Dedicated Home Defense Handguns

[Bill K]

I used the search and did find some useful information but would appreciate a more focused discussion specific to dedicated HD handguns...

Currently my HD handgun is whatever SD handgun I'm carrying. At night what I've been carrying gets placed in an open draw of my night stand along with a flash light and extra mag. Most often that gun is my PM9 which, since I got it, gets carried almost exclusively.

I've got a SA .45 ACP that lately just seems, compared to the PM9, to big and heavy for carry. Would it make sense to make it a dedicated HD handgun? Add a laser and/or tactical light to the rail? Keep it locked up during the day and when away from home but place it out each night? Do you have a dedicated HD handgun? What is it, how is it setup and how is it positioned for deployment - night table, bio safe, etc.?

Thanks...

[jeepster09]

That would make total sense. My M&P 40 full size likes home duty.

[Bawanna]

I'm a firm believer in the adage Beware the man that carries just one gun, he likely knows how to use it, or something to that effect.

Sadly I don't live by it or even close.

I like your current strategy of using what you carry and having a flashlight and an extra mag handy.
You don't need to transition to a different platform especially in the wee hours of the morning or night when something goes bump in the night.

That being said I have a Glock 21 with a light mounted on it, in a beside cabinet. It has a wood framed glass door and when the door is closed the gun isn't visible. At night the door is open as my reading lamp is inside and I just leave the door open.

My daily carry guns are on the dresser about 3 to 4 ft away but would require me to get in the chair to reach them.

I used to adhere to the theory of keeping the home defense gun out of reach requiring a person to at least sit up and wake up a bit to deploy but since the chair I decided I'll still try to sit up but I want it where I can get it.

Certainly nothing wrong with a little bit of both according to your plan.

[jocko]

I used the search and did find some useful information but would appreciate a more focused discussion specific to dedicated HD handguns...

Currently my HD handgun is whatever SD handgun I'm carrying. At night what I've been carrying gets placed in an open draw of my night stand along with a flash light and extra mag. Most often that gun is my PM9 which, since I got it, gets carried almost exclusively.

I've got a SA .45 ACP that lately just seems, compared to the PM9, to big and heavy for carry. Would it make sense to make it a dedicated HD handgun? Add a laser and/or tactical light to the rail? Keep it locked up during the day and when away from home but place it out each night? Do you have a dedicated HD handgun? What is it, how is it setup and how is it positioned for deployment - night table, bio safe, etc.?

Thanks...

being u stated "focused" discussiojn, I will sit on the side lines and learn:popcorn::popcorn::popcorn:

[getsome]

Man's got to know his limitations...:p

[Barth]

I used the search and did find some useful information but would appreciate a more focused discussion specific to dedicated HD handguns...

Currently my HD handgun is whatever SD handgun I'm carrying. At night what I've been carrying gets placed in an open draw of my night stand along with a flash light and extra mag. Most often that gun is my PM9 which, since I got it, gets carried almost exclusively.

I've got a SA .45 ACP that lately just seems, compared to the PM9, to big and heavy for carry. Would it make sense to make it a dedicated HD handgun? Add a laser and/or tactical light to the rail? Keep it locked up during the day and when away from home but place it out each night? Do you have a dedicated HD handgun? What is it, how is it setup and how is it positioned for deployment - night table, bio safe, etc.?

Thanks...

I too tend to have my carry gun on my nightstand.
I do have a home defense handgun though.
My H&K P30 40 LEM (13+1).
I can carry it.
But it's a little big and blocky for that.
So I added a X300 Surefire tactical light.
And load her up with Winchester Ranger T-Series 165 gr JHPs.
https://www.t-mobilepictures.com/myalbum/thumbnail/photo50/ca/53/73dd3e7d9e2d__1349300879000.jpeg?tw=0&th=720&s=true&rs=false

[getsome]

Heck Barth, The way you're adding to the ole HK stable you are going to have to build an addition on to the ranch in order to have a room for every pistol...:D

[O'Dell]

I used the search and did find some useful information but would appreciate a more focused discussion specific to dedicated HD handguns...

Currently my HD handgun is whatever SD handgun I'm carrying. At night what I've been carrying gets placed in an open draw of my night stand along with a flash light and extra mag. Most often that gun is my PM9 which, since I got it, gets carried almost exclusively.

I've got a SA .45 ACP that lately just seems, compared to the PM9, to big and heavy for carry. Would it make sense to make it a dedicated HD handgun? Add a laser and/or tactical light to the rail? Keep it locked up during the day and when away from home but place it out each night? Do you have a dedicated HD handgun? What is it, how is it setup and how is it positioned for deployment - night table, bio safe, etc.?

Thanks...

I have an HK 40 and a SIG P220 hidden outside the safe for HD. Both are full sized and a bit large for everyday carry. I don't use lasers or lights, but both pistols have excellent night sights.

[RRP]

My every day carry resides on the nightstand, when I go to sleep. It's there primarily so I can keep it under my control. If a BG breaks into my home at night, they won't have access to my weapon, unless they can get by me.

Nestled between the bedpost and the nightstand, stands a 12ga shotgun, with an 18.5" barrel. That's my primary HD weapon. One 12ga round produces more muzzle energy than an entire magazine-full from my PM9. Why play with a cap gun when you have a cannon?

[Bill K]

Just a little more of where I'm coming from... I find if don't really have a use for a gun (bow, tool, etc.) it goes bye bye. It bothers me to have stuff just hanging around getting little or no use. Almost wish my PM9 didn't work out so well for me. :)

[RRP]

Just a little more of where I'm coming from... I find if don't really have a use for a gun (bow, tool, etc.) it goes bye bye. It bothers me to have stuff just hanging around getting little or no use. Almost wish my PM9 didn't work out so well for me. :)

Given this additional bit of information, let me suggest you do not purchase the furniture you mention in your opening post.

The investment in the .45 is sunk cost. Why spend more on a pistol you rarely use, if you are likely to divest due to lack of use?

It appears you are considering additional expenditures on a gun you don't use, so you can justify keeping it, even when you admit your personality won't allow you to keep it, because you rarely use the gun. (That made my head hurt.)

[jeepster09]

Of course this parked close by don't hurt....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkmBH-MjZF4


Or the poor mans generic version, in case bad guy gets away....

[jeepster09]

Given this additional bit of information, let me suggest you do not purchase the furniture you mention in your opening post.

The investment in the .45 is sunk cost. Why spend more on a pistol you rarely use, if you are likely to divest due to lack of use?

It appears you are considering additional expenditures on a gun you don't use, so you can justify keeping it, even when you admit your personality won't allow you to keep it, because you rarely use the gun. (That made my head hurt.)


My guns are just my BIG KID TONKA TOYS :9:They are fun to play with :=]

[RRP]

My guns are just my BIG KID TONKA TOYS :9:They are fun to play with :=]

Me too. I'm still a kid at heart.

BillK is more pragmatic about his material possessions than I am. It doesn't sound like keeping a gun just cuz it's fun will work for him.

[Barth]

Heck Barth, The way you're adding to the ole HK stable you are going to have to build an addition on to the ranch in order to have a room for every pistol...:D

LOL - I just bought number five.
But who's counting?
http://static.blogstorage.hi-pi.com/photos/nico3603.blog.jeuxvideo.com/images/gd/1171214889/terminator-2.jpg

[Bill K]

Given this additional bit of information, let me suggest you do not purchase the furniture you mention in your opening post.

The investment in the .45 is sunk cost. Why spend more on a pistol you rarely use, if you are likely to divest due to lack of use?

It appears you are considering additional expenditures on a gun you don't use, so you can justify keeping it, even when you admit your personality won't allow you to keep it, because you rarely use the gun. (That made my head hurt.)

I think I get what you're saying.

The .45 won't get the use it would if it were in a carry rotation but would have USE as a dedicated HD pistol. I have a back yard range so it would get shot periodically because it has utility as my HD gun and not just a gun sitting in the safe because my PM9 gets almost exclusive carry duty. Am I making any sense?

Now my head hurts. :)

[O'Dell]

LOL - I just bought number five.
But who's counting?
http://static.blogstorage.hi-pi.com/photos/nico3603.blog.jeuxvideo.com/images/gd/1171214889/terminator-2.jpg

Not bad for a guy who didn't even like HK's a year ago. I do like them, but only have three in my 15 pistol collection. Of course, I like SIG's, Kahrs, and S&W 3rd gen all metal guns too.

[Barth]

Not bad for a guy who didn't even like HK's a year ago. I do like them, but only have three in my 15 pistol collection. Of course, I like SIG's, Kahrs, and S&W 3rd gen all metal guns too.

You guys have way to good of a memory.
I used to have an ergonomic issue with H&K and Beretta many years ago.
10s of thousands of rounds latter it seems my shooting has improved across the board.
I've thought of trying a Beretta 92FS again.
But I've got a feeling I'll shoot that well too.
And then I'll have to have one.

Right now I'm holding with The Dirty Dozen.
S&W 629-2 44 Mag Mountain Gun
S&W 65-3 357 Military and Police heavy barrel
S&W 640-1 357 Centennial
S&W 342 ti 38 Centennial
Sig Sauer P220 45 factory two tone
Sig Sauer P239 357
Kahr MK40 Elite 40
Glock EXO G27 40
H&K P30 40 Light LEM
H&K P2000 357 Light LEM
H&K P2000 357 Light LEM
H&K HK45C 45 Light LEM
H&K P2000SK 40 Light LEM

(The second P2000 357 is no typo - I have identical twin guns a few serial numbers apart)

Mmmmmmmm
http://img4.itiexue.net/1266/12665488.jpg

[RRP]

Am I making any sense?



Absolutely!

You have talked yourself into preserving the arsenal. That's what I would have done! Congrats.

[jeepster09]

You guys have way to good of a memory.
I used to have an ergonomic issue with H&K and Beretta many years ago.
10s of thousands of rounds latter it seems my shooting has improved across the board.
I've thought of trying a Beretta 92FS again.
But I've got a feeling I'll shoot that well too.
And then I'll have to have one.

Right now I'm holding with The Dirty Dozen.
S&W 629-2 44 Mag Mountain Gun
S&W 65-3 357 Military and Police heavy barrel
S&W 640-1 357 Centennial
S&W 342 ti 38 Centennial
Sig Sauer P220 45 factory two tone
Sig Sauer P239 357
Glock EXO G27 40
H&K P30 40 Light LEM
H&K P2000 357 Light LEM
H&K P2000 357 Light LEM
H&K HK45C 45 Light LEM
H&K P2000SK 40 Light LEM

(The second P2000 357 is no typo - I have identical twin guns a few serial numbers apart)

Mmmmmmmm
http://img4.itiexue.net/1266/12665488.jpg


I know the feeling....a Beretta 96 kept trying to seduce me into taking her home :cheer2:

[GROTMAN]

I carry my pm 9 but at night have the g19 ready for home defense. As soon my wife feels comfortable about it I will keep the pm9 on my night stand and have her keep the g19 on hers. Even thought about letting my dtr keep the walther p22 in her room. That way if one of us gets overwhelmed the others can give a hand as needed.

[getsome]

I think the Beretta 92 stainless like the one in the picture is one of the most beautiful pistols out there....I like it because it's hammer fired, the controls are familiar to me due to my long time S&W gen 3 4506 but then I go and pick one up and immediately it says nope no go, grip much too big and fat so I sigh and put it back in the case...

Before the boat sank with all my guns aboard my go to night gun was a S&W M&P .40 full size in a gun vault digital pistol safe cabled to the bed frame (SWMBO said if I even thought about drilling holes in her new Berber carpet she would use the M&P on me) it's not as secure as I would like but if a burglar can pick up our sleep comfort king size mattress that weighs as much as a Buick then good luck to him....I don't like a flashlight attached to the gun so I keep a small SureFire end cap push button flashlight on the bed side table which is used mostly to figure out which d@nm button the TV remote to push to make something happen...

I have practiced with lights off getting the pistol out of the safe and flashlight in hand and it takes like 20-25 seconds but from a dead sleep I have no idea how long it would take....I guess it depends on how scared you are!!!:eek:

[MW surveyor]

Phantom for me on the night stand. Used to ride the rail in a cheap clip on holster on my old bed frame but since I up graded to a "real" bed frame, it is now on the night stand with a 4 cell mag light next to it and 18 round spare mag next to it.

DA first shot, SA there after.

[Bill K]

Absolutely!

You have talked yourself into preserving the arsenal. That's what I would have done! Congrats.

Thanks! That is all I needed to hear. This thread can now be shut down. :)

[Chuck54]

I kinda like my metal baseball bat............it is subsonic so it's pretty quite

[Barth]

Cold Steel San Mai III Gurkha Kukri
Kahr MK40 Elite with NS
Bianchi LE Level III-A Vest
https://www.t-mobilepictures.com/myalbum/thumbnail/photo16/4f/37/854797f38a38__1315709045000.jpeg?tw=0&th=720&s=true&rs=false

[Bongo Boy]

It bothers me to have stuff just hanging around getting little or no use.

I'm on board with that. I'm not a 'collector' and try not to accumulate crap of any kind, no matter how nice. As for your strategy, I've actually done the very thing you're talking about--well, kinda.

I have the big P220

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x150/Bongo_Boy/TG0004.jpg

and I don't normally carry it. Each evening it goes on the nightstand. It's big and heavy, won't easily get knocked off if I reach for my cell, had beautiful trijicons, shoots the 45ACP cartridge, of course, and has an incredibly smoothed-out, lightened double-action which I appreciate for this particular job.

The only aspect of it not being 'dedicated' is that, when the scheduled carry gun is out for some reason (K40 is being Mag-na-ported right now), I strap it on for carry because I don't care to do IWB anymore and I've got a nice Gould & Goodrich FBI concealable for it.

I have a real short 12 ga, and to me that would be a 'better' home defense gun all things considered--but I feel I'm far more familiar with the P220, and far more likely to actually pick it up should I need to investigate the situation.

[les strat]

I have a G30 with nights sights and a TRL1-s as my bedside weapon. I use the G21 mag and extension sleeve for extra capacity.

I do feel having a dedicated HD pistol wiht night time capabilities could pay off. The G30 is not really that much of a difference in what I carry for EDC now anyway, which is a G19. Just set up for it's role for night time duty.

My G30 rig is for exploring the bump in the night. You can splash the light on the floor momentarily and illuminate any sized room for BG ID without sweeping anyone/anything. The Mepro night sights are awesome.

http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/q706/bonehead911/G30andTLR1s_zps1b85894e.jpg

I still have an 18.5" Mossy 12 gauge for real HD work, like if someone kicks in the door and I know it's going down.

[Bongo Boy]

Real nice photo and nice setup.

[les strat]

Real nice photo and nice setup.

Thanks. It shoots even nicer :)

[Barth]

https://www.t-mobilepictures.com/myalbum/thumbnail/photo62/c8/ad/d298b2cf3fe4__1354945277000.jpeg?tw=0&th=720&s=true&rs=falsehttps://www.t-mobilepictures.com/myalbum/thumbnail/photo49/ae/44/25c1150c9051__1354945246000.jpeg?tw=0&th=720&s=true&rs=false

[TheTman]

I have 4 handguns I can reach without leaving my bed, then there is my 20 gauge youth model behind my bedroom door, also hidden around the room are some rifles. I keep a couple of flashlights on the table by my bed. And my dog sleeps just outside my bedroom door. I sleep pretty well at night.

[JFootin]

I have 4 handguns I can reach without leaving my bed, then there is my 20 gauge youth model behind my bedroom door, also hidden around the room are some rifles. I keep a couple of flashlights on the table by my bed. And my dog sleeps just outside my bedroom door. I sleep pretty well at night.

That's me. I have 4 guns I can reach without leaving my bed. I don't have the shotgun, yet, but I am looking at a 20 gauge semi-auto HD one. I have a couple of flashlights within reach. I don't have a dog anymore. I sleep pretty well at night, too.

Edit: BTW, to get back on thread, I recently bought a Walther PPQ (15+1+15) specifically so I would have a higher capacity, longer barreled gun with a rail for home defense. I might not ever add a light or laser to it, but the rail gives me the option. It is also a totally dependable gun with a real sweet trigger and it is a tack driver at the range. Same size as the G19, but much more ergonomic to grip. My other 3 guns are small carry pistols. The one I carry the most and the first one I would go for in the night, though, is my S&W 638 Airweight because it is a no brainer 5 that goes bang every time and it is a great belly gun for close quarters SD in my tiny apartment. The other guns are there, too, if needed. If I felt a need to leave my bedroom or address a threat from outside, I would pick up the PPQ.

[muggsy]

For home defense it's hard to beat a 12 gauge pump with a pistol grip. The sound of the first round being jacked into the chamber is rather off-putting to most home invaders. It helps to have a Rottweiler as a back-up. The Rottweiler's friendly greeting says welcome to Muggsy's place. :)

[Bill K]

Great responses (and photos) guys. Thanks a bunch.

I was thinking just a laser on the rail and hand held light. I'll have to do some research on the tactics, pros and con on gun mounted vs. hand held light.

[Nimrod]

My EDC is always with me. My bed has a bedskirt that hangs down to the floor. At night I put my EDC, MK40, and my spare mag about 2" under the bed skirt. I also have a tactical light laying beside the spare mag.

I have considered using my Sig P229 as my home defense gun, but I would have to take it out of the safe each night and put it back in the safe the next morning. I can't leave it out because of little grandkids that come and go routinely.

My MK40 should do okay. It has night sights plus a Crimson Trace laser sight. If I can't resolve the problem with it, hopefully it will get me to my gunsafe where I have a lot more firepower.

I personally don't want a tactical light attached to one of my guns. I want the light separate so I can see without having to point my gun at someone who might turn out to be a family member and not a bad guy.

[les strat]

Great responses (and photos) guys. Thanks a bunch.

I was thinking just a laser on the rail and hand held light. I'll have to do some research on the tactics, pros and con on gun mounted vs. hand held light.





I personally don't want a tactical light attached to one of my guns. I want the light separate so I can see without having to point my gun at someone who might turn out to be a family member and not a bad guy.

Just remember, you do not walk around the house with the light on whether in your hand or mounted to your gun. That's rule #1. That crap is for the movies. Surely you know your house in the dark better than any intruder.

You do not have to point your gun at anyone or anything to ID. Any weapon or tactical light worth it's salt will illuminate an entire room by splashing it for <1 sec on the floor giving you time to ID the threat. Trust me, the old FBI "hold the light out away from you" method has been disproven for years. It also good to know you have a free hand for better shooting control, reloading, holding a child, etc.

Good lumen ratings for indoors in usully between 90-200 lumens. Anymore will blind you if you shine it at a white wall. Any less is rather weak. The extremely high lumen rated lights (250-500) are for outdoors. You also get what you pay for in tactical/weapon lights.

[les strat]

For home defense it's hard to beat a 12 gauge pump with a pistol grip. The sound of the first round being jacked into the chamber is rather off-putting to most home invaders. It helps to have a Rottweiler as a back-up. The Rottweiler's friendly greeting says welcome to Muggsy's place. :)

+1000. A good guard dog is worth 10 guns and is the first line of home defense. Maybe even the last :D

[TheTman]

I don't think it makes much difference between a 12 guage or 20. I picked up my Remington 870 youth model in 20 at a very good price at a gun show, and it's a great size for manuevering through the house with. Pistol gro[ would be nice, but haven't felt the need for one. I have these cool little night lights that turn on when it's dark, and place them strategically around the house so a flashlight is not needed, until I see a person and want to light them up to identify friend or foe. Could be one of my grown kids wandering in for some reason, or could be a theif. I also keep one of those 13 watt flourescent bulbs burning all night in the front room to keep it well lit during the night. My dog got out of the backyard, without his collar with my info on it, so not sure if I'll ever see him again. He's developed a bad habit of taking off down the road and so far he's had the collar on him and people have been able to call if they find him, He is microchipped so maybe I'll get a call from animal control later. If not I hope he finds a good home. I kept the collar just loose enough so he could wriggle out of it and not hang himself if jumped over the fence and got it got caught on something. I'd rather he run off than find him dead. He may come back at supper time.

[mr surveyor]

too many options....

just be armed.