Safe Combination - Dial or Electronic?

Which do you prefer? An old style dial or an electronic keypad.

I prefer the dial for 2 reasons:

- I know that it won't malfunction
- On an electronic if you never change the combo (let's face it most of us don't) the numbers can show slight visible wear if you use the safe a lot. An enterprising thief can determine the numbers and than only needs to figure out the order by trial and error.

Dial. One less variable to worry about.

I have a digital lock on mine.

Electric. Simply for quick access.

Dial.

Dial because I hate the thought of an EMP. Ya bust out the tin foil.

Electronic with a Key back-up.

Electronic.

Speed of access and the numbers have not worn after 5 years of opening the safe every day.

Digital

And you can much more easily change the combination if needed.

Dial, too paranoid and too d school to fully trust an electronic. (The machines will come for us one day when that bloody thing they call the Internet spawns a consciousness and decides to hold your guns.)

Dial

Dial

I saw recently where safes are now being offered with both. Go figure.

either dial, or electronic with a dual-key override.

Dial!!!

www.securamsys.com

Look at the SafeLogic Xtreme.

Best of both worlds. I have this on my safe.

Dial. Sure it's slower, but more reliable. I know 2 friends that batteries went out, and had issues getting into their safes.

x2.....and it's a lot easier for the wife.

Dial for reliability.

Dial for reliability and EMP proof. I replaced the electronic due to several faults. After a few months of opening with the dial I can open the safe just as fast as electronic

Electronic. I also like computers more than typewriters, cars more than bicycles, and the NFL more than NCAA football.

just make sure the dial doesn't have nylon gears..... newer ones do, pay extra for metal ones.

Briefs.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Dial. But your number 1 reason isn't true. I've had to replace the mechanisms in my Liberty 2 times. It's a dial but I can stick the key in and turn it to the last number of the combo and open it, very quick.

replaced just the electronic lock with a dial or the entire safe? how bad was the cost if it was just the lock replacement?

I keep thinking i'd rather have dial just to avoid issue of electronics going out on me one day.

I like the dial or maybe electronic with a backup key.

Definitely no Biometric thumb print, super easy to defeat.

Why not both?

I was with you until that last part!

Ours is electric... because we never thought about it.

My safes are dial, but then I'm old school.

Dial - laugh now but when a emp or electric solar flare hits and half these people can't get in their safes we will se who's laughing.

Dial. If something works low-tech, I stick with it. Plus, my brain needs all the exercise it can get and the dial makes it work just a little bit harder.

digital, I can open it in the dark and that is important since mine is in the back of a closet and I need a flashlight to see the numbers.

One of mine is a dial and the other is electronic. I like the electronic better in general but they can have problems. I had the solenoid go out on mine, luckily mine has a back up key to bypass the keypad. The solenoid couldn't be replaced without opening the door

I would be interested in hearing what a locksmith or safe warranty guy had to say about digital versus analog. I wonder if its just a matter or low end stuff sucks versus higher end, or if they see more repairs one type or the other.

I bet cheap safes you buy at the box stores are a lot more prone to breaking when compared to Ft. Knox and Liberty.

I have the dial right now. But would not be opposed to the electronic lock, as long as there was a backup plan for electronic failure...

^This happened to a family friend. They have 5 safes all with electronic locks. 2 of the safes had locks malfunction and lock him out of his safe.

Dial, the old school locksmith in town said he really likes the digital gun safes, they make up a decent portion of his buisiness.

This is the correct answer. I've been servicing safes for 15 years and there is a difference. The "box" stores have pounded the safe manufacturers into building cheaper locks, which is why some of you have key bypass on your safes. A true UL Residential Security Container will have no "bypass" to open the safe.

As far as dial vs. electronic - they both are man made and will fail. Most failures fall into 2 categories:
User error: Spinning the dial like a top. Never spin the dial any faster than you can turn your wrist.
Impatience: Entering the numbers too fast or incorrectly and causing a lockout, which left alone, will reset usually in 10-15 minutes.

The best lock I've seen to this point is the SecuRam SafeLogic Xtreme. You get a keypad for easy entry, and a dial for emergency, all in the same lock. Unless the keypad is completely knocked off the door, you can get to your stuff. You can't get locked out of it.

Easy...dial...

the dual lock is what i wish i had gotten in hindsight.

You can still get it as long as your safe has a standard footprint. It's an easy retrofit.

Electric with keyed backups. This is what I have and I can get into it in under 2 seconds.

Dial all the way. I am not worried about speed of getting into it, just security.

Interesting. My rhino safe has a securam electronic lock, I should look into this. Something that requires a locksmith?

If you have any mechanical aptitude you can do it. Just read and follow the directions CAREFULLY and you'll be fine. Otherwise hire it done.

Same here. Though I wish there was a combo system or a fail safe key in case of massive electronic failure.

Dial all the way!!

Do you know where I can get one of these? I found one site that has it for $232.70 without the bluetooth option(That is an extra $115) Is that a good price?

I've had my Browning for over 30 years. Dial lock. Nothing else needed.