Trigger Lock Options — Need Advice (Key vs Combination)

Guns & Gear
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Do you have kids in the home? Irresponsible roommates?

Is the firearm for home/self defense? Or just a range / competition gun?

Are there local laws requiring a certain level of firearm security?

There’s lots of considerations for safe storage and transport.

Personally, my kids are grown, and are familiar with firearms safety, still the vast majority of my guns are locked in my liberty safe in my locked bedroom, mostly for smash and grab theft protection.

The 5 that don’t live in the safe, 3 are rendered inoperable by removing bolt and locking that in the safe, one is a sharps that if you don’t know how to operate that single shot 17+lb 4 foot long beast it’s just a heavy club (plus ammo is not off the shelf 45-110, and what I have is locked)

The last one is my EDC, and it’s either on my person, or my dresser when I’m sleeping.

When I’m at work (not allowed to carry) it’s in a steel locking safe that’s BOLTED to the floorboards of my truck.

Find what works best for your situation and local laws.

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22

I use two…one for my wife and one for myself. It keeps small hands away and I know that the f big hands want what’s inside they’ll get it one way or the other . Cause as we all know and safe is used to keep an honest man honest.

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23

I personally don’t consider myself an expert… but I know that you never should run cable lock through the barrel… unless it’s Glock and you don’t care :wink:

It is not about how much pressure barrel can handle, it’s about how the object goes through it.

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24

When I was much younger and had a young child, my solution was to keep my double-action semiautomatic cloaded with a round in the chamber. Then I positioned a Master trigger lock behind the trigger. That prevented the gun from being fired and the slide from being racked as well. (This works only with double action handguns.)

I wore the key on a stainless steel keychain-style chain from Home Depot around my neck 100% of the time, just as decades before I had worn dog tags. The spare key went in our safety deposit box. For me, this maximized safety combined with rapid access to my firearm if needed.

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25

If you live in a blue state practicality flies out the window and what you need is what is approved by your state Department of Justice. There are probably better and safer solutions, but a DOJ approval is what’s going to win you points if the authorities ever get involved.

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26

I prefer a gun safe. You can also use it for important documents, etc.

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27

One other good thing about cable locks is if you lose the key, a small bolt cutter will snip it right off.

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28

This is also the bad thing about cable locks.

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29

True. But ANY lock only provides protection from honest or incapable people in the first place. That includes locking steel storage boxes.

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30

OK, my mistake here… I ment through the mag, not through the barrel. (as pointed out by others.)

But y’all get the idea.

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31

I agree with the crowd. A small gun safe cabinet can be purchased for less than $200. Look in Harbor Freight or Tractor Supply, or your favorite hardware or wholesale store.

Also, check your local pawn shops. I purchased an 8 gun 4-hour fire rated safe in great condition for $80 a few years ago. I outgrew it quickly, and sold it for $120.

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32

That is good point, and I do plan to get a safe later. For now I have kids at home, so I am looking for an extra layer of safety until I can buy one.

I am mainly trying to figure out whether a key lock or combination trigger lock is more reliable in real-world use.

33

Yes :sweat_smile:

34

Thanks for sharing your experience. That is actually one of the reasons I am leaning toward a keyed lock as well. My main concern is long-term reliability and making sure it works when I need it.

1 Like
35

Key lock then.

Easier and faster to open by you when you need it. Combination can be easily opened by smart kids. :wink: It’s like a game for them.

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