Nightstand Gun

[ZEBRARANGER]

I've recently changed my practice of keeping my Ruger Security Six on the nightstand, to now in a holster attached to the side of my bed. It was pretty simple to do. I just purchased an inexpensive holster, modified it a little to attach to a piece of steel. I bent the steel into an L shape with a wide flat base that slides between the mattress and box spring and attached the holster to it. The reason I did this is to have the gun a little closer to me, its under the cover and out of sight, and its a natural act to reach to your side to draw. When I make the bed, its also covered. This is what the setup looks like when the covers are pulled back. Also, I dont have any children living in my home, so we feel very comfortable with this setup. When we leave, the gun goes back to the safe.

 

[Lancel]

I've never understood the wisdom of using the cheapest gun for self defense. The life of me and loved ones is not cheap.

Elvishead said: To use the word "never" is your first issue.

It's a non-issue. Don't make cost (neither cheapest nor most expensive) a rule for buying self-defense tools.

Larry

 

[Quantrill]

A Sauer single action revolver chambered in .44mag loaded with .44 spec. Keith semi wadcutters.

 

[Rmac58]

It sits where I can get to it quickly and quietly.
I prefer a light for as well.
I haven't bought a tactical holster for it, so don't carry it around like that.

 

[TheGoldenState]

go out somewhere and shoot some WITHOUT ear protection
This is very poor advice. Shooting without hearing protection WILL damage your hearing. Every shot causes irreparable harm eventually you won't be surprised by any sound.

The suggestion that such practice will prevent surprise is ludicrous. It is common for someone to not even notice the gunshot loudness when shooting under the stress of self defense.

Larry
_________

To each their own. I didn't say to go out and run thru a days ammo with no haring. Lets take it for what it is. In my opinion, shooting a few rounds without protection is a good idea. For someone who has never heard a gun go bang without earphones it can be a shocking experience. Did you "hear the shot" when you had to fire?

 

[Gary L. Griffiths]

As I write this, my Taurus PT-145 Millennium Pro resides on my nightstand. It's also my carry piece for "serious social occasions."

 

[Mike Irwin]

It may change depending on what I've taken to the range recently.

Most often it's a revolver.

Right now it's a Smith & Wesson 042 in .38 Special.

 

[csmsss]

It's always what I carry - my 1911.

 

[dyl]

weight

like most other things, the handgun that will be within reach as you sleep is all up to you in the end.

But one thing about a home defense firearm in general as opposed to concealed carry is that people in general aren't quite as concerned about weight or size in a home defense gun. There's no pressure to trade magazine capacity for concealability or comfort - you're not going to have it rubbing against you all day, printing in front of crowds of people, nor will you be hiking 20 miles with it. You can have all the bells and whistles on it if you like (flashlight, laser...bell or whistle) with less concern about it being cumbersome when drawing.

Yes there are guys/gals who proudly carry the 1911 every day so it's not a big deal for them.

I suppose in the end it could simply be whatever firearm you shoot the best with under stress and would be most reliable. I too hadn't really heard of low cost as being something to seek out in particular. If anything, since the HD gun isn't going to be out and about getting dings and scratches everyday, it could even be the fancier gun that could serve in that role if you're confident with it.

 

[old bear]

Golden state

Did you "hear the shot" when you had to fire?

No I did not either time, nor did I feel the recoil. I will say from personal experience, anyone who fires a weapon W/O hearing protection when it is possible to use hearing protection is a FOOL.

 

[DiscoRacing]

I have ten handguns....in my nightstand... four of which are fully loaded.

 

[cougar gt-e]

This is very poor advice. Shooting without hearing protection WILL damage your hearing. Every shot causes irreparable harm eventually you won't be surprised by any sound.

The suggestion that such practice will prevent surprise is ludicrous. It is common for someone to not even notice the gunshot loudness when shooting under the stress of self defense.

I agree. It's not a smart thing to do, not a smart bit of advice to follow and not a nice bit of advice to give.

I would go so far as to get a tax stamp for a silencer for a house gun or a set of active head muffs so you can hear but no loud sounds. Pro-Ears makes the best out there right now, but others are ok for much less $.

Best house gun would be a 12ga with 00 shot packed in bacon grease for the terrorist zombies.

 

[reticle]

Reticle-
Do you have a light mounted on your gun, or use a handheld?

I have a first generation HK licensed Insight UTL on my USP .45 Expert with Mepro adjustable night sights. I have a UTLII on my USP .45 compact with Mepro night sights. I have an Insight LAM 450 on my Mark 23 with a Knight's suppressor. I have an Insight m6 on a GG&G adapted USP .45 Tactical (Silencerco Osprey suppressor pending). I have a GG&G adapted USP .45 with an other Insight M6 and Mepro nights.

pic of the Expert, the Compact and th Mark 23 before the LAM and suppressor

Mark 23 suppressed w/ LAM

Tactical before any mods

No pics of USPf .45...
Typically, the nightstand guns are the USP compact and full size .45. Though the other HKs are nightstand equipped, if they were used to defend our lives, they would be confiscated for evidence until the case was closed. I'd rather not expose the more costly guns to careless third party impoundment. After this fact occurred to me I stopped using my more exotic pistols for home defense or discreet carry; no more extra potent calibers or cartridges either.

Edit: as I continued to read this thread and the subject of hearing protecting emerged, I was drawn back to a conflict I've had with myself relative to home defense with suppressed fire. It seems that suppressed fire would be preferable since clearing a house at night with ear protection seems both unlikely and inadvisable. But, I wonder if in the event of suppressed fire, that LE and the judicial entities would leverage the use of such a device against my interests; as if I were some mall ninja wannabe.

I am conflicted in this since a suppressor is a classIII item and might be perceived as an aggravating component. Were I to face a jury, would they understand the dynamics of firing a .45 acp in confined quarters sans hearing protection? Could they be convinced it was deployed for OSHA grade protections and not to leverage extra deadly force on the perp?

 

[Sport45]

My nightstand gun is a Remington 870 hanging behind the Chester Drawers (Chest of Drawers for those that grew up somewhere else). The handguns are always locked away when I'm done for the day.

 

[PoorSoulInJersey]

I have an XDM 40 with a TLR-3 light mounted on it and a spare magazine next to it. I also tend to keep my daytime carry, a Glock 26, in the nightstand as well.

 

[ClayInTx]

I have a 357 in a nightstand drawer.
A 357 in a computer room drawer.
A 38 special under the cake stand on a kitchen counter.
A 357 by the recliner.

Paranoid? Not me. Well, the 38 under the cake stand might be a bit much.

 

[Nasty]

Nightstand gun?

There's no open season here for them and they are rarely encountered in the wild. They are lightweight so I figure not too hard to stop...maybe a nice .38 revolver?



Okay...I use a S&W 696 .44 Special. Big slow slug, not very loud or sharp sound, minimal flash, easy to control and fast followup shots.

 

[skoro]

I just want to see what everyone else is using as a "nightstand gun"

S&W Model 13 stoked with FBI loads.

 

[bdb benzino]

Sometimes if I am lazy and did not put my carry gun in the safe, then I use my carry guns as my nightstand gun.
Most of the time I make it to the safe and either use a S&W 686 loaded with Hornady 357mag 158gr HP's and a Mag light, or my full size Bersa Thunder 9 Pro loaded with 124gr Gold Dots and a Streamlight TRL-1 attatched.

 

[PoorSoulInJersey]

I have a 357 in a nightstand drawer.
A 357 in a computer room drawer.
A 38 special under the cake stand on a kitchen counter.
A 357 by the recliner.

Paranoid? Not me. Well, the 38 under the cake stand might be a bit much.

You left out the room you are most vulnerable in: the bathroom!