Simple & Secure Firearm Storage Solutions
Top Quick Access Shotgun Safes, Handgun Safes, and Rifle Safes
Originally Published 4.9.2020 | Updated 1.29.2025
Are you worried about the best way to defend your home? Personal firearms offer home protection, as long as they don't fall into the wrong hands. Keep you and your loved ones safe by using a quick access safe that securely stores your home defense weapons.
Since 1988, Northwest Safe has proudly offered customers the best selection of safes in the Pacific Northwest. Along with our large gun safes, we offer a selection of quick access safes. These safes are made to hold one or two firearms.
Help you protect what matters most is our mission. To help you do so, we assembled this guide to home defense firearm storage. It includes:
Protect Yourself Legally by Purchasing a Gun Safe
In July of 2019, Washington state passed RCW 9.41.360. This law holds gun owners responsible if they store their guns improperly and an unauthorized individual accesses it. Prohibited individuals include minors and felons.
An improperly stored firearm could result in the conviction of:
Community Endangerment in the First Degree is a Class C felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Community Endangerment in the Second Degree is a Gross Misdemeanor punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a $5,000 fine.
A Quick Access Gun Safe Offers Secure & Convenient Storage
Large 50-gun safes, like the ones in Liberty’s Presidential series offer exceptional security. But keeping one of these 1,500-pound safes by your bed is hardly practical. Nor is it a quick access safe. Even for people who know their safe well, it can still take a minute or more to open it and take out a firearm.
Quick access gun safes can be installed in a convenient location and opened in a matter of moments. This is true for both small pistol safes and shotgun safes. They give you quick access to your gun. This way, you can defend your home when needed.
What is the Best Firearm for Home Defense & How to Secure It?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to the best firearm for home defense. A good rule of thumb is the best firearm to defend your home is the one you can confidently use and securely store. That being said, there are some home defense firearms that are popular, especially among first-time gun buyers.
This list outlines the five most common home defense fire arms and the best quick access safes to secure them:
Remington 870 & Mossberg 500
Affordable and reliable, shotguns are often a good choice for first-time gun buyers. The Remington 870 and Mossberg 500 are easy to load and aim. You can use them with confidence in tight spaces. They can help you stop an intruder quickly.
Shotguns are also particularly attractive because you can take possession on the say you purchase. The only requirement is passing a background check.
Quick Access Shotgun Safes
Because of their size, most folks don’t think of storing a shotgun in a quick access safe. But, there are several quick access safes designed specifically for shotguns. Options like the Shot Lock Solo Vault hold a single shotgun. They can be mounted on a wall or the back of a door.
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Shot Lock Solo Vault (Mechanical Lock- Kaba Simplex)
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Vaultek RS200i, Vaultek RS500i & Vaultek RS500i Plus (Biometric, Push Button, Smart Key, Wifi)
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Amsec Defense Vault (Electronic Lock/Biometric Lock)
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Liberty HDV-700X Biometric Vault Under Bed Safe (Electronic Lock/Biometric Lock)
AR-15 (Carbine & Pistol Variants)
The AR-15 is the best-selling rifle in America. Many people consider it the most versatile tool for home defense. It is light, compact, easy to handle, and accurate.
What makes the AR style platform the best option? Ergonomics. The AR-15 has key features like adjustable stocks, pistol grips, and ambidextrous controls. These features make it easy and affordable to fit shooters of any height and build.
Quick Access Safe
Like a shotgun, the larger profile of an AR-15 means you’ll need a slightly larger quick access safe in which to store it. Both the Vaultek RS500i and RS200i offer a small profile and a quick access entry to let you keep this firearm close.
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Shot Lock AR Vault (Push Button Mechanical Lock w/ Key Bypass)
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Liberty HDV-700X Biometric Vault Under Bed Safe (Electronic Lock/Biometric Lock)
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Amsec Defense Vault (Electronic Lock/Biometric Lock)
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Vaultek RS200i, Vaultek RS500i & Vaultek RS500i Plus (Biometric, Push Button, Smart Key, Wifi)
Pistols are often the preferred home defense weapon. Their small size means they are not only easier to maneuver around tight corners, but easier to conceal.
There’s nothing wrong with other striker fired pistols like the SIG P320, H&K VP9 or the S&W M&P. However, the Glock 17 and Glock 19 have a strong history of service and reliability. They also have easy access to parts and accessories.
Top Pistol Safes
The beauty of a pistol safe (also known as a handgun vault) is that it can fit nearly anywhere. Common locations for a pistol safe include under the bed or within a bedroom closet. But thanks to their inconspicuous nature, you might install one in the living room, near the front door or within your car.
When you’re selecting the best pistol safe for your home defense, you want it to be easy to open and pry resistant. For many individuals the ease of a biometric pistol safe is the ideal choice, as it takes less movements.
But regardless of the locking system you choose, you’ll want to make sure you practice quickly opening it and removing your gun. The more familiar you are with the safe, the faster and easier it is to open when needed.
We recommend investing in a higher quality pistol safe when it comes to home protection. You want your safe to work when you need it to. Be extremely cautions when considering box store products with low price points.
The price point of a safe correlates to its level of reliability. Here are a few of our favorites:
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Vaultek DS2i Smart Station Safe (Push Button, Biometric Scanner, Smart Key)
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Vaultek DS5i Smart Station Bedside Safe (Push Button, Biometric Scanner, Smart Key)
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Pistol Safes-Biometric (Push Button, Smart Key, Wifi)
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V-Line Pistol Safes (Mechanical lock-Kaba Simplex)
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Titan Gun Vault (Mechanical lock- Kaba Simplex)
Explore the Full Collection of Quick Access Gun Safes
Don’t leave your firearm out in the open where curious fingers or criminals could get it. Make sure it’s secured in an accessible location so you can access it when needed. No one wants to waste time worrying about unauthorized individuals easily getting ahold of their firearms.