After purchasing your new Sentry gun safe, you’ll immediately want to figure out how to change the preset factory combination to store your guns. In addition, you might need to change your existing combination in the future for safety and security reasons.
How do you change the combination on a Sentry gun safe? The method in which you change the combination on your Sentry gun safe will depend on which type of gun safe you actually have (electrical or mechanical)
After that, you will be able to personalize the combination accordingly. If allowed, you will also have to decide how often you should change it on your gun safe to ensure that no one will be able to hack into it.
Before your purchase, you will have to weigh the pros and cons between an electrical or mechanical safe. For some safes, you may have additional steps and features to consider that may be more complex, which might be what you want to enable stricter security.
You will also have to figure out which safe will be more complex to others to use, but easier for you to access. Either way, it will be beneficial to know how to change the combination on your Sentry gun safe. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know.
How To Change The Combination On a Sentry Gun Safe
Once purchasing your Sentry gun safe, you’ve already made one of the biggest decisions to safely securing your guns.
What’s next? It will depend on whether you’ve purchased an electronic or a mechanical locking safe. I’ll cover the pros and cons between the two later in this article.
Do you have a dial or a keypad? There’s a few extra steps to keep in mind to do correctly if you are using a dial combination versus a keypad.
Read this section before you change your codes or change any settings on your safe to ensure that even when one option fails, you’ll still have a couple of ways to access your code.
For first time opening, inspect and remove any shipping screws that your safe has. Depending whether it’s a mechanical safe, remove the keys. The safe’s handle must be horizontal for you to insert your key.
Rotate the key clockwise, remove the key, and then you have access to your safe.
If you have chosen an electric gun safe, there’s more responsibility than keeping up with a key. You’ll have to not only keep up with a set of keys, but you may have to remember a couple of combinations as well.
How to change the combination:
- Consult the owner’s manual
- Unlock with the key
- Enter the factory setting code
- Set your own code
- Use keys for forgotten codes
There are a few models that vary the dial turns to open the safe, but here’s one that is used more common.
If you have a model that uses both a key and combination, on the back of your Sentry gun safe, you should have a five-digit code to open up your safe for the first time. It’s usually found on a sticker that you can remove if you wish.
You’ll insert and turn the key in its lock first. Once the key lock is unlocked, then enter the factory setting combination. The dial should be on “0” before you attempt to unlock. Turn the dial clockwise— pass the 0 three times.
Continue until you reach the first number of your combination. Then, turn the dial counter-clockwise. You will pass your second number in your combination once. Stop the dial on the second number the second time of your turn.
For the final number, turn it clockwise again. You will stop on the last number only once, when you turn to it first. If done correctly, you will turn the safe’s handle downward, and you’ll be able to open the door.
If your model differs from opening your safe this way, consult with your owner’s manual in order to access your safe.
If you have a keypad, it’s a straightforward process that you won’t have to remember going right or left first to open your safe.
For safes that have a keypad, you’ll also want to locate the factory setting combination sticker found on the back of the safe. Once you type this code on the keypad, a green light should turn on, signaling to you that you can open your safe.
Just know that as soon as you see the green light turn on, you will have only a few seconds to turn the handle and open the door. If you don’t open it quick enough, the safety feature of the safe will lock again.
Now, once having access to the open safe, you will be able to set a new combination, also known as the primary user code.
On the safe, locate and press the “P” button first. Then, enter your factory setting as you did before. The difference this time, the light will turn green again. You’ll have about five seconds to enter your new personalized code.
If you happen to make a mistake when typing your new code, you can press the “C” button to clear and start again.
Finally, the green light will flash again to let you know that your code has been saved.
For any reason you wish to remove your primary code, press the “P” button. Then, enter the factory setting, followed by five zeros.
Some Sentry safes allow a user to program a secondary code to allow another user to access the safe as well. If your safe has this feature, here’s what you need to know to set the second code.
Press the “P” button twice— make sure it’s two times, not once like before— and then enter your customized five-digit secondary code. Now, you have a second code.
If you wish to remove this code, it will be similar if you chose to remove your primary code. Press the “P” button twice again, then enter your primary code, then five zeros.
So, quite similarly to the primary code, only, press the “P” button twice and entering your primary code rather than the factory setting to remove the secondary code. Then, enter the five zeros, and you have successfully removed a secondary code!
If you’ve happened to forget both codes to your safe, your final option is that you can use the safe’s keys to open it. So, make sure you have those kept in case of an emergency!
If you’re opening your safe with keys as your only option, it’s crucial to know that the key lock has to be in the unlocked position for you to be able to get into your safe with the codes set. Otherwise, you will still not be able to access your lock even with the correct code.
When it comes to having an electronic safe, you’ll eventually have to change its batteries. Your model type will depend where the battery compartment is located. Check below, under, or to the right of your safe’s keypad.
Changing the batteries is the easiest part for your safe. Replace with four correctly sized batteries of the same brand. It’s not recommended to mix brands, use batteries of different ages, or ones that have been used.
For other brands, the battery compartment may be inside the door. If located inside your safe, you should keep an eye out if your batter is too low. You will not be able to open the door if the battery is too low to do so.
Don’t start panicking if this happens to you, there’s an override feature you can also access. Locate the silicon cap on the side of the lock. You can insert a nine-volt batter into the slot.
When the lock makes a sound three times, touch the center of the lock, and enter the five-digit code. You should be able to turn the handle and open the safe’s door.
It’s best to use four new batteries from the same pack to ensure that none of the above are used when changing the batteries.
One way or another, you will be able to access your safe even when you forget the codes or if the batteries are dead. As long as you either keep up with your keys or remember your code, you’ll be able to access your safe.
How Do Sentry Gun Safes Work?
Sentry gun safes are made from solid steel. They have impact resistance, water and fireproof, and can withstand hazards. SentrySafe safes can withstand fire temperatures between 1150-1850 degrees Fahrenheit, and can keep your valuables safe for up to two hours of fire exposure.
They offer a variety of a safes fit for a range of protection. A user can choose between Basic, Moderate, High, and Maximum, which will be briefly covered in a later section.
The safe offers various ways for an owner to access his or her safe. Depending on the model, your keys, keypad, or dial for your safe may function differently.
Accessibility:
- Key
- Dial
- Keypad
New users always have to use the factory setting combination provided on the back of their safe first before they can change the combination. Once the provided combination is entered, users are able to customize and change the code.
Usually, the safe’s keys play a major role in being able to open your safe, regardless if the primary way is by dial or keypad. For some, you may need to insert the key prior to opening your lock before you can get into your safe.
There are additional features that the owner can utilize, like adding a second code or a way to access your safe, even when you forget your combinations.
Sentry safes also allow the option for other users access to the safe with a different code when using a keypad.
Whether by using a key, keypad, or dial, Sentry gun safes guarantee that your valuables are secure. If a user has lost the keys or forgotten the combination, the website offers a way for users to get in touch with the company to receive a new key.
Levels of protection:
- Basic
- Moderate
- High
- Maximum
Depending on the level of security for your safe, these levels of protection offer a wide range of settings that will meet your gun safe requirements.
The basic protection safes will do the minimum work of protect your small, compact and loose articles. Ideally, they are used to keep cash and other valuable paperwork.
The moderate safes are similar to the basic safes, but are bulkier to fit more documents. The high protection safes are pry-resistant, and the lower protection of firearm protection.
Finally, the maximum protection offers the best protection and has 2-4 live-locking bolts. The maximum protection also prevents additional entry force attempts by having dead bolts, an anti-drill door, and even a loud audible alarm to alert you.
If you are looking for a minimum way to protect your firearms, many of the high protection models are California DOJ certified. The heavy appearance of them will also protect against tool attacks and damage.
Otherwise, if you’re looking for the best and most secure firearm protection out of these, the maximum protection safes are bulkier and heavier, but will provide the best protection.
How Often Should You Change The Combination On Your Gun Safe?
A keyless access means that you don’t need to keep up with a set of keys for your gun safe. How often do you have to change the combination for your gun safe, though? Once you begin to remember the combination, you have to change it again.
Why you should change your combination:
- Ensure protection
- Tell a few people you trust
While it’s good to remember your combination by heart, you shouldn’t get too comfortable with remembering it because, you should change it ever so often.
Some recommendations say to change your combination at least twice a year. It’s up to you if you want to change your code completely, or change a few digits to remember it easier each time.
It’s also a good idea to tell a select few people that you trust your safe’s combination. It can be useful if you happen to forget your combination, someone else will know your combination as a backup.
Electronic Vs. Mechanical Locked Gun Safes: Which One Is Safer?
When ultimately deciding which gun safe would be the better option for you, it comes down to which one is safer? Also, would you be better off with keeping a key or keeping up with a key and memorizing combinations?
Let’s have a look at the pros between both of these options.
Pros of electronic:
- High manipulation resistance
- Changing passcode
- Blocks unauthorized users
Combination safes have about 999,999 possible lock combinations, which when using an electronic safe, it’s nearly impossible for a thief to guess your personalized combination.
You can also access your lock at any point during the day, even in the dark because, it will light up!
Also, it could take a thief up to 27 years to manipulate the lock to break in. Surely by then, you’d notice if your safe’s contents were in jeopardy! If someone does try to break into your lock, it will restrict further attempts if the user has been denied after a few failed attempts.
Pros of mechanical:
- No electricity
- Longer lifespan
The best feature of a mechanical safe is that you don’t have to change its batteries. By simply using keys, you’ll be able to access your safe’s contents during any time without needing electricity.
Mechanical safes also have a longer lifespan because they rarely breakdown. Now, what are some cons?
Cons of electronic:
- Batteries
- Temporary lock out
While the electronic safe offers more secure protection with almost a million possible combination, the slight drawback is having to change the batteries every six to twelve months. An electronic lock is quicker with just a few seconds to type a code in.
Also with having low or dead batteries, you will have the risk of being temporarily locked out of your safe.
Cons of mechanical:
- Same technology
- Easier to break into
- Maintenance
When it comes to mechanical safes, they are slow to access, but are quick to break into. Mechanical safes are also known to have a longer lifespan because they rarely breakdown.
If you make a mistake entering your code, you’ll have to restart the process over again. In quick moments when you need to access your safe, it’ll be a slight inconvenience during an emergency.
Tests have shown that a professional thief can figure out a mechanical safe’s combination within 15 minutes or less. If the tumbler on the dial is misaligned, you’ll have to have it serviced to have it fixed.
When weighing the pros and cons of mechanic and electric, which is the safest to offering secure protection?
Mechanical safes are slow to access for you, but quicker for a thief to access. On the other hand, you don’t need to change its batteries; and unless you lost the keys or have forgotten the code, you will not be locked out.
Electronic safes are a quicker way to access your safe in the daylight or even nighttime because its light up function. They also are more challenging for a thief to break into it. You also have the flexibility to create your own code, which you cannot for a mechanical safe.
Whichever you choose, you want to fee secure that your firearms are safe and out of easy access to anyone but you and other authorized people.