Top 11 Best Gun Safe Under 300: Review & Buying Guide

In order to secure your firearms from children and unauthorized persons, a gun safe is a must.  Unfortunately, it requires a good amount of money to have the best quality gun safe.  However, if you have a budget of below 300 dollars, you can still manage a decent gun safe.

If you want a handgun safe or medium size rifle safe you can manage under $300. However, if you want a long gun safe with fire safety, great build quality, and top-notch features you should go for a high-end gun safe.

As most of the gunman wants to ensure a decent level of security, considering that in mind we have reviewed below some of the best gun safes under 300. We hope this guide will help you find the right gun safe for you.

Best gun safe under 300

Best gun safe under 300

1. Moutec Large Rifle Safe

If you’re looking for an electronic rifle safe that costs just under 300 dollars then Moutec Large Rifle Safe could be a good option for you. It is one of the best-selling rifle safes currently available on the market. You can store comfortably up to 6 rifles with or without scopes. However, for better maneuvering, you should store a maximum of 4 rifles.

Although it is 57 inches high, you can store a maximum of 50 inches tall rifles as it comes with a separate lockbox at the top of the safe. You can access this safe by entering a password on the electronic keypad and with backup keys.

It does also comes with the wrong access alarm facility. If anybody enters the wrong password, it would automatically alarm. You can silent the sound of the button which could be helpful in case of home defense. The body of this safe is built with 14 gauge steel making it strong enough to protect burglars and unauthorized persons.  

Pros

• It has Included separate lock box for storing pistosl, cash and jewelry
• Silent mode for button helps you not to disturb other family members
• Pre-drilled holes at the back and bottom for easy mounting
• Mounting hardware included for quick mounting
• Wrong entry alarm helps you to protect other persons accessing you safe
• Deeper and wider compared to competitors

Cons

• No fire and water safety
• It can not store rifles above 50 inches in height

Overall, this is a great gun safe especially the facility and price it offers. However, the quality of the steel should have been better. We Hope Moutec will improve it in the near future.

2. Fort Knox PB1 Handgun Safe

Fort Knox is reputed among gun lovers for making premium quality gun safety products. And Fort Knox PB1 Handgun Safe is no different as it maintained a high level of safety standard for making this product.

In terms of storing capacity, this handgun safe is large enough to store two handguns, revolvers, or pistols. It is well-padded and does come with a pistol sock. It’s been made of 10-gauge steel and weighing 23 lbs, one of the best heavy-duty handgun safes in this price range.

It does come with a Simplex Locking System that enables fast and smooth opening. All you need to do is to pick your desired opening pattern before turning the knob to the right. You can choose to bolt the gun safe to the floor or store it in your cabinet. The safe also comes with a gas strut that makes it super easy to open within just 2 to 3 seconds.

Pros

• Well build with the thickest steel
• Easy to access your gun within just 2 to 3 seconds
• It equipped with Simplex Lock dosen’t requie batteries
• Ample storage space to hold two handguns

Cons

• Its not easily portable because of weight
• Limited number of combination could be problem

Given the Simplex locking mechanism and good build quality, I’d recommend this safe to someone looking for a heavy-duty safe yet affordable. It should take two to three seconds to access the safe. The USA-made safe does also comes with a lifetime warranty. Overall, this is one of the best gun safe for home defense.

3. Awesafe Gun Safe

When it comes to picking a biometric gun safe especially for the nightstand, nothing could be as good as Awesafe Gun Safe. This is currently one of the best-selling gun safes on the market.

You can access this gun safe in 3 ways; fingers, digits, and keys. The biometric access can accommodate up to 30 fingerprints, allowing shared access as well as advanced protection. It is pretty easy to program your fingers.

If you follow the instructions, everything will be super easy. After programming the fingers, the safe will work pretty well.  The override key offers convenient backup access.

It does come with buttons and codes that are super silent.  With a weight of 10 lbs and an interior height of 2.4” on the inside, this safe is a good choice for your bedside table. It also comes with a blue light that illuminates inside the safe especially in the dark

Remember that when using the code, if you accidentally enter the wrong number, you need to wait until the light to go off and then enter the correct one. Overall this is one of the best lightweight gun safes you can use in any place

Pros

• Good quality with affordable price
• Fast and quiet opening withing just two three seconds
• Lightwieght and easily portable
• Interior LED light provides easy access to your gun even in the dark

Cons

• The fingerprint scanner doesn’t work very well
• Plastic sides seem flimsily-made

Its solid steel and pry-resistant door provides added strength and security. After entering the combination, the lid will automatically open allowing easy access with one hand. Overall, this is an affordable handgun safe that is secured enough to protect your child and intruders away from firearms.

4. Moutec Biometric Gun Safe

Moutec biometric gun safe is a budget-friendly and affordable handgun safe that provides secure and quick access to your gun. It’s been built with solid steel which ensures sufficient and enough protection for your firearms from intruders.

The exterior of this safe is made of a durable powder-coated finish which offers extra protection to your guns. It has the capacity of storing two full-sized handguns along with a magazine and ammo box. It does come with a spring mechanism that enables the safe to open quickly and securely.

It does also come with predrilled holes, security cable, and mounting screws that enable you to mount it, particularly, in any location. It has thick foam padding on the interior, protecting your gun from scratches. The safe comes with a nice manual describing detailed directions on how to use it.

Unlike other guns safe which comes with 5 buttons, it comes with 6 electronic buttons. This can mean added security for your firearm. The fingerprint reader offers quick access to your weapon, even though it fails at times.

Pros

• Easy to program
• Offers fast access to your weapon
• Compact design
• Mounting hardware included

Cons

• Fingerprint scanner fails at times

The biometric gun safe can accommodate 20 fingerprints, allowing you to set up another person’s fingerprint. While the instruction manual is easy to follow, it has some glaring grammatical errors. The interior capacity is the safe is 11.8″ x 7.5″ x 2.4″, meaning it can fit two handguns or one handgun with a few magazines. To make it easy for you to mount the unit, the safe comes with predrilled hardware and holes

5. RPNB Gun Security Safe

The RPNB Gun security safe is another gun safe under $300 that has a good build quality. It comes with 4 entry points; code, finger scans, and manual keys. You can also use the RFID key to access your gun fast during an emergency.

The safe is also easy to set up. Even though it comes with four keypads, you can program a maximum of 8 digit codes. The keypads make some noise but it’s possible to program them to remain silent.

The gun safe for home use is also made of sturdy steel that makes it strong and durable. It has a black finish that is not only resistant to corrosion but also enhances its looks. It does come with the great build quality and the lid stays flush after closing it. You need to be careful after opening as it will pop up on opening.

Pros

• Sturdily-made
• Lightweight
• Easy to set up
• Ample storage space

Cons

• A bit hard to open using the keypad
• Loud button beeps

This safe will need to be secured to something as it can be easily get picked. The keypad is also a bit slow making it hard for you to get quick access to your weapon. The RFID (both FOB and card) has a lag period of two seconds, which is reasonable.

It’s advisable to program several of your rights and left-hand fingerprints for fast opening. There are holes at the bottom that you can use to bolt it down. Overall, the RPNB Gun Security Safe is an amazing gun storage system that will offer you quick access to your gun.

6. SentrySafe QAP1E Gun Safe

If you are searching for a handgun safe that can store one pistol, you can go for the SentrySafe QAP1E Gun Safe. It has been made of sturdy steel that makes it strong enough to protect against unauthorized access. It does come with a pry-resistant door which ensures a high level of security.

You can open this safe using the digital keypad or the backup keys. It does come with a gas strut that offers you quick access to your gun. Thus, you can use this safe in the closet, bedside, or in any other place.

Because of using a gas strut the door of this safe opens automatically. You can open the door using just one hand. Therefore, it offers super quick access within just 3 seconds

Pros

• Strong and durable
• Easy to set up
• Easy access  to your gun
• Quiet

Cons

• Buttons aren’t sensitive enough
• Drains battery fast

No matter how hard you press the button, you will need to hold them down for a few seconds for them to work. In case you miss one button, you need to push the random buttons so that the safe can reject the code and you can begin all over again.

It uses a single latch instead of two, which is another area of concern. However, anyone will require a decent amount of time to access your gun without the necessary opening mechanisms.

With its solid steel construction, this safe can provide durable protection for your weapon. At its price point, it is a good safe for your bedroom.

7. Stealth Handgun Safe

The stealth handgun safe is another option for you that is newly designed and provides quick access to your firearm. It uses a well-padded interior to protect your gun from damages and scratches. It does come with a recessed steel door to ensure better security. The drop-down door is loaded with springs to provide quick access to your weapon.

The gun safe is easy to set up.  There is a red interior light that works well to make your weapon visible. With a capacity of three handguns at the ready position and two handguns flat, the safe offers a decent amount of space. It weighs 20 lbs which are reasonably sturdy.

It also comes with a security cable which allows you to secure it to any hard material. Combined with the latch strength and thick steel, it becomes completely tamper-proof. You can power the gun storage system by plugging it to power or using a 9v external battery.

Pros

• Solidly built
• Ample storage space
• Easy to set up
• Can be  bolted down

Cons

• Makes a loud beeping noise

The loud beeping noise makes it hard for you to open the safe discreetly. This isn’t necessarily a very bad thing as it will inform you when your kid is trying to open it.  Besides, you can easily set it to silent mode.

8. BARSKA Biometric Safe

The Barska Biometric Safe is another solidly-made safe that can be attached to the wall or floor. If you want to attach it to the wall, you will need to have it supported by a sturdy shelf or a piece of furniture.

Due to its small size, it can also be mounted inside a cabinet drawer. However, you need to ensure that there is enough space in the interior when the door opens.

It uses BioSecure Technology that makes it user-friendly and compact. It is powered by 4 AA batteries which, according to the manufacturer, can last for 10,000 scans or for one year. In case the battery is low, you can still open it using the accompanying key and hidden key. You can also use a battery backup (though not included) to power the safe.

It is easy to set up the biometric safe with fingerprints as long as your fingerprints are clean. If you find fingerprints not to be working well, it could be as a result of putting your fingerprints too far away from the scanner. It could also be caused by a dirty or cold finger.

We recommend that you clean your hands and wipe them with a clean piece of towel. Also, rub your hands together to make the fingers warm.  It’s also advisable to place your fingers in the same position you used for programming. The keys that come with the safe work flawlessly.

Pros

• Made of sturdy steel
• Fingerprints work fairly well
• Easy to access your weapon
• Compact

Cons

• Poor instructions
• No interior  LED light

The gun safe has a silent mode that makes it possible for you to open the safe silently. It comes with pre-drilled holes and necessary hardware to allow it to be anchored safely in place.

9.  Best Choice Products Steel Electronic Storage Safe

The Best Choice Products Steel Electronic Storage Safe is another gun safe that will comfortably hold three to four rifles depending on the attachments.  While it isn’t tamperproof or fireproof, it will work well to protect your firearms.

The gun safe comes with a fairly good locking system. It is made of 15 gauge steel while the door is made of 11 gauge steel. There’re storage shelf compartments on the inside which come with 2 keys. Therefore, you need to be careful to avoid confusing the keys to the main door with those of the smaller compartments.

There is a digital keypad that allows you to program the electronic storage system with a passcode. A key is included to enable manual locking or/and unlocking. Setting up the electronic locking system isn’t hard. The safe is lightweight and can be easily moved around.

The gun cabinet comes with a built-in rack that can accommodate 5 rifles. When well arranged, you can store 9 rifles or pistols with their ammo on the top compartments. It is padded on the interior to protect your guns from scratches.

It comes with a foam insert that helps to hold the riffle’s barrel.  However, this is higher than necessary. You need to place something at the bottom of the safe if the rifle will be held up. Alternatively, you can remove the foam insert and position it using double-sided Velcro tape.

Pros

• No assembly is needed
• Lightweight and portable
• Ample storage
• Compact

Cons

• Not strong
• Foam insert is highly placed

For its price, you should realize the fact that you’re not getting a super sturdy safe. This is more of a gun cabinet. But it will work fairly well in keeping the little fingers off your gun. The safe is powered by 8 AA batteries with 4 of them included. Overall, this is one of the best gun safes for the price you can use in your home and apartment.

10. Stack-On GCB-18C Steel

The Stack-On GCB-18C steel is more of a locker than a gun safe having an ample amount of storage space. It can hold a whopping 18 rifles or shotguns with a maximum height of 54 inches. 

It does come with adjustable shelves that can be removed when necessary. It can hold 9 long guns with the shelves in place. Without removing the shelves, it can also hold three more long guns in front of it. All the cabinets and shelves come with foam padding at the bottom. The cabinet comes with a black epoxy paint finish.

It is relatively easy to assemble the gun cabinet. All you need to do is to install nuts and screws in the right place. When installing the shelves, you should ensure that there is enough space to lay the cabinet in its back if you have a center divider.

It requires at least two people to assemble the shelves. Otherwise, you will find it hard to reach the inside part of the shelves and the outside with the door touching your chest.

Two studs are used to secure the door and they are riveted on the hinges. The safe comes with a sturdy locking mechanism, with three barring points.

Pros

• Ample size
• Lightweight
• Can be bolted down
• It is customizable to meet your need

Cons

• Not theft-proof or fireproof
• Shelf installation is a bit hard

At its price point, you should not expect a heavy-duty safe that is fireproof or theft-proof. If you are searching for an extra-large gun cabinet at an affordable price, this is your best bet.

11. V-Line Quick Access Keyless Shotgun

V-line Quick Access Keyless Shotgun has been designed to enable you to reach your shotgun fast. You can effortlessly hide it behind a door or closet. You can mount it in a vertical or horizontal position.  This is because it comes with ¼” pre-drilled holes at the bottom.

It also comes with a Simplex five push buttons that offer fast and easy access to your gun. There’re no batteries that will fail or keys that will fall in the wrong hands. It’s pretty easy to set the combination or even change with about 1081 codes.

When quick access isn’t necessary, there are two tubular locks on each corner that can be opened with keys. There is a plate between the buttons and lock assembly and this is the mechanism connecting the pin and the knob. This plate will only fit the knob grooves when opened at half the lock.

Pros

• Quick access to your gun
• Sturdily-made
• No battery required
• Easy to set up
• Multiple opening options

Cons

• Poor padding on the inside
• No installation instructions

With the V-line Quick Access Keyless Shotgun, you will not have to fear the batteries going low during an emergency. This gun cabinet will fit well under your bed. With its high-grade Simplex lock; this is a gun safe that is worth the money.

Best gun safe under 300 buying guide

Mounting options

You should ensure that your gun safe can be attached somewhere so that it’s not hauled away by an intruder. So make sure that it has pre-drilled holes at the bottom and back for multiple mounting options

Construction

You need to find a gun safe constructed with solid steel. At the minimum, it should be made of 10 to 16 gauge steel. The lower is the gauge the thicker the steel.

Locking mechanism

Is your gun safe opened by a key, biometric, or electronic system? Each of these locking mechanisms has its pros and cons. If you want quick access go for a biometric locking mechanism, if you want reliable access go for the Simplex locking system.

Quick access

Before purchasing a gun safe you should ensure that it can be accessed within 2 to 3 seconds. For that, you can purchase a biometric fingerprint safe with a digital keypad or simplex locking system gun safe that is quickly accessible within a few seconds.

Size 

Another important thing that must be considered, the size of the safe you’re purchasing. In case of a long gun safe try to keep some space so that you can navigate quickly. If your gun safe is for 20 long guns try to store not more than 10 to 12 guns.

Fire rating

It’s really difficult to find a fire-resistant gun safe under $300. However, if you have a little more budget then you can find a fireproof gun safe under 500. If you don’t have enough budget you should know how to fireproof a gun safe

Portability 

If you require frequent visiting you should choose a portable gun safe that can be easily carried away. If you need to air travel then you should purchase a TSA-approved gun case or gun safe.

Interior padding

To protect your gun from scratches, you should choose a gun safe that is well padded with foam. Some of the handgun safes pop up quickly when opens so if the interior is not padded gun will be scratched easily.

Final thoughts

Finding the best gun safe under 300 could be difficult. This is because the majority of gun safes in this price range don’t have fire safety and ample storage.

For instance, if you need a heavy-duty theft-proof gun safe, you might need to increase your budget. If you have a little more budget you can purchase a good gun safe under 600 dollars.

But with a bit of research, it’s possible to find a good gun safe that will serve you well.  Fortunately, we have done that for you. With one of the above options, you can be assured that your gun will be safe from prying fingers.