night stand gun

[hefedehefe]

Better to have it and not need it, then need it and not have it

[bombadillo]

Not mine, loaded with magazine, not racked. I just prefer it that way because I take sleeping pills so when I have one in me I can be a little groggy when I wake up. I would rather not risk being unaware of what is going on around me.

[theneko]

If you don't keep the gun in a ready-to-fire condition it is useless for self defense (unless you can beat the bad guy with it). If you don't feel confident to keep a loaded gun then you should not have a gun in the first place. That is my $.02 anyway - YMMV.

[rob1105]

I have my GP100 with .357mag hydryoshocks in my gunvalt on my nightstand

[BigDogatPlay]

Revolver or semi-auto, between my wife and I we have both handy, they are fully charged and ready to go. As above proper trigger discipline is the key.

[beauregard]

You betcha.

[greybeard]

In the chamber

[rudeboy3]

Always keep a round chambered if it is for self defense.

[GM_77]

No reason to keep one in the chamber. If the guy is close enough that you can't rack your slide then your probably already %&@#ed.

And if you had one in the chamber the gun is good to go for the bad guy as well! One can come up with dozens of scenarios for pros/cons of the condition the firearm should be in.

Whatever the condition the gun is in practice using it that way, I think either is fine.

[West coast]

Never chamber!! But I all ways have one or two handguns in my night stand at ready.....

[1forall]

If you don't keep the gun in a ready-to-fire condition it is useless for self defense (unless you can beat the bad guy with it). If you don't feel confident to keep a loaded gun then you should not have a gun in the first place. That is my $.02 anyway - YMMV.

That's a bold statement...everyones comfort level varies, and does't mean they shouldn't own a firearm for HD. Taking a class and being more efficient with the firearm is more the answer IMO. Yes, my nightstand gun has one in the chamber but only at night.

[ZombieTactics]

If you don't keep the gun in a ready-to-fire condition it is useless for self defense (unless you can beat the bad guy with it). If you don't feel confident to keep a loaded gun then you should not have a gun in the first place. That is my $.02 anyway - YMMV.

OK ... so the entire Israeli Defense Force should not have guns in the first place. I'll be sure to forward this information on to them.

I know you mean well, but there are plenty of pro/con arguments, none of which can be considered unassailable matters of fact. It depends largely on the specifics involved.

I am completely comfortable with having my guns ready-to-rock, assuming that I can be certain that they are 100% within my control. On a nightstand at home ... kids, wife, dog, cats ... while I am asleep ... that's not 100% within my control.

When I am by myself in a locked hotel room ... yep: chambered, safety not even engaged. When I am at home: In a bag bedside, mag inserted, safety engaged, not chambered.

Taking the responsibility to actively THINK about your circumstances and alter your tactics accordingly is far better than reflexive, unthinking adherence to some notion of a one-size-fits-all "right way".

That's my 2 cents.

[rips31]

de-cocked with 12 in the mag and 1 in the hole, ready to rock and roll. wife has 13+1 next to her.

what's the point of a nightstand/hd gun if it's not ready when you need it? might as well just throw your cell phone at the intruder.

[tomah]

for me, magazine in, no round chambered

[1lostinspace]

I would but I have kids in the house, my 2 year old is more then happy to pull a trigger!