Reddit reviews Stack-On PDS-500 Drawer Safe with Electronic Lock

Get a small safe like this while you live on campus to keep your shit in.

I use this has my drawer safe.

If you have traffic in your house, (Especially of the kid type) Get a digital locking safe, preferably one with a backup key.

Example: http://www.amazon.com/Stack-On-PDS-500-Drawer-Safe-Electronic/dp/B002KEIU4W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1334582257&sr=8-1

I also really like the Winchester PDX ammo for Home Defense. If you are worried about wall penetration the Power-Ball will buy you some peace of mind, but the jury is still out on it. I usually keep on hand enough HD ammo around for 2 mags of whatever my current HD gun is.

Finally.. SHOOT YOUR HD AMMO. So many people don't use it due to the price. But you need to make sure that that the ammo performs properly in the gun.

That choice depends on how much protection you need, how big it is, and your budget. The cheapest pistol box is Stack-On PDS-500. You'll need to either disable mechanical key override on it or replace it with Abloy. While you have it open you might also want to put a piece of metal to protect the solenoid from being activated through the hole in the corner (look for YouTube video that demonstrates this exploit). Stack-On makes similar lockboxes, but bigger.

Anything from Liberty Safe is good to go if it's within your budget.

Here's mine: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002KEIU4W/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Less than 50 bucks, simple 4 digit PIN number and a twist. Heavy and bolted to the drawer bottom.

Can it be defeated? Sure. Rip it out of the drawer and smash it to pieces with a crowbar and a hammer.

Is it easy and fast to open? Yep, unless you are hopelessly confused about the universal layout of a numeric keypad.

I can do it by feel in the dark in a few seconds. If that isn't fast enough, I am already in deep shit.

Fun fact: this little [1] safe is the reason I bought my first [2] pick kit.

I ordered and received this brand new mini safe and then put the keys in it like an idiot in order to move it to another room. Little did I realize that it would auto lock on me before I set it's first code. Sad panda big time.

Replacement factory key = same price as cheap lock pick set without having to document every aspect of my purchase.
Decision...decision...get a lockpick set and find out what lockpick skills I might have or order a replacement key for the same price and have to scan in and email all sorts of i.d.?

Got the pick set. Found out a monkey could pick this safe. You are a better picker than you realize. Give it a try. It's fun and the are lots of resources to learn about the mechanics of locks. The history of them is another very neat read.

Also, this safe would take some time to pry into with levers and hammers as it is fairly heavy duty for a cheapie. However, one pick and one tensioner could pick it in one second once you've practiced. Think about that. Thank god most criminals are idiots without pick skills.

This is where my loaded LC9 stays when I'm not home: http://www.amazon.com/Stack-On-PDS-500-Drawer-Safe-Electronic/dp/B002KEIU4W/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1330905050&sr=8-3

It's enough protection to know someone won't be pulling your gun on you when you get home. Something to think about investing in. It would save some wear on your gun/ammo too!

I'm a first-time owner too! I use this safe to lock my pistol up. I keep it loaded in the safe but not chambered -- I figure if I have time to open the safe, I have time to actually pull the slide, but don't have to mess with fumbling for a mag in the darkness.

I keep the rest of the ammo in my closet, because what is someone gonna do, throw it at me?

(and yes, that's my amazon associate link up there but I never actually use it so I figure I might as well)

Acquire safe. Acquire gun.