A biometric safe is a very secure location to keep your gun.  The safe can be bolted to the floor or tethered with a steel cable around an immovable object making it impossible to simply pickup and walk off with the safe and its contents.  Most biometric gun safes are made from 7 to 16 gauge steel.  Some of the portable biometric safes are made from hardened aluminum to decrease weight, which can be helpful if you plan to store the safe in your vehicle.  Nevertheless, they are tough and difficult to open (although any safe can be opened given enough force and time).

A biometric safe is also a safe place to keep your pistol away from children or untrained individuals.  Using a simple gun locking device that is for the children living in your house is not enough. Do not depend on it as a sole safety measure. “I didn’t think he knew how to work the lock” is not a good defense. According to PAX, a nonprofit organization, more than 40 percent of American homes with children in them also have guns. Many of these weapons are kept loaded and within reach of a determined child.  Keep your kids (and mine when they come to your house!) safe.  Get these put into a locked location, preferably somewhere that is difficult to open or move, like a safe.

A handgun is often purchased for self defense.  If you can not access that handgun quickly, it could be the difference between life or death.  Using a combination lock or even a keypad lock to store your emergency firearm can be difficult to open in a panic or stressful situation.  When your adrenaline is flowing in a crisis, it has been proven that you will lose most fine motor skills.  You may remember the combination, but simply be unable physically to work the lock.  You always have your fingerprint with you and if all you had to do is slide it across the biometric safe reader to open, how much easier could that be?  There is no time spent trying to remember the combination, looking for the keys, or spinning the dial while an emergency is happening.  You could even open this safe in the dark by just feeling the fingerprint reader.

Most safes designed to store guns have some padding inside to cushion the gun when putting it in or taking it out of the safe.  This protection is mostly cosmetic to protect the finish of both the gun and the interior of the safe.  Additionally, you should choose a biometric gun safe that is sized properly for the number of guns you are planning to store in it.  Most entry level models will accommodate 1-3 guns.

First question is how large of a biometric safe do you need?  You need to ask yourself some questions:

1. What will you be storing in the safe?  Papers and documents take up much less room than guns and jewelry and computer discs.
2. Are you interested in storing any guns in the safe?  If so, what quantity?  Many biometric gun safes are designed for 1-3 guns.
3. How about any rifles in the safe?  Obviously you can fit a long rifle in a metal box only 18″ long.  Do you have a place for a 4 foot high gun safe?
4. Does the safe need to be portable or easily movable?  Many people keep small portable biometric safes under the seat of their car for securing guns or cash when away from home.  Alternatively, maybe you live in an apartment and move frequently.  Do you need/want a safe that you can pick up and carry yourself?  Larger gun safes can be 4 feet high, 2 foot square and weigh 700 pounds.  Not something you casually decide to move much!

Does it need to be a fireproof biometric safe?  This will add expense to the purchase. The rating of fireproof safes is critical. The rating usually denotes two things: how long it can withstand the high temperatures of a fire, and the maximum temperature that it will still safely protect the contents. The higher the number or rating of the safe, the better as this will provide for the most protection in the event of a fire. Look for protection that will last at least an hour and withstand temperatures of at least 1,400 degrees Fahrenheit.  A few manufacturers such as Sisco Honeywell even carry waterproof fireproof biometric safes!

Additional features to consider when buying a biometric safe:

• Many manufactures include a 2nd way to access the contents.  This is typically a round key (like you see on pop machines).  This will allow you to open the safe even in the event that the biometric information is lost or in an emergency.
• All of these safes require power.  All will have batteries, some will allow you to also run them on and AC power supply.  Keep in mind that the security information is saved permanently even if the batteries die.  Just replace the batteries from the front of the unit and it is in business again.  AC power just simplifies life.  All reputable manufactures will have a low battery warning that may be at least blinking light, but audio also.
• Smaller safes should have the ability to be mounted to the floor or a larger piece of furniture or cabled to something immovable to prevent a thief from simply picking up the safe and breaking it open at his leisure back at his property!
• If you are purchasing a biometric gun safe, insure it comes with a foam lining inside to protect the guns.
• Depending upon the manufacturer, some safes will store only 10 fingerprints and others will store 50.  Determine your need.
• How long is the warranty on the safe and what does it cover.  Many of the more expensive models will be a lifetime replacement if any tries (or is successful at) prying their way into your safe.

Lastly, check the thickness of the steel with each manufacturer.  While the thickness is not the absolute critical piece of this as a determined thief will eventually get into the metal box, the thicker the steel, the longer it will take him, possibly deterring him from trying or requiring him to make enough noise or take enough time that he may be caught.