The Hornady Rapid Safes are designed to fill the gap between safety and rapid access to your firearms. A home defense weapon should be secured, but also be easily accessed. With this in mind, how do you find a compromise between safety and access?
The Hornady Rapid Safe series is attempting to provide an easy solution to a complicated problem. The Rapid Safe series includes options for handguns, shotguns, and rifles. Today we’re going to talk about the Hornady Rapid Safe Shotgun Wall Lock
How The Rapid Safe Shotgun Wall Lock Works
This safe is no bigger than a textbook in width and length, although it’s thicker than most. (Unless that book is a classic Western Philosophy.) The safe only locks around the receiver of the shotgun and can be opened via 3 different methods.
The first is the old and reliable key lock. Twist the keep and the safe pops open. It’s simple, not the fastest means, but is a reliable, nonelectronic manual means to access your firearm.
The Rapid Safe Shotgun Wall Lock also has a programmable key code that the user can plug in and open the safe a little faster than the key. There are only four different buttons and they are massive in size so they are quick to hit.
Lastly is the RFID portion of the kit. The Shotgun Wall Lock comes with a wristband, key fob, and sticker that all have a mini RFID chip that can be programmed to open the safe. Simply scan the RFID chip over the control panel of the safe and it opens in a flash.
The safe can be mounted vertically or horizontally and simply needs to be screwed into a wall.
How Safe is It?
If you notice the trigger is exposed, so is this a safety issue with the Rapid Safe Shotgun Wall Lock? No, actually Hornady seemed to prepare for this issue by adding a bar on the inside of the safe. This bar goes into the action of the gun.
The only way to mount the shotgun to the safe is to open the action and put the bar through the action. The gun cannot possibly be fired in this safe.
However, this means you’ll need to close the action to ready the weapon. I leave a round on the liftgate, so all I need to do is push the pump forward and I’m ready.
What’s great about it
First, it’s fast and easy to access. I scan the RFID or I toss in the combo and boom, I have the gun in my hand.
I’ve used the RFID chip, Key fob, and wristband over and over, and it has never failed to open. Even quick scans or partial scans seem to open the safe without issue.
The keypad is illuminated so it’s easy to find in the dark too. The large keys are easy to access in the dark, and the safe flies open. It doesn’t slowly open, it literally shoots open.
Electronics can fail, and the power can go out. In that situation, the safe does implement a battery backup and a manual key option.
The safe is safe, the gun can’t be fired, and it fits a wide variety of shotguns. No issues with my Mossberg 590 or Remington 870.
What I don’t like about it.
It’s not perfect. It will basically only fit a shotgun that has zero accessories. Any side saddles or optics are going to be a no go. The safe won’t close and the shotgun won’t fit with anything else attached.
So that is bummer because I’m a big fan of red dots and side saddles on home defense shotguns. It also doesn’t fit my Mossberg 930 with the extended charging handle. It’s very size picky.
Would I buy it Again?
Yes! I actually bought the Hornady Rapid Pistol safe as well. It’s not perfect, but I really like it. It does blend safety and access very well. The Hornady Rapid Shotgun Wall Lock is also affordable and comes in at under 200 bucks. If a shotgun is your home defense go-to, this safe is for you.
My pistol version is where I store my EDC before bed, and I think the AR variant will be coming in down the road for my 80 percent lower AR pistol, so stay tuned for that.
