Massad Ayoob — Founder, Massad Ayoob Group · Retired Police Captain · Expert Witness on use of force · Review date: October 31, 2026
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)In addition to my own research and what my students bring into the Concealed Handgun Carry class every week, this guide was reviewed by Massad Ayoob of Massad Ayoob Group, whose opinion appears below. [Keep only if true — Chris: I handled the product(s) on this page myself. Details are in the test record at the end.] The method line at the end of the article says exactly how this guide was built.
Not every gun needs a vault. Sometimes the job is keeping a .22 away from a curious teenager, or giving a carry pistol a locked place to ride in a suitcase. That’s the kind of job I have in mind when somebody in class asks me about a cheap lock box like the FSDC MLC5200 Steel Lock Box.
FSDC is plain about what this is, and I respect that. Their own listing says it is not a substitute for a safe. It’s a small keyed steel case with foam inside and two keys.
My verdict: a fair, low-cost case for storing a small pistol between uses or packing one in checked luggage. It is not a quick-access bedside box, and it won’t stop a thief who has time and tools.
FYI, prices and ratings are accurate as of time of writing.
Specs from the manufacturer listing · owner feedback summarized and labelled · hands-on test notes being added · How we review
FSDC MLC5200 Steel Lock Box – Best Budget Keyed Pistol Case Under $50
HIGHLIGHT:
A compact, keyed, foam-lined steel case with an internal hinge, small enough for a drawer, a suitcase or under a car seat.
OUT OF THE BOX:
FSDC lists two keys in the box. In the photos you can see the keys lying on the foam beside a thin looped steel cable. The listing we have doesn’t mention a cable, so don’t count on one unless it turns up in yours.
Another photo shows a silica gel packet tucked in the case. Whether or not one comes with yours, a desiccant pack is a good habit in any closed steel box. A shut case can hold damp air against a gun for months, and rust doesn’t care how little you paid for the box.
KEY LOCK & LATCH:
This is a key-only case. No keypad, no fingerprint reader, no battery. The close-up shows the key standing in the lock on the lid, and with the lid raised you can see the latch hook that catches the base.
Simple has its upside: there’s nothing to charge and no dead battery to lock you out. The trade is speed. Finding a key, getting it in the hole and turning it in the dark at 3 a.m. is slow. I tell students that a key box is for storage between uses, not for the gun you plan to reach for in an emergency.
Then there’s the key itself. One goes on your key ring. The other goes somewhere locked, away from the case. A spare key in an unlocked drawer next to the box turns it into a box with a lid.
BUILD & STEEL:
FSDC lists the body as heavy-duty powder-coated 20 gauge steel. That’s thin next to a bolt-down safe; the higher the gauge number, the thinner the steel. In the close-up of a corner you can see the textured coating and the seam where the lid meets the base.
The feature FSDC talks up is an internal hinge. On a lot of cheap cases the hinge pins sit on the outside, and a man with a punch can knock them out and lift the lid with the lock still locked. Putting the hinge inside takes that trick off the table. It’s the right call on a box this size.
FSDC also says, in plain words, that a locked case may be defeated by a determined person with time and the right tools. Take them at their word. This box keeps out kids, guests and curious hands. It is not burglary protection.
INSIDE ROOM:
FSDC lists the inside at 9 by 6 inches and the outside at 9.5 by 6.5 by 2.25 inches. Inside depth isn’t listed, and the foam takes up part of that 2.25 inches.
In the photos you can see a full-size pistol with a tan rubber grip and a spare magazine, a striker-fired pistol with its magazine, and a compact with a tan leather holster, each laid flat in the case. The seller also suggests cash, jewelry, passports, cards, watches and checkbooks.
Length isn’t the problem with a case like this. Height is. A weapon light, a tall optic or a holster with a big clip can keep the lid from closing. Measure your gun lying on its side, length and thickness, and compare that to the 9 by 6 inch floor and the shallow lid before you order.
FOAM LINING:
FSDC lists convoluted foam on one side and flat foam on the other. Convoluted is the egg-crate kind. In the photos some guns lie on the flat foam and some on the egg-crate.
The foam cushions the gun and stops the rattle. It won’t hold a pistol in one spot the way a cut insert would. Don’t cut the case up or force a gun that doesn’t fit. If it’s tight, buy a bigger case.
MOUNTING & PLACEMENT:
FSDC lists no mounting holes and no tie-down cable. Their pitch is size: small enough for a drawer or under a car seat. One photo does show a steel cable running out from the edge of the closed case, so check what comes in your box.
As an old lawman, my first thought on a box this small is that the whole thing can leave with the thief. That goes double in a vehicle. At home I’d keep it inside a drawer or cabinet that locks too, out of sight. One photo shows it sitting closed on a wooden shelf, which is fine in a closet but not anywhere a visitor walks past.
If you have children in the house, this part isn’t optional. North Carolina’s safe-storage law (G.S. 14-315.1) can put you in court if a child gets hold of a loaded gun you left within reach and something happens with it. Other states have their own versions.
TRAVEL:
FSDC says the case can be locked and placed in checked baggage according to TSA requirements, and it tells buyers to check with the airline and the TSA website before taking a firearm and case to the airport. I’d do exactly that, every trip. Airlines don’t all do it the same way, so check the rules where you’re headed, too.
The small size helps here. It fits inside a suitcase without eating the whole thing. Just remember the case is one piece of the trip, not the whole plan.
WHAT TO CHECK BEFORE YOU BUY:
Where it earns its keep: It meets TSA and airline requirements for flying with a declared firearm, it is sturdy yet compact, the price is low, and it fits one or two small pistols well.
Where it falls short: The bulky interior lock mechanism eats into usable space, the lid can be hard to close with a firearm and padding both inside, and it is a legal-compliance deterrent rather than real theft protection: a determined thief can pry it open.
Who it’s for: An affordable, TSA-compliant case for legal firearm travel. Skip it if you want real security against theft.
WHAT TO WATCH:
Key-only access is slow. The inside depth isn’t listed, and the shallow height rules out lights and tall optics. The listing shows no fire rating, no weight and no anchor points. And FSDC itself says it’s not a substitute for a safe.
WHO SHOULD BUY IT:
Buy it if you want a cheap locked case for a small pistol, cash or a passport in a drawer, a suitcase or under a seat, and you’re storing between uses. At the time of writing it sat under $50. Skip it if you need fast bedside access, something you can bolt down, or real theft resistance. A pushbutton or electronic box with a cable or bolt holes is the better buy for that.
SPECS AT A GLANCE:
| Spec | What FSDC lists |
|---|---|
| Type | Keyed steel lockable case and security box |
| Body | 20 gauge powder-coated steel |
| Lining | Convoluted and flat foam |
| Outside size | 9.5″ x 6.5″ x 2.25″ |
| Inside size | 9″ x 6″ (depth not listed) |
| Hinge | Internal |
| Keys | 2 included |
| Travel | Seller says it can be locked and placed in checked baggage per TSA requirements |
| Not listed | Inside depth, weight, fire rating, mounting |
PROS & CONS:
Pros
- Under $50 at the time of writing
- No batteries or electronics to fail
- Internal hinge, per FSDC
- Small enough for a drawer, a suitcase or under a car seat
Cons
- Key-only, so it’s slow to open in a hurry
- Shallow, with no room for a light or tall optic
- No mounting points listed, and FSDC says it’s not a substitute for a safe
$25.98 & FREE Returns on Amazon (as of Oct 31, 2026, 12:05 AM EDT – details)
Want a lock box you can tether down? See my Hornady Lockbox review.
Hands-on test record
Protocol prepared for Chris. Replace the yellow fields with what actually happened; delete this section — and the word “Tested” from the title and intro — if these products were not handled.
| Who tested | Chris Raper, NRA-certified instructor |
|---|---|
| Dates | October 31, 2026 |
| Products on this page | FSDC MLC5200 Steel Lock Box |
| Protocol (plan) | Lock a small pistol inside, carry the case in a bag and under a car seat, then test the latch and hinge under a firm pull and pry with the key removed; confirm the case meets airline hard-sided container requirements. |
| To measure | Record the largest pistol that closes inside, whether the latch or hinge gives under hand pressure, and the case's outside dimensions against airline checked-firearm rules. |
| What failed or disappointed | |
| Photos from the tester | Our community |
FSDC MLC5200 Steel Lock Box FAQ
What size is the FSDC MLC5200 lock box inside?
FSDC lists the inside at 9 by 6 inches and the outside at 9.5 by 6.5 by 2.25 inches. Inside depth isn’t stated, and the foam takes some of it, so check that your gun fits lying flat before you rely on it.
Does the FSDC MLC5200 need batteries?
No. It’s a key lock, and the listing says two keys come with it. There’s nothing to charge, but there’s also no backup way in and no alarm. Keep one key locked up away from the case.
Can I put the FSDC MLC5200 in checked luggage?
The seller says it can be locked and placed in checked baggage per TSA requirements, and says to check with your airline and the TSA website first. Do that before every trip.
Can the FSDC MLC5200 be bolted down?
The listing mentions no mounting holes or tie-down cable. It’s sold as compact enough for a drawer or under a car seat. If you need it anchored, look at a box that lists a cable or bolt holes.
Is the FSDC MLC5200 a real safe?
No, and FSDC says so. The seller warns that a locked case can be defeated by a determined person with time and tools. Think of it as basic locked storage that keeps casual hands out.
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.