What Are the Best Gun Safe Locks?

“What is the best gun safe lock?” As a master safe technician, I get asked this question a lot. The reality is, there isn’t a cut and dry ‘best’ lock.

Some locks are better than others. Some locks are pure cr@p. But at the end of the day, many locks are out there. The best one is the one you’re going to use.

With nearly 20 years of experience working on safes, I’ve seen the good, bad, and ugly of gun safe locks. And as folks around here like to point out, I’ve developed some strong opinions about which locks are well made and which should be tossed into the garbage.

The following is based on this insight and expertise to help you determine the best lock for you. It covers:

• Gun Safe Locks: Electronic Locks & Mechanical Locks

• Best Electronic Locks for Safes

• Best Mechanical Locks for Safes

• Find the Best Safe Lock for You?

Gun Safe Locks: Electronic Locks & Mechanical Locks

Gun safe locks typically fit into two groups — electronic and mechanical locks (dial locks). Then, there are sub-groups within these two main groups.

Electronic Locks

Most importantly, electronic locks function with either an Analog or Digital operating system. All UL-listed electronic safe locks must meet a Group 1 lock security rating.

It’s also important to note that the UL security rating of your safe may require a particular lock to maintain its rating (such as TL-15, TL-30, TL-30x6, TRTL-30x6, and TRTL-60x6).

Over the years, several different electronic lock models have been manufactured. Most of the early models have been phased out now, but a few have been revised and are still available.

Within electronic locks, there are two primary groupings:

1. Electronic Locks

Electronic gun safe locks offer faster access, programmable combinations, and more straightforward operating features for individuals with unsteady hands. The main components include:

• Keypad – Where the user enters the access code.

• Control Circuit Board – Processes input and controls the locking mechanism.

• Power Source – Usually a 9V battery, sometimes with backup options.

• Solenoid or Motorized Locking Mechanism – Engages/disengages the bolt.

• Locking Bolt – The physical barrier securing the safe.

• Override Mechanism (Optional) – A biometric system. Backup keys (aka a key bypass) are only on NON UL listed locks and are NOT RECOMMENDED as they pose a security risk.

2. Biometric Locks

A biometric lock is a security system that uses a person’s unique biological traits—such as fingerprints, facial recognition, retina scans, or even voice recognition—to grant or deny access. On a gun safe, these locks typically focus on fingerprint scanners and are often offered with a keypad electronic lock. The main components include:

• Biometric Sensor – Captures a fingerprint, face, or other biometric data.

• Microprocessor (Control Unit) – Converts and processes the biometric data.

• Memory Storage – Stores authorized biometric profiles.

• Locking Mechanism – A solenoid, motorized bolt, or electronic actuator that locks/unlocks.

• Power Source – Typically this includes a battery bank inside the safe that is also plugged into a wall outlet.

• Backup Access (Optional) – Can include a PIN, key, or RFID card as a failsafe.

Mechanical Locks

Within the mechanical lock group, the locks range from run-of-the-mill Group 2 UL listed locks up to the higher security Group 1R locks.

The first recorded idea of the combination lock is circa 1206. It comes from the work of Al-Jazari, a medieval Muslim engineer. In his book The Book of Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices, he described a lock with rotating disks.

The commercial development of the modern dial combination lock was more than 650 years late. In 1857, James Sargent introduced a key-changeable combination lock, which became popular in bank safes. By the early 1900s, companies like Sargent & Greenleaf and Master Lock had refined and mass-produced dial locks, making them common in safes, lockers, and security applications.

Main Components of a Mechanical Lock

• Dial – The user rotates this to input the combination.

• Spindle – Connects the dial to the internal wheel pack.

• Wheel Pack – A set of rotating disks (usually 3 to 4) that store the combination.

• Drive Cam & Drive Pin – Transfers motion from the spindle to the wheels.

• Fence – A small L-shaped metal bar that detects the correct alignment of the wheels.

• Locking Bolt – The mechanism that keeps the lock secured until the fence drops into place.

Best Electronic Locks for Safes

I prefer locks that communicate with a Digital Signal between the keypad and the lock body. This form of communication is more uniform.

Your safe mechanism may also dictate which lock body you have to use. Some mechanisms will allow a swingbolt, the simplest and most reliable lock body setup in most cases.

Some safe mechanisms require a dead bolt style lock so the door can be automatically relocked (aka latched) by just turning the handle. Typically, the safes requiring a dead bolt lock body are older gun safes.

Companies like Securam make a deadbolt lock body that will work with their keypads, but they are not as reliable as direct drive digital locks (D-Drive). Everything I install and use now is EMP-rated. Currently, these are my top picks for the best electronic locks for safes, listed in order of my preference.

1. Securam Prologic L01 (and Variants)

PROS

• Excellent reliability and longevity.

• Super easy to use and program.

• The Battery is simple to change.

• Higher-end variants even offer time delays, audit trail capability, time lock management, and additional users.

• Group 1 UL Security Rating.

• Swingbolt lock body.

It’s also worth noting that these locks are proving to be just as dependable as the current production Sargent & Greenleaf 6741 and 6730 UL-listed Dial locks.

2. Securam Scanlogic Basic (and Variants)

PROS

• Excellent reliability and longevity.

• The Battery is simple to change.

• Opens with a keypad code or a biometric fingerprint reader.

• For even more security, you can make these locks require both a code and a fingerprint.

• Group 1 UL Security Rating.

• Swingbolt lock body.

• Higher-end variants offer time delays, audit trail capability, time lock management, and additional users.

CONS

• Programming for these locks is a little cumbersome.

3. Sargent & Greenleaf Titan Pivot Bolt

PROS

• Excellent reliability and longevity.

• Easy to use.

• Multiple users.

• Time delay.

• Group 1 UL Security Rating.

• Swingbolt lock body.

CONS

• Programming is a little more involved.

• Changing the battery in the Low Profile keypad is not fun.

• The Dual battery keypad is prone to severing the lock body cable and breaking the battery connection solder points off.

Sargent & Greenleaf Titan Direct Drive (D-Drive)

PROS

• Excellent reliability and longevity.

• Easy to use.

• Multiple users.

• Time delay options.

• Group 1 UL Security Rating.

• Dead bolt lock body.

• Drilled and tapped for lock bolt extensions. (This feature is needed for installation on some older gun safes, like the National Security brand.)

CONS

• Programming is a little more involved.

• Changing the battery in this keypad is very hard.

• Battery connector cables frequently when the process is not installed correctly. (We are often called to fix this issue.)

• Lining up the direct drive system with the keypad outer ring during installation is also hard (this is another issue we’re often called to fix)

Securam Direct Drive C10 Model (digital operating system model)

I am still in the testing phase for this one, but if it holds up, this is going to be my top pick for the D-Drive lock. So — the verdict is still out on reliability and longevity, but it does use the same operating system as the Prologic and Scanlogic (which is promising).

PROS

• Easiest battery changing procedure on the market.

• Programming is a lot like the Scanlogic and S&G model locks, so it's not as easy as the Prologic.

• Offered with Audit Trail capability.

• Multiple users.

• Time delay.

• Group 1 UL Security Rating.

• Dead bolt lock body.

• It is drilled and tapped for lock bolt extensions also. (This feature is needed for installation on some older gun safes like the National Security brand.)

CONS

• Reliability and longevity TBD.

Best Mechanical Locks for Safes

Sargent & Greenleaf (S&G) hands down has the mechanical gun safe lock market cornered. All the dial lock setups require maintenance, but the Group 1 locks should be checked more frequently. The Group 1 locks are more complex to install and aren’t as trouble-free as the S&G 6600 and 6700 series.

Here is my pick for the mechanical locks, listed in order of preference:

Sargent & Greenleaf 6730

PROS

• 3-number combination.

• 1,000,000 possible combinations.

• Has a 1.25 wide number dialing tolerance.

• Adjustable dial tension gear.

• Group 2 UL Security Rating.

• Typically found on high-end gun safes and some commercial safes.

Sargent & Greenleaf 6741

PROS

• 3-number combination.

• 1,000,000 possible combinations.

• Has a 1.25 wide number dialing tolerance.

• Group 2 UL Security Rating.

• Typically found on high-end gun safes and some commercial safes.

CONS

• No adjustable dial tension gear.

• Built with Zamak-type alloy than the standard Brass construction found in the 6700 and 6600 series. (Zamak is a weaker material that doesn’t offer the same longevity.)

Sargent & Greenleaf 6630

PROS

• 3-number combination.

• 1,000,000 possible combinations.

• Has a 1.25 wide number dialing tolerance.

• Adjustable dial tension gear.

• Group 2 UL Security Rating.

• Typically found on high-end gun safes and some commercial safes.

• False gates and a lever arm nose roller (to deter manipulation).

Sargent & Greenleaf 8550/8560

If you MUST have a Group 1 lock, these two models are the winner. However, I avoid using them whenever I can.

PROS

• Group 1 lock.

• S&G 8560 has the acetal plastic wheels for x-ray protection.

• Adjustable tension gear.

• 1-digit wide dialing tolerance.

CONS

• Prone to malfunctioning.

• Does not offer the longevity and reliability of other models.

Find the Best Safe Lock for You?

Ensure easy and secure access to your safe by choosing the right lock for your needs and abilities. Because, as we stated above, the best lock is the one you will use.