Automobile Gun Vaults?

[SweetWilliam]

I'm wanting to purchase a gun vault for my truck. One that would hold at least a full size 1911. And I'd like to keep it under $100 bill.
I looked on line at the Bulldog vaults & the Gun Vault 200. Does anyone have any experience with these or any other ideas.
I've never really even held one, how durable are these? I'm hoping someone with a big hammer & screwdriver wouldn't be able to open it easily. I know if they had bolt cutters I'm probably gonna at a loss.

 

[whichwatch]

A $100 bill may not hide it very well :D

 

[SweetWilliam]

I realize that. It would mainly serve the purpose of storing it if I couldn't carry it T that moment. I can't imagine too many thieves walking around parking lots carrying bolt cutters. I'm more worried about them being able to pry it open or bust the lock in a short period of time.
Like I said I've never payed any attention to these vaults before & just looking for opinions & ideas on what everyone else is using.

 

[bradepb]

I have a nano vault 300. It will hold my glock 17 easy but not with a holster, it is too thin for that. It is sturdy enough to prevent a smash and grab but with a big screwdriver and some time I could probably get it open. Also the cable could be cut with a good pair of heavy wire cutters, no bolt cutter necessary. I feel its good enough for ocasionally stashing a gun when I run in somewhere i cannot bring it. Of course if it is hidden well that would also help, mine is simply under the passenger seat cabled to the leg. This way I can secure my gun without being seen.
If I ever got another I would want it thick enough for holster and all and for that reason I use it mostly for revolvers. I don't like holstering a Glock sitting in the car.

 

[rugerjunkie]

Ive been thinking the same thing. If I can find the darn thing , I have a single pistol vault with either a key or four finger pads for a combo and the door springs open. Id like to try mounting it under the fold down rear seats in the pickup.

 

[RonEgg]

I have a Mini Gunvault screwed to the front floor of my truck, facing me. I use the key, not the pressure pad, as normal driving may jar batteries loose. I have had it for years, two different vehicles and keep a CZ-75 in it at all times. It is black like, my interior and while completely visible, is not noticeable.

 

[ronto]

www.consolevault.com you get what you pay for.

 

[SweetWilliam]

The console vault won't work, I have a 99 chevy with a bench seat.
The bull dog vault reviews I've read sound good. It slides in a bracket & once it's locked it says it can't be removed from the bracket. And it has the security cable all so.

 

[powder smoke]

100 bucks it not what it use to be it does not buy much!
May ask a good metal worker to fabricate you something to suit your needs.
You could compartment the inside with wood and felt cloth.
A decent lock and your good to go. Be more than a C note but it will
be custom to suit you and your vehicle. ps

 

[toysoldier]

http://www.consolevault.com you get what you pay for.

$269 for my Tacoma!!!! At that price, it should be a Toyota factory original part!

 

[6gun]

Tuffy makes the best most secure products I know of, a bit more than you wanted to spend but take a look you might change your mind and pay the price they are well worth it.

http://www.tuffyproducts.com/c-12-under-seat-storage.aspx

 

[RugerHound]

My neighbor has a gun vault under the seat of his F250... It's very secure, but bad guys broke into his truck and got the gun out of it in something under 10 minutes while he was at a restaurant. (That's the time they were in the waiting lounge.. When they were ready to go sit down, he went out to check on the truck and found it had been violated.) This was in a shopping center parking lot in broad daylight. He's out of town now, but I'll ask him when he gets back what kind it is. I know it was not a cheapy...

Cops said the bad guys probably had the gun within 2 minutes of the break in.

 

[Xsales]

Consider:
If the vault is seen at all don't bother
A perp looks in - KNOWS there likely IS a gun in there and GONE in 2 minutes

If perp looks in - sees nothing - moves on to the next with a seen vault

I think you have better chance to put in under the floor mat or under the seat
NOT seen and not likely to have a smash & grab

 

[contender]

How about a different direction, and cheaper? A set of handcuffs. You can get a set of the max security a lot cheaper than $100. You won't cut them off with bolt cutters, and you can lock one cuff to any metal object, out of sight, and the other one through the triggerguard.
Just a thought.

 

[SweetWilliam]

Contender that's a good idea. But does each set of handcuffs have they're own key or are they one key fits all? I know not everyone carry's a set of handcuff keys around with them but you never know.

 

[contender]

I've used normal handcuffs for years, (chain type,) and never worried about a key issue. Those do use a "standard" key. For a thug to try & remove a firearm locked to a seat frame etc, I doubt many have a key.
I'll ask about the max security ones.

 

[vito]

I am not advocating breaking the law, but each of us needs to decide which creates the bigger risk: carrying our firearm even when a location prohibits it, or leaving it, even secured, in a vehicle which might be subject to a break-in. If you choose to leave it in your vehicle, I assume you are smart enough to not have any visible indication that would lead someone to think there is a gun in the vehicle, just as pro-gun bumper stickers or NRA or other decals on the window. As others have stated, if the gun safe or locked box or whatever is not visible to someone peering into your vehicle's window, and nothing else is visible which would be worth their breaking in for, then they might not consider your vehicle for their mayhem. If you choose to keep the gun with you, remembering that concealed means concealed, you of course face the risk of discovery (such as if you suffer a medical emergency and the EMT's discover a concealed firearm) as well as the extra care to make sure that there is not a casual exposure. Having a secure locked steel box, under the seat and out of view, may be the best compromise since there are places (like courthouses) where you need to pass through a metal detector and therefore concealed carry is not an option at all. I use a $30 (from Gander Mountain) GunVault box that is large enough to hold any of the guns that I carry concealed (but without the holster if I am using an OWB holster; most of my pocket holsters will fit with the gun into this small case). I can move this small safe from vehicle to vehicle as needed. Its enough to stop the casual thief looking for a quick smash and grab robbery.

 

[6gun]

I keep a hand gun locked in my Tuffy console in my open top jeep in the summer time, a couple years ago a thief tried but failed to break into it, so I have no problem spending $300 or $400 for a Tuffy box to protect a $1000 hand gun plus what ever else I might have in the lock box.

Don't go cheap, there are lots of hand gun vaults on the market but many are easy to break into, the cheaper the easier usually.

 

[GD1656]

For many years i used a thick plastic coated cable weaved through itself and through the seat frame of my truck.It was long enough for me to put a padlock thru it and thru the trigger guard of my truck gun while sitting in the drivers seat-then put gun under seat before getting out.I still have the gun -after a few truck breakins at boat ramps.I would only use a revolver for this method.

 

[ronto]

http://www.consolevault.com you get what you pay for.

$269 for my Tacoma!!!! At that price, it should be a Toyota factory original part!

At least it's not obvious! :)

 

[toysoldier]

First step in securing a firearm in a vehicle---NO FIREARMS-RELATED BUMPER STICKERS. No NRA, Browning, or Ruger window decals. No sign that says "Protected by Smith & Wesson."

You can make your vehicle into a rolling political statement, but there are risks.

 

[SweetWilliam]

Never been into stickers

 

[mike7mm08]

I had one the small lock boxes with the cable. Worked but was a little small for a 1911 or 4 inch revolver that I occasionally carry instead of my XDs 45. As for carry I always carry unless breaking the law by carrying is a felony. Only use the lockbox for securing the pistol while I am at work.

The lockbox I had started giving me issues with the lock. Tried everthing to make it work a little better but it still needed to be played with too much on a regular basis to get it to unlock.

I found a solution. Simple idea but very secure.

http://www.swagoffroad.com/SWAG-50-Cal-Ammo-Can-Mount_p_107.html

Mounted it behind the seat sturdy padlock good to go. Well almost metal box does not lend itself to being firearm finish friendly. So added this to the package.

http://mrammocan.com/product/50-caliber-foam-insert/

About as secure as anything out there. No fast access but not of concern to me. I have a holster mounted to the dash to keep things handy when I am driving. Also nice to have some secure storage for small items in the truck. Don't trust locking consoles or glove boxes. Really what good does a lock do on something made of easy to break plastic.

 

[6gun]

I had one the small lock boxes with the cable. Worked but was a little small for a 1911 or 4 inch revolver that I occasionally carry instead of my XDs 45. As for carry I always carry unless breaking the law by carrying is a felony. Only use the lockbox for securing the pistol while I am at work.

The lockbox I had started giving me issues with the lock. Tried everthing to make it work a little better but it still needed to be played with too much on a regular basis to get it to unlock.

I found a solution. Simple idea but very secure.

http://www.swagoffroad.com/SWAG-50-Cal-Ammo-Can-Mount_p_107.html

Mounted it behind the seat sturdy padlock good to go. Well almost metal box does not lend itself to being firearm finish friendly. So added this to the package.

http://mrammocan.com/product/50-caliber-foam-insert/

About as secure as anything out there. No fast access but not of concern to me. I have a holster mounted to the dash to keep things handy when I am driving. Also nice to have some secure storage for small items in the truck. Don't trust locking consoles or glove boxes. Really what good does a lock do on something made of easy to break plastic.

A small pair of bolt cutters with cable and locks and your gun is long gone not a good idea, even a good pair of wire cutters will cut those cables.

 

[mike7mm08]

I never had much faith in the cable with old box. Yes a padlock can be cut. I use a very heavy duty shielded padlock. Very very difficult to get a bite on it with anything other than a very large bolt cutter. Anything can be defeated with enough time and the right tools. The typical smash and grab car burglar has little time and the most basic of tools. I could easily get into a tuffy console. Just need a cordless sawzall. Fresh battery and a sharp blade ultimate burglar tool. Again time and tools and nothing is totally secure.

 

[6gun]

I never had much faith in the cable with old box. Yes a padlock can be cut. I use a very heavy duty shielded padlock. Very very difficult to get a bite on it with anything other than a very large bolt cutter. Anything can be defeated with enough time and the right tools. The typical smash and grab car burglar has little time and the most basic of tools. I could easily get into a tuffy console. Just need a cordless sawzall. Fresh battery and a sharp blade ultimate burglar tool. Again time and tools and nothing is totally secure.

Well that's going to take time to get into my Tuffy and more than one battery, with a cordless drill I can drill your lock and let the tumbers fall out of it and pop it open in less than 60 seconds and I'm not even a thief.

Good thieves are going to just take your whole car, strip what they want and dump it on the road side some place.

 

[cruzerlou]

Here's what I do , .This isn't a gun vault , but if you hook one around the gun and the other around the seat mounting braket they would have to rip the seat out to steal your gun and then they still can't use it till they get a set of cuff keys . You can lock then so they won't get tighter and they will work on just about any handgun .
Lou


These are S&W brushed nickel and a set will cost you 40 bucks tops .

 

[RugerHound]

I am not advocating breaking the law, but each of us needs to decide which creates the bigger risk: carrying our firearm even when a location prohibits it, or leaving it, even secured, in a vehicle which might be subject to a break-in. If you choose to leave it in your vehicle, I assume you are smart enough to not have any visible indication that would lead someone to think there is a gun in the vehicle, just as pro-gun bumper stickers or NRA or other decals on the window. As others have stated, if the gun safe or locked box or whatever is not visible to someone peering into your vehicle's window, and nothing else is visible which would be worth their breaking in for, then they might not consider your vehicle for their mayhem. If you choose to keep the gun with you, remembering that concealed means concealed, you of course face the risk of discovery (such as if you suffer a medical emergency and the EMT's discover a concealed firearm) as well as the extra care to make sure that there is not a casual exposure. Having a secure locked steel box, under the seat and out of view, may be the best compromise since there are places (like courthouses) where you need to pass through a metal detector and therefore concealed carry is not an option at all. I use a $30 (from Gander Mountain) GunVault box that is large enough to hold any of the guns that I carry concealed (but without the holster if I am using an OWB holster; most of my pocket holsters will fit with the gun into this small case). I can move this small safe from vehicle to vehicle as needed. Its enough to stop the casual thief looking for a quick smash and grab robbery.

I won't trust a safe in a vehicle... If they can't get the safe open, they'll just take the entire vehicle. I DO advocate breaking the 'law' when the 'law' conflicts with the US Constitution. Its called "Nullification". ;)