Gun Safe --- Mechanical or Electronic lock

[Huntindad]

What are the pros and cons of each? Looking to get a safe soon and leaning towards the mechanical...just because ...

I wont be opening it very often.

[Shane]

I like mechanical. Not as much extra stuff to break or quit working.

[SmTx]

Usually see cheaper safes with electric. That should tell you something. Mechanical for me

[blacksunshine]

If you would have been at Academy one morning a couple years ago when they were attempting to get into one of those two big safes they have for firearms....you would have seen why I would never get one with a keypad....I was there to check out a pistol or something and was waiting on them to get into the safe....I got tired of waiting and left after about 30 minutes....they were calling everyone, swapping 9 volt batteries in and out...it was pretty ironic and informative at the same time.

I like my Cannon dial/key safe, never had a lick of issues with it...

[WRsteveX]

We sell liberty safes at work with mechanicals and a couple different electrics as options. I've owned both. And have an electric now that I like a lot more. I open it often.

[Mike D]

Well my real life experience with dials (not speculative) has not been good. I had to replace 2 dials on my safe in less than 3 years. Changed it to an AMSEC keypad and so far so good. It sure is nicer to get into with the keypad.

[Smart]

Mechanical preference here as well.

[Huntindad]

Well my real life experience with dials (not speculative) has not been good. I had to replace 2 dials on my safe in less than 3 years. Changed it to an AMSEC keypad and so far so good. It sure is nicer to get into with the keypad.

What was the problem with the dials?

[tallnhairy]

Mine has a LaGard dial. the dials are less troublesome, but the electronic pads are much faster if you need quick access. That said, I can open my dial lock in less than ten seconds, but I wouldn't want to try it under stress unless I practiced a lot. Another thing to think about is light. Most keypads have tactile buttons that can be felt in the dark, but it's almost impossible to open a dial in the dark.

[Ecoboost]

I have both. I like the electric better. I hate messing with the dial!

[Horitexan]

There have been a few threads over the past year or so talking about horror stories with some of the electronic safes. Something about not being able to get into them. I feel safer with a mechanical - biggest worry there is old age erasing the combo from your memory bank. Lol

[BigTex.308]

I like my digital keypad. I get into my safe ALL the time.


As with anything one isn't necisarrily better than the other. It just depends on who makes it. I've seen crappy diasl and great keypads. And vice versa.

A dial isn't better just because it's a dial. It depends on the quality of the product.



For me, I love my keypad.


Ike

[Bily Lovec]

open/close mine at least twice a day.
keypad all the way...

[Stan R]

I had to replace my dial. It would only work some of the time .

Switched to electronic.

[Slingblade]

I have been looking for a new safe and just found out by a safe rep. that on some electric code locks all you have to do to get into one is pop the lock off, unplug it and plug in your lock with your code and in you go. He even showed me how they do it. Mechanical for me......