Gun safety is one of the most important topics that we law-abiding gun owners must discuss. Gun safety must be at the forefront of every use of a firearm and also the proper and safe storage of firearms when they aren’t being used.

For gun owners with kids - did you know that accidental discharges are one of the top causes of accidental deaths amongst children? We have to make sure that our weapons are stored properly and that our precious kids are not able to get their hands on them. Proper gun storage is a massive step to keeping your family safe.

Let’s take a look at some of the best options available on the market for ensuring proper, safe storage and allowing us to still keep our families safe from threats. 

Why Gun Storage Matters

Gun storage matters because we can’t have potentially deadly weapons simply laying around where someone who isn’t capable or qualified can get their hands on them. Proper gun storage can also protect against fire or theft as well. In some states, it is not only your responsibility to store guns safely - it’s also the law. But that's just common sense. We don't need politicians to tell us what is and isn't proper. What are you going to do if an armed robber comes into your home and you've got seconds to fumble with your safe keys or remember under duress what your safe locking combo was? Might not work out that well. 

Responsible gun storage is more important than anything. If you don't have kids in the house and don't ever have kids as guests then why should it matter if you have a gun in the bathroom drawer, another one behind the fridge and on under your pillow? In the same regard, if guests are coming over, it's nice to have a place to lock them away so that no accidents or funny business can happen. 

Gun Safes

PC: Gunsafesnow.com

By far the most popular method of storing guns safely are gun safes. Gun safes come in all shapes and sizes but they are usually very heavy, often fire/water proof and locked by a key, keycode entry pad or combination. If even a small  collection of guns needs to be secured then a gun safe is the way to go. Gun safes offer another aspect of security in the sense that their weight and size make it next to impossible for our average run-of-the-mill thieves to be able to remove from a home. 

Many safes can also be bolted down to the floor - which adds an extra level of security. Gun safes are an incredibly good option with the only downside being price. Expect to spend a pretty penny for this level of security because with the rising costs of steel, safes have gotten very expensive since the start of COVID-19. 

Gun Cabinets

PC: Gallow Tech Weapon Cabinets

A popular and more affordable alternative to a gun safe would be a gun cabinet. Gun cabinets are exactly what they sound like - a simple, lockable cabinet. Oftentimes gun cabinets are made of wood or metal, usually not very heavy and not usually fire/waterproof. Because some gun cabinets have glass fronts to display what is inside they are far easier to break into by any thief with a crowbar. If we are looking for basic protection then a gun cabinet might be a good choice, that doesn't mean there aren't expensive and heavy duty weapon cabinets though. See the image above from Gallow Technologies. 

Trigger and Cable Locks

PC: Scope Haven

Most guns purchased new will include a trigger lock. These can be a device that encloses the trigger and prevents it from being pulled or it can be a lock with a cable that is fed up the magazine well and through the open action - preventing it from closing. Typically trigger and cable locks open with a key but are also available with a combination lock.

The downside to these types of locks is that the firearm itself is not locked up and while it may not be fired, it can still be removed from its location. These locks can be broken off or cut very easily as well. If this is your only option it is better than nothing but we must make sure the weapon is hidden well and up out of reach of children or prying eyes.

Strong Boxes

Strong Box is a nice brand that makes gun safe options for vehicles. They're another great option for locking up firearms when you need to travel with them in your car. Think of a strong box as a really heavy duty gun case that can be opened with a key, key code or biometric (fingerprint) scanner. Strong boxes also have versions that can be used at home or in an office where they're bolted to a wall or the floor.

Electronic Personal Gun Safes

PC: GunSafes.com

Another great idea for pistol or rifle storage are electronically-controlled safes. These safes usually use a keypad to enter in a personal code to unlock the safe. Not only are these safes more secure, but they also allow for faster access than a regular combination safe. These safes come in all shapes and sizes so if we need to secure a handgun next to a bed for home defense then this is the way to go. Let’s take a look at a couple electronic safe types.

Biometric Gun Safes

Biometric gun safes read a fingerprint and open when the fingerprint is confirmed. This is a great option overall but we’ve found many reports of the biometric scanners failing from time to time. Obviously, this is the last thing we’ll want happening when we go to retrieve a handgun in an emergency scenario so don’t skimp and buy a cheap one!

Coded Gun Safes

Coded electronic gun safes have a programmable key code that may be entered to allow access to the gun inside. Portable versions may be secured to a wall through anchors and steel cables. Check out companies like Vaultek for great pistol and rifle storage ideas that are customizable for nearly any need.

Build Your New Safe Queen with Modulus Arms!

 Once you do pick that perfect safe (or multiple safes) start your next AR build with Modulus Arms! We've got the best 80 percent lower receivers for whatever purpose you need them to fulfill whether that's competition, duty and defense, prepping for the end of the world or just sitting there to look pretty. Check out our new 80% AR-9 Lower that would make a great home defense blaster!