which pistol for hd/nightstand duty?

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grantman

New member
Stuck between which pistol to use for nightstand/HD duty. I shoot both equally well, have plenty of mags for both, don't cc either of these on a regular basis.

1) Fullsize colt 1911 8+1 rds with crimson trace grip
2) HK VP9 15+1 with NS
 
More rounds are always better. Night sights and lasers are good, but don't help identify threats nearly as well as a gun with a light attached. And no, you don't have to point a loaded gun at someone to identify them. Point it at the ground in front of you and they will light up the room almost as well as turning on the lights. If the threat is real they will be blinded when you point it in their face.

DAO or DA/SA are safer in a nightstand than SA. Beyond that I don't think it matters much.
 
Im going to agree with jmr40. I keep my P-07 (decocker version) by the bed for his exact reasons. I don't have any SAO handguns, but I know I wouldn't want to have to mess with a safety when I'm waking up fuzzy headed at 2:30am to figure out what just went bump in the night. I know that you can train for yada, yada..., but I don't carry with a safety, so I don't want one on anything I might need in a stressful situation. That was a really long way of saying that the VP9 is the better option out of the two, IMO.
I don't keep a light mounted on my P-07, but I definitely prefer a light to a laser. Good illumination helps avoid tragic mistakes.
 
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I would give a nod to the HK VP9 for the ability to attach a light and higher capacity.

My personal nighstand gun is a Glock 23 with a Streamlight TLR-3 and TruGlo Night Sights. I keep a 15rd Glock 22 mag in it with a XGRIP adapter and spare near by.

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For the capacity would be a deciding factor.

I used to hate safeties, but I've been coming around on them. I can train to remember them on a shotgun or rifle, I imagine I could with a pistol if I had to.


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White light is a must; preferably attached to an accessory rail. And that applies to any HD firearm, rifle, shotgun, or pistol.

Low ready position is sufficient to light up the room and finger out of trigger guard completely.

Because I will likely have a head full of sleep at 3 am I do prefer an external safety on my pistol.

But the choice is yours and if unsure rotate between the two you've mentioned. Both are will do quite nicely. And keep an extra mag or two along side your gun.
 
For a dedicated nightstand gun, I think I'd want more capacity than a single stack (10rd .45 mags are good, if you have confidence in them), and I think I'd want a light rail?
I'd prefer that the gun be a one-handed deal, so wouldn't want to have to reload, and would want my off hand available for "whatever", while accepting that a hand-held light is good.
I'm cool on night sights. I've shot in low- and no-light a bit, and while night sights are great for aiming in the dark, you shouldn't be shooting in the dark, and once you have a light on the target you don't really need night sights. I think they're great for cops or military, when whatever is "out there" is a target. For HD, target ID is top priority.
I had a hi-cap Springfield .45 with extended basepads that allowed 18+1 capacity, and I seriously considered having a rail added to the frame, but sold it, instead.
 
Usually what I carry concealed.

They've been P226s and P229s with light attachments in the past.

In present day, Glock 19 with a light attachment as well as an AR15 for "just in case" But I live in an apartment with my lady and our dogs. I find the pistol is much better served.

For you? The VP9 with a light.
 
Free with your money, aren't they, grantman?

As I answered the same question on another board: Both.

Unless you live in a tent or have unsupervised children and/or visitors wandering around, you might benefit from two places to get armed.
 
Well there's a difference...the night stand gun, usually a P228 Mk25 with a TLS 1 light attached, doesn't get much carry use here on the farm. For day to day farm use, it's whatever I'm experimenting with from SA Rugers to a Smith .380 Bodyguard and everything in between. The piece I'm carrying is one that I'm shooting more or less recreationally...defensive use is a 2ndary consideration.

For carry to and from town and into the BIG CITY (Louisville, KY don't laugh), I like a Smith M60 with 3" barrel in .357. Depending on the dress code for the trip, it may be the Smith .380 Bodyguard, or a Sig P290; the first in a front pocket and the latter in an OWB holster, open top, of my own make. Just depends...

I like a full size (duty size) handgun for night stand use....as we live on a farm in a relatively remote area (police response time is 20+minutes). The light and a set of night sights grace that Sig and allow a better response if we need it. My wife has a Glock 23 on her side of the bed, but no light and we both keep our Cell phones on chargers at bedside.

HTH's Rod
 
I saved up for a long time to get those two and have learned its better to buy once/cry once. I do not have a weapon mounted light so that would have to be an additional purchase and my colt doesn't have a rail. Consensus seems to trend towards the hk with a wml. I store my the HD pistol in a quick release pistol safe (have young kids in the house) so having a safety on the gun doesn't matter
 
Either weapon is capable. Don't over think it. As far as lights go I wouldn't mind having a nice weapon mounted light, but I still use my special tactical light switches. Some people are crazy about "you HAVE to have a weapon mounted light on your HD gun!" I guess they don't have electricity.
 
I have a few around. but a good cheap option I found was a Smith & Wesson model 64.
Stainless Steel version of the venerable Model 10.

I paid $280 for this one and I just love it.

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My personal H/D gun is a 1911 with Recover grips to add a laser and light.

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