Night stand choice

[kwalityguy]

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?

 

[sipowicz]

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...

 

[Mule Packer]

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.

 

[RonJ]

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

 

[tlay]

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.

 

[kwalityguy]

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.

 

[Muley Gil]

"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.

 

[sipowicz]

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...

 

[Stevens]

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

 

[kwalityguy]

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.

 

[feralmerril]

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

 

[Wee Hooker]

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

 

[S&W45Colt]

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.

 

[Thunderhawk88]

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.

 

[jaykellogg]

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.

 

[Smith357]

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.

 

[Rick_A]

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.

 

[DeadAye]

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

 

[AZ115]

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!

 

[Kanewpadle]

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

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.

 

[carpe pugna]

M&P45 in the safe by the nightstand.

 

[jeffsmith]

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

 

[BobC357]

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

 

[charlie sherrill]

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.

 

[trapper704]

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.

 

[ordy]

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.

 

[Gyrene6891]

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.

 

[fdw]

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...

 

[canvsbk]

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.

 

[Engieman]

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.