The oldest, and still perhaps the most common is the combination lock.  This is the classic dial that it offered as an option on nearly all gun safes today.  The primary appeal is that it’s nearly maintenance free, it’s cheap, dependable, and will last forever.  The primary downside is that it’s the slowest of the three to open.  For those less concerned with speed, and more interested in dependability, the combination lock is likely the best bet.

The electronic lock is significantly faster for gaining entry than the aforementioned dial style, and it provides extremely flexible options for optimizing security, primarily in the higher end models.  Many allow time delays, multiple users, open/close indicators, security/surveillance integration, and remote entry.  The downside to electronic locks, as opposed to their older cousin is that they require a bit more maintenance.  You need to change the batteries every so often, and closely monitor conditions that may damage the system – primarily moisture and age.

The final safe lock we’ll discuss is that which uses biometrics, typically most expensive option.  Though many full sized safes don’t offer fingerprint scanners as a feature, they’re becoming more popular with advances in biometric technology.  The main selling point in the type of lock is speed and convenience.  All you need to do is swipe your finger to open the door, and many are available with the ability to store multiple fingerprints for different users.  The downside is that the technology is not yet perfect, and there is still the risk of occasional false rejections, as well as false acceptances.  For this reason, it’s strongly recommended that one investigates redundant option like the S&G biometrics/keypad combination lock.

The choice is yours.  Those are your options.  You need to decide what’s important to you, and your home and personal security.