In this article, we’ll be giving you our in-depth and hands-on review of the Hornady Rapid RFID AR Rifle Locker.
You’ll learn everything you need to know about this unique rifle dispenser through our hands-on experience with it.
Our Video Review
Below, you can see a quick video review that goes over what comes with the Hornady Rapid RFID AR Rifle Locker.
Watch the unboxing and see us test the RFID responsiveness as well as the programming process and see what type of rifles can fit in this rifle locker too!
To learn all of the criteria we use to rank gun safes, see: How We Test Gun Safes
Hornady Rapid RFID AR Rifle Locker Review
We recently purchased several quick-access long gun lockers, including the Hornady Rapid RFID AR Rifle Locker, and must say that the Hornady stood out with its performance and overall design.
Lightning-Fast RFID Access
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This locker has proven to be reliable, passing our thorough gauntlet of tests, and is a convenient solution for storing my AR rifles securely while providing quick access when needed.
Unboxing Experience
Note: Check out the quick review video above if you want to get the full unboxing experience!
The Hornady RAPiD AR rifle locker came packaged in a fairly large cardboard box with shipping straps tightly affixed to stand up well to handling.
There were a few identifying marks on the outside of the box which is not ideal but at least there are no flashy-looking pictures or stickers affixed.
It was well protected with styrofoam in key locations and arrived in perfect shape after unboxing it.
It came with all of the necessary accessories including:
- 1 User Manual
- 1 Plastic-Wrapped Steel Tether Cable
- 1 External Power Supply
- 4 Rubber Feet
- 2 RFID Pucks For Your Cellphone
- 1 RFID Keychain Tag
- 1 RFID Wrist Bracelet
As you can see from the outside, the Hornady RAPiD AR Locker shows no signs of dings, dents, or scratches.
First Impressions
Our first impressions of this were very positive as it’s only as large as it needs to be and neatly stores 2 AR-15 (or similarly-sized) rifles with optics, lights, and other accessories attached with no clearance problems whatsoever.
As you can see from this interior picture, the walls are lined with a thin layer of carpeting, and the foam blocks are built into the design and firmly hold onto the barrel and stock of any rifle you choose to put into this heavy-duty locker.
With the heavy weight of this safe, especially when full, having two sturdy steel side-folding handles makes moving this locker much more doable (even by yourself) and is a nice feature to include for a safe of this size and weight.
The animation above demonstrates resistance provided by the built-in strut that springs open fast to provide speedy access to your rifles at a moment’s notice.
The locking levers used to secure the locker when locked are hardened to approximately 50 HRC (*Rockwell C Scale) and tempered to prevent brittleness.
Utilizing four stout locking hooks makes this mechanism very strong and is uncommon for a rifle locker.
It’s likely to resist prying for a while before a breach occurs (door gaps could be better, though).
The animation above shows the speed and direction of the locking hooks when disengaged with the correct code input.
Setup and Programming
The RAPiD® AR-Locker is designed to be powered by either the AC power supply or four AA batteries.
To connect the AC power supply, first, open the locker with the circular barrel key. Locate the square hole in the back of the safe and insert the power cord into this hole.
- Route the power cord under the foam and toward the front of the locker.
- Plug the power cord into the jack on the back of the door.
- Use the integrated cord hook in the door to help retain the power cord.
Note: Press and hold the “H” button on the keypad for 5 seconds until the light turns off to toggle the sound on and off.
To install batteries, open the door with barrel keys and locate the battery compartment on the back of the door.
Remove the battery cover and insert four (4) high-quality AA batteries. Replace all batteries at the same time.
To check battery level:
- Disconnect from the A/C power source.
- Press and release the “H” button on the lid.
- The LED light on the “H” button will flash.
a. Flashing Green – Good battery
b. Flashing Yellow – Low battery
c. Flashing Red – Dead battery - After 10 seconds the safe will return to
normal operation. - NOTE: Replace batteries every twelve months or if they become weak.
When the RAPiD® AR-Locker is unplugged and is operating on battery power, you must press any button on the lid to activate the reader.
Pressing any button on the lid causes the system to go from battery-saving
mode to ready status.
For example: To open your safe with an RFID tag, while the system is running on battery power, first press any button on the lid to bring it to ready status.
Place your RFID tag within 1″ of the center of the RFID reader to open the safe.
The RAPiD® Safe includes three (3) styles of RFID tags, including:
- 1 Wristband
- 1 Key Fob
- 2 Decals *Additional styles and sizes can be purchased separately. The RAPiD® AR-Locker can store up to 5 tags.
To Program These Tags:
- Open the RAPiD Locker with either the key or a previously programmed RFID
tag or key code. (The key code safe does not ship with pre-programmed RFID tags. An RFID tag must be programmed to work with this safe.) - Locate the red program button. Press and release the button to begin programming an RFID tag. The first available program location will begin to blink.
- Hold the RFID tag within 1″ of the illuminated RFID reader area on the top of the safe lid. If the programming is successful, the safe should beep two times and the available slot should go from blinking to solid red for approximately ten seconds.
- NOTE: If the user attempts to program an RFID tag that is already stored in the safe, the safe will beep three times and the RFID tag will not be programmed into the duplicate slot. The RFID tag can only be programmed into one location.
Verify the RFID tag is programmed by holding the tag over the RFID reader with the lid open. The motor should cycle after each scan.
- If the RFID tag does not program into the locker, the program function will time out
after ten seconds and the locker will return to normal operation. If multiple attempts to program an RFID tag fail, please contact Hornady® - One to five RFID tags can be programmed into the locker.
A single user-defined 4 to 6-digit code can be entered into the RAPiD® Safe.
- Open the RAPiD Locker with either the key or a previously programmed RFID tag or key code. The locker ships with a default code and should be reprogrammed before first use.
- Locate the red program button to begin programming your key code. The first available tag location will begin to blink to indicate program mode.
- With the lid open, enter a 4 to 6-digit code into the keypad on the lid. Press the “H” after entering your code. Verify your code is correct by re-entering your code and pressing “H”. The motor should cycle.
- Your key code can now be used to open the locker.
- NOTE: Only one key code can be entered into the locker. If a second code is entered, it will override the previous code. **A total of 5 RFID tags and 1 key code can be entered into the safe.
How to Remove All Tags From Locker:
- Open the RAPiD® Locker with either the key or a previously programmed RFID tag or keycode. Locate the red program button. Press and hold the button for five seconds to erase all tags from the locker.
- All five red LEDs will begin to blink in sequence. (The safe does not allow individual tags to be removed. They must all be erased at one time. The intended RFID tags can then be reprogrammed back into the safe with the instructions above.)
- NOTE: To abort the erase procedure, press the “H” button on the lid of the safe or do not touch anything, and the erase procedure will automatically abort after 10 seconds and return to normal operation. Test RFID tags and the key code to confirm they are operational.
- To confirm the erasing procedure, press and release the program button again. All five LEDs will blink three times to visually confirm all RFID tags have been removed. All RFID tags will no longer work until they are programmed back into the safe with the instructions in the “How to Program Your RFID Tags” section.
Closing the Locker:
- The locker has a latch closure sensor that will illuminate the LED in the keypad when the lid is closed. Green–Latch has fully closed. Blinking Red–Latch has NOT fully closed.
- To close the locker, hold the door closed while rotating the lock knob on the front to the “locked” position. Verify green light appears on the keypad.
Security Cable:
The RAPiD® Locker includes a security cable that can be looped around a stationary object.
With the door open, feed the lug end through the loop end of the cable and then insert the threads of the lug into one of the round holes on the back of the locker.
Thread the washer and nut onto the lug from the inside of the locker and tighten firmly.
Storage Capacity
*Check out the video review at the top of the article to see how AKs fit into this locker.
Though sold as an “AR-15” rifle, the Hornady RAPiD RFID Locker also worked well with our AK-47s (*so long as there are no side rail mounts attached).
With an interior length of 40.5″, any rifle below that length can potentially fit in this locker so long as it has a similar width to an AR or AK. It also may be tricky to fit 2 hunting rifles with large scopes.
SecureIt makes a long gun locker that may work better with long hunting rifles, which we also reviewed.
As you can see in the above comparison, the Hornady is better suited for AR-length rifles while the 47″ SecureIt Fast Box is quite a bit longer (SecureIt also makes a 40″ version that is more comparable to the Hornady).
Seeing my AR-15 on top of the Hornady locker helps to illustrate how deep the safe is and how there’s ample room for a fully decked-out AR with all of the trimmings!
Overall, this Hornady locker provides enough space for storing 2 rifles in their ready state.
If you need a bit more space, Hornady makes a 3-AR rifle locker that adds more capacity.
Pros and Cons
Every gun locker has its pros and cons and none are perfect, though some come pretty darn close. Here, we will give you a list of our likes and dislikes regarding the Hornady rifle locker.
What We Like:
- The Heavy-Duty Construction
- Compact & Low-Profile
- Doesn’t Take Up Too Much Space
- Battery-Powered Or A/C Power Option
- Responsive RFID Access
- Really Easy To Program Code & Register RFID Tags
- Strut Support For Quick & Smooth Door Opening
- Versatile Mounting Options
- Ample Room For 2 Rifles W/Scopes & Lights
- Secure Retention Foam Hangers
- Secondary Keypad Access Option
- Backup Barrel Key Access That Is Harder To Pick
- Made For ARs But Can Fit Lots Of Rifle Types
What We Don’t Like:
- RFID Bracelet Chip In The Wrong Location
- The Finger Turned Locking Mechanism Might Be Hard For Some To Turn
- A Bit Expensive But Feature-Packed
- No App Or Bluetooth Capability
- Not A Great Portable Option Due To Weight
- Foam Mounts Cannot Be Repositioned For A Custom Fit
*Note: Regarding the “turn-left-to-lock” mechanism, it’s a bit easier to turn when pushing in as you turn it left. It’s a lot harder to turn if you don’t push as you turn!
Who This Locker Is For
Who It’s For:
- This locker was made for quick access as your home defense solution and can double as a locker for securely carrying your rifles in a Truck, SUV, or Car.
- Most people would use a locker like this permanently mounted under the bed in a master bedroom or a walk-in closet nearby for quick retrieval of up to 2 rifles. (You can also mount this locker in the vertical position in tighter locations such as a small closet).
Who It’s Not For:
- This locker is not for those looking to store multiple rifles or those looking for something with extra space to store lots of magazines along with ammunition and a few handguns.
- It’s also not recommended for those with weak hand/finger strength since it does take some effort to lock the door.
- It will also not offer you any fire or flood protection but is very secure and not easy to break into.
Key Takeaways
One of the most important takeaways to consider is the ease of access to your defensive weapon in the event of a burglary or hostile break-in.
The RFID technology this safe employs is quick and responsive and the setup process is pain-free and easy.
Here’s why I believe this locker is a standout choice for gun owners:
- Robust Security Features: The Hornady Rapid RFID AR Rifle Locker prioritizes security without compromising accessibility. The safe is constructed with heavy-duty steel, ensuring durability and resistance against unauthorized access. It features a tamper-proof exterior, making it extremely difficult for anyone to break into. The RFID technology adds an extra layer of security, allowing quick and easy access only to authorized individuals.
- Rapid Access: The safe’s name speaks for itself—rapid access. With the RFID technology, I can open the safe in mere seconds. Simply swipe the programmed RFID key card or use the included RFID wristband, and the safe unlocks promptly. This feature is particularly valuable in emergencies or when I need immediate access to my AR rifle.
- Ample Storage Space: The Hornady Rapid RFID AR Rifle Locker is designed specifically for AR rifles, providing ample space for storing and securing your firearm. The interior is well-padded to prevent any scratches or damage to the firearm. Additionally, there is enough room to store additional accessories, such as extra magazines or a small pistol, further enhancing its practicality.
- Versatile Mounting Options: This locker offers multiple mounting options, allowing you to choose the setup that works best for your needs. Whether you prefer to mount it on a wall, inside a closet, or even in a vehicle, the Hornady Rapid RFID AR Rifle Safe provides the flexibility to adapt to various environments.
Where To Buy
The best place to buy the Hornady RFID Rapid Safe AR Gun Locker is on Amazon. However, Optics Planet is also a good choice if Amazon is ever out of stock.
Hornady RFID Rapid Safe AR Gun Locker
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With the lowest price we could find online and hassle-free returns, there’s no chance of getting stuck with the bill should anything go wrong with your order.
Q&A Section
In this section, we tackle all of the most frequently asked questions about the Rapid RFID AR Rifle Locker.
Can I program multiple RFID key cards or wristbands?
Yes, the Hornady Rapid RFID AR Rifle Locker allows you to program multiple RFID key cards or wristbands, making it convenient for multiple authorized users.
What happens if the RFID key card or wristband is lost or damaged?
If an RFID key card or wristband is lost or damaged, you can easily program a new one. It is recommended to keep a backup RFID device for such situations.
How long does the battery last, and is there a low battery indicator?
The safe can be powered by batteries, or the included A/C power supply, and the battery life depends on usage.
However, the locker is equipped with a battery indicator that you can check by pressing the “H” button in the center of the keypad.
After a few seconds, the small light will indicate the state of the battery. If the light is green, you’re good, if it’s yellow, it’s about halfway depleted, and if it’s red, the battery is near the end of its life.
Checking the battery once a month will let you know when it’s time to replace the batteries, ensuring that you won’t be caught off guard.
Final Thoughts
The Hornady Rapid RFID AR Rifle Locker offers the perfect combination of security, accessibility, and convenience.
Its RFID technology ensures quick and reliable access, while the multiple security features provide peace of mind.
Whether you need a safe for your home or vehicle, the Hornady AR-Locker delivers on all fronts. We highly recommend it to anyone in search of a top-notch gun locker.
