How to Find the Best Quick Access Pistol Safe for You

  • by Casy Smith
How to Find the Best Quick Access Pistol Safe for You

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There’s no such thing as having too many options, right?

If you’ve spent time trying to find the perfect storage solution for a pistol or other defensive firearm for your home, you may have run into a bit of analysis paralysis with all of the options that exist. There’s no shortage of safes, lock boxes, cabinets and other storage methods that try to give you the right amount of security and accessibility. You want your firearm to be securely stored, but you also want it to be readily accessible in an emergency. The desire to find the perfect option can lead to long hours of research, combing through countless reviews, features and offerings. 

While we can’t completely eliminate the need to do your homework, we hope to help you focus your efforts on finding the best quick-access pistol safe for your situation. Let’s better define quick access, look at standard features of gun safes and lay out a process to help you find the best option. 

What Is the Best Quick-Access Pistol Safe?: Defining Quick Access

Before determining the best quick-access pistol safe for you, we need to look at what should be considered “quick access.” Not all factors of your firearm being readily available are a part of the safe’s design. Your response time, placement of the firearm in the house and efficiency at unlocking your gun safe are all crucial when it comes to warding off an intruder. 

According to ADT, the average home burglary takes between eight to 10 minutes, with some taking as few as 90 seconds. While your presence alone is usually a substantial deterrent to home intruders, you want to make sure you can find a safe that you can access within 90 seconds to retrieve your firearm. While 90 seconds may be a generous amount of time, given that an intruder may be in your home when you realize the danger, it can serve as a baseline of accessibility in a moment of need.

It’s a great idea to make a quick-access safe a part of your solid home defense strategy. A plan could help you get through the initial adrenaline rush of the dangerous situation and successfully get your family to safety and access your firearm if needed. Read more about how to prepare for an intruder here. 

Now that we’ve provided a baseline for quick access. Let’s take a look at how secure your gun safe should be. 

Finding the Best Quick-Access Pistol Safe: What Features Do Safes Usually Have?

Gun safes are one of many secure gun storage options. According to the Bureau for Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, for a firearm to be considered a secure storage or safety device, it needs to do one of the following:

  • A device that, when installed on a gun, is designed to prevent firearm operation
  • A device that is incorporated into the design of the firearm to prevent the operation by anyone who shouldn’t have access
  • A safe, gun safe, gun case, lock box or other device that is designated to be or can be used to store a firearm and is designed to be unlocked only by means of a key, a combination or other similar means

Gun safes are one form of secure gun storage safety. While they can vary greatly in size and security level, most gun safes have the same basic elements: 

  • A metal exterior - The exterior is designed to discourage theft or unauthorized access, so most safe companies use some type of metal exterior for their safes. The security and durability of the metal can greatly vary, which is why Underwriters Laboratories, an organization responsible for the safety of consumer products, developed performance levels for safes, also known as the Residential Security Container Standard. You can use this rating to get a general idea of how secure a safe is. 
  • Boltwork - Safes use a system of bolts that lock into place whenever activated. 
  • A locking mechanism - Many locking mechanisms are combination locks with multiple combinations that can be programmed or added. However, keys and digital locking mechanisms can work as well. 
  • Inaccessible hinges - A safe shouldn’t have accessible hinges from the outside, as they could be easily removed and defeat the purpose of the safe. 

Finally, let’s take a look at ways you can find the best quick-access pistol safe for your home. 

How Do I Find the Best Quick-Access Pistol Safe for Me?

There are a few things you should do to help you narrow down your search for the best quick-access pistol safe for your situation. Here are a few quick tips to help you make the best purchasing decision possible:

  • List out your goals for your quick-access pistol safe - Think through the scenarios where you would need a quick-access pistol safe. Do you want it in your bedroom for late-night protection? Do you want to keep it near the desk in your office or other indoor workspace to be prepared for a potential intrusion during the workday? Is the hallway closet accessible yet discreet enough? Write out the situation you would need a storage solution for. Then, you can prioritize the features of your top choices to fit your scenario best. 
  • Find the ideal place in your home - Whenever you start to look for a storage option, you need to consider where you plan to place it. Do you want it to be on the ground or the wall? Do you plan on integrating the safe into your wall? Once you know where you want it to go, this will narrow down the options you can utilize. Make sure to double and triple-measure the space. The last thing you want to deal with is a safe that’s too big for your ideal spot. 
  • Review the accessibility features - It’s essential to make sure your potential storage option is easily accessible in a self-defense situation. Fumbling with a combination lock or trying to remember a passcode is not ideal during a home invasion. Magnetic locks and RFID tags are easy ways to access your firearm storage option, and you can keep the keys hidden in your wallet or nearby decorations for quick but hidden access. 

Once you’ve taken these steps to determine which safe or other secure storage option you need, you can make the overwhelming list of products a lot more manageable and get the best solution for your situation. 

Find More Than a Gun Safe

While a gun safe is the best option in some instances, the flexibility and discreet nature of a concealment flag, decor or furniture may offer you the best balance of security and ease of access. The best quick-access pistol safe may not be a pistol safe at all but, instead, a concealment flag. 

Want to learn more about our concealment products can fit your needs? Visit the contact page to get in touch with a knowledgeable team member today.

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Hanging instructions for the Patriot Wall Shelf

Factors to consider befor you start

Installing a Patriot wall shelf can be a very simple project but there are several factors that you need to understand. our shelves have been designed to work with standard pine 2X4 construction that was 16" on center. Because they were designed around the 16" on center pine 2X4 framed walls that is the process for our instructions. Installing the shelves on amy other type of wall is done at your risk. Liberty Home Concealment does not advise you to attempt installing your shelf onto amy other type of wall.

Understanding what is beneath your walls

Anytime you are doing work or attaching something to a wall it is wise to have a solid grasp of what lies beneath the surface of your walls. If you are not comfortable with the task of hanging a shelf on your wall perhaps it would be wise to hire a licensed, bonded, and insured contractor to install the shelf on the wall for you. There are many factors that you should consider prior to beginning yur shelf installation. SAFETY is the first and top priority.

Safety First

As a consurmer of Liberty Home Concealment, it is a safe assumption that you are a gun owner. Liberty Home Concealment sincerely hopes that you have a great grasp of the concept of SAFETY FIRST. The installation of our shelves requires several steps and we highly recommend that you have a friend help you with the installation. This is very important as the size and moving parts of the shelves can make the installation very cumbersome and potentially dangerous for a single person to accomplish by themselves. So please, we urge you to get some help. Secondly, proper tools that are in good serviceable condition are a must. Please use your tools in a manner consistent with the manufacturers intended use. Using proper tools can make the installation quick, simple and enjoyable. But most importantly, SAFE. So, save yourself the trouble and use the proper tools.

CAUTION!!

Failure to follow and comply with these instructions could result in INJURY and even DEATH!

Tools that should be considered for a safe proper installation

Stud finder, Tape measure, Pencil, Level, Electric screw driver, and Safety glasses.

Step 1

Confirm your desired wall has adequate support by finding the studs with the stud finder. Also, remove the foam insert until later instruction. Mark your stud locations and transfer those measurement onto your shelf. Drill pilot holes through shelf in marked locations. We recommend using a 1/8" or 3/16" bit for the pilot hole. A hole too big will allow the screw to pull right through the back of the shelf. That would be bad. And unnecessary. Please use the proper drill bit. Depending on your wall you should be able to locate at least two studs to anchor your shelf into for maximum strength. Some walls may even allow for three studs to be anchored into. The shelf MUST use at LEAST (2) pine 2X4 studs and the shelf bracket's to fully support the finished loaded weight.

Step 2

With the help of a friend, and using a level and your original measurements hold the shelf in its desired location and transfer the pilot hole locations to the wall. You should be using a minimum of two studs for this step. Each stud receiving (3) screw locations. Two internally, and the other two in the brackets on top. For now, only focus on marking the internal locations. Mark the four internal screw holes. Make sure to hold your shelf nice and level for this step or yur final installation will be crooked.

Step 3

With the help of a friend, hold the shelf into its' mounting location. Line up the holes in the shelf with the marks in your wall and your wall anchors, and install the six long wood screws into the wall. Four into two different studs, and two into the wall anchors.

Step 4

Installing the shelf brackets to the TOP of your shelf. At this point your shelf is attatched to the wall but it is not ready for any weight. Please DO NOT ADD ANY WEIGHT until you have firmly mounted and anchored your brackets into the top. Have your friend help you support the weight of the shelf until you can get the brackets tightly mounted to the desired location on your wall studs. Again, use two studs. Do not add weight to your shelf either inside, or on top, until both brackets are fully installed. Using the supplied 3/4" screws attach brackets to the top of the shelf and 2 of the longer screws for the stud attachment.

Step 5

Unlocking your shelf. Use your magnetic key to locate and unlock the bottom of the shelf. Do this while the shelf is open so you can see what is going on. You may even want ot make two small marks on the bottom of the shelf if it helps you to locate the pickup. It will take a little practice to find the location of the magnetic pick up but you will find it. Make sure you aren't inadvertently trying to unlock the gas damper. Once the location of the lock pickup is located, the magnet will hold itself in place. However, the shelf will not fully disengage the locks until you release the pressure on the locks by lifting the shelf slightly upward with a simple squeeze of your hands. Once you hear the audible clicks of the locks disengaging you can slowly open the shelf allowing the gas damper to lower the shelf to its resting stop.

Concealment Picture Frame Installation Instructions

Consider What is Beneath Your Walls

Anytime you are doing work or attaching something to a wall it is wise to have a solid grasp of what lies beneath the surface of your walls. If you are not comfortable with the task of cutting a hole in a wall perhaps it would be wise to hire a licensed, bonded, and insured contractor to install this item in the wall for you. There are many factors that you should consider prior to beginning your shelf installation. SAFETY is the first and top priority. CAUTION!! Failure to follow and comply with these instructions could result in INJURY or even DEATH!!

Recommended Tools

These tools are not required to install your Liberty Home Concealment picture freame however they will help with the installation process. Stud Finder, tape measure, level, pencil, jigsaw, circular saw, keyhole saw, Sawzall, drill/driver, inspection mirror, flashlight and a second set of hands to help with marking your wall before cutting. These products were designed to work with "standard" 2X4 construction that was framed on 16" centers.

Step 1

Acquire all the tools to complete the job. Do not forget about proper personal protective gear.

Step 2

Confirm that your wall space is empty!! Failure to do so could result in serious injury or even death!

Step 3

Clean your work area around your desired install location. Cover any furniture with a tarp, drop cloth, or painter's plastic to aid in quick easy cleanup.

Step 4

Use a stud finder to locate the space between two studs. Confirm that you have 14.5" between the two stud edges before marking and cutting your walls.

Step 5

The back box of your picture frame is the size you need to make your hole. Hold picture frame tight against the wall and use your level to ensure frame is sitting level against the wall. On smaller sized picture frames such as 5"X7" and 8"X10" you will fasten to both studs. While holding the picture frame tight against the wall while checking for level and trace around the outside perimeter of the picture frames back box.

Step 6

Before cutting the entire wall opening Liberty Home Concealment recommends that you cut a small hole within the area that wil become the full-size hole. This is done to check and confirm your wall is truly clear of obstructions inside the wall such as electrical wiring plumbing. It's much easier to patch a small hole vs repairing a large hole because you got ahead of yourself. Do not skip this step!!

Step 7

Once you are sure that there are no obstacles inside your cut area, cut the full rectangle that you have marked previously. Remove drywall cutout away from the wall.

Step 8

Slide your new insert/picture frame into the hole you just cut.

Step 9

Use the supplied screws to fasten to the stud or studs that run up the sides of the rear of the box. On smaller frames box will only fasten to the stud you biased your hole towards.

Picture Installation

1. Lay frame face down on soft surface such as a towel or blanket. 2. Hold firmly and slide picture frame in to the open position. 3. Remove four metal picture retainer clips, if clips are tight use a flat bladed screw driver to wiggle free. 4. Remove wood backer noard and lay picture onto glass. Making sure of proper orientation. 5. Reinstall backer board and 4 retaining clips. 6. Slide picture frame closed and enjoy!

Wall maunting instructions for Freedom Series Coat Rack

Recommendation

Liberty Home Concealmemt does not recommend the use of hollow wall anchors to mount larger items on your walls. While anchors may provide sufficient holding capability, Liberty Home Concealment recommends attaching directly to the studs located inside your wall to ensure the most secure level of attachment.

Step 1

Choose the desired location of the item you are wanting to mount your coat rack.

Step 2

Once you have your ideal location use a stud finder to locate 2 studs in your wall that will support your coat rack. Mark the location of each stud's center with a pencil. Use a nail to confirm stud has been located.

Step 3

Hold product against wall and use level to make sure it is even. Use a friend to help hold level while transferring stud location marks to inside of product to be mounted. Tip: Remember the adage "Measure twice cut once." That same rule applies when making holes in your walls.

Step 4

Check that product is plumb and level before securing. Once proper placement is achieve fasten first screw through product and into stud. Re check for level and attach second screw into next stud.

Step 5

Step back and admire your handy work. Now get started filling your piece of concealment furniture with all the items you are wanting to keep stored securely out of sight. ENJOY!!

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