night time storage for home defense?

[kbyrd]

I'm going thru various ideas for a "nightstand handgun". What do others do? During the day, when I'm out of the house it's locked up. But at night, I want it accesssible.

Some things I've considered:
- For some reason, leaving the gun just out on the floor/nightstand doesn't feel right. I feel like it should be tucked away somewhere close.

- Just shoving the gun under the mattress seems like it's asking for trouble. I'm worried it'll snag on something and go boom.

- A holster seems like the best idea, I'm in CA so CCW isn't really an issue. What types of holsters would work to stash? Then I could safely stash it under a pillow or mattress.

- Any other ideas?

[MaterDei]

Mount a holster on the back of your nightstand.

[kbyrd]

Hadn't thought of that, I like it. I'm totally holster-ignorant. Any pointers to types/kinds, etc? Keep in mind. I will probably only carry this on the rare occasion that I camp with a friend.

[neoncowboy]

When I take off my pants at night (right before getting in bed), the gun (SA 1911 in a leather IWB holster) comes off my belt and goes under the pillow.

Stays there until I put pants on the next morning.

[Azrael256]

I would go with something synthetic. Nylon or Kydex would be good. Not only will they be cheaper, but you don't want to leave a pistol sitting in a leather holster all the time. You could probably rig up something neato with one of those Fobus holsters. I think I saw one recently for about $25.

The thing is that it's a serious PITA to get a gun out of a holster that isn't attached to something sturdy, especially when you need it out. Try getting your pistol out of almost any holster one-handed. It's dang near impossible. If you're going to go the holster route, attach it to something.

[perpster]

I've been thinking of one of those big rubber coated metal storage hooks from Home Depot. Usually they're screwed into wall or ceiling studs, but I've been thinking that one with a rectangular shaped straight open end would work well for the barrel of a gun (hey, it's rubber coated). If needed, just reach over and grab it.

There's some bedside rig that's sold online with same idea but I don't remember where I've seen it, and it seems like something easy to do DIY.

[perpster]

Here's links to some storage products:

http://diamondsentrydistributors.com/ (this is the one I was thinking of)

https://www.plainsights.com/

http://pillow-pal.net/

http://gunracks.tylerrose.com/

[eastwood44mag]

Bed in corner of room with a foot of space from the wall, gun in that space. Hard to do if you don't sleep alone, but it works if you do.

[Ares45]

Roto Holster Mount (https://secure.fobusholster.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=27&products_id=263)

[kbyrd]

I really like that mount. How does it work? That is, how does it mount to whatever I'm mounting it to (bed, wall, etc.)?

[SSN Vet]

it's SAFE

it's fast and easy (keep the combo simple)

keep it under your night stand (or mount it to the bottom)

Mines been going on the same set of batteries for over 4 years....o.k. time to change them.

Best $200 I ever spent.

http://www.gunvault.com

[ArmedBear]

Well, whatever you do, don't take the phone handset off the phone cradle on your nightstand, and put the gun there.:D

I don't know what kind of gun it is, but there are these "universal" holsters you can get at gun shows or other places. They're cordura nylon (this is good because they don't attract gun-rusting moisture like leather). They're usually not real tight, because there are only a few sizes, and they have a removable hammer strap (I'd remove it for this purpose). They're well under $20.

They seem ideal for attaching to the back of a nightstand. If the holster is reasonably well-mounted, the gun should slip right out when needed, but stay in even during an earthquake.

Oh, and when you're not there, I'd keep it locked up. The last thing I ever want is to come home and find that someone has broken in and now is facing me with my own gun.

[Kevlarman]

I just stuff my Glock 30 in a Bianch M12 "universal" holster (with thumbsnap, not the flap) and place it on top of the nightstand. It's within reach should I need to use it.

The glowing tritium sights make finding it in the dark easy! :D

[trickyasafox]

my situation is unique, im a college student with no chance of young children entering my room. My solution is a bible box. Only when i am at home and only in the evenings, the bible rests on top of the wooden box, a little security rests inside.

not an obvious place to look for significant personal belongings, not that it'd matter if they did because that means they are about 18 inches from my head at that point.

[choochboost]

Roto Holster Mount
I really like that mount. How does it work? That is, how does it mount to whatever I'm mounting it to (bed, wall, etc.)?

That's what I got and I love it. IMO, there's no better place for my gun. Its just mounted to the bed frame. Its secure and at my fingertips.
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d11/choochboost/629c3ea3.jpg

[jeepmor]

First off, great thread, great solutions.

My only change would be to put the pistol at the front between the bed and the wall by my head. I always wake up sleeping on my stomach with my arms above me, so it would be the closest reach. And when the bed is stripped or otherwise not covering the setup from guests eyes inadvertently seeing it for some reason or another. It will still be out of sight.

I have no children in the home, else it would be a hand code safe that would be opened at night and closed in the morning. Bolted down to the wall from inside.

I might have to get one of those roto-holsters, those are neat.

jeepmor

[RS3RS]

Cheapest holster you can find, grab a hammer, nail the thing to the back/side of the night stand, slide gun in... Bada bing, bada (hopefully not literally) boom!

[kbyrd]

That's what I got and I love it. IMO, there's no better place for my gun. Its just mounted to the bed frame. Its secure and at my fingertips.

Sorry to be dense, but what does "just mounted" mean? What does the bed end of the mount look like? Do fasteners come with the mount, etc. Knowing this will let me know what types of things I could mount it to.

[romma]

When we had trespassers hit our house with a car one night (no easy feat), my pistol was in my running sneaker next to my side of the bed with my running shorts and shirt draped over it. I drew very quickly and was ready for trouble. ;)

[choochboost]

Sorry to be dense, but what does "just mounted" mean? What does the bed end of the mount look like? Do fasteners come with the mount, etc. Knowing this will let me know what types of things I could mount it to.
I took a picture for you. As you can see its just bolted to the frame.
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d11/choochboost/84f9cc27.jpg

Here's the other mounting plate with the shorter arm:
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d11/choochboost/e6241153.jpg

The package includes two different mounting plates featuring half-ball and socket joints, two different size arms, and screws. You have to purchase the roto holster separately. You remove the paddle or belt attachment from the roto holster and the arm takes it place. The screws that come with the package are more suited to mount into a solid surface not a thin metal bed frame, so I went to Home Depot and bought my own bolts so that I didn't have the screws going through the frame and into my boxspring. The half-ball and socket joint on the bottom is great. It allows you to adjust in any way you need it. Tip it in - tip it out, turn it in - turn it out, etc. The roto connection on the top allows you to adjust how the holster sits on the mounting arm for an efficient and quick draw. Note - the roto feature does not allow you to rotate it whenever you want. You rotate it to the position you like and then tighten it up. Let me know if you have any more questions.

[swatem]

I just leave it in the smartcarry over the bedpost. I can reach right over and grab it at a second's notice. =-)

[rcupka]

I read about this in a magazine once as a place to store a night-time gun. and it works really well. When you remove a drawer from your nightstand there is a space between the drawer and the side the of the Nightstand. Drill a hole in the corner frame and place a wooden dowel in the nightstand frame. You can place the weapon's muzzle over the dowel and it is locked into place, so even pulling out the drawers and tippin over the nightstand the gun does not come out. It is easy to pull out the drawer and grap it in an emergency, and it is well hidden from others. I have a Ruger SP101 "locked" into my nightstand.
rcupka

[kbyrd]

I took a picture for you. As you can see its just bolted to the frame.

Perfect! Thanks!

[Squawker]

We have an air mattress on a waterbed frame, with a headboard with shelves. I keep one of my guns (usually my Beretta 92FS) in a cut out concealment book from Masters of Concealment. There are no children in the house to get into it, and if someone is in the house, the book title is very uninteresting. I prefer this to having it out on the nightstand, and it is just as accessible.

http://masterofconcealment.com/pgroup_descrip/106/2012/?return=%3fcategory_id%3D106

[Cut Throat Job]

wow this thread is a great source. moderators, please dont close or delete this i need it for reference.

[Srigs]

I place my gun under the mattress in an open top holster so you can reach over and grab it. I have thought about mounting a holster to the bed but no need to yet! :cool: