Let’s look at how to find gun safes under $500. It’s easier than you may think. We compared dozens of safes, by checking out the durability, security, capacity, cost, and convenience features. Only the best made our list.
Do we feel bad for the ones that didn’t cut? No, we didn’t. You do us a favor by reading our posts, and we take care of you by helping you make great decisions. That’s enough talk. Let’s find you an affordable gun safe.
Here are more details about our top picks and seven other cool gun safes that we think you’ll want to consider.
Best Gun Safes for Under $500:
1. Stack-On GCB-1522 Steel 22-Gun Security Gun Cabinet
Here’s the long gun safe under $500. It’ll hold around 14 long guns in padded rests, and there’s room for handguns and other things on the removable shelf. Use the included hardware to bolt it to your wall. It is a little top-heavy, especially when you stock the shelf.
It’s hard to break into. Three locking rods slide against the top, bottom, and side of the door frame when you turn the key. There’s also a keypad for extra safety. Kids and adults alike will have a very hard time trying to get into this cabinet.
People who own many rifles and shotguns like that can keep all of their long guns in one place and away from tiny, curious hands. They are often surprised that it weighs about 100 pounds. It looks a lot lighter online.
Pros
- Plenty of room
- Padded rests for about 14 long guns
- Anchors to wall – hardware included
- A strong lock is hard to pick
- Digital keypad for extra security
Cons
- Locking rods set directly against the inside edge of the door frame when locked – There are no bolt holes
2. Quicktec Larger and Deeper Rifle Safe
This may be the gun safe under 300 for you if you have five long guns or less. There’s a lock box that you can use for a couple of pistols.
To get in it, you either use the programmable keypad, one of the two included bypass keys, or your fingerprint on the biometric pad. You can program the fingerprint pad for up to 125 people, so everyone in your family can have access to the safe.
If you ever have to get into it quickly in the dark, there is a silent mode option. That way, a burglar won’t hear that he’s about to be dealt with.
A key selling point seems to be the multiple unlocking options. It’s great to have that kind of flexibility when you want to let several different people have access to the safe. Everyone likes the lockbox as well. This bonus adds to the overall value of the safe.
Pros
- Access for multiple people
- Strong door and triple locking mechanism
- Includes take-along lockbox
- Can hold scoped rifles
Cons
- Not pre-drilled for anchoring
3. Stealth Handgun Hanger Safe Quick Access Electronic Pistol Security Box
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You’ll like this one if you are concerned with self-defense in the home. Imagine this:
You hear a noise. You press a few buttons on this safe’s keypad. The door immediately springs open. The inside is lit with a red light, so you easily grab your gun. Then you go take care of business. The whole process took less than five seconds.
There are four pre-drilled holes for bolting the safe down. Or you can use the strong cable. Either way, it would be hard for anyone to steal this safe. If you want to be able to get to your loaded handguns quickly, take a good look at this one.
Customers who keep guns for home protection love this safe. They say it has everything they need. And it does. People notice how much thought went into the design and engineering of this safe.
Pros
- Made for quick access in emergencies
- Heavy-duty construction makes it nearly impossible to pry open
- Anchor point and security cable keep safe from being carried off
Cons
- Some people don’t like the idea of their gun being held by the coated rod inside the barrel
4. BARSKA New Large Quick Access Biometric Rifle Gun Safe Cabinet
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You may think that you can’t have a strong biometric gun safe if you’re on a tight budget. Well, now you can. The steel is thick, not just on the door, but on the walls as well. That’s good because it would be much harder for a thief to cut or drill through it.
Anyone in your family can unlock this safe in about two seconds if you scan their fingerprints into the system. That way, you can rest easier if you have to travel and leave them behind. They’ll be able to get to a gun if they need to in a hurry.
People often talk about the value of this safe. It’s hard to find a gun safe in this price range that allows access with a fingerprint. Many have also commented on simplicity. It’s just a solid, functional, cheap, and reliable gun safe without any unnecessary bells and whistles to add to the cost. Everyone likes that.
Pros
- Biometric scanner stores up to 120 fingerprints to allow family access
- 14-gauge steel construction is sturdier than most of this price
- Bypass key in case of biometric failure
- Great value
Cons
- This safe is light and can be easily carried away if not anchored
- The price is a bit higher than $500 but you can get it on sale even if you’re on a budget
5. INTERGREAT Rifle Gun Safe, 10-12 Long Gun Safes
This is a good, cheap gun safe. What makes it so good is the tough steel cabinet. Cold-rolled steel is more expensive, but it is more resistant to attack by power tools.
It’s small enough to go in even a smaller closet, so you can hide it for even more security. Thieves can’t steal what they can’t find. The weight is a pro and a con. It makes it harder to set up, but it makes it harder to steal as well. Some people don’t even anchor this one down, but you should. You don’t want it to tip over.
The most common brag about this safe is the apparent toughness of the steel. Cold-rolled steel just feels tougher than other types of metal. Everyone likes the removable lockbox too. They like that they can just take it with them for portable protection of ammunition or even documents.
Pros
- Tough construction
- Quick access
- Fully padded interior
Cons
- This is a heavy safe. You’ll likely need help moving it and setting it up so you don’t hurt yourself
6. Stack-On GCDB-924 10-Gun Double-Door Steel Security Cabinet
It’s not easy to find a double-door gun safe with this much storage capacity for under $500. That’s what makes this one so unique. Being able to open both doors allows you to see everything and have plenty of room to grab what you need. You don’t have that cramped feeling that you do with most other safes.
It’s secure, too. The one essential feature of double-door safes is resistance to cutting between the doors. This safe has a thick steel plate that closes the gap. It would take a long time to cut through it. There’s no keypad or fingerprint scanner. You have to have one of the two included keys to open it.
Those looking for an affordable gun safe were happy that they could get something so big without spending a bunch of money. They talk about how much room they have for not only their guns but jewelry and other expensive things.
Pros
- Very tough construction
- Double door for easy access
- Extra security features, like recessed hinges and steel door plates, provide extra burglary resistance
Cons
- The key is the only way to access the safe. That may slow you down in an emergency
7. Quicktec Larger and Deeper Rifle Safe
The star of this safe is the bolt mechanism. Three bolts provide very good protection from a pry bar. But this one has five. That makes for superior protection that is almost impossible to find in gun safes at this price. We like that kind of value.
It’s also versatile. You can program over 100 fingerprints for quick access. You can also program your code into the keypad and give that code to anyone you wish. Of course, there’s also a bypass key for emergencies, like a dead battery.
People who have done a lot of research before deciding on this safe talk about the enhanced locking mechanism. They’ve noticed what we like to point out, which is that most gun safes under $500 only have three locking bolts. This one has five.
Pros
- Better pry resistance
- Heavy-duty steel cabinet
- Slim profile fits in most closets without shelves
- Removable lockbox
Cons
- The keypad’s backlight is rather dim. This may be good for older folks who are sensitive to glare in dark rooms, but it may be harder for others to see
8. Stack-On GCB-8RTA Steel 8-Gun Ready-to-Assemble Security Cabinet
This safe doesn’t provide serious protection from a determined thief, but it’s not meant to. It’s designed to keep children away from your guns.
The steel is rather thin. That’s where much of the cost savings come from. There’s also no keypad, so that saves some more. You’ll need a key to get inside. But that saves you from having to worry about dead batteries. There are no electronic parts here.
So there you have it. This is a good, cheap gun safe that will keep small hands off of your family’s guns. That’s important. Just keep in mind that it won’t do much to stop a thief with power tools and about 20 minutes to work.
The thing we hear most about this safe is its price. But that doesn’t mean it’s cheaply made. It can protect from a quick, mild attack. It’ll also keep kids out. That’s the main reason customers have bought this one. They want to keep their guns away from their kids.
Pros
- Very cheap
- Compared to the price, the durability makes for a good value
- Light enough to be easily moved
- Can be anchored for stability and better protection from theft
Cons
- Doesn’t provide a high level of burglary protection
Factors To Consider
Just because you’re on a budget, that doesn’t mean you have to get a piece of junk. You already understand the most obvious things, like capacity, durability, and so on.
But these points are almost always overlooked by shoppers who are looking for a bargain.
Locking Mechanism
There should be at least three bolts that slide either into boltholes or behind the door frame. Boltholes are better, but the other kind will work if you’re on a very tight budget.
At the higher end of the under $500 price range, you’ll find some safes with five bolts. They offer better protection from pry bars.
Fireproofing
This is a rare quality in gun safes under $500. If you are looking for fire protection, you may have to settle for less burglary protection or inadequate space.
You should check the rating. Generally, safes claim how long they will protect paper contents from an average house fire, which burns at 1,400 degrees.
The higher the rating, the better the protection is. Get one with at least 30 minutes of fire protection.
The Lock
You’re going to be faced with three choices: Key, keypad, and biometric. Biometric pads allow you to scan the fingerprints of several, up to 120, people so they can get to a gun if they have to. Keypads let you program your code so all you have to do is punch in a few numbers to unlock the safe. You can give the code to anyone you want to.
Keys are self-explanatory. Only cheaper safes omit all other ways of unlocking in favor of a keyed lock. But keys come with all safes as a bypass mechanism in case of battery failure. The obvious drawback to key-only locks is that anyone who happens to find the key can open the safe.
FAQ:
You have questions, and we have answers. Here are the most common questions we answered when we took a poll among people shopping for a good, affordable gun safe.
Do Regular Gun Safes Protect Against Fire?
They do not. They may keep the flames off of their contents, but they will not keep them from burning. The safe will get hot inside if there is a fire outside. If it gets hot enough, wooden rifle stocks and paper documents will ignite.
Do Gun Safes Under $500 Protect Against Burglars?
Yes, but only up to a point.
If you want something that a professional thief can’t get into, you’re going to have to spend a couple of thousand dollars. Cheaper gun safes like these are meant to keep kids and unauthorized adults away from dangerous guns and important things that can’t be destroyed.
You can hide smaller gun safes, in closets or other out-of-the-way places, for extra protection.
What If I Forget The Combination?
If you forget the combination of the digital keypad, which is the most common locking mechanism for this type of safe, you can use the bypass key to gain entry. Once you get into the safe, you’ll be able to reset the keypad and program a new code.
All of the safes we’ve looked at have bypass keys. Don’t buy one if it doesn’t have a key. If you do, and you forget the combo, you’ll have to destroy the safe to get inside. There’s no other way.
Conclusion
Stack-On offers two awesome safes for shoppers on a budget. One is the best fireproof model available, and the other is the best for people with over 20 guns. The Moutec one offers the best value, with its durable construction and bonus lockbox.
Those three are our top picks, but there’s no accounting for taste. You should look at everything that’s out there so you can get the gun safes under $500. Our reviews offer a good one for just about everyone. Make sure you have a good understanding of all the ones we talked about.
That, along with the knowledge you gained from the FAQs and Factors To Consider, will give you the confidence you need to make a great choice. So, what are you waiting for? The prices are good right now. It’s the best time to buy.
