Chris Raper — Retired North Carolina law enforcement (40+ years) · U.S. Air Force Security Police · NRA-certified Pistol, Rifle & Shotgun Instructor · NC DOJ-certified Concealed Carry Instructor · Founder, Concealed Handgun Carry, Inc. (Elm City, NC, 2006)This guide draws on my own research and what my students bring into the Concealed Handgun Carry class every week. The method line at the end of the article says exactly how this guide was built.
If you want one lock to put on a gun tonight, start with the Master Lock 90DSPT Keyed Trigger Lock: a steel and zinc body, a 4-pin tumbler cylinder, rubber pads that keep it off the finish, and keyed-alike and three-pack versions for a house with several guns. If you want a lock that does more than cover the trigger, the Master Lock 99DSPT Cable Gun Lock runs a 14-inch braided steel cable through the action itself, so the gun can’t be loaded or closed while it’s on.
I teach the North Carolina concealed carry class, and the storage block is where I see the most nodding and the least follow-through. Folks own the lock that came in the gun box. It’s in a drawer, still in the plastic. A lock only works on the gun. Below are eight picks from the two brands with the clearest documentation, plus the free option most people never hear about.
FYI, prices and ratings are accurate as of time of writing.
Gun lock comparison table
| Lock | Type | Opens with | Worth knowing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master Lock 90DSPT | Trigger lock | Key (keyed different; keyed-alike 90KADSPT; 3-pack 90TRISPT) | Steel and zinc body, 4-pin tumbler, rubber pads | Most homes, most guns |
| Master Lock 99DSPT | Cable lock | Key (keyed-alike 99KADSPT) | 14 in braided steel cable, 1-5/16 in laminated steel padlock, anti-rap | Blocking the action |
| Lockdown Combination Trigger Lock | Trigger lock | Programmable combination | California DOJ certified, per Lockdown | No keys to lose |
| Master Lock 94DSPT | Trigger lock | Set-your-own 3-dial combination | Adjustable ratchet, 0.55 lb | Keyless, budget |
| Lockdown Keyed Trigger Lock, 3 Pack | Trigger lock | Key, 2 per lock | California DOJ certified, per Lockdown | Several guns at once |
| Master Lock 107DSPT | Cable lock | Key (keyed-alike 107KADSPT) | 14 in x 0.22 in cable, 1-1/8 in padlock | Tight ejection ports |
| Lockdown 15″ Cable Gun Lock | Cable lock | Key, 30 mm padlock | High-visibility green, California DOJ approved, per Lockdown | Seeing at a glance that a gun is locked |
| Project ChildSafe kit | Cable-style lock | Key | Free through participating law-enforcement agencies | Anyone who has no lock yet |
How we chose
We did not lab-test these locks. This guide is built from the manufacturers’ own product pages, the specifications they publish, and what I see in class every month when students bring their storage questions. I stuck to Master Lock and Lockdown because both publish model numbers, keying options and materials, and both sell replacement and keyed-alike versions, which matters in a house with more than one gun. Where a California DOJ certification is mentioned, it is because the maker states it on its own page; check the California DOJ safety device list yourself if you live there.
One rule before any of the picks: every lock on this page goes on an unloaded gun. A trigger lock on a loaded gun is a bad idea, because a lock clamped around a trigger guard is not the same as a gun that can’t fire. Unload it, lock the action open where the design allows, then put the lock on. I say that in every class, and I’ll say it here before you buy anything.
1. Master Lock 90DSPT Keyed Trigger Lock – Best Overall Trigger Lock
HIGHLIGHT:
The standard trigger lock, with keyed-alike and three-pack versions for multi-gun homes.
BUILD:
Master Lock lists a steel and zinc body, a 4-pin tumbler cylinder to help resist picking, and rubber pads on the inside faces so the two halves don’t mar the finish. It’s rated in Master Lock’s basic security tier, which is the honest way to describe any trigger lock: it keeps a curious hand off the trigger, it does not stop a person with tools and time.
KEYING:
The 90DSPT is keyed different, one key per lock. Master Lock also sells the 90KADSPT keyed alike and the 90TRISPT three-pack. If you own four guns, keyed alike means one key on your ring instead of four in a drawer, and the drawer is exactly where I don’t want those keys. Master Lock says it fits many handguns, rifles and shotguns.
WHAT TO WATCH:
A trigger lock covers the trigger. It does not block the chamber. On some guns that is enough for storage; on others a cable through the action is the better tool. Read your gun maker’s manual on locks, and if it recommends a cable lock, use one.
PROS & CONS:
- Pros: steel and zinc body; pick-resistant 4-pin cylinder; rubber pads; keyed-alike and 3-pack versions
- Cons: covers the trigger, not the action; basic security only; keys must be kept from children
Check today’s price on Amazon · Master Lock 90DSPT product page
2. Master Lock 99DSPT Cable Gun Lock – Best Cable Lock
HIGHLIGHT:
A 14-inch braided steel cable through the action and a laminated steel padlock with an anti-rap mechanism.
HOW IT LOCKS:
A cable lock runs through the gun, not around the trigger. On a semi-auto you lock the slide open, run the cable out the ejection port and down through the magazine well; on a revolver it goes through the frame with the cylinder swung out; on most rifles and shotguns it goes through the open action. With the cable in place the action can’t close and a magazine can’t seat. That is why I steer most students to a cable lock first.
BUILD:
Master Lock lists a 1-5/16 inch (33 mm) laminated steel padlock with a 4-pin tumbler, a dead-locking, anti-rap mechanism, a cut-resistant braided steel cable, and vinyl covers on the lock and cable so they don’t scratch the gun. The keyed-alike version is the 99KADSPT.
WHAT TO WATCH:
Thread the cable on a gun you have unloaded twice and checked twice. Then make sure the cable actually prevents the slide or bolt from closing on your particular gun. A thin cable in a big ejection port can sometimes let a slide move further than you’d expect.
PROS & CONS:
- Pros: blocks the action; laminated padlock with anti-rap mechanism; vinyl covers; keyed-alike option
- Cons: the padlock body is bulky; slower to remove than a trigger lock; cable thickness may not suit every small ejection port
Check today’s price on Amazon · Master Lock 99DSPT product page
3. Lockdown Combination Trigger Lock – Best Combination Trigger Lock
HIGHLIGHT:
A programmable combination trigger lock that Lockdown lists as California DOJ certified.
HOW IT LOCKS:
Lockdown describes a heavy-duty bolt that passes through the trigger guard, rubberized pads to protect the finish, and a combination you can change at any time. Lockdown gives the size as 1.35 by 2.25 by 2.65 inches, which keeps it compact on a handgun.
WHY A COMBINATION:
The most common failure I hear about with keyed locks isn’t the lock. It’s the key: lost, left in the lock, or kept in the same drawer as the gun. A combination removes that problem as long as the code isn’t a birthday the kids know. Pick a code you can work by feel, and change it if anyone else learns it.
WHAT TO WATCH:
Lockdown doesn’t publish the number of digits or the body material on the product page. Ask before you buy if those matter to you, and remember this is still a trigger lock: unloaded gun only.
PROS & CONS:
- Pros: no key to lose; combination can be changed any time; rubberized pads; California DOJ certified per Lockdown
- Cons: digit count and materials not published; trigger lock, not an action block
Check today’s price on Amazon · Lockdown product page
4. Master Lock 94DSPT Set-Your-Own Combination Trigger Lock – Best Budget Keyless Lock
HIGHLIGHT:
A three-dial, set-your-own combination on a steel and zinc body with an adjustable ratchet.
BUILD:
Master Lock lists a steel and zinc body, rubber pads, an adjustable ratchet mechanism for fit, a weather-resistant rating and a weight of 0.55 pound without packaging. It’s in the same basic security tier as the keyed 90DSPT, and Master Lock says it fits most handguns, rifles and shotguns.
WHAT TO WATCH:
Three dials means a short combination. That’s fine for keeping a child off a trigger, and it’s the reason this lock is a second layer, not a substitute for a locked box or safe. Set it, test it twice with the gun unloaded, and write the code somewhere that isn’t the box the lock came in.
PROS & CONS:
- Pros: keyless; adjustable ratchet; light; rubber pads
- Cons: three-dial combination; trigger coverage only
Check today’s price on Amazon · Master Lock 94DSPT product page
5. Lockdown Keyed Trigger Lock, 3 Pack – Best for Several Guns
HIGHLIGHT:
Three keyed trigger locks with two keys each, listed by Lockdown as California DOJ certified.
WHAT YOU GET:
Lockdown says each lock comes with two keys and uses the same heavy-duty bolt and rubberized pads as its combination model. Three locks in one box is the practical answer for the hunter with a rifle and a shotgun and a handgun in the same closet.
WHAT TO WATCH:
The product page doesn’t say whether the three locks are keyed alike. If you want one key for all three, confirm that before you order. If they come keyed different, label the keys, and keep the labels off the key ring.
PROS & CONS:
- Pros: three locks per box; two keys per lock; California DOJ certified per Lockdown
- Cons: keyed-alike status not stated; trigger coverage only
Check today’s price on Amazon · Lockdown product page
6. Master Lock 107DSPT Cable Gun Lock – Best Slim Cable Lock
HIGHLIGHT:
A 14-inch braided steel cable just 0.22 inch thick with a smaller 1-1/8 inch laminated steel padlock.
WHY A THINNER CABLE:
Master Lock lists the 107DSPT cable at 14 inches long and 0.22 inch (5.6 mm) in diameter, with a 1-1/8 inch (29 mm) laminated steel padlock. A slimmer cable threads more easily through the small ejection ports on pocket pistols and some rimfires, and the smaller lock body sits better inside a pistol case. The keyed-alike version is the 107KADSPT.
WHAT TO WATCH:
Thinner means easier to thread, and also easier to cut. For a lock that keeps children and visitors out of the action, it does the job. Against a thief with bolt cutters, no cable lock does, which is why the gun still belongs in a locked container.
PROS & CONS:
- Pros: slim cable for small ports; compact laminated padlock; keyed-alike option
- Cons: thinner cable; not a theft barrier
Check today’s price on Amazon · Master Lock gun locks
7. Lockdown 15″ Cable Gun Lock – Best Budget Cable Lock
HIGHLIGHT:
High-visibility green, a 15-inch reinforced cable and a 30 mm keyed padlock that Lockdown lists as California DOJ approved.
WHY THE COLOR MATTERS:
Lockdown makes this cable bright green so you can tell at a glance that a gun is locked. I like that for a range bag or a gun room with several long guns on a rack: one look tells you which ones are locked. Lockdown lists two keys and gives the package size as 4.5 by 3.5 by 1 inches.
WHAT TO WATCH:
Lockdown doesn’t publish the cable diameter or keying on the page. Check that the cable threads through your smallest gun before you buy several.
PROS & CONS:
- Pros: high-visibility cable; 15-inch length; California DOJ approved per Lockdown; low cost
- Cons: cable diameter and keying not stated
Check today’s price on Amazon · Lockdown product page
8. Project ChildSafe Free Safety Kit – Best Free Option
HIGHLIGHT:
A free safety kit with a cable-style gun lock, handed out through participating local law-enforcement agencies.
HOW IT WORKS:
Project ChildSafe is a program of the National Shooting Sports Foundation. It distributes free safety kits, which include a cable-style gun lock and safety information, through law-enforcement partners, and its site lets you look up participating agencies by state and city. The program says more than 42 million free locks have gone out since 1998. Start at the Project ChildSafe safety kit page.
WHAT TO WATCH:
Supplies vary by agency, so call ahead. And if your gun came with a lock in the box, look in the closet before you go anywhere. Under the Child Safety Lock Act of 2005, federal law requires licensed dealers to provide a secure storage or safety device with every handgun they transfer (18 U.S.C. 922(z)), so a lot of you already own one.
PROS & CONS:
- Pros: free; cable-style lock that blocks the action; local pickup
- Cons: availability varies by agency; basic lock, no keyed-alike option
When a lock isn’t enough
A lock on a gun stops a child or a visitor from firing it. It does not stop anyone from carrying the gun out of the house. If there are children or teenagers in your home, or the gun lives somewhere a burglar would look, put the locked gun inside a locked container. For a handgun that has to be reachable, a quick-access box is the next step: our best handgun safe and quick-access gun safe guides cover those. For a gun you rarely touch, a simple mechanical box like the StopBox USA or the key-only Hornady Lockbox adds a real barrier and a cable you can anchor. Long guns belong in a rifle safe or a gun cabinet.
How to choose the best gun lock
Trigger lock or cable lock
A trigger lock clamps two halves around the trigger guard so a finger can’t reach the trigger. A cable lock runs through the action so the gun can’t be loaded or closed. For storage, I prefer a cable lock on most modern semi-autos and revolvers because it blocks the action; a trigger lock is quicker to fit and works well as a second layer on a gun that is already in a locked case. Whichever you use, read what your gun maker says about locks in the owner’s manual.
Key or combination
Keys are simple and fast, and keyed-alike sets put one key on your ring for every gun in the house. Combinations remove the lost-key problem but only stay secure if the code stays private. In a house with children, I lean toward a key kept on your person, because a combination can be watched and learned.
Fit
Not every lock fits every gun. Trigger guards differ in size and shape, and small ejection ports won’t take a thick cable. Check the fit on an unloaded gun before you rely on the lock, and make sure the lock can’t be slid or twisted off the guard.
Installing it safely
Unload the gun and check it twice. Lock the slide or bolt open where the design allows. Thread the cable or close the trigger lock, then lock it and tug on it. Keys go on your key ring or in a second locked spot, never next to the gun. That last one comes up in every class I teach.
Know the law where you live
Safe-storage and child-access laws vary by state. In North Carolina, G.S. 14-315.1 makes it a crime to store a firearm in a way that lets a minor get to it under the conditions the statute describes. I’m a certified firearms instructor, not a lawyer, so read your own state’s law and get legal advice if you have questions. Our NC concealed carry FAQ covers the basics for North Carolina.
Best Gun Trigger Lock FAQ
Is a trigger lock or a cable lock better?
For most storage, a cable lock is better because it runs through the action and keeps the gun from being loaded or closed. A trigger lock is faster to put on and works well as a second layer. Use either one only on an unloaded gun.
Can I put a trigger lock on a loaded gun?
No. Unload the gun first and check it twice. A trigger lock on a loaded gun is not a safe way to store it.
Where can I get a free gun lock?
Project ChildSafe, a National Shooting Sports Foundation program, distributes free safety kits with a cable-style lock through participating law-enforcement agencies. Many new handguns also come with a lock in the box, because licensed dealers must provide a safety or storage device with each handgun they transfer.
Do gun locks stop theft?
Not really. A lock keeps a gun from being fired by a child or a visitor, but a thief can carry the locked gun away and defeat the lock later. Store the locked gun in a locked box or safe that is bolted or cabled down.
Chris Raper
Chris Raper is the founder and lead reviewer of Conceal & Carry Network. A retired North Carolina law-enforcement officer with more than 40 years of service and a U.S. Air Force Security Police veteran, he founded Concealed Handgun Carry, Inc. in Elm City, NC in 2006 and has taught the state-approved NC Concealed Handgun Carry class there ever since. He is an NC Department of Justice certified Firearms Safety Instructor, an NRA Pistol, Rifle and Shotgun Instructor, an NRA Range Safety Officer and a graduate of Massad Ayoob's Lethal Force Institute. He reviews the carry guns, holsters, safes and sight tools his students ask about every week.