Big Calhoun
New member
Hopefully this is the right area to ask this question, it does relate to tatics for home defense.
The scenario (I should say, the reality) was that last night as I was going to bed, I heard sirens. Thought it might be out on an access road, but as I turned the lights off, I could see flashers entering the complex. As I peek out the window, it appeared the local PD was chasing a vehicle. Now why someone would drive into a gated complex to elude the cops is beyond me.
Anywho, had some meetings this morning so I needed to get to bad. SInce there was alot of activity, I decided to chamber one, engage safety, and leave it on top of the pillow. Normally I leave my firearm(s) unchambered and under the mattress or under the bed. As I was going to sleep, it dawned on me that a mechnical failure with a .45 185gr +P round would leve a horrible mess in my bed and a biting headache
Now understanding that all mechincal items are subject to failure at one point or another (could be today, could be 20 years from now), is it wise to leave a loaded and chambered fire arm 'ready to fire' with the safety engaged? I wasn't concerned about grabbing it or bumping into at night. But what if I shifted it somehow and that iniatialized a failure and the triggered fire. Last night, my comfort was the HK USP .45 Tatical. Ultimately I decided to leave it unchambered but safety off. But had someone attempted to get into my home, I wouldn't want to give them a 'warning' by racking one.
The scenario (I should say, the reality) was that last night as I was going to bed, I heard sirens. Thought it might be out on an access road, but as I turned the lights off, I could see flashers entering the complex. As I peek out the window, it appeared the local PD was chasing a vehicle. Now why someone would drive into a gated complex to elude the cops is beyond me.
Anywho, had some meetings this morning so I needed to get to bad. SInce there was alot of activity, I decided to chamber one, engage safety, and leave it on top of the pillow. Normally I leave my firearm(s) unchambered and under the mattress or under the bed. As I was going to sleep, it dawned on me that a mechnical failure with a .45 185gr +P round would leve a horrible mess in my bed and a biting headache
Now understanding that all mechincal items are subject to failure at one point or another (could be today, could be 20 years from now), is it wise to leave a loaded and chambered fire arm 'ready to fire' with the safety engaged? I wasn't concerned about grabbing it or bumping into at night. But what if I shifted it somehow and that iniatialized a failure and the triggered fire. Last night, my comfort was the HK USP .45 Tatical. Ultimately I decided to leave it unchambered but safety off. But had someone attempted to get into my home, I wouldn't want to give them a 'warning' by racking one.