Home Defense - Safe Questions

[Jerry N.]

I have a couple of questions I am hoping can be discussed that will help me make a decision on a home defense set up.

The plan is to be in my master bedroom. The bed is between me and the door. Within reach are a phone and a flashlight. I will call 911 and train a gun on the bedroom door praying that the door is not breached but willing to do what is necessary if it is. For background, it's just me and my wife, however, we do have to grandchildren (4 & 8) that visit and occasionally stay the night. The scenario will be different if something happens when the grand kids are here because my master is on the first floor and the other bedrooms are up-stairs.

My question is about which weapon to rely on and how to secure it. I have a shot gun and several hand guns. I've been looking at safe's that allow quick access so that I can keep the gun ready yet still be safe from the grand kids. I've narrowed my choices down to having a small corner safe that will hold the shotgun and/or a small hand gun safe next to my bed.

Issues with all of these units are the locking mechanism. I would appreciate input on what works. I've been shopping on line and there are the buttons that you push type (V-Line), there are biometric types, and I even saw a RF type. I think these all have keys for as a backup but could be used as a primary if that made sense. My concern with all of these is - do they work, especially in a high stress situation. That's question one. The other option I have is a procedure where I open the safe at night (when the grand kids are not there) and lock it in the morning. I understand that the only way this works is to absolutely follow the procedure so that has a potential error rate negating the safety factor.

The other issue is placement. A shotgun safe like the Sentry Safe Home Defense Center would have to be about five or so steps away from my bed in the corner of the room. So question two is whether it's better to have a shotgun a few steps away or a hand gun within arms reach. Both of course are in the safe and need the best access mechanism in either case.

Not to take this into another direction, but just to close out the issue, I understand that if the grand kids are home and upstairs, the procedure has to change to one where I have to leave the bedroom. Let's not discuss that but keep it in mind in how it might relate to the options I'm considering.

So what safe, with what locking mechanism, in what location for what weapon would you suggest?

Thanks - Jerry

 

[Kanewpadle]

I would get one of each.
ShotLock Shotgun Vault :: ShotLock.com

This would solve your access problem.

Stay away from Sentry safes, biometric, and RFID access safes.

Harden your perimeter. You need as much time as possible to get the grand kids to safety.

 

[ibewbull]

No matter safe you get. Please teach the grand kids gun safety.
Let them ask and learn. The mystique of something new or forbidden will be less attractive to them.
Also may I suggest you conceal carry at home if you feel comfortable with it.
I don't know what your local issues may be but having my 642 in my pocket while sitting in my easy chair isn't a burden to me.

 

[YeshuaIsa53]

I never leave a safe open. Hardening your perimeter makes good sense. Never having children in the house, I honestly cannot tell what I would do in your situation. Dogs pick up bumps in the night better than we do, and a simple angry dog barking may send whomever down the road to an easier mark. The good Lord watches over our house, but it is my job to prepare it accordingly.

 

[Muss Muggins]

At the risk of being responsive to the OP, a good handgun safe on the nightstand, with an electronic fingerpad lock (change batteries regularly) and the key nearby but hidden. Good flashlight, maybe one on the pistol and one in hand, and a good door. Moving to protect the grandchildren doesn't entail much more. I'd still keep the handgun, and plan my route in advance. School the grandchildren on what you want them to do in the event of an emergency, and you're all good.

 

[Jessie]

You might consider hardening the door on their room also.
Maybe a good door with a deadbolt keyed on the outside( for your access) and a turn bolt for the Grandkids to be able to lock up from the inside.
You could retreat to their room and lock down till the cavalry comes or they could lock in if you can't reach them.
You'd have to go over what you want them to do, depending.
Having your weapons in a couple different lock- ups is not a bad idea.
I have no experience with electronic safes. Mine is manual and so, slow to access. I have no children in the house so keeping a gun out and close is not a problem.
I'd suggest a smaller electronic for your handgun and see how you like it.
If not, it would still be useful and you wouldn't be out that much money if you replaced it.
Good luck with it, you're on the right track.

 

[Bundesheer]

With children in the home is everything 1 step more difficult.
I'll think locking the guns in a safe so that the children don’t have access is a a good idea, but it impedes or delays your access to the gun too.
Keeping this in mind, so we have to implement a defense system in the house, that allows us to have an early warning system.

A dog was mentioned and is a good idea for people which like a dog inside the home. But here comes the Trick with the age of the dog. A young dog will bark and jump from window to window. The dog owner has to learn what the dog is talking about. Is the dog barking because a cat, rabbit or an armadillo is on the yard??, or is the dog barking because of someone is walking around the house??.
It takes time to learn dog. Many people screaming ("shut up") at the dog when the dog barks in the middle of the night only because neighbors’ cidy cat walks around. How should the dog know when to bark and when not? Well - professional dog training will solve this problem, but it takes time and is not cheap.
When the dog ages, he will not bark anymore and like to have a nice uninterrupted good night sleep.

Harden Doors and Windows is a must. As longer an intruder needs to break to door or Window down as longer time you have to get ready for the bad girls breaking in.
Electronic alarms should be visible and audible throughout the house. A security contractor installs often for free but it is not rocket science to do it yourself.
Regarding hardening Doors and Windows – you have to keep in mind that it should be difficult to break in but easy to go out in case a Fire Emergency occurs.
I would suggest, to install a horn and a red strobe light outside the house on the rooftop. When the alarm goes off and the alarm sounds loud and clear and a visible signal points out the exact location, this let any bad girl chose a differed home to invade.

Having a plan for escape or evacuation is not too hard to do. Always know 2 ways out better 3. In my case we meet on the neighbors’ front door to the right. It has a roof over it and the light comes on automatically.
Yes we do evacuation drills with our grandchildren. They have fun with it but it is something what they are familiar with. My son conducts such drills in his home and they have to do it in school too.

Evacuation drills are important for Fire Evacuation,
Weather conditions,
Burglar / Intruder scenarios,
Gas leaks
…..
…..

Having a weather protected and well lighted evacuation meeting point outside the home can safe life.

Making a home safe is not only a gun or guns. Guns are one component of safety but not the only one.

Home security is a matter where you live, response time for police and other components.
Police and Fire Department are happy to evaluate your home and they give you great advice based on their experiences.

Don’t forget October is Fire Prevention Week and this is a great excuse to show up in your F.D.

Sorry for so much Text.

 

[FAS1]

A good quality mechanical lock handgun safe bolted next to your bed. With this type lock you can pre-punch all or part of your combination prior to going to sleep so you can still leave the door closed and enter a minimum number of button pushes or even to where you just need to turn the knob regardless of which brand you choose. I personally don't do this as I find it very easy and quick to enter my combination even in the dark. You just have to practice a little.

This one also address the concern that many have about the possible number of combinations (or lack of at 1084) compared to electronic ones. The optional secondary lock works as a dead bolt (even if you know the combination) and a backup entry (can disable this feature if desired). It is a first of it's kind and the only all mechanical handgun safe with these features.

FAS1 Safe with Optional In&Out Supplemental Lock - YouTube

 

[Usmc5811]

I go with an 85" Akita who only barks when someone is in the driveway or at the door. She sleeps on the lower level of the house with the rest of the family upstairs. And upstairs my wife and I have a small 4 digit safe with my ccw glock 27 and my wife's glock 23 with night sights. We have a 5 year old and a 9 year old so keeping a firearm unlocked is just not an option. And like I tell my wife the Akita is the alarm and I have no doubt she would give her life to protect my girls.

 

[gdnagle]

First a hundred or so dollars for a home alarm will alert you, and if you have them neighbors also, of a entry. Second make sure the lock box you get is capable of being opened with no light on. I have two biometric safes, lock boxes, and they work well for me but you have to place you finger on the reader exactly the same each time. I have about 10 different angles just in case with different fingers and thumb. The bio lock box beside the bed I make sure the finger prints I placed in it are the same as if I were laying in bed and reaching over to it. I don't want to have to get out of bed to open it.

You can buy those electric locks for the shotgun like they have in LE vehicles and hide the button some place where you can hit it to open. That would secure the shot gun and you wouldn't have to mess with opening a safe to get it.

Some of the lock boxes have a beep after so many minuets to alert you they you didn't lock the box, at least my bio boxes do so leaving it open all night isn't a option for me. You can bypass this by just taking the firearm out at night and putting it in the box during the day.

Remember the lock boxes are small so make sure you bolt them down to something so no one can just pick it up and walk off with it.

As for a flashlight I personally don't want a light on my handgun. I would rather hold it in my hand so as I don't have to aim the firearm at anything that I shine the light on. I can keep the firearm at the ready but I could move the light wherever I wanted without sweeping anything or anyone I didn't intend to shoot. This is my option and I'm sure there are many that feel better at having it mounted to the firearm. I have two flashlight next to my bed, 3 cell Maglite's where if necessary I can use as a club.

Your and everyone else have their own opinions and this is just what I feel safe doing. I also don't have little one's in the house anymore.

 

[pjpjr]

Have an alarm installed, they work and will alert the police in the event of an intrusion. Also you can include perimeter alarms which are effective.

 

[Cal44]

Right now I have one of the fingerprint safes in my upstairs bedroom.

I'm also bought, but haven't installed, one of the Microvault mini series with push buttons on the top.

I plan to keep a defense gun in it downstairs. I just got my CCW, and if I start carrying frequently, I'll probably keep my carry gun in the downstairs Microvault.

I also have a bigger Am Sec safe downstairs, but it has a mechanical combo knob lock so it's pretty much useless for defense. It's much better safe for my more expensive guns, though.

 

[Lightfoot4]

I've been using V-Line safes for years and love them. I can have it open in less than 2 seconds, literally.

 

[YogiBear]

Aloha,

We don't have kids.

We do have 3 dogs 55 to 70 pounds that sleep with us in the bedroom.

Ever see 3 dogs get stuck in the doorway when they jump up to go

to Battle Stations? Like watching the 3 Stooges.

Living in Hawaii, most homes have Lots of easily entered louvered windows.

We have a 6' wall around our place. The dogs have full run of it.

 

[WR Moore]

I can understand the guns being locked up if the grandkids are there and have the run of the house.

I can't understand the immediate response guns being locked up if they aren't. [Remember Chief Justice Roberts during Heller: "You are awakened by a noise in the night, you turn on the light, put on your reading glasses....." interrupted by laughter in the courtroom.] Also, what good does it do to have them if they're locked up at the other end of the house and home invaders are between you and the guns?

Measure distance between your doors and your bedroom and where intruders would have to be to cut you off from your defensive armament. Figure the invaders will move at 17 feet per second. That's your response time.

Long guns are a static defense weapon. Shotguns are the subject of much myth & legend.