SnapSafe made their claim to fame with their modular gun safes that you put together after you receive it. They have since ventured into handgun safes and under the bed safes. Unfortunately, these products are lackluster quality. In these SnapSafe Handgun Safe Reviews, I will help you understand why these are safes you should definitely avoid.
Lock – SnapSafe Handgun Safe Reviews
First and always most important for any safe is the lock. SnapSafe uses a typical solenoid electronic locking mechanism that operates with a latch and spring. Overall, this mechanism is decent and the electronics should last at least a few years. The electronic code operates on a 4 button keypad with a 4-6 digit code.
However, this is not the main issue with the safe. The fatal flaw is the key override. In an attempt to save some money and have a lower price, they went with a tubular override key. These locks can be opened with BIC pens just by inserting and twisting. There are also numerous tubular lock picks available on Amazon that pick these locks in seconds.
Security – SnapSafe Handgun Safe Reviews
The SnapSafe Handgun Safe is CA DOJ approved as a firearm safety device. This is not a difficult test to pass and nearly every safe gets approved, so long as the manufacturer pays for the testing. Sadly, this does not ensure the product is actually secure and if it can be opened in seconds with a BIC pen, I’ll let you do the math. Next, this handgun safe is built with 20 gauge steel which is much thinner than the thickness of a penny. If you are expecting security in your handgun safe, this is not the safe for you.
Style and Function
The SnapSafe Handgun Safe is finished in the standard textured powder coat black common among nearly every imported safe. The interior is lined with foam to prevent scratches to your handgun. The keypad illuminates with each button press making it easy to see in the dark. Finally, the bottom of the safe features four bolt down holes. Finally, the keypad has a silent mode.
Warranty
SnapSafe advertises all of their handgun safes to have a no risk Lifetime Warranty. However, when you read the fine print, the lifetime warranty only covers material defects and workmanship. It is very unclear if that includes the electronic components. SnapSafe is owned by Hornady and Hornady explicitly states that their warranty does not cover the electronics and that portion is only covered for 1 year. I would expect SnapSafe to have the same policy despite it not being clearly outlined in their warranty information. Finally, it is also unclear who pays for shipping or if they will cover a technician to come to your home. Always read the fine print.
The Bottom Line
Would I buy a SnapSafe Handgun Safe to store my pistols? No, not a chance. With an easily defeated tubular override key, unclear warranty and only 16 gauge steel construction, I can not recommend this handgun safe.
With that said, I do recommend two handgun safes instead of this one. The first is the Stealth ShadowVault which uses a UL rated high security S&G electronic lock. The second is the V-Line Brute XD which is a mechanical handgun safe and Made in USA.
