AVG gun "safe"

[sar]

So I have one of these
http://www.adgsports.com/catalog/produc ... cts_id=468 for quick access to weapons under my bed. The unit seems well made and has a few thoughtful features(low battery light, and the ability to keep a 9volt battery around to touch to the electrodes and operated the keypad if the battery ran out). I wanted to change the combo and was looking for the website when I found this video
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0uFipsjqXw[/youtube]
For those who don't want to watch the video, it shows a guy repeatedly opening the safe by striking it pretty lightly on the side, against a carpet.

I picked up my safe to the height my 4 year old daughter could then dropped it. It opened.
I've subsequently retired that safe and have secured my guns in other ways.

I wrote a letter to the company expressing my concern and received no reply for over 2 weeks.

Just thought you all should know that this is a dangerous item. I guess it'd be fine if bolted somewhere(havent wrapped it on the side with a mallet to check that theory though)

[Excaliber]

The video has served its purpose by motivating you to take a closer look at the actual effectiveness of the system you've got in place. The bad news is that you've found it wanting. The good news is that you found this out without anyone getting hurt and without losing your gun.

With your current security arrangements, even if the box would not open from inertia acting on the locking latch, someone could simply pick up the lockbox with your weapon inside and walk away with it. This might satisfy the legal requirement to prevent unauthorized access by children, but it would still leave your gun in unauthorized hands, and not in yours. This is an undesirable outcome.

You might consider bolting your lockbox to a solid object (like a piece of 2 x 10 lumber bolted in a heavy vise) and applying the mallet test you've already thought of. If it doesn't open when it's not supposed to, fastening it to a similarly solid object with a fastening setup that would be both time consuming and difficult to defeat would allow you to enjoy the performance you anticipated from your purchase when you bought it.

Another way to look at it is that lockboxes like yours are not exactly bank vaults, and substantially improved tamper and theft resistance can be gained by going to a sturdily constructed wall mounted unit that bolts solidly to the wall studs from inside the box. They're somewhat more expensive and a lot more effective. An example can be found at:

http://www.security-kits.com/ETL-20710- ... 16354.html

These devices cost a little more than your current lockbox but they work a lot better.

They're also very easy to install. You cut out a rectangular opening with a drywall saw, place the box in the opening, mark the bolt holes, remove the box, drill the holes, put the box back in and drive in the bolts. It takes about 20 minutes with very simple hand tools.

If you want to really go whole hog, you could go for the version that grants access to authorized users when they present their fingerprints. In the dark and in a hurry, this is a lot easier to do than entering a code. There's about a $200 premium for the upgraded electronics, but quite a few folks consider it a good investment. An example is at:

http://www.security-kits.com/ETL-20700- ... 16353.html

[CJATE]

thanks for the link, guess I am in the market again too.

mine is bolted down so it would take a hammer, but that's not the point.

In fact, i am only worried about kid-o's as the gun is on my hip if i am not at home to be aware of an intruder.

[sar]

Yeah. The purpose of this safe isn't to secure guns against theft. This is only to keep a handgun close to the bed in the event that I need it right away at night. And to keep my 4 year old's hands off of it. The AVG safe is dangerous and should be removed from the market.

[BigDan]

All I can say is Gun Vault, Gun Vault, Gun Vault!! I have one of these sandwiched between my nightstand/bed with a trash can in front. Even my wife found it quite easy to manipulate the buttons, even in the dark (I've made her practice). Unfortunately, I can't mount this in my truck unless it's in the cargo area because of the lack of space under the seats. I've contacted a welder to figure out how much he'll charge for something that WILL fit.

http://www.gunvault.com/
BUT, pick it up at Cheaper Than Dirt for a severe discount!
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com

Just do a search for "gunvault". All the models are represented except for the retired long gun vault... =-]

[Excaliber]

All I can say is Gun Vault, Gun Vault, Gun Vault!!

The GVB2000 model grants access by fingerprint. This is much easier than trying to enter a button press code in the dark and under pressure. Once again it costs a bit more than the plain models, but it's a good investment. Check it out at:

http://www.sportco.com/productcart/pc/v ... category=0

[BigDan]

Wow, that price beats Cheaper Than Dirt's price by about $30. Good find.

[lawrnk]

I have that 2 tiered "gunvault" with the light. A deluxe I think it was. Anyone try it on one of these?

[lawrnk]

All I can say is Gun Vault, Gun Vault, Gun Vault!! I have one of these sandwiched between my nightstand/bed with a trash can in front. Even my wife found it quite easy to manipulate the buttons, even in the dark (I've made her practice). Unfortunately, I can't mount this in my truck unless it's in the cargo area because of the lack of space under the seats. I've contacted a welder to figure out how much he'll charge for something that WILL fit.

http://www.gunvault.com/
BUT, pick it up at Cheaper Than Dirt for a severe discount!
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com

Just do a search for "gunvault". All the models are represented except for the retired long gun vault... =-]

suggest the deluxe model with the built in light and motion alarm!