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Last Updated: December 1st, 2020 | By Peter Robinson

Although the 5200DF is made of 18-gauge steel that’s powder-coated for extra durability, we believe it's durable "enough" for most use-cases but not the most secure.

A big reason is because it has a simple keypad lock that’s programmable, where you can choose a 3 to 8 digit passcode. It boasts a "no-see" feature, meaning you don't have to see look at it to unlock it! Also included are two override keys enabling access for when you do happy to forget your passcode. It comes pre-drilled and with a steel cable that's been tested up to 1500 pounds making it easy for you to bolt it to the floor or trunk of your car, which we highly recommend doing.

It's powder-coated, meaning it's highly unlikely that it would rust. However, we recommend keeping it in a dry place anyway ensuring a prolonged duration its life.

When it comes to fire resistance, the safe didn’t perform as well. We'll say that it can withstand some high temperatures but cannot endure direct fire.

One thing we love about the 5200DF is that it's powder-coated, protecting it from rust and moist temperatures. It hasn't been waterproof rated, so we know it's definitely not waterproof. We obviously didn't want to test that but we can certainly say with accuracy that water can leak through and get your belongings wet.

This is a small and portable safe that measures 9.2 x 14.5 x 10.6 inches in total. It has protective foam on the inside which also reduces its overall storage capacity.

Solely made for one, it cannot fit more than one. You can fit a few bullets or thin valuables like credit cards, but no magazines and definitely no larger items. The vault comes in a larger size that might be more appropriate if you have several guns.

As we mentioned, it's super affordable and budget-friendly. We believe this is the biggest selling point the 5200DF has to offer. It gets the job done. It has pre-drilled holes, a security cable, a lined interior, and an alternative access method, which are the some of most important things to look for when buying a gun safe.

Most people like how easy it is to use. The keypad is straightforward, and you also get two keys to access it in case the batteries run out. Its level of safety is also quite impressive especially when you consider the affordable price.

When it comes to its setbacks, in addition to what we mentioned above, our team noticed that some users might need two hands to access it. Though we didn’t find it necessarily hard to open and could do it with one, the two-hand operation might be time-consuming to some, especially in concerning-situations.

When you enter the passcode using one hand, you’d also need to use your other hand to further open the top that only opens a bit.

If you’re looking for an easy-to-use gun vault that can be used in the house and on the go, you’ve found one. The First Alert 5200DF offers protection, durability, and is one of most affordable safes.

It's small and suitable if you have just one gun since anything more than that cannot fit in its lined interior.

Overall, we think it’s a good combination of features especially considering that its size. You’d possibly need two hands to open it, but the process is quite simple so that shouldn’t present a significant problem. Make sure you bolt it down and secure it with the provided cable!