Biometric gun safes are a modern-day convenience that removes the need for you to remember a combination or carry a key. Furthermore, these devices recognize fingerprints quickly and provide access to weapons in seconds.
The market for these safes is still expanding, and the technology hasn’t been perfected yet.
We’ve reviewed Vaultek’s VT Series to determine whether they’re worth your money in this post.
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Our Top Biometric Gun Safes Reviews
Vaultek’s VT Series comprises two products, both offering some unique advantages and disadvantages:
Best Overall Vaultek Biometric Gun Safe: VT Series – Bluetooth
The VT Series – Bluetooth biometric gun safe features a biometric scanner that can store up to 20 fingerprints. There’s always a chance that using the safe will get the scanner dirty over time. If the safe fails to recognize one of your fingers, you can wipe the scanner clean and use another one to access your weapons.
The nice thing about the VT Series – Bluetooth safe is that there are multiple ways to open it. You can set a combination and use the keypad to open the safe.
The proximity sensor on the safe enables the keypad to illuminate automatically when your hands are close to it. This makes it easy to use in low-light conditions.
You can also connect the safe with the phone app, and if you enable Bluetooth, you will be able to unlock the safe remotely via the app.
Further, the safe comes with backup keys featuring a dual-etched key design, a protective silicone cover, and a hardcover grip. In addition, the VT Series – Bluetooth is compatible with Vaultek’s nano key that comes included with the safe. With the key fob, you can open the safe at the press of a button.
You can choose to turn on dual locking for additional protection. It will require you to scan your fingerprint and enter the combination to access the contents of the safe.
The safe is large enough for two handguns and a few mags. The non-absorbent foam on the interior of the safe protects your firearms from damage. The safe has several other features to keep your guns protected.
It comes with dual anti-impact latches that ensure the safe doesn’t pop open on impact. Additionally, the hinges are mounted on the safe’s interior, leaving no opportunity for breaching from the outside. The anti-pry bars further fortify the safe’s integrity.
The built-in accelerometer enables the safe to detect impacts, and it sounds an alarm when someone attempts to break in.
Since the safe is crafted from 14-gauge steel and boasts a durable powder coat finish, it’ll last you for years, making it worth every penny.
The safe runs on a built-in rechargeable battery that has a four-month battery life. Since it comes with Bluetooth and connects seamlessly to the app, you can do things like:
- Check battery status
- Manage user profiles
- Adjust nano key settings
- Monitor battery life and safe status
- View history log
The VT Series – Bluetooth safe comes in two variants, one with a biometric lock and one without a biometric lock.
We recommend getting the biometric gun safe for faster access and more convenience.
Pros
- Easy unlocking from app
- Stores 20 fingerprints
- Automatically opens the lid and turns on lights when unlocked
Cons
- The cheaper version doesn’t have a biometric scanner
- No fire rating
Best Biometric Vaultek Gun Safe for the Money: VT Series – Essential
If you only expect protection from your gun safes and don’t necessarily need the additional features, you can consider buying the VT Series – Essential.
Its design is similar to its Bluetooth counterpart in many ways. It comes with an illuminated keypad, which is the primary method of unlocking the safe.
You can also unlock it using the included backup keys. However, you cannot unlock it with the app. It’s also important to note that there is no biometric scanner in the Essential variant.
However, it features the same proximity sensor as the VT Series – Bluetooth biometric gun safe. This allows it to detect your hands and illuminate the keypad as required.
There are over 19 million possible combinations, so you don’t have to worry about someone brute-forcing their way into the safe.
The interior and exterior of the Essential variant boast the same impressive protection as the Bluetooth variant.
The anti-pry bars ensure that tools and small objects cannot penetrate the safe. In addition, the impact-resistant latches keep your weapons safe even if intruders take a hammer to it.
Finally, the 14-gauge steel build coupled with the corrosion-resistant coating makes the safe a durable and reliable option for any gun owner.
Pros
- Keys light up when your hands are close
- Interior LEDs turn on when opened
- Corrosion-resistant finish
Cons
- No biometric scanner
- Similar battery life as Bluetooth variant
Features to Consider for Biometric Gun Safes
Finding the right biometric gun safe from the ocean of options can be a challenge in and of itself. Here is a list of features you should consider when looking for a biometric gun safe to ensure you buy the right product.
#1 Build Materials
The best biometric gun safes in the market boast a robust construction. Look for rust and scratch-resistant safes that have features such as anti-pry bars for protection.
Typically, the best gun safes have a carbon steel construction. This is because steel holds up well against moisture, heat, and electricity. But some manufacturers use aluminum to build the exterior of the safe.
It’s vital for gun owners to factor in the metal gauge. It helps establish the strength and durability of the safe. Ideally, it would be best to buy gun safes made from 12-gauge or 14-gauge steel.
The VT Series uses 14-gauge steel, which, coupled with many other security features, makes the safes robust enough to protect against a break-in.
Further, the VT Series safes feature foam padding on the interior, protecting your weapons from dents and scratches.
#2 Exterior Dimensions
You must remember that a gun safe is ideally put away in a concealed location that is relatively easy to access during emergencies.
If you buy too big of a safe, you may not be able to put it away in the room/location you want. If you buy too small of a safe, you won’t be able to store your weapons and mags conveniently.
There is no shortage of sizeable biometric gun safes in the market. You can install these in any room in your home and store rifles. However, if you own a handgun, having the right-sized safe on your bedside can make a world of difference in how well you sleep.
It’s also important to consider whether you travel with your weapon. If you do, the safe must be small enough to fit in backpacks and glove compartments.
The VT Series of gun safes have the dimensions 14.5” L x 10.6” W x 3.3” H. You will have no problems putting it away in a backpack or mounting it at your bedside.
#3 Interior Dimensions
It’s rare for two gun safes to have the same interior dimensions. You need to determine the interior dimensions of a gun safe and ensure your weapon fits before purchasing.
There’s a chance that a gun safe that seems large enough may not accommodate your weapon and mags due to the location of the controls, interior padding, or compartments in the safe.
In general, it’s better to buy a safe that’s larger than you need. However, it shouldn’t be too large since that’ll cause you to fumble when you need your weapon.
The VT Series gun safes have interior dimensions 13.7” L x 6.5” W x 2.75” H. The safes can fit two handguns and a few magazines, making them large enough safes for most gun owners.
#4 Mounting Options
If you’re buying a gun safe, you will likely already have decided where you want to keep it. You might want it mounted close to your bedside, tethered to your closet, or secured to your car.
Biometric gun safes come with mounting hardware or security cables included, allowing you to position the safe wherever you see fit. That said, most biometric gun safes come with one or the other – meaning you will either be able to mount it to your bedside or tether it to the car.
The VT Series of gun safes come with both mounting hardware and security cables included. It gives you complete flexibility for positioning the gun safe wherever you please.
#5 Fingerprint Capacity
Different biometric gun safes store different amounts of fingerprints. It is essential to buy a gun safe with a large fingerprint storage capacity. If one of your fingers does not get recognized, you could open it with another finger.
Furthermore, buying a biometric gun safe that can store several fingerprints allows you to feed other people’s fingerprints into the safe. So, for instance, a gun owner’s spouse may be able to access the safe if their fingerprint is stored on it.
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Note: To use a biometric reader, ensure your finger is clean and position it the way you did when you stored the fingerprint on the safe. Unless the fingerprint sensor has a high DPI that saves your entire fingerprint, proper finger alignment will be required for opening a biometric gun safe.
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Some biometric gun safes in the market can store over 100 fingerprints. However, storing 100 fingerprints is not required for the typical gun owner.
The VT Series – Bluetooth gun safe can store 20 fingerprints, which is more than enough for most gun owners.
It’s important to note that most biometric gun safes do not allow you to delete individual fingerprints from memory. You must erase the entire fingerprint database and start over to remove a fingerprint.
#6 Alternative Unlocking Methods
Biometric authentication is a fast, secure, and convenient way to unlock a gun safe. However, singularly relying on a biometric gun safe’s fingerprint scanner to unlock a safe isn’t a good idea. The scanner may malfunction, or the battery may run out, leaving you unable to access your weapons.
For this reason, every biometric gun safe in the market offers at least one other unlocking method. Typically, biometric gun safes come with a backup key that opens the safe.
However, other safes come with a number pad, and you can set a passcode/combination to protect the contents.
The VT Series – Bluetooth gun safe lets you set an eight-digit combination to secure the contents. The safe can also be unlocked using the backup keys, the phone app, and the nano key.
These features make the VT Series – Bluetooth safe stand from other products in the market.
#7 Warranty
Most biometric gun safes come with a limited one-year warranty. However, Vaultek offers a two-year warranty on all of their safes. If you register the product after purchase, the warranty period is extended by a year.
#8 Extra Features
Extra features such as an alarm function can make a gun safe that much more secure. There are gun safes in the market that sound the alarm when the wrong passcode is entered a few times.
Other gun safes sound the alarm when they are unlocked. This alerts the gun owner that their safe has been accessed if they are close by.
The VT Series – Bluetooth gun safe has an alarm, but it only activates when the safe detects an impact using its accelerometer. Both VT Series safes come with interior lights that switch on automatically when the safe is unlocked, which is another nice extra feature.
Conclusion
Locking up your weapons is sensible, whether you’re leaving them at home or carrying them with you in your car. With the right biometric gun safe, you won’t have to worry about fumbling with keys when you need a weapon.
Vaultek’s VT series boasts many excellent features that make it a secure and reliable option for keeping your guns safe.
Whether you’ve just bought your first handgun or have owned guns a long time, you cannot go wrong with the VT series – Bluetooth biometric gun safe.