MT5+ Strike Box vs Security Strike Plate... which is better?

[outshine]

I started a thread the other day asking about what lock I should get, and I ended up going with the Mul-T-Lock MT5+ and feel good knowing I got a pretty high quality lock.

But among the tons of useful advice I was given in that thread was the recommendation to secure the door frame otherwise the nice lock barely matters. So now I'm focusing on doing just that and had a couple of questions.

The MT5+ comes with what I'm guessing is called a strike box. It looks like this: http://www.knobsandhardware.com/strike- ... 06061.html

It's about the same height as a typical junky strike plate (around 2 3/4 inches, which is something I don't like about it when compared to the 6-12 inch high security strike plates I've seen), but what it does have that I like is that box that extends into the frame and the 2 screws that attach into the frame from inside that box and hit the stud behind it.

So that got me wondering... which is more secure against kick-ins: this strike box that comes with the MT5+, or a more typical security strike plate like this: http://www.knobsandhardware.com/strike- ... 06067.html

Any opinions on that would be greatly appreciated.

I also had another related question that I was hoping someone who knows this stuff could answer. The strike box comes with a little typical looking strike plate that sort of goes over the front of it. Would it be possible to use the strike box that comes with the MT5+, and then instead of using the little plate that goes over it, put a longer security strike plate over it like the one I linked to before? Trying to get the best of both worlds, I guess.

But I'm not sure if this is a good idea, bad idea, overkill, or just not capable of actually working?

Again, any help would be awesome. Thanks guys!

[Squelchtone]

always install the strike box, then use that longer plate if the screw holes line up, or look into something like Door Jamb Armor kits sold at Lowe's and online.

=)
Squelchtone

[outshine]

Awesome, thanks!

And good point about getting the screw holes to line up... most of the longer strike plates I've found don't look like they'll line up with the holes in this strike box. And Door Jam Armor is a bit out of my remaining budget.

If I don't find anything that lines up, do you think I could install the screws into the top/bottom of the strike box itself (nice and snug so it's flush with the plate), and then put a longer plate over it and put screws into whatever holes it has that won't interfere with the strike box under it?