Looking for advise on a good night stand shooter, M&P45 or 1911? Would like to take out back every once in a while and shoot holes in some paper so I thought about going 9mm too to reduce cost. So I guess there's 4 options M&P45 v 1911, 45 v 9mm? Any accuracy differences between the bunch? I know the M&P has a 4.25" barrel and the 1911 is 5". Doesnt make a hill of beans?

If you are very familiar with the 1911 platform, then by all means use it...but if not, the M&P is a no brainer for it's ease of use...and 3/4" of barrel will make no difference in a night stand gun...and even at longer ranges, the M&P is fine. Go with the 9 if ammo cost is a factor...

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

Sip gave you real good advice. Given your choices, I'm partial to a 1911, but that's just me. My nightstand gun is a wheel gun. Usually in .45 Colt, but sometimes in .357...depending on my mood.

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Pack light and cinch tight.

A cocked and locked 1911. Keep away from children and idiots.

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Regards, Ron
USASA 1965/69

Normally a nightstand gun is something that is larger than normal. Too big to carry with a lot of knockdown power. I use a Mossberg 500 12 ga. I keep a S&W M and P 45 with a light attached also.

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Tom
NRA Pistol Inst

Yeah, got kids in the house so I thought a Gunvault attached to the side of my night stand between the stand and mattress is a good safeguard. Don't like the loud clunk it makes when opening though. Except if BG hears the sound followed by the racking of a slide maybe they vamoose and avoid the confrontation.

"Looking for advise on a good night stand shooter..."

I have tried hard over the last 40 plus years NOT to shoot my night stand.

Whatever you are comfortable with and can shoot well is your best choice. I have used 1911s and many revolvers, both double action and single action.

My current night stand gun is a M625 Mountain Gun, chambered in .45 ACP. I have a full moon clip there as well.

The most important item is a good flashlight!!!! Ya gotta identify your target FIRST. Mine is a Surefire.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

How old are your kids? Nothing replaces a locked up gun, but added security is to keep the mag loaded but the chamber empty...takes a lot to rack the slide of an M&P or 191...

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

I keep two handguns in the nightstand drawer. The first to go to is a Colt Agent 38, next a Glock 17. I figure in an emergency the revolver always ready for point and shoot. In case more than 6 rds. needed the Glock has plenty. The drawer is usually open at night, closed but not locked in day. It has a lock for when kids etc. are around. A maglight sits on the top.
Steve W

My wife watches our grand kids that are 2-6 and we have older ones up to 12. I have a 9mm shield and 380 BG with pretty stout slides. No problems racking for me. A bit tricky for the wifey.

If I want to take it out to play, I'd like something that's accurate out to 25yds. I looked up the M&P and I shorted the barrel by 1/4", its actually 4 1/2". Again, whooptydo any difference in accuracy? I'm familiar with both styles. I have a 1911 and M&P in CO2 and a 1911 and M&P in 22. Can shoot good with all 4 of these. Maybe a hair better with the 1911 variants but maybe just my imagination.

This old m&p. Dont need a mag, adjustable sights or a exotic high priced revolver to lose. Its probley my cheapest gun.

I've always been an advocate of a good revolver for a bedside gun. Simple as a hammer to operate under stress and/or when 1/2 asleep. Pull the trigger and it goes BANG. Pull again it .... etc. No worries of mis feeds, engaged safeties, dropped mags, fouled slides, etc. IMHO, lock a S&W revolver ( with a good flashlight) in a bedside, quick access safe and your good to go.
That said, after 30 years of doing just that , I have to admit I recently changed the bedside gun to an M&P 45 for multiple reasons.
First, reliability (in my testing) has rivaled that of a revolver. My M&P 45 eats anything I throw into it and has never had a FTF or any other hicup. Next, my M&P 45 has no manual safety and will fire with the mag dropped. Again, simplicity at it's finest. Not a whole lot of controls to fumble. As with the revolver, it's basically "pull the trigger and it goes BANG". Additionally, the M&P's design brings a comforting 11 rounds of 45ACP to the table in a recoil absorbing , ergo friendly package. Last, but not least, I have mounted a LED light to the guns rail. I find it a HUGE benefit in not having one hand tied up holding a flashlight for those midnight "bump in the dark" checks. Both hands stay on the gun and the light stays where the gun is pointing. The darn thing makes me feel invincible :-)

Personally, I wouldn't keep anything more complex to operate for this purpose. I like having the knowledge that my wife could work the bedside gun on her own if I were not home.
hth

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Dave

Glock 20 10mm with light on night stand. 12 GA pump in close at hand. We're empty nesters, so no children to worry about.

I have a Glock 19 for my main carry gun, and a new M&P 9 to become a carry gun once I get enough rounds down-range to be sure it's reliable.
In my nightstand I keep a Ruger P-95. It's strong, accurate, and overbuilt. And it's never failed me.

I have a Mossberg Maverick loaded with Law Enforcement #4 buckshot by the bedside.

Of the guns you mentioned, I would go with a S&W M&P9. Fully loaded it holds 17 rounds and it comes standard with 2 mags.

The old 1911 is a beautiful gun but I wouldn't trust my life to one until I had run at least 500 rounds of the type of ammo I was using for defense through it. I own 4 1911s and a M&P9.

You absolutely need a good flashlight with the gun, you don't want to end up shooting one of the kids. Also a BG looking into the flashlight beam won't be able to see anything.

Regarding the barrel length, the sight radius is a more important measure of accuracy.

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Luke 22:36

My nightstand gun is the one I shoot best, a Model 14 revolver, if forced to choose between the M&P and a 1911 I would choose the M&P only because it has a simple point and click interface, less to think about when one might still be a bit on the groggy side.

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Regards,
Guy-Harold Smith II

My first nightstand gun was a 5" 625. The current is a CZ in .40S&W with a light/laser on the rail. It fits perfectly in the false book that houses it.

I consider a hand gun as a way to fight to a long gun...so there's always a semi-auto 12GA nearby and a short barreled AR is near me whenever I'm home. There's also either a 45acp 1911 or a S&W J frame on my person depending on how I'm dressed or what I'm doing.

The other night the wife asked what the deal is with certain guns coming out every night. I didn't buy them to just look at 'em and they don't do much good locked away.

It may sound corny but there's no better friend than a good piece at your side. Buy a gun that you are proficient with and comfortable with using. It helps if fits in the night stand.

I too prefer a revolver next to my bed for simplicity.
It's amazing how uncoordinated I am at 3:30 am.
Simple is way better @ 3:30

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In dog years I'm dead.

I have a M&P 40c being my "jack of all trades". And it's quite good at it too. It's my main CCW with its 10 round magazine. I carry it concealed and quite comfortably.

At home before bedtime, I'll swap in a full size 15 round mag with the "X-grip" and a Streamlight TLR-4 laser/light combo. It's the same gun, just better suited for nightstand duty.

I have also picked up a factory S&W 9c 9mm barrel and a few 9mm mags. So, now I can blast away at the range and save a few bucks. The 40c and 9c have good accuracy, good trigger and is very reliable.

M&P 40c gets the job done in style for me!

Good thing I read all the posts! Because I was going to mention the same thing.

I have two Gunvault safes in the bedroom. One on her side and one on mine. In mine there is a 1911 and a Glock. In hers there is a 357 revolver and an M&P 9.

She knows that all she has to do is pull the trigger. If she empties the gun then grab the other one.

Point is, a gun on the nightstand should be something you both can use.

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Life Is A Gift. Defend it!

M&P45 in the safe by the nightstand.

My "Nightstand Gun" is a 3rd Generation S&W 3914

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Compact 9mm Just my $0.02

My nightstand gun is the revolver primarily because it's the one I'm most comfortable using accurately in a variety of situations.

Mine is whatever I've been playing with lately. Right now I've got a M&P 9 loaded with Rangers. Tomorrow night it might be a 686+ or some other revolver.. Every night there is a eight shot dozen gauge riot gun or a AK or Bushmaster close by. The house is alarmed and so is the dog.

When I get up in the morning I put on my carry gun, when I go to bed I check my 12 ga with 5 rds of 00 buck by the head board of the bed. Other than that I'm fine with whatever gun I'm around.

My choice for the night stand is a M64 for it's ease of use and reliability. Not as loud nor as much of a flame thrower as a .357. If the shtf, I'll have this in my hand on my way to the closet to get my 870 loaded with #4 shot.

Whatever I carry on any particular day is the one I put beside the bed. I have no kids to worry about so no need to lock it up. I may carry an M&P40 for a week then switch to a 1911 for a day or two, just depends on where I will be going and what I feel like today.

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Retired Marine Gunny

I keep a 20 ga loaded with #4 buck close to the bed. If I was keeping one on/in the nightstand it would be my 38... Simple, easy to use and always goes bang...

The sound of someone racking a shell into the chamber on a pump shotgun is universally understood. I have had a break in during the dark of night and for me I prefer to scare him off rather than haveing to replace the living room carpet.

Benelli Super-Nova 12 gauge w/ 00 buck, Walther P99 with 2 loaded clips, and a high power Surefire tactical flashlight. Dog and a locked door to 'wake-me-up' in the event of an intrusion.

My grandkids live near Atlanta, so the night stand has a loaded revolver in it at night; they are locked away at other times - except for the 642. If I have pants on, it's in the pocket. My wife's side has a 2" 10 while mine usually has my 642 and 4" 64 or 2 5/8" PC627 - all loaded with 158gr LHPSWC +P's (Remington R38S12). Sometimes it's a Governor loaded with .45 ACP ball ammo. No shotgun - and my M&P 15 Sport is locked away. Home defense here is by revolvers.

Stainz

^ that!

Get the M&P and be done with it.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

I'm with DeadAye, the simplicity of a revolver in low light/no light early morning hours when your brain has not awoke yet and you're in a extreme state of stress. You might have a problem operating the flashlight let alone a semi-automatic pistol.

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"Life is short, hunt hard"

Pull trigger, Glock, M&P etc goes bang, not a lot to try to remember, whether it's day, night etc. Some things can be over thought. The correct answer is whatever you are comfortable and very familiar with.

The wife has her own gun.

HUMMMMM !!
The onliest conflict I have with the OP is that the cost of 9mm is outstandingly high. The new 9mm Shield slim will have to go unfired until I can find some ammo that is not at collectable prices.
I have one box of ammo for it---old box from a number of years ago---and it will have to suffice until then.
Folks I aint gonna spring $50 for a box of 9mm.
Blessings

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TEXAS, by GOD

Nickel 36 3 inch. Glows in the dark..close by is a Baby Glock with night sights. Glows in the dark also. Need to move my Surefire to the night stand. Thanks for the reminder.

Larger capacity magazines, night sights, and a rail for a white light are no-brainers.

I prefer an AR with all of the above, but can make do with a Glock 17, or 870, if I have to.

Wheel guns are just………herp derp for such duty.

Emory

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Hard To Kill

On the nightstand sits my old 5946, point and shoot, or a decent club in case I'm really out or I need to beat somebody off of me. Next to it is the often mentioned model 60 for answering the door at 3am, it goes in a pocket and is hidden in case it's a lawman telling me to vacate due to a tornado, and it can be shoved into a miscreants belly and fired with no ill effects to me or it.
Lastly an 870 Police Magnum loaded with Win. LE 00 buck for repelling boarders.
Keep is simple and familiar. Work out a plan and a plan B with the family, and PRACTICE! Dale

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"Long live the S&W 3rd. Gen.!"

For a number of years my night stand revolver has been a 4 inch transition 1926 .44 spl. Hand Ejector. Recently I began to wonder what would be my revolvers fate if I actually had to use for its intend purpose. I decided it would break my heart to have it sit on some PD evidence shelf with an uncertain future.

So this week I picked up a .45acp Glock 30SF to take the old .44 place. Before that happens it will be a lots of practice and rounds down range to get use to the new to me pistol. I can always get another Glock but the old Smith & Wesson .44spl. would be hard to replace.

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Bill Bates

I love 1911`s ,but my bedside gun is a 629 6 inch with C/T laser grips and a mini flashlight strapped to the underside of the barrel.
I can light up the target to POSITIVELY ID it and laser to HIT it.
No worries about safeties or a round in the chamber, just point, light em up and hopefully never have to shoot.

I am not a fan of the M&P autos and resent S&W stealing that name from their old revolvers.

I do occasionlly use an auto for a bedside gun, and a Beretta 9mm would get the call if I had cause to expect multiple home invaders. That would be the case if urban unrest was involved.

Most people are advised to get a stainless M&P (Model 64) or a similar S&W .38 or .357 or a Ruger equivalent and load with .38 Plus P ammo. Firing full.357 rounds indoors is no fun, and your ears may never forgive it.

A stainless gun holds up better with minimal maintainance and in an evidence locker. And the basic style of gun is fairly cheap to replace if the gun is seized by a judge. You should get it back if the shooting is justified, but that may take awhile. I'm glad that Texas has Castle Doctrine law.

Any is better than none.
Run whatcha brung.
That bein' said, there are many very good choices discussed above.
#4 Buck in 20 or 12 is as effective anti-personnell as it gets, .,45 acp makes a real nice bloody hole, sometimes with guts hangin' out, and a 9mm will work well in a multitude of applications.
The choice is yours, big hole, little hole, or many holes: you decide.

One side has a .357 mag. The other side a 1911 45 acp. 12 ga. lives in the closet. All full
of teeth..Hope they are never needed.

Nothing comes close to a 1911 IF you are very familiar with it. A week at Gunsite (or eqivalent) and ongoing follow up will give you what you need. If you don't have that familiarity or are not going to get it, then something else is for you.

Consider a revolver in 38 special or larger with a 4+ barrel (easier to shoot well than a 2")

There is no difference in inherent accuracy between a 2" and 6" barrel - certainly not at home defense range.

Whatever bedside gun you choose, you should be able to operate it in the dark under stress. If you are not proficient with a particular platform, then it's not the gun to be bumping around a dark house in the middle of the night. Night sights and lights can help alot, but what you use needs to be instinctive. Whether you choose a rock, slingshot, handgun, or laser guided munition, it's all dependent on what you can operate.

GO with the mp 9. It's what I like and I also use my ruger sp 101 357 with a streamlight flashlight

I use the xdsc,w/ night sites.....you can see the three dots glowing in the night,easy to find and grab.has enuff rounds but have an xtra loaded mag next to it.a Maglite is right next to it as well.

Well I put the Glock 30SF along with my new to me Smith & Wesson 1926 3rd Model Transition .44 Spl. 6 1/2" barreled Washington Patrol revolver today.

I put 100 rounds down range with the Glock. Only minor complaints were a minor pinky finger pinch and man it is tough to get the tenth round in the magazine.

The old .44 is a real tack driver.

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Bill Bates

You need one of these. They work great. Easy on the thumbs and doesn't require a lot of strength.
maglula, Ltd. > Pistol Mag Loaders > UpLULA? - 9mm to 45ACP mags

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Life Is A Gift. Defend it!

Try a 9, 40, and 45 and see which one you're most accurate with, with which one you can recover and fire follow-up shots faster, and which one allows you to have a steady supply of ammo to practice with as well as a good choice of home defense loads. The 45 is a great round, the 40 is fine, but the 9 is a good all-round shooter; plus, as long as you live in a state where they're legal, up to seventeen in the mag is something to consider as long as you realize you still need to keep a spare on hand.