Loaded or Unloaded

[renosome]

I currently keep my 9mm in the night stand on my side of the bed. I keep a loaded magazine in the pistol; with no round in the chamber. My question is; is this good or bad?

 

[diamonback68]

I think it's a bad idea. When things go "bump" in the night, you are half asleep, half awake, can you remember if there is one in the chamber, did you rack the slide, is the safety off or on etc? That's why I rely on a revolver. Aim - pull - fire, period. Works for me!
Semis make a good sidearm though.

 

[ThirtyAcres]

Are children in the house?

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Unless you have sleepwalking problems, I would go with diamonback68's recommendation. If you don't awaken easily or have a dog who will warn you, you might want to consider having the gun where a burglar will not see it before you can get it out.

 

[pawncop]

Not enough information to advise you completely. As was mentioned earlier, what are the conditions in your house.

As a general rule, my service sidearms stay loaded all the time but I do not have children in the house.

When I did have children in the house I kept the guns more secure, but still loaded, and there was a continuing educational process that my daughter did not touch the guns unless I was there.

 

[GatorFarmer]

Neither. It's your personal preference and the answer depends on what you are worried about and how much.

 

[Bullseye 2620]

There are no kids in my house. I keep a 1911-A1, the pistol with which I am most familiar, in the nightstand, with a flashlight, and a cell phone on the nightstand. I keep the pistol loaded with a full 7-round magazine, and one in the chamber, with the hammer down.

A revolver is a good choice. So too is a shotgun, such as a Mossberg 51668 with ghost ring sights: http://www.mossberg.com/images/Mossberg_Guns/930/New/51668.jpg. But the kids (or other occupants) in the house question is fundamental in my opinion.

I believe in the idea of a layered defense with the gun being the last layer. Outside lighting, an intrusion alarm, a dog, etc., are all designed to slow down an intruder and buy you time and distance. So too is an actual plan: what will you do in case of an intrusion/attack at home in the night? Experience suggests that in a moment of peril, you will do as you have trained.


Bullseye

 

[Texas Star]

Neither. It's your personal preference and the answer depends on what you are worried about and how much.

This is a good answer. One issue: if you have to rack the slide to load an auto's chamber, the burglar will hear, and may fire at you. Or, he may just run like the dickens! I've heard that cocking a slide action shotgun often dissuades an intruder from remaining.

I do have a loaded auto at home, but mostly rely on revolvers. I put the auto in reach if I'm up late and concerned
about anything that seems menacing in the area and which involves several questionable individuals. Thankfully, this is rare where I live, but a new neighbor has some guests who I wish never came here.

I won't usually load a shotgun unless the news says that there's an urban unrest issue that might reach my home.
But I'd sure get one out if anyone ever shot through my windows! Fortunately, this is improbable here, but you never know...

 

[Jellybean]

I keep a Taurus PT99AF next to my recliner, which is also where I sleep, at night. Loaded 25 round magazine with none in the chamber. We have custody of a four year old grand daughter and she likes to play with toy guns, she's also very big for her age and I don't trust her with revolvers. I've taught her not to touch any real guns and so far she hasn't, but I'm not taking any chances.

There are several revolvers stashed around the house in high locations, and a shotgun and a rifle in an adjoining room to my recliner.

I have never had a problem with remembering if it was loaded or not, no matter how sleepy or drowsy I was.

 

[JcMack]

Everyones situation is different. When my son was young (2-3) he would get out of bed and tap me on the cheek when I was asleep so he could crawl into bed between me an the wife. I would not want a gun out under those conditions. Now 30 yrs later, I live alone in a neighborhood I can deal with, but would not want to raise a family in. My place is lit up like Stalag 17 at night. If my bedroom was on the first floor I'd have motion detector lights close to main entry points inside. I'm on the second floor when sleeping. The only entry to the bedroom is up a flight of stairs in an enclosed hallway. I have a choice of a WIN mod 12, or a 12 ga. coach gun, or a G23 to fire down the stairwell should my little Chihuahua burglar alarms wake me.

 

[Capt Steve]

No children in my house so depending on what I have been carrying during the day I either have my 649 with CT laser grips, loaded with 38+P JHP's, or my MP9c/DAO no safety, with one in the chamber and 9 in the magazine, (also JHP's), within arms reach - but not in plain sight, of where I sleep. Both guns are point and shoot ready 24/7. Kids in the house would change everything. But at O' dark thirty when awakened by my bride (I have to sleep with the hearing aids out but fortunately she has the hearing of a German Shepherd), I only have to pick the gun up and squeeze the trigger as needed. Racking slides and releasing safeties is best left for the range. YMMV

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

1911 cocked and locked in the nightstand.

As far as children in the house... I would not focus on whether there is a round kept in the pipe or not, but rather if the firearm is secure from the child or not.

 

[bitstream]

I prefer to keep my night gun with a round chambered, mag full, no external safety. If I need it, all I have to do is point and click. Also, I keep it in a full rig with flashlight, cell phone (with camera), knife, and long zip ties (instant cuffs). I can click on the entire rig in a couple of seconds and meet a threat with everything attached to me. That's way better than fumbling in a drawer for a flashlight and trying to find your cell phone in the dark. I do an ops check every single night before bed to ensure the cell is charged, flashlight works, and gun is in ready condition. There have been some nighttime home invasions in Macon, so I don't feel that taking strong precautions is overkill.

 

[Kanewpadle]

Load it and put it back on the nightstand. If there are children in the house, buy a pistol box, load the gun and put it inside.

 

[G.T. Smith]

I agree with having a round in the chamber to avoid having to rack the slide. I keep a semi automatic .22lr with a round chambered, a flashlight, and my cell phone by the bed. A .357 revolver on the dresser by the door to the living room, and a 12 ga. pump loaded with 00buck near the kitchen, loaded and neatly convenient and out of sight. I don't have any kids at home any more, but when the grand children come to visit I lock the weapons down except the one I carry.
I have good dogs as well. BIG ones.
Yes, keep it chambered, because in my opinion the racking of a slide, or the cycling of a pump action will only give away your position.
Peace,
gordon

 

[The Highlander]

Loaded, all the time. Except where not legal I always carry, period. Yes, even doing yard work. Druggies don't move along just because you are busy mowing the yard.

 

[phs3194]

Years ago I kept a double action revolver next to the bed. Then I started dreaming there was someone in the house. I was afraid I would grab the gun in my sleep so I changed to a 1911 with an empty chamber. I want to be sure I am awake enough to know what is happening, and taking the gun off safe and racking the slide seems like cheap insurance.

 

[snub56]

I keep my revolver loaded in a fingerprint safe inside my dresser. I have my son parttime and other family who come and go at odd hours. I need to be awake and alert before going for my gun.

 

[renosome]

Thanks for all the imput; there are no children in the house; we have an alarm system which would give me time to place a round in the chamber. I live in AZ and am able to carry almost anywhere; there is always a round in the chamber so i believe I will have it the same when going to bed.

 

[paladin42]

What will you do if you have only one hand free (for any number of reasons)?