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Article Published
Date: 11/21/2007 |
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| Article by
R. Ted Jeo |
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Adobe PDF
Downloadable Version of Article |
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No, it is not some sort of
“military-ese” word that deals with target
identification. Rather it is a different way of making
sure your firearms are nearly 100% safe from prying
little fingers and big drunken bumbling “friends” that
want to play James Bond.
Two words come to mind in
describing this innovative way of firearm
security…evolutionary improvement. Think of the
Visualock as being the next best thing in firearm
locks. If you need to make sure that a firearm is
secure, whether it be by law or by home necessity, the
Visualock system allows you to not only VERIFY from a
distance the weapon is secure, but also store the weapon
without bulky trigger locks or damaging cable locks. |
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Figure 1 |
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The Visualock kit |
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The Visualock system incorporates a
specially machined security cartridge (i.e, “dummy”
round) that fits into the chamber of the weapon.
Because of this, there are particular locks for unique
calibers. That may be its one downfall really. But I
think the benefits outweigh this. The lock consists of
a length adaptable rod that is inserted into the barrel
of the weapon which connects to the dummy round. The
end of the rod (marked in bright red) that sticks out of
the barrel is spring loaded to keep the lock in place.
The “hardest” thing I found about the lock was
configuring the length of rod to use in a particular
pistol. I was trying out the 9mm Model-P which adjusts
for barrels 2 to 12 inches long. It is adaptable by
adding or removing different lengths of sections of
rods, all of which come in the kit. Being you set up a
lock for a particular firearm (in a sense customized),
you shouldn’t have to fiddle with changing rod length
again. To start out, your best bet is to actually
measure the barrel length of the weapon with a ruler and
then use the table on the instructions to construct the
correct combination of extension rods. By the way,
there are two diameters of rods in use with the
Visualock system. They are caliber dependent, the
models marked with a “-P” are 0.1875” and “-V” models
are 0.1250” in diameter. The –P models would be used
for 9mm and larger and –V models would be used for 380
Auto and smaller calibers. |
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Figure 2 |
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The Visualock kit comes with key, lock,
security cartridge, unions and various
lengths of rods. |
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My test weapon was a Browning High
Power (BHP) in 9mm. I had trigger locks on this pistol
in the past, and the one thing I really hated with
trigger locks is the shear bulk of them. With the locks
in place, the pistol no longer fit nicely into a case.
Also, the trigger lock would keep the trigger from being
pulled, but it would not stop someone from cycling the
action and, indeed, taking this pistol apart. I would
not even consider a cable lock for this pistol. |
| To start out make sure the
weapon is UNLOADED! MAKE SURE you are pointing
it in a safe direction and MAKE SURE you keep
your finger away from the trigger. If possible,
activate the SAFETY of the weapon as well. All
of this because, like all locks, this lock is
designed to ASSIST you in safety efforts and is
NOT a substitute for safe firearm handling and
storage. |
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Figure 3 |
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The security cartridge has an O-ring to make
it fit snug and stop from rotating. Note
the slot where the front of the rod fits
like a key. |
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Figure 4 |
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The “key” is similar to a hex or star head
wrench. |
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In my case with the BHP, I took the
weapon apart to get a truly accurate barrel
measurement. Turns out it was 4.5”. Looking at the
chart in the instructions, 4.5” uses either one of two
combinations of extension rods. Looking at one of the
rods, you will notice that both ends are threaded in a
unique half round way. You will also notice that there
is a taper at one end of the rod. The thing to remember
is that the taper points toward the chamber. |
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Figure 5 |
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Close up of the thread design employed by
the rods. Each section has ½ of the thread
cut out and mate together to create a flush
threaded section. |
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Figure 6 |
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When first setting up the extension rods,
note that the tapered end points toward the
chamber. |
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The red end, or lock end, contains
a permanently attached rod piece. So starting out with
this base piece, take your first required extension rod,
couple the NON-tapered ends together and lock them by
rolling the coupler (or union) over the threads until
they are not exposed. Do this with each extension rod
to get the required length. The extension rods end in
the brass lug that locks into the security cartridge. |
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Figure 7 |
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To attach rods, simply line up the flats and
thread on the union. Finger tight is
enough. No threads should be showing once
the union is in place. |
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Figure 8 |
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The final section of the rods will have the
brass locking mechanism on it. |
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To test to see if you have the
correct combination of extension rods, insert the
security cartridge into the chamber of the weapon making
sure that the breach closes as normal (in a semi auto).
Insert the rods into the barrel. Insert the “key” into
the red lock and push in and turn clockwise. You will
feel the rod go in about another ¼” or so, that is when
you know the locking lugs are engaging the security
cartridge. Remove the key. MAKE sure that the is NO
slack between the red lock and the muzzle. If there is,
you will need to use a shorter combination of rods. Of
course, if the rods do not REACH the security cartridge,
you will need to length the rod combination. After you
have the lock installed, verify the fit of the device by
pulling on the red lock. Pull it out at least 3 times,
you should not be able to remove it from the barrel. The
extension rods may look thin and can be bent fairly
easily, but their strength lies in the fact that they
cannot bend when installed in the barrel. They have
been tested to hold over 400 pounds of pull. |
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View the demonstration VIDEO (Windows Media Video
1.44 meg) |
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Figure 9 |
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A close up of the end of the rods and the
security cartridge. |
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Figure 10 |
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The rod end has been inserted into the
security cartridge and then rotated to lock
into place. |
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Figure 11 |
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After making sure the firearm is unloaded,
insert the security cartridge into the
weapon as if it were a bullet and then close
the action, making sure it closes all the
way. |
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Figure 12 |
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Next, insert the extension rods down the
barrel. |
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Figure 13 |
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Insert the key, push downward, and rotate it
clockwise until you feel the lugs on the end
of the rods lock into place. Remove the key
and test the fit of the lock. |
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With the Visualock installed, the
weapon is quite secure. Unlike trigger locks, one
cannot pull the slide off of the frame and you cannot
chamber a round. You can cock the hammer manually (in
the case of the BHP) and you can actually pull the
trigger and release the hammer. The brass security
cartridge is made of 360 brass and can actually double
as a snap cap. You could practice dry firing if you
desired with the Visualock in place. In the case of
the BHP, without the magazine, the trigger would not
work either (magazine safety). Now, the nice thing is
that there is a big red end on your pistol that you can
identify from a distance that the lock is in place. The
weapon itself is nearly as streamlined as normal and
would fit in pistol cases and in some instances holsters
with the Visualock installed. |
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Figure 14 |
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The end of the Visualock is, well, highly
visual red warning. It tells you from a
distance the weapon is unloaded. |
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Figure 15 |
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The Visualock allows you to keep clean the
lines of the weapon, making it easier to
store. |
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To remove the lock, first remove
the magazine (if installed) and then simply insert the
key into the lock, push down and rotate counter
clockwise (anti clockwise if you want to call it that….)
and the lock can be removed from the barrel. A matter
of seconds. Nearly as fast, I do think, as a standard
trigger lock. Cycle the action of the weapon and the
security cartridge will be ejected much the same as a
spent shell. Viola, you are back in the shooting
business. The neat thing is that you won’t have to try
to figure out what key goes to which lock anymore. One
key fits all in this case.
The Visualock system is available
in over 130 different caliber/barrel combinations. The
locks are made for pistols, revolvers, rifles and
shotguns ranging from the .17 HMR to 10-gauge shotgun.
Custom made calibers are available as well. The lock is
available at various sporting good stores or from the
company web site. The suggested retail cost is $30
(pistol) to $34 (shotgun).
Contact info:
Visualock
www.visualock.com
1180 Page Ave.
Fremont, CA 94538
1-800-903-1417 |
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Adobe PDF
Downloadable Version of Article |
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