safety

The Hornady Rapid Safe Shotgun Wall Lock

May 4, 2019 By Travis Pike Leave a Comment

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 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.

hornady rapid safe inside — Notice the bar to make sure the action is opened.

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, Keyfob, and wristband over and over, and it’s 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 can’t close and the shotgun won’t fit. 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.

S&W Issues Consumer Safety Alert on M&P15-22

March 12, 2019 By Josh Leave a Comment

S&W issued a consumer safety alert on their M&P15-22. All rifles and pistols manufactured before February 1, 2019 could be affected.

The issue is that the rifle’s breech face counter bore depth could be out of specification, causing it to crush the rim on the .22 round, firing, cycling the bolt again, and causing multiple unintended discharges.

So far S&W has found two to be affected, but they’re cautioning all who have one of these rifles or pistols to cease use until after the bolts have been inspected.

There are two methods of inspection. You could do it yourself by ordering this tool, currently free of charge, or you could send the bolt in to Smith-Wesson for them to inspect.

Check out their video explaining in further depth what is happening and how to check to see if you have an affected bolt:

If you have one of the affected bolts, they will send you a new one free of any charges, shipping or otherwise, and get it to you as quickly as they can. You can find out more about this consumer safety alert, by visiting their website, here.

The 4 Basic Firearms Safety Rules

August 24, 2018 By Craig Campbell Leave a Comment

The necessity to be safe while “gun training” cannot be overemphasized …

There are rules. The rules must be followed or people could get hurt. Really, that’s how it is with all aspects of life from the job you have, to raising your children, to driving down the road.

Take, for example, the simple stop sign. If you choose to not follow the rule, or law, while driving and blow through the stop sign, you may have an accident. Of course, accidents aren’t guaranteed to happen, but the rules are put in place to prevent a collision from happening.

Another example, can be found when working on cars. I was a mechanic for a good part of my life. I knew that there was a rule in place that stated: If a car is up in the air, there must be jack stands underneath it to prevent it from falling.

You don’t understand its importance until a jack twists under the weight of a car. Once that happens, you realize why those rules are there. Thankfully, I wasn’t under the car when it came crashing down on the driveway below.

There are rules, or people get hurt. The wonderful world of self-defense is no different. And, in fact, the four rules of firearm safety may even be more important than all the others.

Guns can be used in self-defense, to kill animals for food, for target practice, and to fight wars. Guns can be used to kill.

Granted, this isn’t always the case. But, I can say that I carry a concealed firearm because I’d rather my attacker die than have my kids lose their daddy.

You’ve likely heard the saying that the firearm is the great equalizer of force. A tiny, old lady can successfully defend herself against a much bigger, younger opponent if equipped to do so.

Before we move on to the main point, let’s look at this in a bit more depth …

The gun by itself does not kill because it, alone, isn’t capable of taking any action. The person operating it is the sole deciding factor of whether or not these weapons will fire a round, whether done purposefully or “accidentally.”

Having said all of that, a firearm is nothing more than a tool, much in the same way a hammer or screwdriver is. In the wrong hands, a gun can be used to harm decent, hard-working people. Yet, so can a hammer, screwdriver, knife, car, truck or anything else you can think of.

On the flip side of the coin, in the right hands, a gun can be used in self-defense to save life much in the same way a hammer or screwdriver can.

As a side note, at some point in the near future, we’ll be starting an “opportunistic weapon” series, where we’ll look at how to use other household items in self-defense when a gun is not available to you. Moving on …

Any tool can be used as a weapon to ensure your survival when your life is placed on the line. The gun is nothing more than a tool that makes your job of living and making it home to your family, easier.

Because guns are tools, they are not inherently evil. Using a firearm to hunt is easier than using a speer. Just as it is easier to defend yourself with one, as opposed to a stick.

Because they are an object, they can be used properly, or improperly. They can be used for good, or for evil.

They can also be mismanaged by well-intentioned people. This is one of the reasons why there are rules, and why I’d like you to share this article with everyone you know.

What are the 4 basic rules for firearms safety?

It’s unfair to have an article about the basic rules of firearms safety without mentioning the man who championed them and made them what they are today.

Colonel Jeff Cooper played a huge role in developing much of the firearms training materials, like the 4 basic rules of firearms safety and the varying conditions of carried weapons (which will likely be covered in another article.)

One of the things drilled into me at basic training, and every time I went to the range after that in the Marines, were Jeff Cooper’s rules. I want to take a moment to discuss them with you now, and it is my sincere hope that you share this with all of your friends either as a refresher course, or to teach them for the first time.

It’s that important.

Rule #1)

Treat every gun like it is loaded:

Here’s the deal. If everyone always treated the gun they had in their hands like it had a live cartridge in the chamber, never assuming that it was unloaded, negligent discharges would drop dramatically.

Taking it a step further than that, whenever you do anything with your gun, you should always clear it to make sure it is unloaded. Several deaths happen each year because a firearm was negligently discharged when someone began to clean it, assuming it wasn’t loaded.

Never assume.

Taking it yet another step further, I always clear a gun before I hand it to someone else because I’m never sure how much gun training the other person has. Will they treat the weapon like it’s loaded?

A friend’s kid pointed a loaded .22 mag revolver at me once when he handed it to me and I about lost my mind.

I pulled the gun from his hands, emptied the cylinder, and gave him a lesson right there on the spot. The person you’re handing the gun to will likely be grateful that you are ensuring their safety by clearing it for them first.

In fact, whenever I hand someone a firearm, I do so with the action open, so they can have piece of mind that nothing is in there.

Rule #2)

Never point your gun at something you’re not willing to kill/destroy:

This is simple, but I see people violating it all the time. If I had a dollar for every time I’d been to a gun store and have been muzzled (someone pointed a gun at me, sighting it in), I’d have a lot of money.

Think about it like this. Guns make killing animals and self-defense easier, right? So, why would you ever want to point something designed to shoot metal projectiles at 1,000 feet per second at something you didn’t, in fact, want to shoot?

Let that sink in for just a moment, and then remember it next time you go “try on” a gun at your local shop …

Rule #3)

Keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you intend to fire:

Until your sights are on your intended target, and you want to shoot, your trigger finger (and all other fingers, for that matter) should be off the trigger.

This should be common sense, but it isn’t. Going a step further than the obviousness of this rule, keep EVERYTHING away from your trigger. There have been numerous “accidents” where clothing snagged a trigger, or where a damaged holster tugged on it just enough to send a round through the pipe.

Therefore, let me plug something that I do on a regular basis: check your gear for defects. If you begin to notice that your holster has a hole in it, or the leather is wearing a lot more than you’d like, get a new one.

Your life, or that of someone else, is a lot more important than the $50 you’d spend on a new holster.

Rule #4)

Know your target and what’s around it:

I’ve heard it worded like this once, and it really hits the point home — once that bullet leaves the barrel, you own it. This means that if you let a stray shot out and it hits someone else, that person could get injured and hold you responsible.

Of course, that’s only one aspect. You could also kill someone you didn’t intend to hurt, and that will stay with you the rest of your life.

Taking this a step further, bullets can and often do travel through things like walls, and even other people. You need to know what your target’s surroundings are before you pull the trigger.

Here is an example of a shooting competition where the shooter thought the range was clear, and wasn’t:

Guns are tools designed to make a job easier. Whether it is self-defense, hunting, target practice, or anything else you use your gun for, following the basic firearms safety rules will ensure everyone remains safe.

Did I leave anything out? Do you have anything to add? If so, make sure you leave a comment below, to share with everyone. Have you caught up on our SHOT Show coverage yet? If not, you can find all of our videos on the YouTube channel.

Handgun Safe Review: Gun Vault 2000

December 15, 2017 By Josh Leave a Comment

We’ll get to the handgun safe review in a moment, but I wanted to talk about safety for a second …

One of the most important aspects of anything regarding guns is safety. Gun safety goes beyond safe handling, trigger control, proper muzzle awareness, knowing your target, and treating all guns as if they are loaded. All aspects of the gun must be treated in a safe manner, to include storage. I hope I don’t have to explain the importance of locking up your guns when you’re not around, but I know some of you are beginners, so let’s tackle this topic before moving on to the actual gun safe review.

I want to say right now that I’m writing this from the point of view of a dad who has three little kids at home all under the age of 10. I’m writing this as a dad who teaches his children about guns because I feel as though it is one of the most important things I could ever teach them.

I know that whatever they don’t learn from me here, at home, they’ll learn somewhere else. Therefore, I want to teach them as much as I can before they decide that what I have to say isn’t important. Having said all of that, my youngest is 5. While he gets that guns aren’t toys and that he should never touch one, he is still only a five year old boy who touches–literally–everything he can.

This means that I need to take responsibility as an adult and father to protect my children from themselves.

I have taken my nine year old girl shooting. She had a blast, and I made her commit the safety rules to memory, as well as the parts of the gun itself. I have the firm belief that someone cannot fully understand how to be safe with a firearm until they know what the various parts are. But, that’s besides the point.

My guns are kept in a manner that my children cannot get to them. I won’t divulge much because that part of my life is private, but I hope you understand the point.

There are some folks out there who don’t lock their guns up, and while that is their prerogative, it’s not for me. Let’s say, for a moment, that I didn’t have young children at home. I’m not a hermit and have to leave my house a few times per week. If I left my guns out in the open, any old idiot criminal could have access to my firearms, and that’s got bad ju-ju written all over it.

So, I intend to lock my firearms up when not in use, and one of my methods of locking them up has been this Gun Vault 2000 handgun safe for the past six months. It has worked well for me, and I even brought it on vacation.

I have practiced with this safe so much over the past few months that it takes me just a couple seconds to get into it, and I feel confident that my children cannot. The rest of what follows is a review of that Gun Vault 2000 safe, that I ordered from 1800 Guns And Ammo. They’ve got really good prices on many different things, and I always check their prices before I make a buying decision.

Gun Vault Safe

I’ve had this safe for many months, and even brought it on vacation with me to lock my gun up while away from home. It is a little bit bigger than your average “travel” safe, but it still worked well when I drove through communist Maryland under the protection of 926A, and again while we stayed in our cabin in the mountain region of North Carolina.

This particular handgun safe has a thin plastic shelf on the inside that is designed to hold a gun, some ammo, or whatever else you feel like stashing inside. As you can see from the pictures I snapped, I had two guns in there, and I do believe that depending on how they are placed, I could have fit a total of four to six guns, depending on their size.

There are other safes made by this company that are smaller in size, more portable, and offer the same options. Make sure you check them out.

Security:

I wouldn’t use my left hand, but for picture purposes, here is my hand on the keypad.

This handgun safe is not meant to be impenetrable. None of the best handgun safes are. What it is meant to be, is a deterrent. A criminal who breaks into my house may be inclined to try and steal it, or even get it open. But if he can’t get it open, in the name of time and not getting arrested, he is more likely to move on. And, unless he has a pry bar on him to pull it off the table it’s bolted to, there won’t be any taking it. Then again, I guess he can take the entire table, but that has its own risks.

It’s also meant to keep kids out which is a bigger deal for me because I work from home and spend most of my time here, writing about guns (don’t forget I’m the editor for concealedcarry.com). Therefore, my kids are always around, especially since we home school them. This gives the added peace of mind that comes with locking my guns up away from them.

Construction:

The Gunvault 2000 pistol safe is built well, and seems to be solid as far as construction goes. It is not impenetrable, though, and that needs to be kept in mind. Again, this is a deterrent to theft, not an end-all to it. Having said that though, I’ve had it in my possession since May or June of this year, so about seven months so far, and can say that I’m pretty happy with how it has held up.

The door is spring-loaded, so it flies open with fury once the security code is entered (or the key is used). What’s nice about it, is that it doesn’t slam because there are two little rubber bushings acting as a door stop to absorb the impact and noise.

I tried to picture the little bushings, pardon the dust.

It isn’t heavy, but it can be bolted down to a hard surface for some extra security. A template is included to make it easier for you to bolt it down, if this is a desire for you. Just keep in mind that once you do, it isn’t portable anymore.

I do believe this is one of the best handgun safes out there, for the money.

What’s included:

What’s nice is that, since it’s electronically operated, it has a battery backup. That way, if you lose power you’ll still be able to get into the safe to defend yourself if needed. If your battery died, it comes with a few barrel keys that override the system to help you get in.

You also get the necessary paperwork to help you learn how to use the safe, to program it, and make sure you know how to use it, should it not be so straight forward. If I can figure it out, trust me when I say that you will be able to, as well.

How to program your GunVault handgun safe:

So, it’s not to hard to do. Here are the basic steps–

Press the “Learn Button” and hold it down for two seconds. A green light will appear.
Enter your chosen code. The green light will stay on.
Press and hold the learn button again for another two seconds, which will turn the light red and will be accompanied by an audible beep. Release the button.
With the light red, enter your chosen code a second time to confirm it.
Press and hold the “Learn Button” for the third and final time for two seconds. When you release the button, the light will flash green five times, along with five simultaneous beeps which confirms that the code is accepted.

That’s it. Once it’s programmed, it is necessary to practice opening it and committing the code to memory. Make sure you practice it enough times that you develop muscle memory so you’ll still be able to pop it open in the middle of the night, if needed.

Other features:

There are some other features, as well, that you should be aware of. The first one, is that you can turn the sound off on the keypad, but I tend to like the audible beep so I can hear that the button was pushed down right. Another one is a tamper detection feature, that will show you if someone entered the wrong code. Finally, there is a sleep mode that prevents someone to break-in after 24 unsuccessful attempts of entering.

Getting past the sleep mode is easy with the use of one of the included keys, so don’t lose them. Speaking of the key, it is important to note that the keys are numbered and so is the safe. Make sure you write these numbers down should you ever lose the keys or need technical assistance. You should be able to order replacement keys if lost, with this info.

Issues:

Nothing is perfect, and this GunVault Handgun Safe isn’t, either. One of the main issues that I have is the fact that the safe isn’t as quick as I am. What I mean, is that if I push the code in as fast as I can, it only registers one or two of the buttons, instead of the entire code I’ve chosen.

So, it takes a bit of practice to make sure you’re entering the entire code at a speed that the safe can recognize. I’ve gotten it down, but as with any of your gun training, this is a part of it now and needs to be practiced too.

pistol safe — This handgun safe is big on the inside, and 4-6 guns would fit, depending on size.

Conclusion:

I feel as though having the ability to lock guns up when not in use is important. This is amplified when children are present, because even when kids are taught, some of them still allow their curiosity to get the best of them. I know that I’m doing all I can to keep my kids and their friends safe when they come over to play by locking my guns up.

The last thing I need is for my guns to fall into the wrong hands, so I do my part. Do you do yours? Which gun safe do you use at your bedside? Let me know in the comments below. Then, make sure you give this list of the top 20 9mm handguns a read. Did yours make the list?

Check out my friends over at 1800 Guns and Ammo.