Top 5 Best Gun Safes Under $500 in 2021

This safe does not take up much space. However, it can hold the majority of long barrel rifles among your other valuables. The BARSKA Gun Safe is a good choice for you if storage space is limited.

When it comes to security, the BARSKA has a biometric scanner meaning that it only needs to process your fingerprint as a way to get access. The thing that makes it unique is that the biometric scanner can store 120 different fingerprints.

It also includes a deadbolt lock system that will prevent any prying attempts to open the safe. If you decide to bolster the security of the anchors and bolt them down, anyone that tries to open this thing won't be able to.

There are some things to look out for though; There have been reports of people trying to open the safe, and they had felt like it was about to tip over at any moment. But honestly, if you have this safe lined up in a corner somewhere on a wall, this shouldn’t be an issue. Nevertheless, it includes hardware to mount that will be essential when installing this safe.

It includes 4 AA batteries as well as two keys as a backup plan. It also includes a special access mode to veer away any nosy people that may be trying to see what you are up to.

​Pros

• Top-of-the-line biometric scanning
• 3-point deadbolt lock system
• Has hardware to mount

Cons

• Loses balance easily
• For some rifles, it may be too small

Customer sentiments

This is an overall fantastic safe for anyone looking for multiple ways of securing their items as well as for storing many of them. However, due to the instability because of the case being so tall, it can wobble when trying to be opened. This can easily be solved by mounting the essential hardware that comes along with it.

Some first impressions that you may get when checking out the V-Line Gun Safe are that it is slim and lightweight. But don’t judge a book by its cover.

If you’re in the market for compact and minimalist storage for your automatic rifle, or shotgun, then look no more. You can’t get any better than this. When it comes to the safety aspect, it uses a SIMPLEX lock. I know this may not sound like the best locking mechanism, but it gives you access to it if the need should arise quickly. Let’s say you want more. Ok, sure. You can add two more locks, and it doesn't need batteries. This is a big win in our book.

The safe weighs in at 11 pounds making it super lightweight as compared to its competitors. The reason being for this being a positive thing is because it’s lightweight and portable when you’re out on the field or the range.

Mounting this safe on a wall can be a great way to ensure the security of the safe should be a mandatory thing to do. Regardless of where you hide it. It also includes two more locks.

Pros

• SIMPLEX push button mechanical lock
• No batteries
• Lightweight

Cons

• It needs to be anchored

Customer Sentiments 

Although this safe could be placed on a wall, the pre-drilled holes are not designed for it. It means that you can still do it, but it won’t sit flush with your wall or door. With the pre-drilled holes, exposing the safe to harsh weather conditions can result in some damage such water in unwanted places or rust. Besides that, it has an overall positive rating and a 4/5 stars rating on Amazon.

So, this is a bit different from the products on this list. You know how the saying goes, don’t go judging a book by its cover, take a look at what this product has in store for you. Excuse the pun.

This model of the cabinet can store up to 31 guns. As you can see straight away, it has much greater space than the other models. Let's say you have a pretty solid gun collection and your thinking about expanding it. This is the perfect choice for you.

This cabinet has steel doors along with a double-lifted lock that turns this cabinet into an intruder’s worst enemy. To put the cherry on top of all this, the DOJ approves this as safe.

Pros

• Department of Justice Approved
• Can store 31 rifles

Cons

• Short warrenty

Customer Sentiments 

There have been reports that the cabinet is not air-tight, so it is advised that you plan where you're going to put this cabinet ahead of time, as places with high moisture and humidity can cause some unwanted side-effects. It’s best to use a rust-protectant when buying this cabinet, depending on where you’re going to store it. 

Most people own a firearm in need to protect yourself, or your family arises. If you are one of those people, then the GunVault SV500 is one of the best choices you can make when it comes to handgun safes.

This gun safe is affordable, more so as opposed to any of the other models on this list, so in case you are on a budget, this can be the right choice for you.

Besides the convenience of this safe, the compactness of this handgun vault makes it so you can place it almost anywhere in your house. Even in a dimly or barely lit area, it can give a sufficient amount of visibility. It has a biometric scanner that can hold up to 20 fingerprints. It also has two override keys, so this will ensure that no one has access to your gun, only the people that you want to have access will have it.

When taking the gun off of the holster design of the GunVault, it does make a “clack” sound, which could cause some issues if you want to be silent, if in case you are dealing with an intruder in your home. Also, the fact that is is powered on batteries can be a bit of a bummer, as this is just another thing to worry about when storing your gun away. However, to even this out, it also has various mounting options, and the Biometric lock is a speedy and responsive, so it can get you out in a bind quickly if need be. 

Pros

• Responsive Biometric Scanner
• Difficult to pry open
• Easy on the wallet

Cons

• Noisy
• Battery Powered

Customer Sentiments 

Some customers have mentioned that the batteries in the vaults have died quickly, and when they get low, they open to almost any code, which could be a considerable security problem. Otherwise, this gun vault has a 4 out of 5-star rating, so customers are satisfied with this product. 

It seems to be a recurring theme with Biometric unlocks when it comes to safes on this list. I see why. Biometric Access can be one of the quickest and efficient ways to keep your weapons safe from children and other people you wouldn’t want to get their hands on it. When it comes to the SentrySaftey Quick Access Gun Safe, it is budget-friendly, and the biometric scanner is only able to scan one fingerprint. While that may not sound as good as the 120 fingerprints you can store with one of the other products on this list, it can do one thing, and that's to make sure you are the only owner of this gun.

For some people this is enough, for some, maybe not so much. Nevertheless, this unit has a strong focus on easy access. Although it’s internal system does fail from low battery power, when this happens, you always have your trusty backup key to ensure you don’t get locked out.

One of the significant downsides to the battery aspect of this safe is that it needs to be powered by batteries that you can’t recharge. Unfortunately, you have to start the scanner before trying to access it, which could lead to some potential problems when it comes to emergency cases.

Pros

• Affordable
• Extra Key
• Complies with DOJ requirements

Cons

• Needs batteries

Customer Sentiment 

This case is generally not designed for mounting on your wall. However, there have been some customers that use a high-power magnet alongside drilling some holes in the back of the safe to securely and safely mount it on any surface. Generally, this is a well-reviewed and liked product by many customers.