-24-2006, 03:19 PM

Mine must be a later model...the adhesive on the handprint is good'n tight. But yeah, the top foam inside my box doesn't stick to the roof, either. I happened to have some stick-on Velcro (which you can buy at Lowe's) laying around the house, and that works great and solves the problem. Be sure to leave a little tab of Velcro exposed so you can pull on that to detach the foam for battery changes...elsewise, yep, you'll rip the foam sure as snot.

nickb · 08-24-2006, 03:27 PM

Overkill and Dawg have summed up the good & bad about the gunvault.

I would add, if you are going to open it frequently (you mentioned one gun for carry and HD) you may go through a lot of batteries. Changing them is kind of a pain. You have to reset the code each time and there is not much room to get at them.

As I think about it, I was in and out daily until I bought a real safe. Maybe if you use the key to open it (which I did not do) the batteries won't die so fast.

Nick

nightraider · 08-24-2006, 05:04 PM

The most safe place is on your body. Since its your first handgun, thats where it should be.

08-24-2006, 08:25 AM	#1
infected XDTalk Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Near Atlanta, GA Posts: 66	Gun Vault Didn't know where to put this post, so mods move it if needed. Anyway, I'm about to purchase my first handgun (3" XD .40), and need a place to keep it. My highest priority is keeping it out of the hands of the 4 kids (18 months to 15 years) running around my house when i cannot supervise them. I am purchasing this for both concealed carry and home defense so I want to put it a container that will keep the kids out, but allow me fast easy access to it. I saw this safe called the GunVault at gunvault.com, and it looks like it'll do what I want. I was just curious if any of you had experience with it, or any insight into it. I am looking at the basic model as I will only have 1 gun for a while (it's going to be a bit before I can afford a second). thanks guys! Last edited by infected; 08-24-2006 at 08:32 AM.

08-24-2006, 09:23 AM	#2
bama XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Lower AL/NW FL Posts: 332	Gun Vault: I have had one for years, and never had a problem with them. I have read of some people who did, but if you look, you will find someone who hates every product. Summary: I like it. __________________ "As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." --Joshua

08-24-2006, 12:42 PM	#5
DoctorDawg XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: If you need to ask, you don't need to know... Posts: 638	I have a GunVault Mini and love it...very secure, and very easy to open in the dark (if you know the combo). Unless your kids know how to work a cutting torch they won't be gettin' into it before their eighteenth birthday. The guy who said it wouldn't fit under his bed mighta had the Jumbo (or whatever they call it). My Mini cost $89 at Sportsman's Warehouse. The GunVault web site is sellin' 'em for $159, if memory serves, so shop around... I couldn't find the optional 'security cable' anywhere (not even on the company's web site), but I called the company and they shipped me one. Handy for when you want to transport it in your car. It won't stop a determined thief with a bolt cutter, but it's more than adequate to foil the typical smash-n-grab punk. The 'handprint' is a little too big for anybody who ain't a gorilla, but you don't really need it...it's more of a marketing thing than a useful feature. Your fingertips can find the buttons real easy in the dark. What really cracks me up is the braille numbering under the buttons. When I first saw that I thought "How nice...a gun safe for blind people. Wait a minute...." __________________ If humans evolved from monkeys, how come there's still monkeys??? Huh? Huh???? Last edited by DoctorDawg; 08-24-2006 at 12:53 PM.

08-24-2006, 03:05 PM	#7
[TASF]Overkill XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Lynchburg, VA Posts: 2,446	I have a mini... I manufactured my own security cable for like 4 bucks with some hardware from Lowe's. My only problem (currently) is that it's a pain in the ass to change batteries (How often do you have to do that, though?) and the adhesive for the rubber hand-print thing isn't worth a damn, and EVERY time I open mine, the foam on the roof has fallen down. The adhesive up there isn't doing the trick either. I bought some double-sided carpet tape and tried that, but it doesn't hold any differently. When I called the peeps about it, they said "Yeah, you can just pick up some industrial adhesive somewhere..." Problem is, you have to pull the foam down to change the batteries... make it too sticky, and you rip the foam, then you have to replace that. The metal housing feels really sturdy and professional. But everything bolted/glued/taped into it feels very 1970's RadioShack garage project. __________________ "Semper facere bonum, an a amare odium, vita mors." [Do good always, whether through life or death, love or hate.] "He who relies solely on warlike measures shall be exterminated; he who relies solely on peaceful measures shall perish." Photo thread is back! (Until next disaster)

08-24-2006, 03:19 PM	#8
DoctorDawg XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: If you need to ask, you don't need to know... Posts: 638	Mine must be a later model...the adhesive on the handprint is good'n tight. But yeah, the top foam inside my box doesn't stick to the roof, either. I happened to have some stick-on Velcro (which you can buy at Lowe's) laying around the house, and that works great and solves the problem. Be sure to leave a little tab of Velcro exposed so you can pull on that to detach the foam for battery changes...elsewise, yep, you'll rip the foam sure as snot. __________________ If humans evolved from monkeys, how come there's still monkeys??? Huh? Huh???? Last edited by DoctorDawg; 08-24-2006 at 03:29 PM.

08-24-2006, 09:53 AM	#3
docrice XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northern CA Posts: 391	I too was considering this a while back. The various reviews I read about it on this forum (check the search function) were mostly positive. However, it was a little too tall to fit under my bed, so I went with something else. One thing to consider is if you have small hands. The "palm print" on the GunVault has its fingers separated out kind of far.

08-24-2006, 10:23 AM	#4
infected XDTalk Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Near Atlanta, GA Posts: 66	there is an army surplus store near my house that sells these, so I might just stop on buy and take a look.

08-24-2006, 03:27 PM	#9
nickb XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,708	Overkill and Dawg have summed up the good & bad about the gunvault. I would add, if you are going to open it frequently (you mentioned one gun for carry and HD) you may go through a lot of batteries. Changing them is kind of a pain. You have to reset the code each time and there is not much room to get at them. As I think about it, I was in and out daily until I bought a real safe. Maybe if you use the key to open it (which I did not do) the batteries won't die so fast. Nick

08-24-2006, 05:04 PM	#10
nightraider XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 2,483	The most safe place is on your body. Since its your first handgun, thats where it should be.

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