Best Gun Locks and Trigger Locks for Safe Storage in 2026
Every gun owner needs at least one gun lock for safe storage, and most need several. A gun lock prevents a child or unauthorized person from firing your firearm – it does not prevent a determined adult from accessing it. That’s the distinction most guides skip. Master Lock 107DSPT earns our top pick for universal fit and sub-$15 price, but the right lock depends on your gun, your state’s storage law, and whether you’re securing a nightstand pistol or a storage safe. (If you need the next step up, check out our guide to the Best Pistol Safe for Nightstand.)
Quick Picks Summary
🏆 Best Overall: Master Lock 107DSPT – $10 – Universal keyed trigger lock, California DOJ approved
💰 Best Cable Lock: SnapSafe Padlock Cable Lock – $15 – Hardened padlock + steel cable, works on any action
🔰 Best Budget: Project ChildSafe Cable Lock – Free – Free from local PD, functional minimum for every gun
🎯 Best No-Key: Regal Industrial Combination Trigger Lock – $15 – Resettable 3-digit combo, no lost keys
⭐ Best Rapid-Access: Zore X Core – $50 – 1-second dial removal for nightstand 9mm
What to Look For in a Gun Lock or Trigger Lock
Look for three things: lock type (trigger, cable, or chamber), fit compatibility with your specific firearm, and removal speed under stress. Trigger locks cover the trigger guard and prevent the trigger from being pulled – they fit most handguns, rifles, and shotguns with standard trigger guards. Cable locks thread through the action and prevent cycling, making them the most versatile option since one cable lock works on revolvers, semi-autos, AR-15s, and shotguns alike. Chamber locks insert directly into the chamber and prevent loading entirely. Key specs to compare: jaw padding material, cable gauge (thicker is better), number of keys included, and whether the lock carries California DOJ approval, which is the toughest state-level standard and a reliable quality benchmark nationwide.
What most guides miss is the fundamental security ceiling of every gun lock on this list: a determined adult with basic tools can defeat most trigger locks in 30–60 seconds. That’s not a flaw – it’s the design intent. Gun locks exist to stop a child from accidentally firing a loaded gun, not to stop a burglar. For that reason, a gun lock and a gun safe serve completely different purposes, and using both is the only complete answer. Never treat a $10 trigger lock as a substitute for a locked safe when theft is a concern.
Master Lock 107DSPT – Best Overall
The Master Lock 107DSPT is a keyed trigger lock with padded steel jaws that fit most handgun, rifle, and shotgun trigger guards – street price runs around $10. It ships with two keys, carries California DOJ approval, and has been the default recommendation from range safety officers and law enforcement storage programs for years because it genuinely fits nearly everything without modification. The padded jaws protect finished surfaces reasonably well, and the lock cylinder is robust enough for a $10 product.
In practice, the 107DSPT installs in about five seconds once you’re familiar with it, and the keyed mechanism is more pick-resistant than combination locks at this price tier. The honest limitation: the padded jaws can leave faint marks on some high-polish finishes over time, and like all trigger locks, the gun remains physically accessible – it just can’t be fired. Store the keys separately from the firearm. Best for anyone who wants one lock that works on everything from a Glock to a 12-gauge without fuss.
✓ Best for: Universal trigger lock for storage compliance
✓ Street price: $10
✗ Watch out: Gun is still physically accessible – pair with a safe for real security
Project ChildSafe Cable Lock – Best Budget
The Project ChildSafe Cable Lock is a free keyed cable lock distributed through local police departments via the NSSF’s Project ChildSafe program – walk in, ask, and most departments hand them out at no charge. The yellow cable threads through the action of any firearm, preventing cycling and rendering the gun inoperable without the key. It works on revolvers, semi-autos, rifles, and shotguns, which makes it genuinely versatile despite the zero cost.
The honest assessment: this is a functional minimum, not a high-security solution. The cable gauge is thin, the lock body is small and occasionally stiff, and key replacement is limited. What it does well is exactly what it’s designed for – preventing a child from cycling and firing a gun during unsupervised access. Every gun owner should have several of these on hand, especially since most new firearms ship with a similar cable lock in the box. If you need more security, upgrade to the SnapSafe below, but don’t skip the free option just because it’s basic.
✓ Best for: Free baseline lock – every gun owner should have several
✓ Street price: Free (local police department)
✗ Watch out: Thin cable gauge – not a high-security solution
SnapSafe Padlock Cable Lock – Best Cable Lock
The SnapSafe Padlock Cable Lock combines a hardened steel padlock body with a 15-inch steel cable that threads through any firearm action – street price is around $15 and it ships with two keys. The padlock shackle is hardened, which adds meaningful resistance compared to the thin lock bodies on most free cable locks, and the 15-inch cable length handles everything from compact pistols to full-length shotguns without strain. It’s a straightforward upgrade from the Project ChildSafe freebie when you want more robust hardware.
Real-world use is simple: loop the cable through the open action, close the padlock, done. The cable can still be cut with bolt cutters if someone is determined – no cable lock at this price point is cut-proof, and claiming otherwise is dishonest. But for preventing casual unauthorized access and meeting storage compliance requirements in all 50 states, it’s the most capable cable lock under $20. The padlock body adds slight bulk in a gun case, which is a minor inconvenience worth accepting for the hardened shackle.
✓ Best for: Most robust cable lock for action-threading on any firearm
✓ Street price: $15
✗ Watch out: Cable can be cut with bolt cutters – this is a lock, not a safe
Regal Industrial Combination Trigger Lock – Best No-Key Option
The Regal Industrial Combination Trigger Lock uses a resettable 3-digit combination dial instead of a key – street price is around $15 – which solves the most common real-world failure point of keyed locks: losing the key. The padded jaws fit most standard trigger guards on handguns, rifles, and shotguns, and the combination is resettable so you can change it if someone else learns your code. No keys to store, no keys to lose, no locksmith calls.
The trade-off is mathematical: a 3-digit combination has 1,000 possible combinations, which a patient person could work through. It’s also marginally slower to remove under stress than a keyed lock if your hands are shaking. The dial can feel stiff on new units until it breaks in. That said, for the specific use case of a stored firearm that you access occasionally – a rifle in a closet, a shotgun in a case – the combination format is genuinely more practical than keys for most households. Don’t use it as your only layer of security on a home-defense firearm.
✓ Best for: Key-free storage – no lost keys ever
✓ Street price: $15
✗ Watch out: Only 1,000 possible combinations – not high-security
Zore X Core – Best for Rapid-Access Storage
The Zore X Core is a chamber lock designed specifically for 9mm handguns – street price is around $50 – that inserts directly into the chamber like a cartridge and prevents the gun from being loaded or cycled. The removal mechanism is a proprietary dial code that a practiced user can operate in approximately one second, which makes it the fastest-access gun lock on this list by a wide margin. No keys, no combination dial to spin, no fumbling in the dark.
The Zore X Core occupies a specific niche: the nightstand home-defense pistol that you want accessible to yourself in seconds but locked against unauthorized use when you’re not home. It’s caliber-specific – you need the 9mm version for a 9mm gun, and separate models for other calibers – which limits versatility. At $50 it’s the most expensive pick here. One genuine safety concern: a chamber lock makes the gun appear unloaded to someone who doesn’t know the system, which could create confusion if another adult handles it. Best paired with a dedicated nightstand safe if budget allows.
✓ Best for: Fastest-access gun lock for a nightstand home-defense pistol
✓ Street price: $50
✗ Watch out: Caliber-specific – 9mm version only works on 9mm firearms
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Feature | Master Lock 107DSPT | Project ChildSafe | SnapSafe Cable | Regal Combo | Zore X Core |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $10 | Free | $15 | $15 | $50 |
| Type | Trigger | Cable | Cable | Trigger | Chamber |
| Keyed/Combo | Keyed | Keyed | Keyed | Combo | Dial code |
| Universal Fit | Yes | Yes | Yes | Most | 9mm only |
| Removal Speed | 5 sec | 8 sec | 8 sec | 10 sec | 1 sec |
| Our Rating | 4.5/5 | 3.5/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
Master Lock 107DSPT wins on universal fit and value. Project ChildSafe wins only on price (free). SnapSafe beats both cable options on hardware quality. Regal Combo is the practical choice for anyone who loses keys. Zore X Core is in a separate category – it costs five times more but removes in one second, which matters for a home-defense gun.
What We’d Actually Buy
For my own storage setup, I’d grab the Master Lock 107DSPT for every long gun and spare handgun in the safe – at $10 each, you can lock every firearm in the house for under $50 total. For a nightstand 9mm without a dedicated pistol safe, the Zore X Core is worth the $50 premium specifically because the 1-second removal is real and the child-safety value is high. The free Project ChildSafe locks go on every gun case for transport.
Two products I’d skip entirely: cheap $3 plastic trigger locks, because the jaws crack and the lock mechanism jams, giving you false security with zero reliability. Also avoid threading a bare padlock through the trigger guard – if the lock shifts and contacts the trigger, you have a negligent discharge waiting to happen. Spend the $10 on a proper trigger lock with padded jaws.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I need a gun lock or a gun safe – or both?
A: Both serve different purposes. A gun lock prevents unauthorized firing; a gun safe prevents unauthorized access and theft. Use a lock inside a safe for maximum security.
Q: Are the free cable locks from Project ChildSafe good enough?
A: For basic child-safety compliance, yes – they function as intended. For higher security or frequent access, upgrade to the SnapSafe or a trigger lock.
Q: What gun lock meets my state’s storage law?
A: California DOJ approval is the strictest standard – any lock carrying that certification meets storage requirements in all 50 states. Master Lock 107DSPT carries this approval.
Q: Can a child defeat a gun lock?
A: Young children cannot reliably defeat a properly installed trigger lock or cable lock. A determined teenager with tools is a different scenario – which is why a locked safe matters.
Q: Should I use a lock AND a safe together?
A: Yes, always. A gun lock prevents firing if someone accesses the gun; a safe prevents access entirely. They solve different problems and cost under $20 combined for basic setups.
Final Recommendation
Budget pick: Project ChildSafe cable lock (free – no excuse not to have one).
Best value: Master Lock 107DSPT at $10 for universal trigger coverage.
No-compromise rapid-access: Zore X Core at $50 for nightstand 9mm.
Bottom line – a gun lock prevents a child from firing your gun, not a burglar from taking it.
Use locks and safes together, never instead of each other.
Practical tip: put a trigger lock on every gun that isn’t in an actively monitored safe, tonight.
