Handgun at the head of the bed?

I'm not a heavy sleeper, I rarely dream and always know where I am when I wake up ... my 1911 HD gun sits on my nightstand, the glowing sights letting me index it perfectly ... I share our home with my wife, a dog and cat and my first move on awakening, at whatever time, is to make sure my wife is beside me ... nobody gets shot in my house who doesn't have it coming.

I've read a lot about folks jolting awake at night and shooting up their house-wife-husband-kids, and if that's you, make sure you have to go through some effort to get your hand on your gun. For those like me, who wake up ready to go, keep the gun handy. Every second counts.

Just my two cents ...
 
Bed

Keep Glock 19 with night sights, an extra mag and a Surefire in one of the Kydex mattress holsters that slips in under the matress and keeps the pistol tight against the bed. When the bed is made, can't tell its there.
 
The other night I had cleaned some of my pistols & left a few of them on my night stand next to my side of the bed. I had a XD-45, Glock 21SF, Glock 23 & a S&W 4506 set out. All of these have tritium night sights. I also had a KelTec PF9 & a RIA .45 acp laying there also but they had factory sights on them. It was my intention to put all but two of them back in their respective cases the next morning.

I keep our bedroom completely dark at night, even placing a dark colored t-shirt over the alarm clock to obscure the illuminated numbers.

I said all that to say this...I had gone to the bath room in the middle of the night & when I returned to the bedroom, all I saw on the left side of the bed were all these glowing green dots. It really was a pretty picture!

My wife keeps here Beretta 92FS on her side of the shelf portion of the head board. It also has factory sights. And even though I knew it was there, I couldn't see it. So I'm going to get a set of Tritiums put on her 9mm this week. Should have anyway a long time ago....
 
Where's my gun?

It's always loaded and within reach.
At night it's under the other pillow. There is enough light form he kitchen that I can make out friend or foe from my bed and I can hit anythiing I see. I'm a light sleeper and awake fully alert.

No wife, no kids. Two noisy little dogs.

I pray that I'll never need to shoot another human being.
 
I don't recommend keeping a handgun within reach, while sleeping.

I recommend keeping multiple handguns within reach, while sleeping. ;)

I keep mine where I cannot grab them while sleeping, or if abruptly roused from my sleep. I don't want to have an ND, while reaching for my cell phone or glasses. :rolleyes: They're within reach, but won't be "accidentally" grabbed.

Depending on the day, you may find any combination (or all) of the following:
Ruger GP100, .327 Federal
Ruger P95DC, 9mm Luger
Taurus PT-138, .380 Auto
S&W 642 Ladysmith, .38 Special +P
Marlin 336, .30-30 WCF (Sometimes "handgun" just describes how you use it. ;))
 
I do - but I had an odd experience recently. My wife and I were awakened in the wee hours by someone pounding on the door to our home. I went out and opened the door a crack to find a small group of bond bailsmen on my patio.

They identified themselves as such and demanded to know where "so and so" was...I asked, "what the hell are you talking about?" then they claimed I'd co-signed a bail agreement for this person and they'd skipped bail. I told them my name and address (even though the address was on the front of the house) of course they had the wrong house.

When my wife and I were back in bed, the first thing she asked was why I didn't bring my bed gun. I admit it simply never crossed my mind until afterwards. I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing...but I guess my instincts told me it was the cops pounding on the door.
 
I have one of those old hinged dresser-top boxes that i keep on top of the nightstand (filing cabinet;)). It's big enough for either of my compact 45s, plus extra mag, flashlight, and my 8" tanto without being in a jumbled mess

With the hinged top, plus the weapon in a holster its "difficult" enough to get into that I have to be somewhat awake, but not so difficult as to be inaccessible if needed fast.

But as always a bedside gun is a last line of defense after locks & other more mundane HD options
 
It depends on the handgun and the MOA for that pistol.

I would feel perfectly fine with my HK P7M8 on a nightstand. I would never have a loaded unholstered Glock next to me. I firmly believe Glocks need a holster covering the trigger. Especially a "night" stand which implies that it is going to be the weapon you grab if you are woken up by something.

Even for my P7M8 - I would want it secured, in some kind of positive holder for it so when I go to grab it - it is there and not going anywhere. It is a completely safe pistol and if it drops on the floor it is not going to dishcharge, but if I have it on a nightstand and I go to grab it and instead push it off the night stand - now I'm fumbling around trying to find it and pick it up off the floor (under the bed?) - just not a good scenario.

For a real life example - remember the FBI Miami Shootout. I know a felony traffic stop is not the same as grabbing for your gun in the middle of the night but the principle is the same. And unsecured firarm may get away from you and then you're fumbling to recover it or going to a backup instead of responding.
 
^ That's extreme.

I am glad BConklin was honest and shared his experience with us. I think that kind of characterization of his respons is overly harsh.
 
One of the unforeseen advantages of my divorce is the ability to keep my 9 under the pillow next to me. However, I am hoping that on some nights that won't be the case 'if you know what I mean';).

-Happy Holidays
 
I have one of these mounted vertically next to the bed with the door facing up and attached to the frame with secure bolts. Safe, secure and with quick access should I need it.
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I used to have a handgun in the night stand. Every morning I would put it in the safe and every night it came back out and went back in the drawer. Well that got old real quick and I don't believe in having unsecured firearms in the house, so I found the best of both worlds.
 
^ I really need to get one of these.

I don't know if other people are like me or not, but I find it really difficult to part with my money when buying stuff like this - like safes, when I'd rather spend the money on a new gun.
 
C0untZer0

^ I really need to get one of these.

I don't know if other people are like me or not, but I find it really difficult to part with my money when buying stuff like this - like safes, when I'd rather spend the money on a new gun.
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Agreed, there are certain indispensable things in life that one must spend money on (that you would rather allocate towards something else more desired). A safe is definitely one of them, kind of like insurance in that you gotta have it but boy it sucks having to spend money on something you may never use (or at least very seldom). I must say, however, that my safe is money very well spent (obviously) from a security perspective) but also from a 'man-cave' attractiveness if you will. Yet I do try and hide it to make it less obvious to potential predators.

-Happy Holidays
 
^ I really need to get one of these.

I don't know if other people are like me or not, but I find it really difficult to part with my money when buying stuff like this - like safes, when I'd rather spend the money on a new gun.
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I look at it this way, your spending good hard earned money on your firearms so why not keep them safe and secure? You wouldn't buy a front door for your house and opt out on a lock because you'd rather spend the money on refinishing the door or buying a new mailbox.

You wouldn't buy a car and opt out on the door locks because you'd rather spend money on some new wheels or exhaust.

Keep em' locked up and safe and we will see less and less stolen gun reports. A secondary precaution would be to not blab about your guns to people you don't really know or trust. You may have a good friend, but if they're a blabber mouth that likes to tell people you have guns then its basically like you walking around and telling complete strangers that you have unsecured guns at your home with full name and address.

I'm looking to upgrade my current safes right now because the 2 medium sized type that I have combined just dosn't have the room anymore. I'm going to happily spend much more money for one huge safe with lots of options, just haven't decided on the brand yet. If nothing else, having your guns secured gives you added peace of mind when your not home.
 
I used to have a handgun in the night stand. Every morning I would put it in the safe and every night it came back out and went back in the drawer. Well that got old real quick and I don't believe in having unsecured firearms in the house, so I found the best of both worlds.
Click to expand...

Works for me too as my dedicated HD gun stays here. Never need to put away the gun when people are in my house such as friends with kids, house keepers, plumbers, etc. since it is already put away but is accessible if needed.

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To the OP, I don't like leaving any of my guns sitting around the house and not secured. That's just my preference. I usually pocket carry all the time anyway.
 
I went a different method,,,

First, I live alone so I don't worry about kids.

I took an old nylon holster and screwed it to the rail of my bed,,,
That's where my Colt revolver lives full-time.

When the bed is made it is covered and out of sight,,,
I positioned it so when I'm in bed my hand drops to where I have it secured.

Unless my monster cat grows thumbs,,,
It's safe and I feel secure.

Aarond
 
I have a Walther P-38 in a clip on holster mounted on the bed frame rail.
Also three or four other hand guns on the dresser, but we don't have children in the house, so.. guns are almost in every room of the house
 
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