guns around the house

Damn, I just put all but my carry and night stand guns in the safe!
Now I'm not so sure I didn't have it right the first time!
I was concerned about being away from the house with all these guns, but i have two "inside the fence" dogs and one barn dog. none of them like strangers.
And the guns weren't just laid about haphazardley. they are all "stealth" so to speak.
I'm actually quite proud of some of my home concealments. but tplumeri is my real name (tom) so i won't detail the hidey holes online!
I'm going to the basement to get my guns out of the safe.
be safe out there
tom
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Lol, Tom....it's hard to know what to do. I'm the same way. I hear you. :D
 
Hmm I guess it depends on how rural your house is imo. I have 3 kids in my house and my boys are educated but still young enough to not trust with weapons and ammo in accesible spot around the house. So I keep my rifles in my bedroom closet the majority of my ammo in the garage. However I have several knives throughout the house and I keep a pistol by my bed with the magazine next to it. I have 2 dogs a Pit bull and a Bulldog and live in a 2 story house so I have the luxury of enough time to slide in a mag and rack the slide. In your shoes I would probly reduce the number of loaded weapons around the house to a select few and leaving ony 1-2 nessacary weapons with ammo in the magazines or ready to rock.
 
All but two are in the safe. I keep my glock 23 on my person (except when I shower or sleep) and my 870 tactical loaded next to my bed. That will change when I have kids though.
 
More than two or three guns stashed might be too much, but a couple would be a good idea as long as you don't just put them in a drawer or side table where an intruder would find it easily. A home invasion could find you unarmed and held up at the point of a loaded gun with all your guns unloaded or in a safe.
A buddy of mine has one certain book on his bookshelves that had the pages carved out and glued together to create a cavity that a loaded pistol fits into. Only he knows which book it is. He just bought a book at a garage sale for less than a dollar and carved out a hole that the gun fits into. That is a pretty good idea, especially against a home invasion. If you can get to that book, you've got a chance.
 
To those who keep guns in the entertainment center- isn't that one of the first places crooks are going to look for valuables?
 
We live well out into the boonies, 1/4 mile long drive way & closest neighbor over a mile away... got a big Rotweiler in the yard, & 2 little ankle biters in the house... motion lights all around the house... & have a single shot Contender 410 loaded with #6 shot in the closet on the main floor... & 4 of my carry guns loaded in the master bedroom... everything else is unloaded & locked away...

... less than a year ago, a local family was killed with thier own shotgun, in a home invasion... wouldn't keep the Contender loaded, but its used very heavy for yard varmints ( got to keep the rabbit population down... that's why it has #6 shot in it )
 
I usually like to keep at least one ready to go handgun accessible at all times. What I've been doing is using a small secured safe with a key to keep it in. When I'm home, the keys are in the safe and when I leave I take the keys with me. It is also a great way to avoid losing your keys ;) .

When I get my own house I plan on turning one of the closets into a secure room for valuables. Will get a heavy duty door and hinges and reinforce the frame. Then put up some plywood over the walls on the inside to avoid anyone trying to kick through the drywall to get access (I've heard of this type of activity during break ins around my area, especially on some of the older houses with 24" stud spacing.)
 
I live in an area thats not crime heavy. I also have 2 small kids. I keep my firearms in my safe. (gun vault) by the way, the "Gun Vault" is great! I have a simple code that I can access the gun very quickly, even in pitch black. I keep my favorite carry gun loaded and in it's holster in the safe. When I carry, I just access my safe and slip the holsterd gun in my waste band. Back in the safe when I get home.
 
I live with my fiancee in a so so neighborhood. I feel good about the neighborhood for the most part, minus when a couple months ago a few places down some BG held another BG's infant at gun point. But, it ended up being a drug stick up. Anyway it's one of those "pretty" safe situations. I am a strategic hider of weapons guy. I have no kids, so I don't worry about that little chestnut. I keep my weapons where I can easily draw them out of their hiding spot. I attached a holster to the side of my dresser next the bed, where I can reach down and grab a G23. The dresser is basically against the bed where a nightstand would be, and the holster is pretty low and out of sight. So, it is fairly hidden. I guess I am least concerned with sneakyness in my own room. My cheap GPWASR10 AK knockoff is hung in the closet, cradled in some monster wall hooks behind our clothes. Im not gonna go for that thing anyway most likely, but its there. The only weapon I have that is risking it is another Glock in a holster attached under our coffee table. I do all of my work out there, and I am sitting right next to the front door. It allows me the option to grab it. Also I wouldn't want to have to run all the way to my bedroom. At night I simply bring it back to the bedroom with me, so I don't have to maybe fight against one of my own weapons. Everyone's opinion on this hiding thing varies, I just feel comfortable always being close to a weapon, but not having to carry one on me at home. I respect that having children affects things, and that will change my arrangement eventually as well. But as far as all weapons in a safe, that makes me nervous personally. I dont know, the line between safety, practicality, and common sense can be hazy. You want all of those things, but sometimes choose one or two over another. BTW Im loving everyones opinions!
 
The only guns that are not on our persons or in our safe are a Mosin-Nagant that is too long for the safe (91/30, and the shelf is in the way, and no, I can't move the shelf, I need it where it is), husband's Mossberg 500 for HD, and a little .22 that I can't fit into the safe. Larger safe will be purchased soon :o

Don't leave them around. My oldest son thought he had all his well hidden too until a break in...and he lost every handgun he had. Not the shottie...they didn't want to be spotted with them, so they needed to steal only the stuff they could carry more or less hidden. You just THINK they are hidden. Thieves know precisely where to look.

Springmom
 
"You just THINK they are hidden. Thieves know precisely where to look."

Yup. Thieves are just as sneaky as you are, actually a little sneakier. Think of the sneakiest place you could think of to hide a gun. If you thought of it, he's probably thought of it, too.
 
I was burglarized 12-13 years ago... Them dern punks found every gun I had including a wore out ruger .22 SA that had been forgotten under unworn old clothes in the closet awaiting repairs. I was without firearm protection! A buddy I was close to brought me a VERY ILLEGAL .410 sawed off he found in an attic of an empty house he was remodeling. It had NO WOOD and a 6 inch barrel but it was better to me than no firearm at all... I got a letter in the mail 2 or so years ago requesting I contact the police department in the town I had left 7 years prior... I was gonna dump it but decided to call... That call resulted in me getting my 20 gauge 500 mossy back after 11 years absence! I got it back and promptly tossed the short gun into a saltwater river that will remain un-named!

The point has been made that perps will find it no matter how well you think you hid it! I lost 12-20 guns (I can't remember and likely did not know exactly what I had as I was in the process of depleting a fun collection) that day and most were "hid" I did not have a safe but they woulda stole it too! I had guns in dirty clothes hamper, dresser drawers, 'tween the matress, under the bed (amid dog hair etc.) all and I mean ALL were found!!!

Dogs are not usually dependable home defense but often intimidate punk kids! I had 2 dogs in the house the day I was hit and both were ferocious lookin' and sounding at the window to folks knockin' Both were standing in the yard, My wife was mad thinkin' I left the door open when I left... They went in a living room window and exited the front door leaving it open!

I have a bunch of chained up hunting dogs including 2 pitbulls and 2 american bulldog pit crosses. Inside I have a pit cross, chihuahua, and a Chi-pomeranian cross. Of the 3 inside dogs NONE are worthy of being called possession defense dogs but with us home any one of the 3 will die protecting our life. I also have so few material possessions of value that I have little fear of planned burglary... A random hit is possible but unlikely in this area. My most valued items are mine and my sons firearms...
Brent
 
If not in my pocket, I keep my daily carry gun within about 5 feet of me at all times, away or at home.

A loaded, unchambered, short shotgun by the nightstand is a good option too. Living in an apartment, I keep my other guns locked in a safe, just because I don't want anyone walking off with them...especially the 'questionable' maintenance crews when they come once every season to check the water heater and forced air heater. I don't need them stealing it or 'borrowing' it for a hit, then bringing it back & leaving it here.

I do a walkabout through my apartment whenever I come in, checking in closets, behind the shower curtain, and in the walk-in pantry. I also never enter without checking blind corners as I come through the door. If I don't check the closets & stuff when I come in, I do before I go to bed. I don't really consider these processes to be paranoia. I just have heard some horror stories about apartment dwellers...where other people who are strangers have access to their apartment. In an apartment, you don't just have a land-lord, you have all of the little worker bee maintenance people too who have access. But, even in a house, it is easy for someone to get in without causing visual signs of a break and enter.
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Smart idea about the quick check of the apt. when you come home. I keep my 642 in my pocket or within a few feet at all times, and my 9mm at bedside when we hit the sack.
 
I live out on the far side of nowhere, down a 1/4 mile drive in the woods but there is quite a bit if crime in the general vicinity. So although I have 3 large dogs anyone would have to go through to get into the house I still have a weapon handy!
 
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