How to keep a home defense revolver?
- Thread starter Shrinkmd
- Start date
We have no children at home. I'm the closest thing to a child at home but I turn 28 tomorrow and have been quite capable of handling a gun for over 15 years. Whenever I hear children are coming over or even if some stranger like a maid or something I store the guns away either in my car locked or elsewhere in the house.
Normally, when I'm at home, I keep my Colt .38 Official Police 4inch loaded with hydrashok rounds with it sitting in my shoulder holster hanging over the bedpost at the head of the bed where I can grab it in the middle of the night if we get an unexpected and unwanted visitor.
When I am up late watching TV I keep it sitting beside me on the table (pointed away from people at the wall) until I go to bed.
When I am on the road during the week, I keep it loaded on my bedside table beside me in case someone rams open my motel room door.
During the day I carry the gun either in a hip or shoulder holster with as many as 4 speedloaders for backup. (2 in the shoulder holster and 1 in each pocket)
My mother keeps her .38 S&W model 10-7 2 inch loaded in the drawer in her bedside table with the cylinder hanging off the side of the gun ready to snap in place.
My father takes either her's or his own .38 S&W model 10 4 inch and keeps it in the TV room during awake hours at night loaded with the cylinder hanging off the side ready to snap in place.
Normally, when I'm at home, I keep my Colt .38 Official Police 4inch loaded with hydrashok rounds with it sitting in my shoulder holster hanging over the bedpost at the head of the bed where I can grab it in the middle of the night if we get an unexpected and unwanted visitor.
When I am up late watching TV I keep it sitting beside me on the table (pointed away from people at the wall) until I go to bed.
When I am on the road during the week, I keep it loaded on my bedside table beside me in case someone rams open my motel room door.
During the day I carry the gun either in a hip or shoulder holster with as many as 4 speedloaders for backup. (2 in the shoulder holster and 1 in each pocket)
My mother keeps her .38 S&W model 10-7 2 inch loaded in the drawer in her bedside table with the cylinder hanging off the side of the gun ready to snap in place.
My father takes either her's or his own .38 S&W model 10 4 inch and keeps it in the TV room during awake hours at night loaded with the cylinder hanging off the side ready to snap in place.
riverkeeper
New member
Jungle— Interesting post.
Let’s see if I got it. FBI, a criminal psyche profile group, movie was ‘Silence of the Lambs’, or its prequel Crimson Dragon or something like that, or the one with Sigorney Weaver in it?
I live, unfortunately, in the highest violent crime city in WA, not as bad as Atlanta, Detroit and a few of those but about 3 x the national ave. I work with Behavior Disorder school kids during the school year so get to ‘experience’ close up and personal many young future BG’s and their parents. One word: Scary. Not scary for me at work but for our future.
Carry!
http://www.bestplaces.net/html/crime_compare.asp
Let’s see if I got it. FBI, a criminal psyche profile group, movie was ‘Silence of the Lambs’, or its prequel Crimson Dragon or something like that, or the one with Sigorney Weaver in it?
I live, unfortunately, in the highest violent crime city in WA, not as bad as Atlanta, Detroit and a few of those but about 3 x the national ave. I work with Behavior Disorder school kids during the school year so get to ‘experience’ close up and personal many young future BG’s and their parents. One word: Scary. Not scary for me at work but for our future.
Carry!
http://www.bestplaces.net/html/crime_compare.asp
Guy B. Meredith
New member
I keep my 686+ handy, unloaded and right on top of up to 10 loaded moonclips. Two of the clips are .357 magnum Hydra-Shok and the rest are .38 sp. Want to wake up enough to make sure the noise isn't my wife being clumsy (normally not as I am the clumsy one).
badguys know where ppl keeps the guns
I hope I can change some habits here. Being a 14 year LEO, I have been to many homes of burglary victims. These guys know if you own a firearm, you keep it close to your bed, such as a night stand or under the bed. I have 2 young children in my home. First thing I did is settle their curiousity of a firearm. I let them hold an unloaded weapon. Secend, I let them help me reload and package bullets. I explained how a gun works. Then I explained what a gun does to someone, and taught them what to do if they find one unattended. I even went to my kid's classes to do a presentation. Next I taught my wife how to shoot and bought her her own gun. We shoot together regularly, and she is a great shot now. I keep excess guns locked away and the other guns in a safe place. Point is keep it excessable at night, train your family members, address children's dangerious curiousity right off the bat. During the day when the scum burglars prey, keep them locked in your car (or freezer) when no one is at home. I hope this helps and please email for questions, Bill
I hope I can change some habits here. Being a 14 year LEO, I have been to many homes of burglary victims. These guys know if you own a firearm, you keep it close to your bed, such as a night stand or under the bed. I have 2 young children in my home. First thing I did is settle their curiousity of a firearm. I let them hold an unloaded weapon. Secend, I let them help me reload and package bullets. I explained how a gun works. Then I explained what a gun does to someone, and taught them what to do if they find one unattended. I even went to my kid's classes to do a presentation. Next I taught my wife how to shoot and bought her her own gun. We shoot together regularly, and she is a great shot now. I keep excess guns locked away and the other guns in a safe place. Point is keep it excessable at night, train your family members, address children's dangerious curiousity right off the bat. During the day when the scum burglars prey, keep them locked in your car (or freezer) when no one is at home. I hope this helps and please email for questions, Bill
Who needs a wheelgun when you have a shotgun?
Good idea. However the only problem I would have with a shotgun is that while it might ensure you nailing the bad guy with such a spread of buckshot you also ensure that you tear up your house along with the bad guy. In other words the spread will get him but it some of it will also go past him and into the walls or into the furniture. Plus it he will make a big mess spillin' his guts all over the floor
One clean shot from a .38 or .45 will go into the bad guy and damage him alone.
Good idea. However the only problem I would have with a shotgun is that while it might ensure you nailing the bad guy with such a spread of buckshot you also ensure that you tear up your house along with the bad guy. In other words the spread will get him but it some of it will also go past him and into the walls or into the furniture. Plus it he will make a big mess spillin' his guts all over the floor
One clean shot from a .38 or .45 will go into the bad guy and damage him alone.Jungle Work
Moderator
Bill,
You sound like me twenty five years ago. I have three children, probably about your age and I taught them about firearms as small children. When I cleaned my pistol, my son sat next to me and cleaned his toy pistol. My son started shooting at three and the girls at four and five. We have a rule at my house, you shoot a gun, you clean it. Takes the mistique away real fast. I also took several gallon milk jugs filled with water and red food coloring to the range. I set them on a bench at ten yards and shot them with several guns from a .357mag to a .308. I explained to the kids, that if you play with a gun and it goes off, you can expect this to happen to you, your friend or anybody that get hit with the round. It made and impression on them. Later as adults we were shooting at the range one day and I ask them if they ever messed with my guns when they were growing up. They alll said hell no, you would have made us clean them if you caught us. I now have five grandchildren in my training group. I have been a force multiplier since 1967.
Jungle Work
You sound like me twenty five years ago. I have three children, probably about your age and I taught them about firearms as small children. When I cleaned my pistol, my son sat next to me and cleaned his toy pistol. My son started shooting at three and the girls at four and five. We have a rule at my house, you shoot a gun, you clean it. Takes the mistique away real fast. I also took several gallon milk jugs filled with water and red food coloring to the range. I set them on a bench at ten yards and shot them with several guns from a .357mag to a .308. I explained to the kids, that if you play with a gun and it goes off, you can expect this to happen to you, your friend or anybody that get hit with the round. It made and impression on them. Later as adults we were shooting at the range one day and I ask them if they ever messed with my guns when they were growing up. They alll said hell no, you would have made us clean them if you caught us. I now have five grandchildren in my training group. I have been a force multiplier since 1967.
Jungle Work
Detective_Special
New member
HD revolver
Before I had kids I used to keep a S&W M13 with 3" barrel loaded with 158gr LSWHP. Now with younger kids around, I've gone to Browning Hi Power MKIII in condition 3. Fully loaded mag inserted, hammer down on empty chamber.
Before I had kids I used to keep a S&W M13 with 3" barrel loaded with 158gr LSWHP. Now with younger kids around, I've gone to Browning Hi Power MKIII in condition 3. Fully loaded mag inserted, hammer down on empty chamber.
Guns Save Lives
Just finished the above mentioned book by Robt. A. Waters (for the 2nd time). Some of the citizens whose lives were saved by a gun were not aware their home had been invaded until they woke up with someone on top of them. Or until their front door was crashed in. Or until the man at the door busted in when she answered the door, followed by all his accomplices.
Gun hanging in a holster by the bed post? Gun not loaded? Gun with a trigger lock? Most victims had one thing in common. They needed the gun NOW!!!!! And some didn't have it handy and were raped, shot, stabbed, or beaten--or all of the above. They finally reached a gun after they were left for dead, or when their assailants went to attack another member of the family, or business.
It was also interesting (and yes, amusing), that some of these people were very anti-gun---"honey, I wish you'd lock up that gun--you know how I hate them." Some of the former anti-gunners now wouldn't be caught dead (intentional pun) without their gun which now accompanies them were ever they go and is never far away when they are in their homes.
I think I'll read Bob Water's other book--The Best Defense (also for the 2nd time). A stark reality check does one good from time to time. Sad part is, all those victims who turned the tables eventually, and survived, didn't have to be seriously injured or crippled for life.
Just finished the above mentioned book by Robt. A. Waters (for the 2nd time). Some of the citizens whose lives were saved by a gun were not aware their home had been invaded until they woke up with someone on top of them. Or until their front door was crashed in. Or until the man at the door busted in when she answered the door, followed by all his accomplices.
Gun hanging in a holster by the bed post? Gun not loaded? Gun with a trigger lock? Most victims had one thing in common. They needed the gun NOW!!!!! And some didn't have it handy and were raped, shot, stabbed, or beaten--or all of the above. They finally reached a gun after they were left for dead, or when their assailants went to attack another member of the family, or business.
It was also interesting (and yes, amusing), that some of these people were very anti-gun---"honey, I wish you'd lock up that gun--you know how I hate them." Some of the former anti-gunners now wouldn't be caught dead (intentional pun) without their gun which now accompanies them were ever they go and is never far away when they are in their homes.
I think I'll read Bob Water's other book--The Best Defense (also for the 2nd time). A stark reality check does one good from time to time. Sad part is, all those victims who turned the tables eventually, and survived, didn't have to be seriously injured or crippled for life.
I'll add one little thing to "jungle work" and "ofcr Bills" comments; which by the way, I totally concur with. I also tell my children that they can examine my guns or shoot them anytime they wish. They know that no matter what I am doing, or how important it is; I will stop and take them shooting, or let them handle the guns, etc. No questions asked, I never say no. This way, they don't have to sneak around behind my back and maybe get in trouble. They know that dad will let them "play" with the guns anytime they ask; so there is no need to do it behind my back. We have never had a problem with this approach. The result is that I can keep loaded guns all through the house without worry. The only thing you must remember with this approach is that you NEVER say NO to the child. Always let them see the guns, handle, shoot, etc; whenever they ask to.
Thanks for all the great info to my original question. One other part: How do you deal with ammo when you need to take it to the range (here in the people's republic of NJ you need to drive with it unloaded) Is it ok to keep the hydrashoks loaded, then just take them out and reload them into the cylinder after I clean (and dry it) or should I take those 6 rounds to the range and replace them with fresh? I'm trying to minimize the need to replace the defense ammo on a regular basis.
Thanks!
Thanks!
You know ... I can't imagine ammo going bad in a gun properly cleaned (i.e. without lots of solvent residue left over). Shortly after the gun is cleaned there would be some fumes around, but other than that the lubricant would have to creep up the sides of the bullet to the middle of the back in enough quantity to penetrate the primers. Very unlikely.
For myself, I make it a point to put fresh expensive bullets in the gun about every 6 months. In the past I've had bullets in my revolver for well over a year without a misfire.
One thing about revolvers -- even if one round were to go bad (highly unlikely, never heard about that before this thread) it's not going to keep the gun from cycling and another round from coming up. An advantage to revolvers for defense. Love 'em!
For myself, I make it a point to put fresh expensive bullets in the gun about every 6 months. In the past I've had bullets in my revolver for well over a year without a misfire.
One thing about revolvers -- even if one round were to go bad (highly unlikely, never heard about that before this thread) it's not going to keep the gun from cycling and another round from coming up. An advantage to revolvers for defense. Love 'em!
I keep mine loaded. I also keep at least one in arm's reach at all times.
I also have, umm, er. . .9 speedloaders for the 6-shooters and 11 for the 5-shooters (hey, it's 60 rounds, those hi-cap autoloader guys often have that much ready to go).
IF you have lubricants seeping into your ammo, you've left WAY too much in the gun.
I also have, umm, er. . .9 speedloaders for the 6-shooters and 11 for the 5-shooters (hey, it's 60 rounds, those hi-cap autoloader guys often have that much ready to go).
IF you have lubricants seeping into your ammo, you've left WAY too much in the gun.
Spouse concerns
I don't have the mini safe (American Security box model) bolted down yet. My wife is asking, if it is loaded and our little guy bumps (or picks up and drops, he's 4) the safe, could the revolver go off? I know everyone says it can't, but unless the box is bolted down (so motion isn't a factor) what is the chance that centerfire ammo in a box, speedloader, and in a revolver, could go off if the safe box it was in got bumped around or even dropped a couple of feet...
I will just bolt it down anyway, but I'm curious for people's opinions.
I don't have the mini safe (American Security box model) bolted down yet. My wife is asking, if it is loaded and our little guy bumps (or picks up and drops, he's 4) the safe, could the revolver go off? I know everyone says it can't, but unless the box is bolted down (so motion isn't a factor) what is the chance that centerfire ammo in a box, speedloader, and in a revolver, could go off if the safe box it was in got bumped around or even dropped a couple of feet...
I will just bolt it down anyway, but I'm curious for people's opinions.
Loaded.
My family consists of myself, my wife, and 3 week old son, so his curiosity is not an issue yet.
He will be taught when the time comes, just like I was.
Wife is thoroughly familiar with all the firearms and the way they function.
I try very hard not to keep them in obvious places, but still handy. The shottie stays on bicycle hooks above the b-room door.
I keep the revovler in a flip top box (unlatched) on the floor under my side of the bed. It is neatly covered by the dust ruffle, so it is not seen.
My family consists of myself, my wife, and 3 week old son, so his curiosity is not an issue yet.
He will be taught when the time comes, just like I was.
Wife is thoroughly familiar with all the firearms and the way they function.
I try very hard not to keep them in obvious places, but still handy. The shottie stays on bicycle hooks above the b-room door.
I keep the revovler in a flip top box (unlatched) on the floor under my side of the bed. It is neatly covered by the dust ruffle, so it is not seen.
2 chances for it to go off. Slim and None,,,and Slim just left town..
Think about it for a second. What makes a round fire? The firing pin hits the primer and sets it off. There's nothing to hit the primer in either case that would set it off. A loose round might go off, but outside of a gun, there's little to contain the presssure so the bullet will have very little velocity...probably nowhere near enough to punch through the metal safe.
Even slamming it into a brick wall as hard as you could throw it shouldn't have any effect.
This assumes of course that the revolver is a D/A in proper working condition or a S/A with either a transfer bar or an empty chamber under the hammer.
On topic - speed loader and unloaded is how I used to keep the wheel gun. I switched over to a semi auto for the reasons given above. Quicker to bring into action.
Smith and Wesson produces a neetly designed steel safe (Versa Vault) that opens easily with a few strokes on its keypad (four buttons only).
It presents your loaded gun at an angle, ready to pick up. This seems like a safe way to store a loaded gun and a few spare magazines. The keypad lights up, so it's easy to use in the dark too.
It presents your loaded gun at an angle, ready to pick up. This seems like a safe way to store a loaded gun and a few spare magazines. The keypad lights up, so it's easy to use in the dark too.