$500 for a gun safe? Sound like too good to be a real deal, right? But while most gun safes cost thousands of dollars, $500 can still get you a pretty decent safe. That is if you know where to look.
Because let’s face it, most gun safes priced below $500 are more likely to be cheap knock-offs than those priced over $1000 gun safe. So how do you avoid ending up with a knock-off while at the same time limiting your gun safe budget to below $500?
Needless to say, it’s not an easy thing to do. Nonetheless, I have compiled a list of the best gun safes for under 500 dollars, And a few Under $600. These are the gun safes that I feel confident are not a waste of time. Obviously, be prepared to compromise on some things in this price range.
I have selected these gun safes based on user reviews, as well as my personal experiences.
A Quick Comparison Of Best Gun Safe Under $500 And $600
Last update on 2024-12-30 / Please note that Prices and Availability Are Subject To Change /Paid links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Reviews Of The Best Gun Safe Under 500 Dollar: Top 7 Picks!
BARSKA New Large Quick Access Biometric Rifle Gun Safe Cabinet
- Biometric fingerprint reader
- Removable accessory shelf
- 2 backup keys included
There aren’t many safes that can match the quality of the New Large Access Biometric rifle gun safe from BARSKA in its price point. Capable of holding up to 4 rifles, it is secure and easy to access in an emergency situation.
What makes it so dependable and loved is its biometric fingerprint reader. The latter can store up to 120 fingerprints. Also, it takes only 4 seconds for the safe to open when you place your finger on the fingerprint reader.
Inside the safe, the safe is neatly organized for the first access of your rifles. There are 4 rest places for storing your rifles or shotguns in an upright position. At the top is a small shelf that can hold ammo and spare magazines.
For the fingerprint reader to operate, it requires power, which comes from 4 AA batteries that come included. Also, the safe makes a beeping sound when it is opened. This beeping noise can be turned off if you find it annoying.
Mounting this safe is easy, thanks to the four pre-drilled mounting holes. It also comes with a set of mounting bolts, which makes the work easier. In addition, mounting the safe ensures that it cannot be carried off.
Vaultek VTi Full-Size Biometric Handgun Bluetooth Smart Safe Multiple Pistol Safe
- Four ways to open
- 14-gauge carbon steel construction
- Rechargeable lithium-ion battery
First of all, the VTi full-size biometric handgun smart safe looks totally badass. It is available in either matte black or matte white finish. In terms of what it offers, it has a lot of features unique to it.
One of its unique features is that there are four ways of opening the safe. One, you can open it remotely using the Vaultek App and the built-in Bluetooth 2.0. Alternatively, you can use the biometric scanner for quick access.
Alternatively, you can use the rapid-fire keypad. And if all this can’t be used, you have the option of using the two manual keys. This offers the perfect balance between security and accessibility.
When you open the safe, you are greeted by quite a roomy interior capable of holding two full-size handguns. There is also an absorbent close cell foam padding that protects the firearms from damage.
There is also the LED lighting that allows you to view the contents of the safe even in low lighting. And with the Vaultek App, you can remotely adjust the brightness of this interior light. Also, you can monitor the status of the safe’s rechargeable battery. Finally, there is a long gun safe with a biometric lock from vaultek; you can check it if you have money to buy that.
Dual anti-impact latches and inti-pry bars protect the access points of this safe from unwanted intrusion. The interior mounted hinges are also meant to keep unwanted intruders from accessing the safe.
Gearmart Fast Access Rifle Safe Large And Durable For 5-Gun Shotgun Cabinet
- Pre-punched mounting holes
- Reliable lock mechanism
- Solid steel construction
Another gun safe I consider to be the high-quality gun safe for rifles is the Gearmart Fast Access rifle safe. It has a storage capacity of five guns, whether rifles or shotguns. And is crafted from high-quality steel.
But that’s not all when it comes to the security of your valuable; this Gearmart safe does not leave anything to chance. It can be opened via an electronic keypad whose combination code you can set yourself.
I found the instructions on how to reset the combination code to be easy to follow. Something else I loved about this safe is its interior. A separate lockbox is provided, which you can use to store ammo, money, jewelry, and other such valuables.
The interior is furnished with a gray carpet, which is not all that impressive. But given its price tag, the carpeted interior is a welcome idea. As it keeps all firearms stored inside from getting scratches.
Similar to any other safe that has a keypad, it comes with a manual key. This manual key comes in handy when you want to open or close the safe manually. Included in the package are 4AA batteries that power the keypad.
Quicktec Larger and Deeper Rifle Safe, New and Improved Gun Safe for 5-6 Rifles and Shotguns for Home
- Separate lockbox included
- 2 emergency keys
- Pre-punched mounting holes
One of the biggest rifle safes on the list, the Rifle Safe gun safe quick access shotgun cabinet measures 57 inches high and 13.5 inches deep. Thanks to it being big, it can store up to five guns and comes with a separate lockbox for storing ammo, money, etc.
To access the contents within the safe, you have to go through an electronic keypad. The good thing about this keypad is that you can create your own access code. On top of this, included with the safe are 2 emergency keys for manual access.
The locking system is designed to be pry-proof and cannot be penetrated using hand tools. This offers a level of security that most other similarly priced safes do not offer. Also, the keypad is battery-powered.
When it comes to mounting, it can easily be mounted using the pre-punched mounting holes. These holes are found at the back and at the bottom of the safe. Attachment bolts are also included in the package.
With the included attachment bolts, you can mount the safe to a wall or to the floor. In addition, the interior is padded with a gray carpet to prevent scratches.
Vaultek MX Series High Capacity Bluetooth Smart Handgun Safe
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Backlit keypad
- Rechargeable lithium-ion battery
Vaultek has one of the best lines of Bluetooth-enabled handgun safes. The MX series, in particular, is one of my favorite. Therefore, for the purposes of this review, I decided to test the non-biometric safe in the MX-series.
While this safe does not have a biometric reader, it still maintains the four different access points of the others in this series. And as its name suggest, you can open this safe using the Vaultek smartphone app.
Alternatively, you can use the backlit rapid-fire keypad that is also included. Also, as with any other safe, it comes with manual keys for manual access. An automatic front door gives you direct access to the contents of the safe.
This safe is virtually impenetrable, courtesy of its carbon steel construction. Also, similar to all other Vaultkes safes, it features anti-impact latches and anti-pry bars. This is in addition to the impact detection feature.
The lithium-ion battery takes about 2 hours to charge and can keep your safe powered for up to 2 months. On the other hand, the interior of the safe features a non-absorbent foam twin rack. You also get a pull-out adjustable shelf.
Note: Due To Covid Situation Price Can Be Slightly Go Ups and Down!
Stack-On TD-040-GP-E
- Electronic backlit lock
- Fireproof up to 90minutes
- 3 adjustable shelves
This Stack-on Total Defense Executive safe has features that are rare in its price range. Additionally, it is very well built and almost impenetrable.
One of the safe’s selling points is that it is designed to protect your valuables and guns against fire and floods. Towards this end, it has a fireproof rating of 1400 degrees Fahrenheit for up to 90 minutes. Also, it is waterproof for up to 72 hours in up to 20 inches of water.
An electronic keypad with backlighting acts as the main access point. Below this keypad is a brushed nickel five-spoke handle. This handle moves five active solid steel active bolts. These bolts combine with three deadbolts to ensure it is impossible to pry open the safe.
The electronic keypad is powered by batteries that can be accessed conveniently from the front of the safe. Given that it is one of the best safes in its price category, its interior is fully carpeted.
This helps safeguard your firearms and other valuables from scratches in case of a fall. Included in the package is the mounting hardware.
If you want to store more rifles, you can check the options available in the gun safe under 1000 reviews.
Mesa Safe Company Model MBF1512E Burglary And Fire Rated Gun Safes With Electronic Lock
- Battery-powered electronic keypad
- Pre-drilled anchor hole
- Removable and adjustable interior shelf
Note: Due To Covid Situation Price Can Be Slightly Go Ups and Down!
One of the best fireproof gun safes is the Model MBF1512E burglary and fire safe. Constructed purely out of steel, it is a tough gun safe that will serve you for a very long time.
Despite its budget price tag, it can withstand temperatures of up to 1830 degrees Fahrenheit for up to 2 hours. In addition, to make sure unwanted intruders do not have access to your valuables, it is drill and punch resistant.
It is not the largest or most spacious safes out there as it offers 1.7 cubic feet of storage space. However, this space is enough for storing your most important documents. Also, you can keep your handgun inside the safe.
What it lacks in size and storage space, it more than makes up for in toughness and security. According to Mesa, this safe can survive a fall from a two-story building. Now whether this true or not is hard to tell.
But the safe itself is quite tough and can withstand almost anything you throw at it in terms of its interior space. In addition, it has an adjustable shelf that is also removable. So, overall, it is a very practical safe for storing documents.
It misses out on the top five-six spots on my list due to its lack of a designated firearm rack. However, in spite of this, it is still a good quality safe for the money.
If you want to store more rifles, you can check the options available in the gun safe under 1000 reviews.
Advantages and Disadvantages Of Having Gun Safes
Advantages
- The gun safe provides protection to the gun from thieves. For example, if someone has a house fire or burglary, the weapon is protected and cannot be accessed by intruders.
- The gun safe provides protection against rusting and corrosion of your guns and valuables.
- The gun safe can be used to protect other valuables such as jewelry, important documents, etc.
- The gun safe provides security from kids and any accidents that may happen.
- It’s possible that your children will not be able to break into the safe because it’s so safe!
- The gun safe will decrease the chances of a child being hurt by your own guns. In addition, you can store ammunition separately from the guns.
Disadvantages Of keeping firearms in the Gun Safe
- If you don’t use a biometric gun safe and when you accidentally forget your combination in the event of an emergency, it will prove a disaster.
- You have to remember or write down all of your passwords for different occasions for it to work if you don’t use biometric one.
- It’s difficult to make your code complicated enough so that burglars cannot figure out what you are typing, but simple enough so that you can remember it.
- They are quite expensive.
What To Consider Before Purchasing Gun Safe Under $500
It is really important to have a gun safe for your personal protection. The question arises which one should I buy? There are many things that need to be considered when buying the best gun safe under $500. Here are some features you should consider before deciding on which safe to purchase:
Always choose a safe which is bigger than your need:
as it will allow you to store more guns in the future and also make sure that there’s enough space for other valuables such as jewelry or cash if needed.
Check is that Have Fire-resistant and waterproof security features:
It is really important to have a gun safe for your personal protection. The question arises which one should I buy? There are many things that need to be considered when buying the best gun safe under $500. Here are some features you should consider before deciding on which safe to purchase:
Always choose a safe which is bigger than your need:
as it will allow you to store more guns in the future and also make sure that there’s enough space for other valuables such as jewelry or cash if needed.
Locking Mechanism:
It is important to have a gun safe, which is easy to access by you in the event of any emergency. At the same time, deter others from trying to force entry and take your belongings.
The lock ensures that the storage cannot be accessed without proper authorization. So it’s a must to check and make sure there are multiple locks present on your potential purchase. This way, even if one of them becomes compromised or fails to function properly, the other will still keep your belongings safe.
A safe with more than two layers of security on the lock makes it harder for someone to cause damage or break into the safe, which in turn protects your valuables inside.
Durability:
Regardless of what you store in a gun safe, you must ensure that the safe can withstand wear and tear. Try to buy a gun safe which has stell construction. You should also inspect for anything outside, such as scratches or dents, which might compromise its durability when put under pressure from an external force.
Consider Solid door construction:
It is important to ensure that the door construction of your safe is suitable and durable. The stronger the material used in constructing the door, the better protection against damage caused by external forces such as break-ins or fires. It is recommended to get a safe with at least a ¼ inch of steel door construction.
Size And Weight:
The safe should be large enough for the items you wish to store inside, but not so big that it becomes difficult to move or transport when needed. The weight of the product is also important. This will affect how easily you can carry and use your purchase on time. Therefore, you should take both size and weight into consideration when buying a safe.
Locking Bolts:
Locking bolts are the most important component of a good safe. As long as you’re going to take the time and money to purchase one, your very important step should be finding out how strong they are.
The stronger, the better! You want locks that will require more than just brute force in order to break them open.
Check Is That Have Fire-resistant or waterproof security or any other extra features:
True It’s unrealistic to find a fireproof gun safe under $500, and water-resistant but if it comes with any means why not to grab it.
Even with the best construction, your gun safe might be compromised if it is not fire-resistant and waterproof. Therefore, you should check that all of these features are present in order to have a better chance of keeping your belongings safe from harm.
A fireproof safe will be able to withstand high temperatures, which in turn ensures your belongings are not damaged. In addition, a seal prevents water from entering the safe when put under pressure or force as a result of being exposed to an external source such as rain, sprinklers, or floods.
Removable rack or shelf:
An ideal gun safe will have a removable shelf or rack for storing your firearms. You can easily adjust the height of these racks to suit the size and shape of your gun.
Some safes come with removable racks or shelves that can be used for storing a variety of items. The design of these additional compartments varies widely. If you know what sorts of things will need storage space in your safe, this is an important consideration.
Choose a Gun Safe That is Easy To Mount:
A gun safe should be easy to mount for your convenience. Consider the following points before buying a safe:
- The type of mounting mechanism, which is either bolts or anchor;
- If it comes with mounting hardware such as anchors and screws;
Frequently Asked Question
Conclusion
When shopping for a gun safe on a limited budget, there are some things you need to know. Number one, most gun safes in this price range are small in size. Therefore they offer limited storage space.
Most can only offer space for a total of 5 to 6 guns. Number two, there are very many low-quality safes in this segment. And just because you are spending less than $500 does not mean you deserve a low-quality safe.
Finally, a quality gun safe under 500 will be the one that offers you great value for your money in terms of the features it has and how secure it is.
About The Author:
Lake Streeter, A Gun enthusiast, and loves to hunt in the middle of the wood. Always check the latest hunting gears out in the market and try to share his honest opinion with the audience in Tarheel3Gun.