Best Nightstand Gun Safe in 2020 -Tested & Reviewed

This first product in this list is from Fort Knox. I'm sure all of you are familiar with this brand because it is one of the best safe manufacturers out there. We are starting our review the PB1 because it's a top choice among gun enthusiasts. If you don't feel like reading the rest of this review, you can stop right here and get this one.

Because the rest of the products are just comparisons between this one. It is a big 10-gauge steel constructed box with simple mechanical locking mechanism. To open it up, put your code in and rotate the knob clockwise. If you mistakenly put the wrong code, you simply rotate the knob counterclockwise and put your code again.

Inside this safe, there is enough storage space to put two standard size handguns, and if you want even more room, it has two layers of cushioning which is removable. The door is heavy, but there is a hydraulic hinge to help you open and hold the door in place. For mounting, there are four holes on the bottom. The heavyweight door has a massive, 3/16" tamper-resistant design.

The Vaultek PRO VE is a good alternative to mechanical lock safes. This one has a good electronic lock that has a quick response keypad. It has enough storage space to hold two standard size pistols as well as some magazines. This one can be easily mounted to a nightstand, and the keypads have proximity sensors that light up in the dark.

This is important as you won't be able to see what buttons you are pressing in the middle of the night unless the keypads light up. It has Vaultek's signature build-quality, and they are known for rugged construction. This safe is sturdy as nails thanks to its 14-gauge heavy-duty carbon steel construction. In addition, it also features interior shielding and hinges as well as anti-pry bars construction.

It's strong and comes with pre-drilled mounting holes. You can easily mount this safe with the included mounting kits, or you can use the 4-foot long steel mounting cable. This one has an auto open lid to give you quick access to your guns.

The interior has built-in LED lights that illuminate the valuables just enough to see what you are picking up but not bright enough to make you go blind in the dark. This safe is battery powered and comes with its own sets of rechargeable batteries. You only need to charge them for 2.5 hours, and they will power this safe for four months.

The 200M solo-vault handgun safe features a mechanical lock that is similar to the simplex lock you have seen on Fort Knox's or Steelwater vault. However, the mechanism is almost the same. You enter your 4-digit code and rotate clockwise to open it. To reset it, rotate the knob counterclockwise if you press the wrong combination code.

Like simplex, it can only store a certain number of combinations, but what most people are concerned with is the security bypass key. Some consider it as a security risk because, with proper tools, one can get past the security bypass key lock. This lock isn't challenging to pick, but whoever wants to break into it, they can do if they know how to use proper tools.

And burglars don’t come prepared, or most of them don’t have the time. Despite this feature, they are useful for most purposes. The body isn’t that thick, but it does feature a pry-resistant lid. There are pre-drilled mounting holes on one side to run a steel cable to secure this safe. It also has pre-drilled holes on the bottom.

It's not as rugged and robust as the previous model, but it is portable safe, and if you properly mount it, it will serve its purpose which is to keep your gun safe from unwanted people and give you quick access to your firearm when you need it the most. It has two internal locking points, and this mini safe is constructed using 14-gauge military grade steel.

4. V-Line 2597-S Desk Mate HandGun Safe

This security box is solid as a brick. If you want a nightstand safe that you can open faster with minimal thought, this is the one. This quick access safe is DOJ approved, and you can easily mount it under a desk. If you prefer mechanical locks over electronic locks, you will be very impressed with this one.

You don't have to rely on cheap electronics when you need to get to your gun in a life or death emergency. With an electronic lock, especially the cheap ones that go into a small Budget gun safe, there are a lot of things that can go wrong. They are prone to user error, the batteries can die unexpectedly, and some are susceptible to moisture.

But with this one, you don't have to worry about all of that. You just open the simplex lock and the drawer slides right out. The interior isn't that big and spacious enough to hold two full-size pistols. It is also a good alternative if you have a proper place to floor mount this one.

Just make sure you mount this safe to a durable nightstand. Because if it's a small, wooden nightstand, it will be easy for a thief to pick up the whole safe. Thanks to its quick release mounting brackets, you can easily take the safe and move it somewhere else. The mounting bracket is accessible only if you open the safe door. 

This safe is a relatively new product on the market and has been widely accepted by gun enthusiasts because of its safety features and durable construction. It's not very heavy and has a compact form factor that you can easily place it inside your nightstand or a closet. There is an app that lets you control the safe.

With the app, you can unlock it, manage fingerprints, and even change passwords. It also has a biometric lock. Unlike cheap biometric safes, the fingerprint recognition technology on this one is very good. It will scan and recognize a registered fingerprint in 0.1 seconds.

If all the electronics fail, which I highly doubt it will, there is also a bypass key. The backlit keypad is also a nifty feature to have. In short, this safe allows for a wide variety of unlocking methods. Feel free to use whichever you like the most. Now, the locking mechanisms are all good, but what's more important is its construction.

It's a tough, heavy-duty, 16-gauge carbon steel constructed fire-resistant gun safe. To prevent corrosion, the steel has a durable powder coat finish. This will make sure your safe will last longer for years to come. It also features interior LED lighting, which is necessary when you want to get your gun in the middle of the night.