Posted on 06/03/2008 10:05:18 PM PDT by fred4prez
Have a question for all you personal protection experts...I live in Texas, and am trying to increase my handgun knowledge; I don't yet have a concealed license. Have a Ruger .22, and recently acquired a Sig P6 9mm, and have been doing a fair amount of target practice. I'm starting to feel comfortable enough to want to keep the Sig easily accessible at night (especially after a theft next door recently), and want to follow best practices.
Do I keep it under a pillow, or in the nightstand?
Stored inside manufacturer's plastic case?
Keep it loaded?
Bullet chambered?
Cocked?
Also, is it ok to leave the gun in that same state during the day, when no one is at home, or must it be secured/unloaded? Legal aspects?
Thanks in advance for your advice!
I’m fairly certain of the answers to a few of the questions, but just don’t want to assume anything wrongly. Thanks.
The most important information is ANY children in the house ever? I keep a couple of guns in a “fake” book shelf above my bed. The shelf is cut in half with a hinge and the few books are also cut in half, leaving room behind for the guns— fully loaded- safety off.
Generally speaking, when you need it, you need it in a hurry.
Do you have children in the house?
No really, consider this, loaded, no round chambered, in your nightstand drawer.
If I were an intruder and I heard a gun being cocked...I might change my choice of victims.
But if you have to point it at someone...pull the trigger.
No kids in the home ever.
No really, consider this, loaded, no round chambered, in your nightstand drawer.
If I were an intruder and I heard a gun being cocked...I might change my choice of victims.
But if you have to point it at someone...squeeze the trigger.
It depends on your situation and how comfortable you are. Do not put it under your pillow! I would keep it in a safe but easily reachable place. Like the drawer of a night stand.
THE FOLLOWING IS PERSONAL PREFERENCE AND NOT SUITABLE FOR EVERYONE:
My theory is that anyone who comes into your house in the dead of night means to do you bodily harm. Burglars will likely hit your house in the daytime when they assume no one will be home. Accordingly, I keep three things on my nightstand:
My cellphone.
A Surefire flashlight.
And my Sig 9mm with 13 rounds of +P.
I personally do not ever keep a round chambered.
In the daytime when I'm out, my guns are locked in a safe and I have the only key.
(Except for the pistol I may or may not be carrying).
First do you have an alarm system, or a dog?
If yes, you have enough warning to pull gun out of drawer and rack a round into chamber. This is safer storage option. Keep a flashlight with it too.
If no, you want to have the gun loaded, round in chamber and ready to hand; (safety on),you might not have much time.
In daytime, while gone; lock it.
Be sure to follow laws of your State on Locking, Storage, etc. And if you have kids be sure and lock it even if at home, until going to bed. Show your kids the gun and tell them to NEVER touch it until you train them (when they’r old enough) to shoot it!
Also be sure you practice shooting and operating the safety till you can handle it safely in the dark.
Just to add. Keep it loaded and ready to use. How sound a sleeper are you? Keep your bedroom door closed and locked while you sleep.
What I use. It's called a Gun-Vault. Keep your piece loaded, cocked and locked inside it. The grooves are so your fingers can find the buttons in the dark and you set the combo. It takes me about two seconds to go from unarmed to ready to rock. And you're the only one who can get to it.
I have one of those quick access gun safes, bolted to the night stand right next to my side of the bed. It has the little push button lock and takes about 10 seconds to access the weapon. That way, I could keep it loaded and ready for use without any worry of my kids or someone else getting a hold of it.
Digital electroic pin-code safe that only you know the code. Keep the gun loaded and in the safe with the safe locked. Make sure the safe has illuminated keypad so you can access the safe in the dark and silent keys, not ones that beep. This will provide quick access while still securing your weapon. Some on here may disagree about leaving a loaded gun inthe house. You must take care to keep the weapon secure.
If I had no children in the home, I'd probably keep one of my handguns on the nightstand next to the bed while I slept, with a round chambered. I would leave the safety on.
That type of safe does provide quick access, but note that is does not use a locking bolt. The door and frame need to be of very good quality construction. Cheaper models of that style safe can be pryed open.
But, it is the quickest access by a few seconds that is for sure.
I keep mine on the night stand. Safety off, no round in the chamber. I have a dog but she doesn’t really bark. She makes huffing noises when she hears something so I don’t count on her to wake me up! :~/ Locking the door is a good idea. I should start doing that.
My Sig has no mechanical safety. It DOES have a de-cocking lever to safely drop the hammer.
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