What handgun do you pick up?

[DeadAye]

In the "Attitudes are changing" thread Gutpile Charlie said

I agree with the person that said that double action revolvers were the answer.

I carry a snubbie M36 and my wife has an identical M60 with the Crimson Trace grips.

I've got every type of firearm available for home defense and concealed carry, I but feel a lot more comfortable with the easy of use and the inherent safety of the double action design. I also have the experience necessary to safely use any kind of firearm, however I choose the double action revolver.

My wife cannot operate the slide of most semi-automatics. Some, I think are inherently dangerous, the Glock type to be specific. They are perfectly safe if you exercise due diligence, but let that slip and you are a statistic.

Semi autos that do not let you see a hammer or a striker are nothing but range toys has far as I am concerned.

Years ago I knew a woman who died as the result of a self inflicted gunshot wound....because she simply did not understand how the firearm operated. True, it was her fault, but she was handling something that she knew nothing about, and he proved to be fatal.

This makes sense to me.
Next to my bed I keep a 686 for me and a Model 10 for my wife. Nothing to think about and not much to go wrong if we need guns in the middle of the night.

But during the hours I'm awake there's a 1911 near by when I'm in the house.
Out the door there's a Model 49 revolver in a pocket and a 1911 in the truck.

There's also an old 12 gauge in the mix but that's not a handgun.

So, what fills your hand in times of need?

 

[Ron H.]

In the "Attitudes are changing" thread Gutpile Charlie said


This makes sense to me.
Next to my bed I keep a 686 for me and a Model 10 for my wife. Nothing to think about and not much to go wrong if we need guns in the middle of the night.

But during the hours I'm awake there's a 1911 near by when I'm in the house.
Out the door there's a Model 49 revolver in a pocket and a 1911 in the truck.

There's also an old 12 gauge in the mix but that's not a handgun.

So, what fills your hand in times of need?

Sir, FWIW, I always answer these questions the same way: If there's a remote possibility that I might need a gun, I take my .38 snubbie. If I'm feeling a little nervous, I take my .45. Anything beyond that, I stay at home where the rifles are.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

 

[novalty]

My bedside gun is a S&W 5906 with Crimson Trace Lasergrips loaded with 15 rounds of 124gr Golden Sabers. This gun had never failed me, and fits my hand like it a glove.

 

[bloo]

The gun that is always with me is my 4" model 48. Light weight, excellent trigger DA and SA, low recoil if second shot needed. The .22mag will do the job if used right. Will make the badest homie turn and run from the pain of one of those slugs.

 

[mg357]

glock 17 and 20 gauge side by side shotgun

 

[pharmer]

6906, 12 rds 124 gr Federal HST. All the time. Joe

 

[Rule 303]

Which handgun do I pick up????

The one that's closest at hand or that I have on me.

Rule 303

 

[Stu1205]

Though I like shooting revolvers more, next to my bed is my S&W 4506 loaded with 9 rounds of 230 Gr. Federal Hydra-Shok JHP.

 

[A10]

Bedside guns consist of 27-2 with +P's, .40 Hi-Power, and a shotgun. My wife also has a shotgun and .38 on her side. Both with strong flashlights. My constant carry is a 442, with either a .357 or my .40 Browning as primary if I feel a need for more firepower. My woods guns are either a 3 or 6" 629 or my 25-13 with heavy loads.

 

[snub56]

I have a model 642 and my wife is looking into a S&W revolver. Both .38 cal and both manipulated the same. Simple Simple Simple

 

[johnsonl]

Whatever's handy. I have a 66-2, 2 1/2 " in a lockbox by the bed. My 642 w/speedloader is with me the most. If the hair on the back of my neck is up, I take my (no heckling, please!) Glock 22 with two spare hi cap mags. If I have to go out the door for a gun fight, my AR15 w/two 30 round mags clipped together or Benelli Super 90 M1 w/buckshot and slugs are kept at the front of the safe.

 

[captorquewrench]

I keep a S&W BG380 by my bedside and it is within reach while I am home as well as my carry piece...when I can carry, but I'm on campuses so much where it is prohibited.

The other side of the bed reaches for a .40.

 

[snake charmer]

My bedside gun is a Colt Cobra and next to my wife is a M-36, why does she get the five shooter------she's a better shot.

 

[The Highlander]

Glock 19 EXO, Glock 17, SIG P220 Elite, Springfield Armory EMP, Ruger SR9, I dunno...whichever one is closest. The SR9 and Viridian Green Laser are my standard nightstand gun, but the last time my wife heard a bump in the night, the 19 EXO went with me to figure out what the dog was barking at.

 

[Thuer]

I do live in Holland. We are supossed not to defend our self.

If I let one handgun out of the safe to protect my self and I do use it to shoot an intruder I am in serious trouble.

But if I was aloud to do so. I pick my 681 with 4 inch barrel. As back up my model 60 and model bodyguard.

But this only in my dreams.

 

[getoff]

nightstand is my 12-3 with hornady critical def. wifes side is her 637-2 same load. out and about, my 442-2 critical def +p, a speedloader of same, and my (hold the snickers) LCP with critical def and a 10 round back-up mag. if i need more at home, the remington 870 police mag. with speed feed stock, side saddle and a whole mess of 00. should be enough?!

 

[mstuhr]

Why not?

Howdy,
My every day carry stays stashed upstairs so it is handy to pick up and go to the car or answer the door at odd hours.
The downstairs (Bedroom) gun is a 7" Redhawk and it won't do you any good to hide behind a wall if you sneak in to my house.
I thought about the Para Ord hi-cap 45, but I am quite comfortable with the big Ruger.
Thanks
Mike

 

[Bert Man]

Bedroom gun is a m66-1 4 inch loaded with Rem. 158 SWCHP+p. Extra speedloader on nightstand w/ flashlight.

 

[Bicky Robby]

Generally, my Springer 1911.

 

[mkk41]

Bedside gun is a CZ-75B/SA in .40 S&W loaded with 6 Glaser Safety Slugs up first , followed by 155gr Win Silvertips. Under my computet desk is my 3in Mod.36-1 loaded with Glasers. My speedloader has 125gr +P Win Silvertips.

 

[scooter123]

A 40 caliber Sig Sauer P239 is my constant companion. I've checked the DA trigger with a Lyman Digital trigger gage and it's right at 10.5 lbs., heavy enough that I don't think there is much risk of my setting it off by "accident". However, whenever I do holster it I keep my thumb on the hammer just to insure that nothing has snagged the trigger.

BTW, I got back into shooting revolvers to master the DA trigger on that Sig. Now in slow fire I'm normally more accurate with it in double action than single action, probably because that heavy pull seats the gun a bit more firmly in my hand. I also found that I really like revolvers a LOT and now own more wheelguns than semi's.

However, the P239 has proven to be a perfect fit for me in terms of carry and I shoot it very very well. Put another 100 rounds through it last Sunday which now takes it to 2800 rounds downrange without one single failure to feed or eject.

 

[therevjay]

Colt Pocket Positive .32S&W long/Colt police. Is it a "real stopper"? Of course not. Will it work better then trying to repeat the karate moves I saw Jackie Chan make in the movies? You betcha!

Mainly the ideal carry gun is one that is easy to carry cause if it's not, you won't.

 

[USAF385]

If a demented leprechaun, a probe wielding grey, or some other nefarious individual (most likely bigfoot, a troll, or some flying monkeys) were to jump through my window right now, they'd be greeted by my surprised face and my Astra .44 loaded with specials. Why? Because it's sitting on the desk next to me since I'm looking for a holster for it. I also have my BG .380 on the desk as well.


At night, whilst I slumber, my G27 rests in a retention holster I have mounted to the wall side of my bed frame. However, this hasn't been the case for the past few nights since it's packed away in the case waiting to be traded for a G22. I don't use the 27 as a CCW anymore, so I'm going full sized. Instead, my 681 has been sleeping next to me. This lead to an awkward moment when my G27 walked in last night.....

 

[Pete99004]

686+ on one side - Sig P229 .40 S&W w/CT grips on the other - 4003 and 3913 very close by with spare mags.

 

[rags]

Bedside: Glock 17 / NS, +2 Mag extention, 19 rnds of Black Talons. Closet: Mossberg 590 /w #4 Shot.

Oh yeah, 3 GSD's that hear stuff before I do...Priceless!

rags

 

[GatorFarmer]

I sleep with an old square trigger guard 5903 nearby. It is loaded with some 124gr Hornady JHPs. I lost the outer box and can't remember if they are TAP, Critical Defense, etc. Also nearby is a Sigma 40VE loaded with some 180gr Remington Golden Sabres.

Why? Eh. I have no particular use for either of these guns and consider them completely expendable. If they rust, are damaged, seized as evidence, etc I could care less. Both are guns that I simply ended up paying either retail or higher end used value for and have a bunch of mags for whilst at the same time being ones that generally don't trade well. In other words I'm stuck with them. So it is that or use them as door stops/paperweights. And since this is the digital age, I don't have enough paper to bother holding down...

 

[smitty_bs]

Bedside is a Model 60 with either 125gr or 158gr hollow points. Rest of the house has anything from Model 19s up to a SW1911.

As many of the others have noted, I like the simplicity of a revolver near the bed. If I have time to think it will be a 1911 in .45 or a shotgun.

A possible bedside exception would by my 3953 DAO in 9mm. No levers, etc. to fool with.

 

[pilgrim6a]

I operate on the Heinlein theory. I keep my pants and my guns where I can find them in the dark.
Somehow through no real plan I have 2 Model 10-8s. I have Uncle Mike's boot grips on both. The actions are as close to being matched as 2 guns can be. One's under the computer and the other is by the bed. This will do till I get to the 870.
When I go out I drop the 642 in my pocket. If I'm nervous It's a High Power. Sometimes I take one of the .44 spls. because,,,,, Why not!

 

[venomballistics]

its dictated by the first question ... "What do I think I might need to shoot?"
about town or on the road ... it'll be man and the usual road way beasts often found on the shoulders and ditches .... so its a 45 .. when off the beaten path its a meaner sort of beast ... 44 magnum

 

[Goldstar225]

My bedside weapon is also my duty weapon, a Glock 23. When I'm out and about on my own time I'm most likely to have the Kahr K-40 that I've grown to like these past few months. As always there's my 642, an ever faithful back-up gun on-duty and a "quick trip to the store" pocket gun (in a Mika holster of course).