From the time I purchased my handgun about a year ago I have had a hard time knowing what to do with it at night. At first it was in it's case under my bed. Then thinking about needing it faster in a real time of need, I moved it to my nightstand (in it's holster). Then I moved it to the lower compartment of my nightstand because it was too loud to roll the drawer out. Thinking about it, I don't want an intruder to hear me getting it out of it's snapping case or drawer and rush me. The problem is that I don't want it so easily accessible that I shoot myself in my sleep. I don't keep a round in the chamber, but who knows what can happen. Any suggestions? What do you all do?

I bought a cheap pistol box at walmart with 2 keys, one is on my keyring and the other is hidden well near the box, quiet and secure best of both worlds

I think the biggest variable to what to do with your gun at night depends on if you have young kids or if you live alone, etc.
I used to actually keep mine in a special made "holster type box" that was attached to the side of my bed's side-rail board... all I had to do was grab it. That was great, it was not in a drawer, not under the pillow, not locked away. But now with small kids, I keep mine in a gun vault (small type with 4 digit electronic combo) under the bed. Yes, it is absolutely slower to get to it, but MUCH safer for the family.

If a thief was in my house I'd make as much noise and turn on as many lights as I could!
#1- I really don't want to shoot someone. But if I HAD to, I would.
#2- If I make enough noise they might haul *** and I don't have to.
#3- If something you wakes up in the middle of the night you are going to be out of it so turning on the lights and making noise will wake you up.
I keep a shotgun with turkey load beside the bed, with buckshot to follow and a Streamlight flashlight that is very bright.
My wife keeps a M30 and a cell phone on her side.

I want to be up out of my bed with a maglite pointed at the door before someone walks in. Hopefully they would see the light coming from the sides of the door and that would be enough. I realize you don't always have the option to hear them coming, so that's why I've been thinking about easy access without endangering myself. I don't have kids and I have thought of the holster built into the bed thing too.
What would you yell at them? FREEZE, GET OUT OF MY HOUSE??? Buy a fog horn? I had a freaky dream last night mixed with a lot of shootings around the area that made me think it all over.

I'd yell GET THE *%^@ OUT OF MY HOUSE! I HAVE A SHOTGUN! I WILL SHOOT YOU! THE POLICE ARE COMING!.............you know stuff like that.

I figure they have a few warnings:
1. They hear me getting up
2. They hear me cycling my gun
3. They see light coming from the other side of the door
4. I yell at them.
I had an idea that I haven't done because it may present many issues, but here it is anyway. *JUST AN IDEA*
Load the first round as a blank, second round as a bird shot, third round as a Hollow point round. You can imagine what I am thinking, but I'm not sure if it would be legal to discharge even a blank, and if you are going to hit them with bird shot, maybe you want to just use the hollow point.

If "he" kicks in your bedroom door, do you REALLY want to shoot him with a BLANK???! I know what you are trying to obtain with that line up of ammo, but it is a SERIOUS "DO NOT DO" in self-defense.
Your voice can act as the blank if noise is your intent. Why have a gun if it has "useless" ammo in it?
I like what ARMinSC said. Make the verbal noise, have the gun READY.,,,and wait in your PREPARED state to defend yourself.

Up close, birdshot out of a shotgun, can do more than one may think. I wouldn't mess with a blank, but that's just me.

I keep the 3913 in a small gym bag, nite sights facing up to me, on the floor next to the bed with an Ultra Stinger light right next to it. No kiddos to worry about. The whole set-up leaves with me when I go to work and gets repositioned in the van for the day. The 342 PD keeps the 3913 company in both scenarios as well. Although one does not owe an intruder the courtesy of a "shout-out" in the middle of the night, I do see the wisdom of the practice if it eliminates the need to actually shoot at someone. Here in SC, one could certainly count on a wrongful death suit ( civil) if you actually had to use your weapon. Lawyers and those looking for a payout......hopefully, it will never happen.

Personally with no children in the house, like yourself, I cannot see any reason to not have the gun loaded, chambered and ready to fire on a moments notice. I myself do, as well as having the 12ga. loaded and chambered next to the bed. Safety on the shotgun, but not on the nightstand pistol.
Unless you are prone to sleep walking, it seems unlikely that you would shoot the gun accidentaly. Just my opinion, but I do not want to leave any upper hand to the bag guy. Upon waking to, or hearing a suspicious sound, I would be loudly vocalizing "I HAVE A GUN..GET OUT OF MY HOUSE OR I WILL SHOOT...THE POLICE ARE ON THE WAY"

And no I would not load with birdshot, blanks, or anything other than a self-defense round, and plenty of them. Now with children, the whole story changes of course.

YES, birdshot from a shotgun = good. I thought T1 was referring to using a handgun with bird shot (snake shot). I wouldn't ever consider using it in a pistol for home defense.

Good point. That's why I haven't done it. Now that I think about it, the cycling of the gun or, as CenterTree said, your voice should replace the blank. A blank could provoke them to fire back, even if they didn't intend to. This is why I wanted everyone's opinion..keep 'em comin'!
I don't have any kids, but I am married. I have woke up with gun next to me, still not loaded or anything, but I just don't want it to get out of hand in any way.

I keep my house gun on my headboard in the exact same spot every single night.

When the carry gun comes off it goes into the safe, the house gun with an attached laser light goes to the headboard. There is nothing else near it except the surefire flashlight that is there 24/7.

In the morning when getting dressed the house gun goes into the safe and the carry gun of the day goes on the belt. Same routine every day.

The routine gives me confidence that in an emergency I won’t panic, everything will be in its place and the only variable is the threat.

It seems like the right habit to be in.

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Shoot fast & live long
Warren

Put a round in the chamber, that's what modern guns are designed for. If someone is trying to kill you or your family, why would you want to try and scare him with a blank? That makes no sense.

Sign up for serious self defense training.

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Retired Police, Life NRA

Yeah, I realize a blank isn't the best idea. Hence it was just and idea. The thought behind it would be to scare them if you heard them breaking in downstairs and didn't want to kill anyone. I realize it was half thought through. That's why it was just an idea.

I have 3 dogs that sleep in the bedroom with me and the wife so I don't have to worry about making noise. One is a hundred pounds, BIG voice. If they don't give an intruder pause then you know he's not going away easily. No one else in the house so no worries there. I keep a pistol loaded with a round chambered on nightstand. Been thinking about the holster mounted on the bedrail thing though.

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Regards, Kent J

I am single without kids, so I keep a nasty looking 870 in the closet in cruiser ready. Mag loaded to minus one capacity empty chamber, safety on. First thing I do is pull one of my slugs out of the side saddle and put it in the mag then run the slide. Everyone person in N. America knows that noise and that trouble is following it. I have been told by numerous trainers that you should have at least 3 steps between you and your gun if at all feasible to clear the cobwebs and be alert and ready if you should have to use it. My bed room is on the 2nd story of my house, so in my case it is almost impossible for them to break into my room directly ( I would like to think I could hear someone slamming a ladder against the wall next to my bed) or to break in in general without me knowing it's going on.

I got one of those holsters the NRA was selling about 6 months ago; it clips to a long, flat metal thingy that goes between the mattress and the box spring. Thus the gun is in the perfect position when you reach over the side of the mattress for it. I keep a Series 70 (sorry) with night sights in the holster. I feel safe

Mine is close enough that I can get to it without getting out of bed, but it's in a zippered case and I've got to make a conscious effort to get it.

This has been good reading thus far...I also have been fighting over the placement and state of my hang gun in my bedroom. I also have the girlfriend living with me. As of now I keep the gun in the box, snaps undone, and clip in, but chambered. I dont have a night stand on my side of the bed. And I definitely dont want a bed holster as the dog sometimes come begging me to get in the bed and will startle me sometimes out of my sleep by scratching on me.

When I'm gone during the day I'll take the gun with me or close and lock the box with the gun lock on it.

I unlock it when I'm home and re insert the clip

I have a gun in my bookcase headbarod that is kept in a holster that has a built in mag pouch. The CS9 has one in the chamber and the safety on. I also have 3 dogs and they bark at the slightest noise. I also like to keep me house lit up. I leave on a light above the kitchen sink (cfl - cheap) and outside each entrance to my house I have 2 90 watt (cfl - cheap) flood lights. I know if someone wants in they will get in, but I feel for them. If the dogs dont get them then I will

Keep mine in a Serpa that was attached to the side of the bed.

Love this idea, great thinking, as the Serpa does keep pistol secured and readily accessible. Wasn't that clever, I have my 5906 in a Stack-On Strong Box right beside my bed, facing me, positioned for easy grab. I have been toying with the idea of adding a battery operated motion sensor night light inside the safe to light it up, as the safe doesn't have a light in it. Have also found a battery operated light that is triggered by a magnet, main purpose is for drawers and cabinets, but would work nice in safe, if I could figure out how to mount it.

Serpas are awesome. Spent quite awhile on EBAY buying cheap used left handed ones for all the pistols. Mounted them on a lexan sheet and put it on the inside of the door of my gun safe(hinged on right side and I am right handed) melted some kydex to form to mags and mounted each right next to the pistol for a reload. Boy did I clear up some room in the safe. Sad part is the extra room is filling up fast. Also great to mount in locations such as inside a closet above the door for a quick access hiding spot.

One of the major points I left out is that my bedroom door doesn't lock very well. I rent, so I haven't gotten around to fixing it yet. With that said, you can imagine why I am so paranoid about getting to my gun fast. When I do own a house I would like to incorporate a motion light system that can be activated by a switch by my bed- the motion lights would only work when the switch was turned on and the lights would be placed in the hallways.

After 30 years in the fire service, I've never had a problem waking quickly so that never bugged me. Married with no kids at home is not a problem either although soon I will have grands to think about and I'll alter what I do now. As for now, I keep a .44 in a shoulder holster on the backside of the headboard out of plain sight along with a cute little windup light made by Everready I found at WalMart... it's pretty bright and never ever needs batteries. Shotgun is right behind the nightstand and a M&P .40 on the mantle. Another M&P .40 that serves as my carrypiece the I leave in my desk in the den. All are loaded and ready(maybe thats the fire service part of me too). Like you guys, I don't want to shoot anybody either.
I guess it all boils down to each persons situation, routines and comfort level.