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I'm considering going camping in some state parks with a group that will include some of my own children, and some of their teen age friends. We'll be sleeping in tents.

I know that carrying will be legal. My question is what to do with the pistol when I sleep at night. At home, it stays in a gun vault close by the bed.

My thoughts so far:

I'll be more vulnerable in a tent than at home, so I'd like to have it immediately available.

If I use a gun box with a quick opening cypher or biometric lock, I'm afraid it would raise questions from others in the group who don't need to know about it. I'm also afraid that a passer by might recognize it, and be tempted to steal it while I slept.

If I use a car safe, or anything requiring a key to open, it wouldn't be immediately available.

I could sleep fully dressed, with the pistol in it's normal carry holster. But I'm afraid it would be uncomfortable, and I wouldn't want to have a bad dream provoke a draw and shoot reflex, causing me to wake up with a smoking gun in my hand, and no telling what other harm done.

Any ideas?

Scott

Under your pillow?

Couple of options.

1. Unload it right before you bed down. Keep the ammo/clip/speedloader in your pocket. Gun down inside your sleeping bag.

2. Keep it locked in the vehicle if it is nearby.

BrassMonkey wrote:Under your pillow?

Loaded mag and no round in the chamber. People who sleep-walk or who can rack the slide without waking up (I'm not among them) shouldn't try this!

Chas.

ha ha! See, The Monkey has something to offer, other then amusing remarks...

Charles L. Cotton wrote:

BrassMonkey wrote:Under your pillow?

Loaded mag and no round in the chamber. People who sleep-walk or who can rack the slide without waking up (I'm not among them) shouldn't try this!

Chas.

Hmm ... Interesting.
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.
There is time when an empty chamber/full mag might be appropriate. I can think of a few others. But mostly its a condition of readiness that most of us normally would consider negatively.

Keep it in a holster under your pillow if you want it +1. I've done that at times.

What type of pistol do you plan on taking? Will it fire with the mag removed? If not, I might consider a round chambered but the mag removed thus decreasing the steps needed if you have to use it. Pistol under the pillow, mag separate, but close by. In the past I have slept with both (loaded chambered pistol and extra mag) laying in the middle of a folded over towel which I set under a duffel / gym bag next to me in the tent. I came up with this because the ground is hard enough without a block of steel under your pillow, and I usually sleep on my arm.

BrassMonkey wrote:Under your pillow?

Yep, in a partially zipped gun rug.

It offers as much protection as a holster and will still allow fast access. Most children, and even some adults, will not recognize the gun rug for what it is.

Thanks guys. This really helps.

ScubaSig, it's a Sig , so removing the magazine won't help.

I like the idea of empty chamber and loaded magazine, under the pillow. I'll think about using the holster or a gun rug.

Thanks!

Scott

I think Condition 3 would be just fine. Keep it next to you.

p.s. I'd rather have a good rifle at hand.

I'd keep it loaded and zippered up in the gun rug, under the pillow.

If others in your camping trip raise eyebrows, well, so be it. I'd not worry terribly much about their reactions. If someone raises a stink, just tell 'em it's for taking care of rabid possums or something.

Access is an issue. If its not ready to use and accessible, leave it home.

IMO if you have kids, educate them (handling, assume its loaded, no 'do overs' when the trigger is pulled, etc.) as opportunity presents itself...when they ask, while your cleaning, etc. That way it is not the forbidden fruit and they know what it looks like and feels like and are less likely to mess with it.

Take 'em shooting so they have a gut and internalized understanding of destructive power of the weapon.

I have carried for years and my kids have always known and know not to talk about it in public.

As to the camping, staying in hotels et al; remember you'll have to come out of a dead sleep, access and ready the weapon. In that state you will respond to your training. If you don't have military experience in weapon readiness invest in a course. For instance, when I have had to access the weapon and ready it, I always lay my trigger finger along the guard. I obtain a good target ID and site picture before placing on the trigger. This is a deliberate habit and I know from personal experience that is how I respond when I come out of a dead sleep (Detained an attempted burglar at 3 A.M. once...outside).