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.
When a student tells me he doesn’t trust fingerprint readers, I don’t argue with him. Some folks have prints worn smooth from forty years of work, and some just like buttons they can feel. For those students I point to a plain keypad box, and the SentrySafe QAP2E is one I’d put on the short list.
My verdict: it’s a wide, heavy keypad pistol box with a gas-strut lid and an override key, priced under a hundred dollars. Just know going in that the inside is short on height.
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
SentrySafe QAP2E – Best Keypad Pistol Safe Under $100
HIGHLIGHT:
A gas strut lifts the lid quietly, so one hand on the keypad is all it takes to get in.
FRONT PANEL & KEYPAD:
The front edge is about as simple as a safe gets: four round buttons and a key lock. No fingerprint reader, no RFID tag, no phone app. SentrySafe says the keypad allows single-handed entry, and with only four buttons your fingers can find them in the dark without much hunting.
Simple doesn’t mean careless. I tell every class the same thing about codes: no birthdays, no 1-1-1-1, and never written on a sticky note under the box. Pick something you can punch in with your heart pounding. Then run it with the lights off until your fingers know it better than your head does.
The listing doesn’t explain how you change or reset the code, so keep the manual with your important papers, not in the trash with the box.
OVERRIDE KEY:
SentrySafe lists an override key among the included parts. That key is your plan B for dead batteries or a forgotten code. In the photos you can see the key lock sitting at the end of the keypad row.
Here’s where I get preachy. The key does not live in the nightstand drawer under the safe. It doesn’t hang on a nail in the closet either. Put it on your own key ring or in a second locked spot, somewhere a child or a houseguest won’t stumble across it. And try it once after you set the safe up. You want to know it turns before the night you need it to.
GAS STRUT LID:
This is the feature SentrySafe leads with. A gas strut holds the lid and, in the seller’s words, opens it instantly and quietly. That beats a spring lid that slaps open and wakes the whole house. It also keeps the lid up and out of the way, so your gun hand goes straight in.
The close-up shows the strut mounted at the hinge end with a coil spring on its rod. In the photos you can also see the strut and two springs out of the safe and laid side by side. It’s a small, separate part, not something welded into the box. If one ever goes weak, ask SentrySafe about a replacement before you give up on the whole safe.
INSIDE ROOM:
SentrySafe lists the outside at 16.4 inches wide, 9.8 inches deep and 3.2 inches tall, and the inside at 14 by 6.5 by 2.2 inches. That’s wide for a pistol box and short on height. The empty-box shot shows the lining on the floor and under the lid.
The seller says it holds two standard handguns, or one larger pistol and extra ammunition. In the photos you can see a pair of pistols, one of them in a holster, lying side by side with four spare magazines. That’s about what the width allows. Another shot shows two pistols again, one wearing a weapon light.
SIZE CHECK:
That 2.2-inch inside height is the number to worry about. One photo shows a pistol with a weapon light lying on its side next to a tan-framed pistol. What a photo can’t tell you is whether the lid will close over your gun with your light and your optic on it.
So measure. Lay your pistol on its side on the kitchen table with everything attached and measure from the table to the highest point. Leave a little room for the lining. If it’s close, it’s too close. A lid you have to lean on to latch is not a lid you want to fight with at night.
BUILD & STEEL:
SentrySafe describes solid steel construction, listed as alloy steel, with a pry-resistant door. The listing doesn’t give a steel gauge or a fire rating. I won’t guess at either, and you shouldn’t buy it expecting papers to come through a house fire. The close-up of an inside corner shows the steel edge of the box with the lining behind it.
The listing also calls it a California DOJ certified gun safe. If you live in California, check the model against the state’s current roster yourself. Rosters change, and a seller’s listing isn’t the last word.
POWER:
The QAP2E runs on four AA batteries, and they don’t come in the box. SentrySafe’s own advice is four name-brand alkaline AAs with an expiration date 8 to 10 years out, and it warns that generic and rechargeable cells often don’t last as long. Buy the batteries the same day you buy the safe.
I keep a phone reminder for battery checks the same way I do for smoke detectors. Change them on a schedule instead of waiting for trouble, and after every change, test the code and the key both. A dead keypad at 3 a.m. turns a quick-access safe into a locked box.
MOUNTING:
The specs list surface mount, and the title mentions a bolt-down kit for home or car. SentrySafe gives the weight as 15.8 pounds in the specs and 16 pounds in the bullets. Either way, it’s heavy enough not to slide around and light enough for a burglar to carry out under one arm. As an old lawman, my first thought with any loose pistol box is how fast it fits in a pillowcase.
Bolt it to a nightstand base, a shelf or a cabinet floor with fasteners that suit the surface. In a vehicle, pick a spot you can reach from the seat, and remember that summer heat and winter cold are both hard on batteries.
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.
WHAT TO CHECK BEFORE YOU BUY:
Where it earns its keep: The SentrySafe QAP2E is strong and sturdy, holds a handgun plus magazines and ammunition comfortably, and uses a tough lock that is hard to defeat without the code or key. US-based support responds when problems come up.
Where it falls short: The spring-loaded lid often fails to pop fully open and needs a hand to finish, the keypad is slow and wants firm, deliberate presses, and the gas strut can weaken over time.
Who it’s for: A tough, well-built pistol safe for home or car where deliberate keypad entry is acceptable. Skip it if the lid must pop fully open hands-free in a split-second emergency.
WHAT TO WATCH:
Height first: 2.2 inches inside won’t take every pistol with a light or a tall red dot. Batteries second: none in the box, and you are the maintenance plan. Third, it’s keypad and key only. If you had your heart set on a fingerprint reader, this isn’t that safe.
WHO SHOULD BUY IT:
Buy it if you want a bedside or shelf box for one or two handguns, you’d rather punch a code than trust a fingerprint, and you’ll bolt it down. Skip it if you keep a full-size pistol with a light and an optic, need fire protection, or want something light enough to carry from place to place.
SPECS AT A GLANCE:
| Spec | What SentrySafe lists |
|---|---|
| Outside size | 16.4″ wide x 9.8″ deep x 3.2″ high |
| Inside size | 14″ wide x 6.5″ deep x 2.2″ high |
| Capacity | 0.12 cubic feet; two standard handguns, or one larger pistol plus ammo |
| Ways in | Digital keypad, override key |
| Lid | Gas strut |
| Body | Alloy steel, pry-resistant door (no gauge listed) |
| Weight | 15.8 lb in the specs, 16 lb in the bullets |
| Power | 4 AA batteries, not included |
| Mounting | Surface mount; bolt-down kit per the title |
| Certification | California DOJ certified, per the listing |
PROS & CONS:
Pros
- Gas-strut lid opens quietly and stays out of your way
- Simple four-button keypad with an override key
- Wide enough for two handguns side by side
- California DOJ certified, per the listing
Cons
- Only 2.2 inches of inside height
- Four AA batteries needed and not included
- No fingerprint entry and no fire rating listed
$89.99 & FREE Returns on Amazon (as of Oct 31, 2026, 12:05 AM EDT – details)
Shopping on a budget? See my best gun safes under $100 picks.
SentrySafe QAP2E FAQ
What batteries does the SentrySafe QAP2E use?
Four AA batteries, and they’re not included. SentrySafe recommends name-brand alkaline cells with a long expiration date and says generic and rechargeable batteries often don’t last as long. Check the manual for how the safe acts when they run low.
How big is the inside of the QAP2E?
SentrySafe lists the inside at 14 inches wide, 6.5 inches deep and 2.2 inches tall. The height is the tight spot, so measure your handgun with any light or optic attached before you order.
Is the QAP2E California DOJ certified?
The listing says it is. If you live in California, check the model against the state’s current roster before you buy, because rosters change.
What if the keypad or the batteries fail?
Use the override key. Keep it away from the safe and out of reach of children, and test it once after setup so you know it works.
Can the SentrySafe QAP2E be bolted down?
Yes. The specs list surface mount and the title mentions a bolt-down kit, so you can fasten it to a solid surface at home or in a vehicle. Follow the manual and use fasteners that suit what you’re bolting into.
All product photos on this page were taken by our team.
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.