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There was a line of thinking by some (at one time) that said a persons' handgun should be there to give that person(s) a chance to get to their shotgun or other massive, overwhelming firearm, like a rifle, etc etc...

It all depends upon the individuals situation...Kids, accessability, etc etc...

My side of the bed:

SIG comes off my belt at night goes on (not in) nightstand w/surefire, cellphone.

AR w/ Pentagon light is between nightstand and bed

20" bbl. 870 between nightstand and wall

Wifes side:

Taurus Millennium on nightstand w/ cellphone and cordless phone.

Ruger Mini-30 between nightstand and wall.


Dogs:

Red Healer, Lab, and German Shorthair in yard

Little yapping ****** dog inside. I'm not real fond of him, but he is a GREAT alarm. He starts yapping long before anyone even has a chance to approach the house. So I guess he gets to stay...


MOST IMPORTANT TOOLS.....alternate exits! We have a split level home, which allows for easy escape from most rooms in our house. It also puts someone entering (or attempting to) at a very big disadvantage. They have to come in and go up....or go down. There is a small landing at the front entry, which leaves BG "in the hole" at the door, on the landing, and either up or down the stairs.

I voted shotgun, this is only true for the last 4 weeks or so. Took a standard Rem 870 Express and built it into a HD weapon. I still have my trusted revolver close at hand, but I'm beginning to earn much more respect for the long guns.

JLaw

Humanphibian wrote:AR w/ Pentagon light is between nightstand and bed

20" bbl. 870 between nightstand and wall

Wifes side:


Ruger Mini-30 between nightstand and wall.

Nice line-up, but be careful with that Mini 30. It's a hot round that might pay your neighbor's home a visit inadvertantly. I can't remember where exactly the post was, but if some one can, please put link here. There was a post not too long ago showing a military demonstration of the balistic properties of rounds through various structures (drywall, brick, cinder-block, etc) and was VERY eye-opening as far as what makes good cover and what does not. I keep this post in the back of my mind now when I consider which firearms are suitable for inside the home use. Just keep in mind that that bullet is your responsibilty until it stops...and where it stops is your responsibility as well.

Defensive caliber handgun and rifle rounds, and your buckshot will all penetrate sheetrock. Hitting things inside walls CAN slow those bullets.

The Box o truth has done some interesting testing on sheetrock, etc. http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/theboxotruth.htm

I was surprised to see how many rifle rounds will penetrate brick. I didn't save the link, but someone poasted it here a short while back.

I'd say situation dependent.

If you had a chance to "Discourage some one" out side your home, the .444 would be a very good choice.

Catching some one coming down the hallway/stairway :Shotgun.

But once in the room with you, Handgun.

razoraggie wrote:

Humanphibian wrote:AR w/ Pentagon light is between nightstand and bed

20" bbl. 870 between nightstand and wall

Wifes side:


Ruger Mini-30 between nightstand and wall.

Nice line-up, but be careful with that Mini 30. It's a hot round that might pay your neighbor's home a visit inadvertantly. I can't remember where exactly the post was, but if some one can, please put link here. There was a post not too long ago showing a military demonstration of the balistic properties of rounds through various structures (drywall, brick, cinder-block, etc) and was VERY eye-opening as far as what makes good cover and what does not. I keep this post in the back of my mind now when I consider which firearms are suitable for inside the home use. Just keep in mind that that bullet is your responsibilty until it stops...and where it stops is your responsibility as well.

Roger That! The Mini definitely is a last ditch HD gun. It is over there as a "a problem arises BAD and that is all that is left" gun, but normally serves as her primary Hogs-n-Dogs (ferrel and 'yote's) gun.

I've had my Ruger Security Six with good 357 defense rounds on standby for the last 12 years or so. I have more confidence in that gun than any other I own.

Being a handloader and caster, I have a S&W 1917, load is a BHN8 200gr SWC at 700fps.
Fast enough to hurt, soft enough to expand quickly and loose velocity and energy quickly.
I tested it in wet paper at 10 yds, penetration with the load was about 8", I would think this was about as good a compromise as I can manage.
The same load did 910 fps in my 1911, that might be more risky.

I guess I am the only stupid one who doesn't own a shotgun.

You can probably pick up a used Remington 870 for $100-200 at your local pawn shop. Great gun, inexpensive, will solve your need for a shottie.

My family and I live out in the country about 15 miles from town. We found out last week that the guy on the adjacent property was running a Meth lab. I then loaded up Ruger Mini 30, my SKS, and my MAK 40. From what I understand about these kinds of people, they are very dangerous. I'd rather be in a shootout armed with an assault rifle than a handgun if the incident occured in the outdoors. I was about to sell these rifles at the next gun show because I thought I'd never have use for them. Not anymore.

At home, the master bedroom is the "safe room," and when I'm at home that's where the Remington 870 Tac2 sits, and where the rest of the guns are in the safe. The home handgun is an XD45 Service with 13+1 rounds of Speer Gold Dot.

And speaking of the master bedroom, I should ask Box o' Truth to test a Tempur-Pedic mattress, the dense, darned heavy, memory-foam mattress. Never tried putting a round through it myself but I'd have to think--especially trying to shoot through it at an oblique angle--that it would definitely qualify as cover rather than just concealment.

Stupid wrote:I guess I am the only stupid one who doesn't own a shotgun.

Don't feel bad...

That can be easily remedied...

Check your inbox...

More than one/all of the above


12 gauge pump 5 rounds of #4 buckshot
CZ 9mm 15 rounds of 124 grain Federal HST
Kel-Tec Sub 2000 9mm 30 round mag of 147 grain HST
.357 Ruger GP100 6 rounds of Cor Bon 125 grain

The safe is near my bed and its open at night.