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Mech. vs. electronic safe question.

Blckhrn
Someone asked the question some time ago on this topic.

I got my $100 used Sentry gunsafe home last week and promptly dropped it face down on the sidewalk. Smashed the dial in so far it wouldn't turn. Luckily I had transported it unlocked or I think I would have paid more to have it repaired by a locksmith than a new one would have cost. I took the inner panel off and hammered the dial back into position. Looks like a snap ring broke or something because it wants to screw itself back in when it turns. Haven't taken it apart yet.

If something as disastrous had happened to an electronic lock there wouldn't be a snowball's chance in hell I could have fixed it.

It is for reasons such as this that I prefer traditional design.

"You can build a man a fire and keep him warm for a couple hours or douse him with fuel oil and keep him warm the rest of his life"
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Comments

12 comments

Date Votes
  • targetshooter
    I have had both electronic and manual, and I will take electronic any day and I will never go back to a manual lock again.

    Down Zero
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  • Alpine
    Same here. I have yet to drop one on it's face though, yet.

    So you have accomplished something I have never done.

    Your mileage may vary.

    avatar.jpg

    "If you ain't got pictures, I wasn't there."
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  • zipperzap
    I've got three gun vaults (and I know you're talking portable gun safes here). One is a dial type and two (Brownings) are electric pushpad. I'm in the process of selling the manual dial vault - to get another Browning electric.

    Like they've said here - once you've got electric you'll (or most folks I know) never want to mess with a manual combination again.

    My 2?
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  • Smoky14
    My S&G comdo is going south and I need to replace it.
    Could you all give advice on a replacement elect lock.

    Thanks

    Smoky the perplexed


    People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid.
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  • bikrprchr
    I agree with those on the electronic side of life. My safe is in a room that is not brightly lit, and when I go to open the safe, I shadow what light there is with my body. I find the buttons on the electronic lock easier to see than the numbers on the dial type lock.

    As to the question of where to get a replacement for the S&G unit that is failing, I would contact the safe manufacturer or a lock smith to see what is available as a replacement.
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  • bobinwis
    I have 2 Sun Welding 60x30x24 safes with S&G electronic locks. They are powered by 2 9-volt batteries so you can replace them 1 at a time without losing power. The older was purchased in 1999. The batteries still have plenty of steam in them. I like them. There is a master combination and room for several more, so you can grant someone else entry (not on your combination) and also remove it.

    Regards, Bob
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  • Blckhrn
    "(and I know you're talking portable gun safes here)"

    If by portable you mean can be handled empty by one guy on grade with an appliance dolly and will accomodate 12 long guns, then yes, I'm talking about portable.

    I have yet to try an electronic safe nut will stick with mechanical, especially after looking at my lock and a friend's. I'll take simplicity over high tech in this respect any day. My luck would be that the electronic lock would fail when I needed it most.

    "You can build a man a fire and keep him warm for a couple hours or douse him with fuel oil and keep him warm the rest of his life"
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  • Alpine
    Once you try the electronic, you will never go back to a dial.

    Do you have a rotary telephone dial or a keypad on your home phone?

    I rest my case.

    Your mileage may vary.
    "Every time a system is made foolproof - a new class of fool emerges."
    Prod Harris

    avatar.jpg

    "If you ain't got pictures, I wasn't there."
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  • select-fire
    I will only go mechanical
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  • easygo6
    Mechanical only for me. I don't believe the advantages of electronic lock outweigh the disadvantages, that I percieve.

    SEMPER FI
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  • bikrprchr
    Personal perception is a powerful force, meaning if we truly believe something, no amount of persuasion will cause us to change our opinion. Of course that logic applies to both those who prefer electronic locks and those that prefer mechanical.

    As for the "fail when I need it most" thought process, that is exactly why I keep my home defense guns out of the safe and at hand so to speak. The last thing I would ever want to contend with in an emergency situation is trying to dial a mechanical combination lock. Even the high end ones can be finicky in certain circumstances.
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  • booger
    At work we have an electronic safe and the "4" key is not always responsive. The contact within is requiring more and more pressure to respond. Unfortunately the "4" is a part of the combination. When it fails permanently, I hope I'm off that day. Anything plastic and electronic is disposable.

    I believe the S&G mechanical at home is more reliable.

    To Alpine: Having disposed of perhaps 20 touch-key phones I really do have a dial phone. It's a big 'ol red one with a ringing bell I can hear even outside. "Bell Systems made by Western Electric"

    Them ducks is wary.
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