Bedside Gun
- Thread starter baddarryl
- Start date
FireForged
New member
A plain ole S&W 4" mod 10.
I vote for the AR-15 w/16" barrel. Easier to maneuver and use. My wife has one at her bedside for HD.
Whichever gun you use for HD you'd better shoot it a lot so you can shoot it in the dark and while you're scared out of your wits. Make sure you know it inside and out - and make sure its as familiar to you as your own hand.
That said - I also keep a Mossberg 500 with an 18" barrel loaded with 5 rounds of #4 shot game loads as a backup weapon in my bedroom. My go to gun though is my EDC 1911 that sleeps next to me on my nightstand in constant ready position.
Whichever gun you use for HD you'd better shoot it a lot so you can shoot it in the dark and while you're scared out of your wits. Make sure you know it inside and out - and make sure its as familiar to you as your own hand.
That said - I also keep a Mossberg 500 with an 18" barrel loaded with 5 rounds of #4 shot game loads as a backup weapon in my bedroom. My go to gun though is my EDC 1911 that sleeps next to me on my nightstand in constant ready position.
Sure Shot Mc Gee
New member
I agree with your decision. I consider the AR 15 a bit much for the inside of a family home. No other weapon in my book does it better than a 12 ga. with 00 in Cylinder Choke. "A serious weapon in anyone's hands."__SSMcG
1858 remmy
New member
shotgun!
I have a 18 in. barrel with 00 and #5 turkey rounds, It also has a pistol grip on it.
I also have a ak-47 by my bed.
But i would prefer my shotgun.
I have a 18 in. barrel with 00 and #5 turkey rounds, It also has a pistol grip on it.
I also have a ak-47 by my bed.
But i would prefer my shotgun.
The-Ant1-Liberal
Inactive
For those who choose an AR, wouldn't y'all be worried about over-penetration? The way the majority of house are built today along w/their proximity to a neighbor's home, a Green Tip quite possibly go through the walls. .45 ACP all day long...
Edward429451
Moderator
How do you know I have it loaded with green tips? 
I am the AR guy and I do not worry about over penetration because I think it is over exaggerated problem. The light weight projectiles of the 223 will not penetrate even as much as handgun rounds will. Besides, I live in a brick house, so that should alleviate the concerns of all but the most paranoid.
I am the AR guy and I do not worry about over penetration because I think it is over exaggerated problem. The light weight projectiles of the 223 will not penetrate even as much as handgun rounds will. Besides, I live in a brick house, so that should alleviate the concerns of all but the most paranoid.
LockedBreech
New member
I just keep my .40 with a magazine and a Streamlight TLR-1. I think a handgun is quicker and handier woken from a sudden sleep. And if 29 rounds of .40 can't dissuade somebody in time for me to get to my heavier stuff, I'm in trouble.
Plus I'm in Wyoming...so a home invasion of an occupied home is about as likely as a unicorn stampede.
Plus I'm in Wyoming...so a home invasion of an occupied home is about as likely as a unicorn stampede.
Look at this... if this isn't "knockdown power," I don't know what is:
http://youtu.be/5oDG2i6rwjU?t=2m13s
Here's 00 buck, with several pellets missing:
http://youtu.be/dbFLY9OIqPA?t=2m4s
And for comparison, some Hornady 200gr. +P .45 cal:
http://youtu.be/Pl_anGfqnAI?t=1m13s
http://youtu.be/5oDG2i6rwjU?t=2m13s
Here's 00 buck, with several pellets missing:
http://youtu.be/dbFLY9OIqPA?t=2m4s
And for comparison, some Hornady 200gr. +P .45 cal:
http://youtu.be/Pl_anGfqnAI?t=1m13s
There are actually a lot of questions in this one post.
As far as a 5.56 rifle versus a 12ga shotgun, the shotgun, with Buck shot produces significantly more effective wound trauma.
Even taking into account bullet behavior at high velocities, a single .223 caliber projectile is not going to be as effective as nine to sixteen .33 to .30 caliber projectiles which penetrate 12 to 16”.
On the issue of what size shot, The Firearms Tactical Institute report recommends #1 Buck
http://www.firearmstactical.com/briefs10.htm
I’ve also seen the re-emergence of the “column of lead” argument in this thread. The column of lead argument puts forth the idea that at close ranges the shot doesn’t spread out enough to make a difference. What constitutes close, what exactly makes a difference versus what doesn’t make a difference and what constitutes significant or insignificant spread are usually nebulous terms in and of themselves. The column of lead argument can sometimes be used to argue that shot size doesn’t matter.
Unless the shooter is using something like Federal FLITECONTROL, the pattern is going to open up slightly even at 3 feet from the muzzle and each pellet is going to create it’s own wound channel in the assailant.
Even using Federal FLITECONTROL, when the pellets hit the body, although the entrance wound looks like a single projectile entry wound, the pellets do go their separate ways and create separate wound channels.
The same thing happens with a shotgun contact wound, just because the target is close does not mean that the shot column acts like a slug. Obviously there is going to be a difference in where the shot ends up in someone shot at point blank range with a shotgun versus someone shot at 20 feet with a shotgun. Obviously, with a close range shot, all the shot is going to end up in a smaller total volume (closer together), but that doesn’t mean that the pellets act like a slug and make a single wound.
The other thing that was mentioned in the OP was the use of a turkey gun. Most turkey guns have 24” to 28” barrels, and that does get a little unwieldy in the average home.
I don’t know your circumstances or how your home is laid out. I don’t advocate clearing a house, but sometimes people have to move with their firearm, to get kids or move to a safe room or whatever.
If you’re able to just hunker down, call 911 and do nothing else, then a turkey gun is probably fine. For people that have to move once they arm themselves, maybe a 43” to 44.5” long gun is little unwieldy.
As far as a 5.56 rifle versus a 12ga shotgun, the shotgun, with Buck shot produces significantly more effective wound trauma.
Even taking into account bullet behavior at high velocities, a single .223 caliber projectile is not going to be as effective as nine to sixteen .33 to .30 caliber projectiles which penetrate 12 to 16”.
On the issue of what size shot, The Firearms Tactical Institute report recommends #1 Buck
http://www.firearmstactical.com/briefs10.htm
I’ve also seen the re-emergence of the “column of lead” argument in this thread. The column of lead argument puts forth the idea that at close ranges the shot doesn’t spread out enough to make a difference. What constitutes close, what exactly makes a difference versus what doesn’t make a difference and what constitutes significant or insignificant spread are usually nebulous terms in and of themselves. The column of lead argument can sometimes be used to argue that shot size doesn’t matter.
Unless the shooter is using something like Federal FLITECONTROL, the pattern is going to open up slightly even at 3 feet from the muzzle and each pellet is going to create it’s own wound channel in the assailant.
Even using Federal FLITECONTROL, when the pellets hit the body, although the entrance wound looks like a single projectile entry wound, the pellets do go their separate ways and create separate wound channels.
The same thing happens with a shotgun contact wound, just because the target is close does not mean that the shot column acts like a slug. Obviously there is going to be a difference in where the shot ends up in someone shot at point blank range with a shotgun versus someone shot at 20 feet with a shotgun. Obviously, with a close range shot, all the shot is going to end up in a smaller total volume (closer together), but that doesn’t mean that the pellets act like a slug and make a single wound.
The other thing that was mentioned in the OP was the use of a turkey gun. Most turkey guns have 24” to 28” barrels, and that does get a little unwieldy in the average home.
I don’t know your circumstances or how your home is laid out. I don’t advocate clearing a house, but sometimes people have to move with their firearm, to get kids or move to a safe room or whatever.
If you’re able to just hunker down, call 911 and do nothing else, then a turkey gun is probably fine. For people that have to move once they arm themselves, maybe a 43” to 44.5” long gun is little unwieldy.
You will hear a hundred different bedside gun configurations and thousands of more reasons for the choices. What you will mostly hear is that the shotgun is a better choice for HD. The real issue is doing the research on your own and understanding what both platforms are capable of. You will see that the AR platform is adored by most of the American public. You also will read in your research that the 5.56 is loaded hot, can penetrate a variety of cover, and is very accurate to boot.
I think that as long as the hallway connected to your bedroom isn't something akin to the poppy fields of Afghanistan, a good 'ole "trench gun" should suit you just fine. My thinkin' is that if we're not trying to make accurate hits out to 100 yards (which I wouldn't recommend, legal issues and all that) then you should reach for the biggest bore built for the shortest distance. That said, I keep my Mossberg 500 close by with S&B 00 Buck, with lots more ammo handy and some slugs "just in case". The 1911 .45 is right next to it. Everything else is unloaded.
I think that as long as the hallway connected to your bedroom isn't something akin to the poppy fields of Afghanistan, a good 'ole "trench gun" should suit you just fine. My thinkin' is that if we're not trying to make accurate hits out to 100 yards (which I wouldn't recommend, legal issues and all that) then you should reach for the biggest bore built for the shortest distance. That said, I keep my Mossberg 500 close by with S&B 00 Buck, with lots more ammo handy and some slugs "just in case". The 1911 .45 is right next to it. Everything else is unloaded.
Why must you choose just one? When I'm in bed, I need only move my arm to reach a handgun (usually either a .357 or .44 Magnum revolver), roll over to reach a 12ga full of #1 Buck, and take a couple steps to reach a .223 rifle (mine's an AK clone) which is currently full of WWB 40gr JHP.