I’ve lived with the Vaultek RS800i for a full calendar year—lugged it upstairs, anchored it to a concrete slab, loaded it with every long gun I own, and pushed every feature to the limit. Below is a first-person, no-fluff account meant for serious American buyers who want real data before handing over their credit card.
Want to see current availability and specs straight from the source? Check the Vaultek RS800i on Amazon.
I compared dozens of models, checking them against my best gun safes roundup, before finally settling on the RS800i.
Why I Chose the RS800i
I needed a deep, tech-forward rifle safe that could:
- Fit AR-style rifles with mags and optics still attached
- Let me audit access remotely (teenagers in the house)
- Survive humidity swings in a Mid-Atlantic basement
- Back up its looks with real steel and smart security
After reading every forum thread, watching teardown videos, and handling competing boxes at SHOT Show, I gambled on the RS800i. Twelve months later, here’s how it held up.
Setup & First Impressions
Unboxing: Vaultek ships the RS800i in a double-walled carton with rigid foam blocks. My unit emerged without a scratch. At 124 lb it was a one-person move with a furniture dolly.
Anchoring: Four pre-drilled holes line up with standard 3/8-in concrete anchors. I torqued them to 45 ft-lb; the safe hasn’t budged through two Atlantic hurricane seasons.
Interior Layout Out of the Box:
- Twin pistol rack
- 2/3-width adjustable shelf
- Five barrel mounts + extensions
- Slim holster (doubles as AR-mag caddy)
- Full-height peg board on the back wall and inside the door
Early Wins
- Plug-and-Play Wi-Fi: Paired to my 2.4 GHz network in under two minutes.
- Biometric Reader: Captured my thumb in three passes; opens consistently in ≈0.4 s.
- LED Work Light: White balanced, no night-vision wrecking blue hue.
Early Gripes
- Fingerprint scanner hates greasy hands after a cleaning session.
- App nagged me for firmware updates twice in the first month.
Build Quality & Design After 12 Months
Steel & Welds:
The RS800i uses progressive-formed 14-gauge steel with internal anti-pry bars. I put a borescope on the corners at month six; welds remain free of flaking or rust.
Finish:
Matte black powder coat shrugged off CLP drips and a week-long damp spell when the dehumidifier failed. No bubbling.
Hinges & Door Sag:
Solenoid, hinges, and four solid-steel locking bolts show no measurable sag (<0.5 mm drop from day one).
Security & Smart Features in Daily Use
Access Points Tested
| Method | Average Unlock Time | Reliability (Hundreds of Opens) |
|---|---|---|
| Biometric | 0.4 s | 97 % (fails mostly with oily hands) |
| 8-Digit Keypad | 0.9 s | 100 % |
| Nano Key (RFID) | 0.6 s | 99 % |
| Backup Keys | N/A | 100 % |
Wi-Fi App:
- Sends instant tamper alerts to my phone (tested with a pry bar and a toddler).
- Maintains a live log of every access event—handy for audit trails.
- Firmware updates OTA; latest pushed in March 2025 fixed a rare battery-report bug.
Battery Life:
One 3.6 V 18650 cell lasts me about 3.5 months on Low-Power mode (door opens 4-6 times daily). I keep the safe plugged in but the cell provides peace of mind during outages.
Capacity Reality Check
What I Fit Comfortably
- 8 long guns:
- 14.5-in AR-15 w/ LVPO + 30-rd mag
- 16-in PCC w/ red dot
- 20-in 870 + side-saddle
- 18-in SBS (legal, stamped)
- Bolt-action .308 w/ 20-in barrel + bipod
- 6.5 CM chassis rifle w/ 24-in barrel
- 22 LR trainer
- 12-ga turkey gun
- 6 handguns on door + back-panel racks
- 13 spare mags and a suppressor
What Didn’t Fit
- A PRS rig with an over-length compensator (depth limit is 12.6 in).
- 50-round drum mags unless detached.
1-Year Stress Tests
Drop & Pry
- I tilted the safe off a 6-in step to simulate a mishandled delivery. No frame warp, door still aligned.
- A 24-in crowbar and 10 min of non-destructive prying scratched paint but failed to breach the bolts or anti-pry rails.
Humidity & Temp
- Logged 55-95 % RH swings; silica packs plus the built-in LED kept rust at bay.
- Internal temp never exceeded +5 °F over ambient thanks to low-draw lighting.
App & Sensor Drift
- Biometric reader remained within ±0.02 saturation threshold.
- Door-open sensor tripped at 32 ° angle consistently—still quick enough to trigger the alarm before the door is half open.
Pros, Cons & Deal-Breakers
Pros:
- Real 14-Gauge Steel with robust anti-pry bars
- True 8-Rifle Depth—ARs fit with mags and optics attached
- Audit-Ready Wi-Fi App with immediate tamper alerts
- Modular Interior grows with your collection
- LED Lighting is bright and evenly diffused
- Battery + AC Power redundancy
Cons:
- Biometric pad is picky about dirty hands
- Depth still tight for PRS or F-class rigs with long comps
- Firmware nags can be annoying if you delay updates
Deal-Breakers?
If your long guns wear 26-in barrels and oversized cans, you’ll max the depth. Otherwise, the RS800i delivers as advertised.
RS800i vs RS500i (and Why I Upgraded)
| Spec | RS800i | RS500i |
|---|---|---|
| Interior Depth | 12.6 in | 9.75 in |
| Weight | 124 lb | 93 lb |
| Rifle Capacity | 8 | 5 |
| Included Barrel Mounts | 5 | 3 |
| Pistol Storage | 27+ | 20+ |
| My Verdict | Fits full-size ARs with mags; worth extra heft | Good for slimmer hunting rifles |
The RS800i’s extra 2.85 in of depth is the difference between leaving a mag inserted and wrestling it out every night. That alone justified my switch.
Who Should Buy the Vaultek RS800i?
- AR and modern sporting rifle owners who hate removing optics or mags for storage
- Tech-minded dads needing app-based access logs
- Apartment dwellers—narrow width (14 in) slips through tight hallways
- Range instructors or armorers managing small group arsenals
- Anyone wanting serious security in a package lighter than a traditional 12-ga safe
If you only need a bedside pistol solution, see our nightstand gun safe with phone charger guide for compact, quick-access options.
Final Verdict: Worth the Money, Zero Buyer’s Remorse
After 365 days of real use, the Vaultek RS800i has proven:
- Tough enough for break-in attempts (tested, recorded, and still running)
- Flexible enough for a growing collection
- Smart enough to alert me instantly if anyone tampers
It is, in my view, worth the money for anyone who wants rapid, audited access without compromising on steel.
Ready to Upgrade Your Gun Security?
- Check RS800i availability on Amazon
- Anchor it the day it arrives, scan your prints, and sleep better tonight.
FAQs
No. It focuses on rapid access and anti-pry security, not long-duration fire resistance.
Yes. Hold the “0” button for five seconds; the module powers down until re-enabled.
Twenty unique prints. I stored both thumbs and index fingers for every adult in the house.
Yes—tested with DOJ-approved lock requirements and labeling.
I swap the 18650 every six months just to be safe—even though it easily lasts longer.
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