Hornady Rapid Safe Keypad Vault Review
A full review of the Hornady Rapid Safe Keypad Vault after one year of use. Real-world insights on reliability, speed, and how it compares to biometric gun safes.
Introduction: Hornady Rapid Safe Keypad Vault
Everyone needs a quick-access safe. I have spent the past year putting the Hornady RAPiD Safe Keypad Vault to the test and using it as my primary quick-access gun safe. That statement alone says a lot about my opinions of this safe.
The Hornady RAPiD Safe Keypad Vault isn’t flash. It doesn’t have a palm vein reader or other biometric locks. What it does have is consistent function, solid construction, and 100% reliability every single time. For a defensive handgun safe, that matters more than bells and whistles.
First Impressions:
Out of the box, the Hornady RAPiD Safe Keypad Vault feels a cut above other quick-access safes I have owned. The construction is noticeably more solid than that of the safes I have owned from various Amazon-listed brands. It is also much better built than the GunVault safes I owned and used as my primary quick-access gun safes for years.
The metal finish is very clean. The keypad is well laid out, and nothing about the safe feels cheap or budget. After a full year of use, my initial impressions have proven to be true. I haven’t scratched the finish; the keypad still functions excellently with no noticeable wear; the hinges are tight; and there isn’t any degradation in the safe’s function. I am sure others may use it harder than I do, but I haven’t babied the safe by any means.
It is also worth noting that this is not a compact safe. There is some bulk and heft to it. That is worth considering if you plan to make this a traveling safe.
Quick-Access Handgun Safe
Hornady Rapid Safe Keypad Vault
A solid quick-access handgun safe with reliable keypad access, RFID entry, a roomy interior, and enough space for a full-size handgun with a light and optic.
As an affiliate, The Armed Outdoorsman may earn from qualifying purchases.
Features and Controls
The keypad and the RFID access are the primary access options and the defining features of the safe.
The RFID access was one of the primary reasons I liked the Hornady RAPiD Safe Keypad Vault. I wanted to be able to simply flash the RFID tag and have the safe open. Functionally, this works great. I did discover, though, that since I don’t keep the tag near the safe for obvious reasons, it is simpler and faster to use the keypad to access the safe’s contents.
This brings me to the keypad. It is excellent. The input is consistent and predictable. Every time I have entered the code correctly, the safe opens. It has a predictable cadence, with no lag or missed inputs. With over a year of use, I have not had a single failure.
Compared to a biometric safe, this consistency is a major advantage. Biometric systems can be fast when they work, but they introduce variables that can lead to failures. The Hornady keypad removes those uncertainties.
The interior is spacious and can accommodate multiple guns, even guns with flashlights and optics. My safe usually houses a Glock 17 with a mounted flashlight and a red dot, and at times even a holster. There is also a useful interior light, not just there so you can check it off on a feature list.
Performance
Access Speed
In practice, the safe opens in about 1.9 seconds. That is slightly slower than my biometric safe, the Xegis Palm Vein Biometric Gun Safe, which has an open speed closer to 1.5 seconds.
Reliability
Reliability is where the Hornady safe really stands out. I have two of these safes, and after a year of use, both have been 100% reliable. Zero failures. This is the type of reliability you want with an integral part of your home defense setup.
Real-World Usability
In real-world use, the Hornady RAPiD Safe Keypad Vault became my primary quick-access safe, replacing a biometric safe.
Your quick-access safe has to be more than quick. It has to work the first time, every single time. I have never had a biometric safe that had a 100% read rate. The Xegis Palm Vein Safe is faster than the Hornady, and it is the closest a biometric safe I have owned has been to a 100% read rate, but it isn’t the 100% that the Hornady RAPiD Safe Keypad Vault has produced.
Security and Build Quality
For a quick-access handgun safe, this safe is about as solid as you can realistically expect.
The lock mechanism is secure when closed, and the overall construction is fantastic. This is not simply a keep little fingers away from your gun or a “keep honest people honest” safe. If someone wants to break into your safe, it would be easier for them to take the whole safe than to try to smash and grab. This is a limitation for all small safes. If they are not mounted, someone could take the entire thing and try to break in somewhere else.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Extremely consistent keypad and RFID with zero failures
- Solid construction, above most competitors
- Spacious interior, fits full-size handguns with accessories
- Reliable performance regardless of placement
- Useful interior light
- Strong overall value, especially when found on sale
Cons
- Slightly slower than biometric options
- Bulkier than some competing safes
- Should be mounted for optimal security
Quick-Access Handgun Safe
Hornady Rapid Safe Keypad Vault
A solid quick-access handgun safe with reliable keypad access, RFID entry, a roomy interior, and enough space for a full-size handgun with a light and optic.
As an affiliate, The Armed Outdoorsman may earn from qualifying purchases.
Last Words
The Hornady RAPiD Safe Keypad Vault is one of the easiest safes to recommend because it does exactly what it is supposed to: it opens reliably every time.
It may not be the fastest option on paper, but it is very fast and, more importantly, it is consistent. It may not be the smallest or lightest, but it is very well built and has plenty of interior room.
Compared to entry-level safes, the Hornady RAPiD Safe Keypad Vault wins every time. Compared to more expensive safes, it offers the best value.
I ended up buying two because they sound like a good deal, but even at normal pricing, I would buy my Hornady RAPiD Safe Keypad Vault again.
The only reason to look elsewhere is if size/weight is a limiting factor or if you are set on biometric access. Otherwise, this is one of the more dependable quick-access handgun safes available.
FAQ
Is the Hornady keypad safe better than biometric safes?
It depends on priorities. Biometric safes can be slightly faster, but the Hornady offers more consistent performance with fewer variables.
Will it fit a full-size handgun with a light?
Yes. It easily fits a Glock 17 with a weapon light and red dot.
Do you need to mount it?
It is not required, but mounting significantly improves security by preventing the safe from being removed.
Is the keypad reliable over time?
After a year of daily use, the keypad has been completely consistent with no failures.
Is it worth the price?
Yes, especially considering the build quality and reliability. It becomes even more of a value when on sale.
