Which StopBox Do You Need? A Guide to the Whole Lineup

Yerington, Nevada

StopBox makes a mechanical, battery-free handgun retention lock used by an entire family of products: the StopBox PRO, StopBox Compact, StopBox WARD, and StopBox U-CAN. Dark Horse Guns & Ammo stocks all four, and the honest answer to "which one do I need" depends entirely on where the pistol lives and how big it is. This guide walks through each one.

What do all four have in common?

Every StopBox product uses the same patented, all-mechanical finger-code lock (US Patent No. 11,142,926). Press the lid, run a combination of up to 81 possibilities, press the thumb lock, lift. No battery to die, no keypad to misread a sweaty thumb, no app to pair. StopBox builds all of it in its own facility in Spokane, Washington, and calls the company family-owned and operated, currently run day to day by six members of the Ervin family alongside their team.

Every product in the line is also described by StopBox the same way, and it is worth repeating here because it matters: these are retention devices, not rated safes. They keep a firearm in active use out of unintended and unauthorized hands quickly. They are not built for long-term unattended storage the way a bolted-down safe is. Dark Horse Guns & Ammo recommends pairing a StopBox with a proper safe for anything you are not actively carrying or keeping within reach.

For manufacturer specifications, warranty details, and instructional videos beyond what is covered here, StopBox's own site is stopboxusa.com.

StopBox PRO: the full-size, do-everything box

The StopBox PRO is the flagship, built around a 9.25 by 7.15 by 1.75 inch interior sized for a full-size pistol wearing a red dot and a weapon light. This is the one to buy if your defensive handgun is dressed up with modern accessories and you do not want to leave any of it behind when it goes in the box.

It rides comfortably on a nightstand, in a vehicle with the security-cable mount anchoring it in place, or in checked luggage where its padlock compatibility and hard-sided construction meet the requirement for flying with a firearm. StopBox reports over 11,000 reviews on this model alone, and the strongest theme in them is speed: a practiced combination opens in under a second.

StopBox Compact: sized for everyday carry

The StopBox Compact runs the identical lock in a smaller box, 7.5 by 5.5 by 1.75 inches inside, built for subcompact and compact pistols rather than a full-size gun with accessories. Think Glock 19 and smaller.

The honest reason to choose this over the PRO is simple: if your carry gun does not need the extra room, why pay for it or carry the bulk of it. A dedicated internal compartment, 5 by 1.5 by 1 inches, holds a spare magazine or a flashlight alongside the pistol. It is the better fit for a glovebox, a range bag, or a smaller nightstand drawer.

StopBox WARD: when it should never leave the wall

The StopBox WARD takes the same lock and same box and adds mounting hardware to bolt it to a wall, a closet shelf, or the underside of a desk. Interior dimensions run 8.25 by 6.5 by 1.75 inches, with a magnetic mount that holds a spare magazine against the lid.

The case for the WARD over the portable PRO is straightforward: anything sitting loose on furniture can be picked up and carried off. A box anchored into a wall stud cannot. Reviewers commonly mention mounting one in a bedroom closet and a second in a home office, which is an easy decision once the alternative is drilling four screws rather than buying and placing a second portable box.

StopBox U-CAN: the whole kit, not just the pistol

The StopBox U-CAN is a different shape of product entirely. Where the PRO, Compact, and WARD are all sized around a single pistol lying flat, the U-CAN is a deeper, high-capacity box, 9 by 4.5 by 8 inches inside, more than 320 cubic inches, built to hold a pistol standing on end alongside magazines, a couple hundred rounds of ammunition, and eye and ear protection. A removable lid organizer and a built-in accessory magnet keep the small stuff in place.

This is the range-day box and the vehicle kit box, not the bedside box. If the question is "how do I lock up everything I am taking to the range in one grab," the U-CAN is the answer. If the question is "how do I keep my defensive pistol ready but secured," look at the PRO, Compact, or WARD instead.

So which one is right for you?

• Full-size defensive pistol with an optic, staying on a nightstand or riding in a vehicle: StopBox PRO.
• Subcompact or compact everyday carry pistol: StopBox Compact.
• A box that should live permanently in one fixed spot, closet, office, or wall: StopBox WARD.
• A full range kit, pistol plus mags plus ammo plus gear, in one lockable container: StopBox U-CAN.

Plenty of customers end up with more than one. A WARD in the bedroom closet and a PRO that rides in the truck is a common combination, and a U-CAN for range trips covers the rest.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between the StopBox PRO, Compact, and WARD?

All three use the identical patented mechanical finger-code lock. The PRO is portable and sized for full-size pistols with an optic. The Compact is portable and sized for subcompact and compact carry pistols. The WARD uses the PRO's lock and a mid-size interior but mounts permanently to a wall, closet, or shelf with included hardware.

What is the difference between a StopBox and the StopBox U-CAN?

The PRO, Compact, and WARD are all flat retention boxes sized to hold one pistol lying down. The U-CAN is a deeper, higher-capacity container built to hold a pistol upright along with magazines, ammunition, and range gear, closer to a locking equipment case than a slim pistol box.

Are any of the StopBox products a gun safe?

No. StopBox describes every product in this line as a handgun retention device, not a rated safe. They are built for quick, secure access while a firearm is in active use, not for long-term unattended storage. Dark Horse Guns & Ammo recommends a rated safe for that purpose.

Do any StopBox products use batteries?

No. Every product in the line, the PRO, Compact, WARD, and U-CAN, uses the same all-mechanical finger-code lock. None of them require batteries, electronics, or an app.

Can I fly with a StopBox?

TSA requires firearms in checked baggage to be unloaded and locked in a hard-sided container, declared at the airline counter. StopBox's PRO, Compact, and U-CAN are all lockable hard-sided containers and are padlock compatible. Confirm current TSA and airline policy before traveling.

Where are StopBox products made?

StopBox builds its entire lineup in its own facility in Spokane, Washington, at a family-owned American company.

Where can I see the whole StopBox lineup in person?

Dark Horse Guns & Ammo carries the full StopBox line, PRO, Compact, WARD, and U-CAN, at 518 W Goldfield Ave, Yerington, Nevada 89447. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Call (775) 344-8022 or send us a message, or stop in with your pistol and we will tell you which box actually fits it.

Dark Horse Guns & Ammo LLC is a federally licensed dealer in Yerington, Nevada. StopBox products are storage devices, not firearms, and no FFL transfer is required to purchase them. Nothing here is legal advice.