One in chamber at home?

[Linejudgemick]

My HD pistol is always in a Gunvault SpeedVault SV500 ( Amazon.com: Gunvault SpeedVault SV500 gun safe: Home Improvement@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41z2DtBiD0L.@@AMEPARAM@@41z2DtBiD0L ) mounted in an inconspicuous place in our bedroom, loaded with one in the chamber. I think dealing with retrieving it from the lock box will probably take more time than I'd prefer to give but, this is my option for when the toddler grandsons are visiting. Otherwise, when they're not here, my EDC pistol is on the bedside table, in its holster, ready to use.

 

[66Park]

If I have to defend myself with a gun, I want every advantage, and that includes a chambered round. I've never had a gun shoot itself. If you are worried about safety, then don't pick up the gun and screw around with it if you don't need to use it. If you need to dry fire or clean the gun, keep it pointed in a safe direction and carefully unload it. If you have kids in the house, get a biometric safe. To think you will have time to chamber a round in an emergency shows, at least to me, a lack of understanding about the reality of what can happen.

 

[Rangerpat]

I live alone, only kid is a 75 lb. fur child that is part of the home security system. Two handguns, one a .357 revolver and the other a .45acp 1911 with a round in the chamber and thumb safety on. Both guns are hidden in locations where nobody knows but me and are easy to access.

 

[Smoke]

Both guns are hidden in locations where nobody knows but me and are easy to access.

No one but you and any experienced thief.

That's one of the reasons my firearms are either under my direct control or locked up

 

[bigride]

No kids. No empty chambers.

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[gdnagle]

Years ago when the girls were young mag loaded on the 1911 nothing chambered. They couldn't rack the slide and guns weren't as dangerous back then according to the way the news reports about them now. Now before the terrible accident when I lost all my firearms in the great tsunami here, all 10 handguns were loaded with one in the pipe, I don't own any revolvers, and I don't have little ones around anymore, something about I'm old and not in style anymore whatever that means. Most are kept in a biometric lock box up and down stairs with fully loaded extra mags.

 

[Liquid308]

My HD shotgun has an empty chamber. I like the idea of loudly racking a round in it in the dark. Can't imagine that any intruder wants to hear that sound while in a dark house. If I feel the need to be quiet I have my BG ready to go with one in the chamber.

 

[Smoke]

My HD shotgun has an empty chamber. I like the idea of loudly racking a round in it in the dark. Can't imagine that any intruder wants to hear that sound while in a dark house.

I wonder how they'd react to the sound of you saying "Oh s***!!" because you short stroked and got a feed jam at the very worst possible moment?

 

[Mcwsky09]

Good point

Can you chamber a round without giving yourself away?

the other night when my wife came up to bed she mentioned that I had not locked the side door - generally I check - and she asked what would I do if someone came it - I rolled off the bed - opened the safe - pulled out my 45 and dropped the mag and racked the slide. She said, and now the intruder knows where you are.

Need to figure out how to disable the beeps on my safe - went through the instructions but didn't work for some reason. And the 45 is not exactly quiet when racking.

 

[Arik]

I wonder how they'd react to the sound of you saying "Oh s***!!" because you short stroked and got a feed jam at the very worst possible moment?

Or....the sound came from upstairs. Let me make sure I have my gunready. The downstairs is clear to hide and ambush

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[Kanewpadle]

the other night when my wife came up to bed she mentioned that I had not locked the side door - generally I check - and she asked what would I do if someone came it - I rolled off the bed - opened the safe - pulled out my 45 and dropped the mag and racked the slide. She said, and now the intruder knows where you are.

Need to figure out how to disable the beeps on my safe - went through the instructions but didn't work for some reason. And the 45 is not exactly quiet when racking.

My Gunvault HAD an audible BEEP when I pushed a button. Not no more! I cut the wire to the little speaker!

Guns used for self defense should be loaded and ready to go without manipulating anything but a safety.

Stealth and the element of surprise is single biggest advantage we have.

A year ago or so a guy on drugs broke into a home here locally. The occupants of the home locked themselves in the bedroom. They called 911 AND announced that they were armed loudly. Didn't matter. The druggy ignored those commands, stormed into the bedroom and was immediately dropped by the occupant.

So if you think that racking a slide and/or giving away your location isn't a big deal, think again. If you lead a bad guy to you AND your family, YOU are responsible for anything bad that happens to you or them!

 

[sipowicz]

My HD pistol is always in a Gunvault SpeedVault SV500 ( I think dealing with retrieving it from the lock box will probably take more time than I'd prefer to give but, this is my option for when the toddler grandsons are visiting. Otherwise, when they're not here, my EDC pistol is on the bedside table, in its holster, ready to use.

Just be careful.....I used to do the same thing (kids not home, leave gun out)...but a few times I forgot to move it before they came home...one time I went out without it and my wife came home with the kids and called me that the gun was on the counter....never again. Now I always use the muscle memory technique and it goes in the safe or at least on a high shelf whether they are here or not.

 

[LL617]

Try to act wisely

Every night I take my unloaded revolver, load it, and place it in position in case I need it during the night. Every morning I unload it and lock it up and substitute my smaller, carry pistol which I load before I leave the house. The room is locked while the transfer occurs. This loading/unloading procedure usually includes a couple of practice pulls using the unloaded weapon also.

While I tend to be a heavy sleeper, I have two dogs, one of whom is a big gossip.

So far, I have spent one uneasy night when the dogs went wild barking for a couple of hours. I had my weapon in hand during much of that time [I was the only one at home]. I suspect, however, that a raccoon or other varmit was prowling around that night.

Incidentally, because I keep a gun in the bedroom, locked but not in the safe, I ban everyone but spouse from the bedroom and usually keep the door locked. Ammo is also under lock and key.

Often when I am home, I still am wearing the carry gun until it is time for bed and changing out the guns. When I switch to the home gun, I lock up the carry gun for the evening. Spouse also has a gun for an emergency during the night.

 

[Smoke]

Every night I take my unloaded revolver, load it, and place it in position in case I need it during the night. Every morning I unload it and lock it up and substitute my smaller, carry pistol which I load before I leave the house. The room is locked while the transfer occurs. This loading/unloading procedure usually includes a couple of practice pulls using the unloaded weapon also.

What's the point of constantly loading and uloading your firearm, especially if it's going to be locked up?

 

[mbliss57]

Several of mine in the safe and the nightstand drawer are ready to go.
WE have a lock on the bedroom door and I put the nightstand gun back in the vault in AM. No kids in house. But grandkids. So our bedroom door is always locked if anyone but me and the Mrs. are home.
But to the point of readiness.. I fully agree that racking a gun at night just gives your position away. It's possible it would scare the intruder into leaving too. My night stand guns are all revolvers with CT on them for around the corner shots/ night time if necessary. SO racking would be an issue for me. But leaving an empty chamber in a revolver is complicated at night under stress.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

One in the pipe.

As far as children in the home... I like to keep things simple. Either a gun is secure from child access or it isn't. A secure gun don't need any special child safety preparation.

 

[Ethang]

Guns kept in the safe are unloaded, guns kept for defense are only unloaded when being cleaned and are always at hand. I keep them under my direct control so don't worry about the grandkids getting to them.

When the grandkids get older they will be taught like my kids were.

 

[jdh]

How so? Please explain further.

Quicker to work the slide on the shotgun which can be done in a firing position. Pistol you have to reposition the support hand after working the action.

 

[Poodle Soup]

I wouldnt sleep with a glock next to me with a round in the pipe, but anything with a DA trigger or a safety I would (and do. Fnx9 18 rounds gets a tender pat every night before I close my eyes)

 

[Smoke]

I wouldnt sleep with a glock next to me with a round in the pipe, but anything with a DA trigger or a safety I would (and do. Fnx9 18 rounds gets a tender pat every night before I close my eyes)

What is the difference?

 

[timn8er]

I live alone, no kids, no pets. So if something wakes me up, I will investigate armed. Both my HD gun & my CC gun are loaded at all times, including one in the pipe. The HD gun moves from room to room with me. Both are 40S&W, loaded with 180gr jacketed hollow points. Sixteen in the HD, eight in the CC.

 

[DigiRebel]

That is one of the oldest myths in the book.

Except... when its not.

No, I don't think its the automatic end to EVERY confrontation.

I have a friend though who ended a potentially violent confrontation with an angry drunk frat. boy by racking right behind the door he was in the process of breaking down.

Personally, like other parents with small children, I do not keep one in the chamber. Yeah, it adds a bit of time between when I recognize a threat and can respond... but at ages three and five, it takes a whole lot less muscle to accidentally pull that trigger than it does to rack the slide.

For me, it's a balance between the exceedingly unlikely event of someone meaning to do harm being in my home, and the pretty much every day for the past 5 years of having a child in my home.

I teach them safety, they both know what to do and to not do if they "find" Daddy's gun. I am still taking absolutely no chances. Part of that, as it works out, is letting them handle the gun whenever they ask. I don't want it to be something cool and exciting, I want it to be, "Aww man, daddy's got his guns out... again."

 

[Arik]

That part IS A myth. It just happened to work for your friend. It was also possible that he could have racked a completely empty shotgun as a bluff, with the same positive results. Its also possible that the person on the other side of the door is not a drunk frat boy and upon hearing the racking unloads his own gun through the door.

I get that you have kids and have to do what you have to do but that doesn't make "racking the pump to scare away the bad guy" a good idea

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[FAS1]

HD gun chambered, holstered, locked, but quickly accessible one handed right next to my pillow. No external safety to manipulate either. It only takes a few seconds to get if needed.

I also keep a loaded shotgun with the safety on in the big safe in case I feel like I need it (or the wife) and have time to get to it.

 

[fdw]

In the bedroom I don't keep one in the chamber in my 9 nor do I keep one in the chamber of my shotgun. My wife keeps one in the chamber in the bedroom in her nightstand.

Around the house my hidden guns are chambered.

I've got 3.... 4 legged alarms and pretty good security layers. I believe I will have time to rack if I hear something, if not I'll just leave it up to my wife to blast away....

 

[Rastoff]

She said, and now the intruder knows where you are.

So if you think that racking a slide and/or giving away your location isn't a big deal, think again. If you lead a bad guy to you AND your family, YOU are responsible for anything bad that happens to you or them!

Of course making loud noises will give your position away. But let's examine the situation a little closer.

We are talking about a home invasion at night. Does anyone here believe that they are fooling the bad guy by staying in their bedroom? Maybe I'm being too simplistic, but 99.9% of people, if they're home, are in their bedroom at night. So, giving away that you're in your bedroom is not really giving anything away, is it?

Even so, criminals who break into homes at night are not exactly the sharpest of individuals. Don't apply any reasoning to their potential actions. God knows they aren't using any.

No, racking the gun isn't a wise self-defense move. Shooting the bad guy is.

 

[Poodle Soup]

What is the difference?

No safety and half the trigger pull is the difference. If I hook a finger into the trigger guard of my fnx9 or jframe its not going to go BANG on accident with out actually pulling the trigger.

 

[Budasac]

I have two kids (11 and 8) and I keep all my guns in a safe in the basement unloaded, except my Glock 23 which I keep locked in the bedroom, (loaded and chambered). As far as no safety goes, don't put your finger on the trigger until you're ready to fire.

I have a 120 lb Rottweiller next to my bed at night and my kids rooms are right next to mine. If I need to grab my gun I check that my wife is in bed (she usually wakes me up when she hears a "bump") then I check on my two kids. If every one is where they belong the gun is pointed down the stairs and my finger goes on the trigger. I also have a great defensive position as my staircase is a wrap around. So as you take your first step to go up, I'm above and behind you looking down. The dog will pretty much deter any intruder on sight. If they have a gun she'll take the first round I'm sure as she would be the "immediate threat" , hopefully giving me plenty of time to do what needs to be done.

 

[jdh]

So, giving away that you're in your bedroom is not really giving anything away, is it?

Which one not to go into, too chose one of the kids rooms instead.

 

[Hill_Country]

We've been married so long that my wife knows not to wake me or dog unless there's something she can't take care of herself - no use both of us getting woke up. We just kinda wait until one of us has to pee.