When you have firearms, jewelry or other valuables you need to protect, then you should consider purchasing a biometric gun safe. Before buying a safe, you should evaluate biometric gun safes versus traditional safes. Many safes can be used as a fingerprint safe or implement biometric technology as its locking mechanism. Before buying the first safe on sale, identify your needs, evaluate various brands and ensure your safe has the best features.

What is a Biometric Gun Safe?

These safes are the most technologically advanced gun safes available on the market today. Biometric, refers to the locking mechanism which utilizes a biometric reader to identify the correct user’s fingerprints, retina, face, voice or in some cases DNA. Instead of dials, keys or pin numbers, biometric gun safes use biometric scanners to lock and unlock the safe. The most common biometric safes for consumers are fingerprint safes which use fingerprint reading technology.

Why Do You Need a Biometric Gun Safe?

Biometric safes are a great addition for gun owners for several reasons. The primary reasons to buy a biometric gun safe, is ease of access and to eliminate the need for keys, dials, or remember combination codes. In case of an emergency, such as a burglary, if you can’t find the key to the safe or remember the combination, then you and your family will risk loss of property and physical harm. A biometric safe with fingerprint scan technology provides rapid access. Gun owners with small children who want to protect them from hurting themselves or others should buy the best biometric gun safe. Biometric safes are an excellent choice for people in higher crime areas who want to guard against theft. Some states have even made it illegal to improperly store your weapons for public safety. The number of features and size determines the price of biometric safes, but if your main reason to purchase is to have quick access to your guns, then biometric gun safes are your best choice.

With a biometric gun safe on your nightstand or near the bed, you can reach in the dark, find the biometric reader and obtain access to your gun without getting out of bed. Under pressure, it is easy to misplace your key or dial the wrong combination. For home protection, a biometric gun safe, puts you in the best position to defend your family and your home.

If you are using a firearm for security purposes at work, then a biometric safe is the best choice. Many types can be fastened to your desk, underneath a counter or in a drawer. Some owners install their safe in a desk or cabinet drawer with a false bottom and in case of an invasion, they can escape behind a closed door and access their gun. If the firearm is stored in a smaller, personal-sized safe, then you can keep your pistol nearly anywhere. Smaller biometric safes are a great option too if you have a handgun and valuables, as many of these provide ample storage for your gun and other items. You can even find models of biometric safes that can fit into a briefcase.

Biometric Gun Safe Features

Depending on the size and feature requirements, biometric gun safes can be found for every budget. The dimensions and capacity of the safe is the main determining factor of its price. Safes can be designed for one handgun, or you can have a vault style safe that has the capacity to store your entire gun collection. Larger safes are typically equipped with multiple fingerprint readers and the capability to store several user’s identities.

A biometric safe equipped with a single fingerprint scanner is known for its dependability and low cost. Other safes scan four fingers, providing a higher degree of security along with a higher price tag as well. Additional features may include:

• Fireproof
• Waterproof
• Drill resistant hard plates
• Higher memory capacity for additional users
• Even EMP proof electronic lock systems

Another consideration of biometric gun safes is whether or not to have multiple methods to unlock the safe. Many safes provide a backup method, such as a combination or key lock. Others provide a combination of methods to gain entry, such as a key and a finger scan to unlock the safe. The more methods used to unlock the safe the higher the price will be. If the biometric gun safe only has one fingerprint scan, then the price will be significantly lower. In addition, the more complex the safe locking mechanism, the longer it takes to open. They can also be more difficult to install and operate, so if you are securing your firearms for home protection, then these types aren’t likely the right choice.

Tips for Buying the Best Biometric Gun Safe

Before shopping around, identify your needs before buying a biometric gun safe. Read consumer reviews, focus on reputable brands and check out our best biometric beside safe post before determining the ideal biometric safe for your home. Popular brands include Barska, Secure Logic, Protex Safe, Tychi Systems and Sentry Safe.

Look for trustworthy manufacturers that produce high-quality, dependable biometric safes and provide extended warranties. If you are still unsure about the ease of use and reliability of biometric safes, many companies offer a money-back guarantee and nearly all of them offer a one year warranty. Research the battery life of the biometric reader to ensure a dying battery doesn’t erase your data. Most safes utilize regular battery sizes and battery life should be at least six months.

Protecting your firearms is one of the most important thing you can do for your family. No matter what type of biometric gun safe you choose, make sure to first read reviews, compare features and identify a safe that meets your needs and gives you the most benefits for the best price. Whether you are safeguarding firearms from children or protecting jewelry from burglars, biometric gun safes provide peace of mind that your valuables are secure and can be easily accessed in an emergency.

You just bought your new gun cleaning kit, so now what? The first thing you’re going to want to do if you’re new is to watch a few YouTube videos and read the instructions.

Each gun is a bit different when it comes to cleaning, so you want to read and re-read the owner’s manual for your particular gun.

We’ll go over the basics of using a universal gun cleaning kit if you own a rifle, handgun or shotgun this is what you’ll want to use.

AR’s can be a little different to clean and usually require special tools such as an AR cleaning tool.

Cleaning New Guns?

One time I bought a new M4 and didn’t clean it before taking it to the range. Wiped off the grease on the exterior and after about 50 rounds I had a brass over bolt failure…

Almost all new guns come with a bunch of grease and sticky solvent on them. This is to make sure they don’t rust while sitting on the shelf for months or years.

This lubricant they put on it is not a shooting lubricant, so you want to remove it and clean your new gun as well as possible.

You should always do this because you don’t know how it works until you take it apart.

You should ALWAYS inspect a new gun before firing it, looking for worn components, broken or little pieces of sawdust and what not in the gun.

I got issued a brand new, out of the package M4 right before shooting the range and skipped cleaning, just wiped the crap off the outside. Had a brass over bolt failure on round 76.

Wash your Hands (or Wear Gloves)

Be sure to wash your hand before doing anything. This will help prevent oils from getting onto the outer and inner parts of your gun. Most people, including myself, wear gloves when cleaning their guns to prevent oil absorbing into the skin.

If you’re cleaning your guns for years, then the risk of getting some of these solvent into your skin will not be very good for. The disposable black nitrile gloves are my personal favorite and a favorite among many.

Unload your Gun

Make sure the ammo is out of reach. There is a possibility that you could accidentally discharge your gun while cleaning it, if it were loaded. There’s also a small chance that you could shoot a box of ammo, so double and triple check this step.

If you have a gun cleaning mat, this is the time to use it. I would highly recommend using something to protect your surfaces from solvents and scratches.

Use a Bore Snake

To save time you can use a bore snake before using your cleaning rods. This will remove some of the gunk and only takes about 10 seconds. Using a bore snake will save you quite bit of time.

Disassemble your Gun

Read your manual and take apart everything accordingly. If you don’t have an owner’s manual you can usually find this on their website or even better find a YouTube video and follow along.

If you have a gun cleaning vise then you’ll want to secure it properly.  A gun vise is amazing for keeping your gun steady and works amazingly well for long guns.

Not really necessary for handguns.

Cleaning Rods

Assemble your cleaning rods and choose the proper sized brush. You want to start off with a bronze cleaning brush and use your favorite gun cleaning solvent.

Make sure to PULL the brush through about 5-10 times. Be sure to pull only and don’t push.

Running the bore brush only in the same direction the bullet travels will prolong the life of the barrel.

Cleaning Patches

The goal is to have the cleaning patches come out white. You can use 10-20 cleaning patches until this happens and they’re cheap so don’t worry.

If you pull out your cleaning patches and they’re black then  you need to run your brushes through your gun again.

Remove All Solvents

To do this you should use dry cleaning patches and gun mop attachment. After the cleaning solvent is all out you’re going to want to apply some lubricant.

Lubricate

Hoppe’s makes a good gun lubricant that you should apply after you’re done cleaning. What this does is protect from dust accumulating on your gun, which will leak to gunk buildup.

Clean the Exterior

You can use the double-sided wire toothbrush for this task. Simply put a little bit of CLP on the brush and scrape off any areas that need to be cleaned.

You want to be a little bit of lubricant around the mechanics. Also look for any small rust area. Often times rust will start out as a little tiny speck and if you don’t spot it right away it can easily spread.

Wash your Hands Again

After washing your hands again, you should rub a little oil on them and this will remove any fingerprints that may have gotten on your gun while cleaning it.

Assemble Your Gun

Now you’re just about finished. You want to make sure your hands are oiled up with your lubricant and put all the pieces back.

Conclusion

This is the process to follow for MOST firearms. Each gun cleaning kit has different components but most of them have the same type of brushes and rods.

If you’re unsure how often to clean your firearm, it really depends on how often you use it and the type of ammo you’re using.

Many people treat their guns like their children or pets and must give them everything they need in order to be happy.

A popular question we often get is if it’s possible to over clean your guns?  No but you can damage your gun AND effect its accuracy by cleaning it improperly.  Let’s discuss some tips to help you avoid damaging your firearms.

Use Good Cleaning Rods

If you clean your gun very often you may find yourself in danger of damaging the rifling or the crown IF you use bad cleaning rods. This is the biggest concern because aluminum cleaning rods can EASILY scratch the inner barrel, assuming you clean from the muzzle.

You can easily avoid this by using a good cleaning rod, such as carbon fiber cleaning rod which will make it damn near impossible to damage the barrel.

These are a bit more expensive but totally  worth it. I own several Tipton carbon fiber rods and it’s a night and day comparison between these and cheap brass cleaning rods.

However, the question is: Just how easy is it to damage the rifling?

If you’re using bad cleaning rods, cheap brushes, bad cleaner and you’re an average shooter, it’s still pretty hard to damage the rifling. You want to stay away from the aluminum cleaning rods, as these are the most likely to scratch your barrel.

Metals such as brass and carbon allow are MUCH better for this and won’t scratch the barrel.

Use a Bore Guide

The easiest and more inexpensive way to avoid all of this is to use a universal bore guide with your cleaning rods. This should be used when you clean from the breech and make sure you use the right size brushes and tools.

This is probably the best thing you can add to your kit for a few dollars in order to ensure that you don’t accidentally scratch the rifling.

A bore guide is easy to use and comes in very handy when you’re dealing with several different firearms.

Use Good Cleaning Solvents

The other biggest factor that can affect your gun is the cleaning solvent that you’re using.

A bad cleaning solvent, such as a gummy oil like REM Oil will tend to give you a long-term buildup of crud.

You want to use the best gun cleaning solvent you possibly can in order to avoid dust from attracting to your guns, which will lead to gunk and crud.

 

Use a Bore Snake

A simple way to prevent damaging your gun is to use a good bore snake. While you’ll still want to use your cleaning rods, it’s a good idea to use a bore snake in order to prevent damaging the crown and rifling.

Bore snakes won’t clean the barrel 100% and its considered the lazy way to clean a gun but it does have it’s place.

If you use a good cleaning rod and clean your bore after using a bore snake, you’ll notice that you missed a lot of gunk in all of the groves.

A bore snake is great but it won’t remove copper fouling all the way. However, some guns such as AR-15s can get away with just a bore snake and a AR cleaning tool.

How Dirty IS Dirty?

What may be dirty to me may not be dirty to you. Have you ever cleaned something thinking that it’s clean, only to hear other people say it’s a mess?

When it comes to your guns, it doesn’t matter if you think it’s clean, what maters is if it IS clean.

Back in the days of black powder and muskets, you had to clean your guns to make sure they worked properly. It was usually advisable to clean your gun after every use.

Why?

The older black powder, smokeless powder and primers ALL have corrosive elements that would almost instantly rust a gun barrel if not cleaned.

Modern ammunition is very clean in comparison and doesn’t require you clean as much.

Also, keep in mind the copper fouling is different from residues left by powder and this is another reason you need to clean your gun more often.

I have gotten the question more than once, “Is it okay to clean my gun with WD40?”. It’s a fair question and I’ve known people who have been using WD40 for 20+ years to clean their guns. Are they wrong for doing this? Let’s take a deeper look into what WD40 is and if it’s a good idea to use it to clean your guns.

What’s In WD-40?

Most of you probably own a bottle but do you know what it’s made of? Probably not because it’s a secret formula! For over 60 years the multi-use product has kept its formula a secret from the public.

Another fun fact is that Duct Tape has also kept its formula a secret, which is why the original duct tape is the best.

WD stands for Water Displacement

What we do know is that WD40 is a special blend of lubricants. It’s a terrific solvent for removing rust and getting stickers off but will it do the job for cleaning your gun?

The Old Way to Clean Your Gun

Before writing this article I sat down with a good friend that’s been cleaning ALL of his guns with WD40 for over 30 years before switching to Break-Free. He’s never had any of his guns rust and any other problems for that matter. Some people seem to be biased on the idea of using WD-40 and tell me that they would never use it but let me tell you what my friend said.

Back 30 years ago there weren’t many gun cleaning solvents out there, so people were forced to improvise. There especially weren’t any aerosol gun cleaning sprays, so most people starting using WD40 when it came out.

When I used it back in the day I found my rifles to be very sluggish in their operation, especially in the winter. This issue magically resolved when I started using Break Free lubricant mainly because WD40 is not designed to clean your guns.

WD40 is a solvent that leaves very little oil on the surface. This means that more dust and dirt will be attracted to the surface and eventually you’ll have a nice layer of gunk on your gun. In cold weather this can be very bad and VERY big pain in the ass to clean off.

Conclusion

WD40 is an amazing solvent with about 1 million different uses (along with duct tape). After using is many times to clean my guns I’ve decided not to completely trust it due to the rapid buildup of gunk on my guns.

 

 

I don’t put any of my guns back in the safe until they’ve been cleaned. The process of firing a gun is very dirty and even after firing one shot you can see noticeable debris in the barrel. If it’s a blow-back operated gun then you also get gas pressure entering the action, which also spreads debris on the internal components.

Some people clean their guns very little and others (like myself) can’t sleep well if their guns are dirty. One of the main things that will determine how often you need to clean your gun is the type of ammunition you’re using. If the ammo has a corrosive priming the iron based metals will start to rust as soon as your done firing. This is especially true for the bore if the weather is hot.

Using Corrosive Ammunition

If you’re using corrosive priming then you’re going to want to clean your gun right away!

First, you should know that there is no such thing as a slightly corrosive primer. It’s either corrosive, or it’s not!

Second, the cost of the cheaper surplus ammo isn’t really worth the time it takes to clean your guns. Cleaning your gun only once after firing corrosive ammo is generally not enough and that’s why it should be avoided.

Most modern ammo is not corrosive but the old military surplus is and you need to watch out if you’re firing these. There are two main types of primers; Berden and Boxer.

Boxer Primed Ammo

These are the most popular primers used today and almost all military and civilian ammo use them. They came out in the late 1800’s and become even more popular.

Not all Berden primers are corrosive BUT just about all surplus ammo that you find will be corrosive.

Most indoor shooting ranged prefer Boxer primer with brass casings. If you’re not getting surplus ammo then you won’t need to worry about this and you should be fine.

Berden Primed Ammo

This is generally Non-USA ammunition but ironically was designed in the USA. Since it’s pretty hard to come by Boxer primer ammo in the USA, I won’t go in to too much detail since it’s not corrosive.

A chlorate type salt is the corrosive element that will make you have to clean your gun a lot more often. Many of the best gun cleaning solvents won’t remove this salt and you will need to use a machine to remove it in most cases.

Other Primers

Today, most primers that are available to the public are Lead Styphnate based. This type does not leave much residue in or on your firearms. Therefore, it’s not really necessary to clean right after firing if you’re using this kind of ammo. However, it’s always a good idea to run a cleaning patch with some gun cleaning solvent on it through the bore and over the exterior of your gun as well to protect from rust.

When to Field Strip Your Guns?

If you’ve never fired a gun that’s been properly stripped and cleaned, then you’ve never fired a gun! The gunk and grime can get everywhere and in every nook and cranny. Personally, I field strip after every type I shoot and I do this because the mess made from not cleaning can be a BIG headache..

Avoid Buildup

Generally you’ll want to field strip semi-auto guns with a lot of blow back MUCH more often than bolt-action. For the most part I don’t field strip bolt, lever and pump-action firearms after each use.

Pistols should get a FULL field strip and clean after each time you fire them.

The reason you want to field strip as often as possible is to avoid carbon buildup, which can be very tough to remove.

Field Strip Often

When I first started shooting I never imagined field stropping and cleaning my gun after firing it. After years of experience, I couldn’t see it any other way. If you don’t have the time to do this then at least you should be using a bore snake to clean your gun. I use my bore snake at the range all the time.

Conclusion

The general advice is to clean your gun barrels at the very least after each time you fire. New guns are easier to clean and if you field strip clean often, you’ll find it’s MUCH easier to clean your guns.

You should ALWAYS clean your gun within a few days of shooting it. You don’t need to clean in 5 minutes after you fire but generally within one week will be fine.

Things you need to consider are the type of firearm, the age, and the type of ammo. Hopefully this article covered most of that and now you should know when and how often to clean your firearms.