Hotel gun

Shot shells in pistol calibers is something to consider.
Like what CCI puts out.

While I have other options, I usually just bring along my Glock 36 for out of town overnight stays while on the job. My favored load in the 36 is 200 grain JHP.

my travel sidearm is most often a ruger sr22 or ruger lcr 22lr. why? i can more easily carry 100-200 rounds with it in a locked pistol case. am i worried about being stuck far away from home for awhile unable to get more ammo? yes. over penetration? that too.

Great Scot

When I use to stay at motels I would take my Beretta Model 84 along. I kept it on the night stand close to where I could readily access it. Usually I kept a small hand towel or an open magazine over it to keep it out of sight. Figured 13 rounds of .380 should discourage anyone trying to break in and hopefully with the .380 it wouldn't penetrate too far through the walls (at least that was my theory).

I would also take a chair and prop it up against the door to slow an intruder down and it actually worked because one night someone tried to get into my room while I was there sleeping. They had a key because I heard them unlock the door and try to push their way in. The chain held them up and the chair slowed them down enough along with my yelling out, caused them to beat a hasty retreat and take off running!

bannockburn said:

I would also take a chair and prop it up against the door to slow an intruder down and it actually worked because one night someone tried to get into my room while I was there sleeping. They had a key because I heard them unlock the door and try to push their way in. The chain held them up and the chair slowed them down enough along with my yelling out, caused them to beat a hasty retreat and take off running!

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I had that happen about 1.5 years ago in Addison, Texas, but I didn't have a chair in front of the door. Someone with an electronic card key was coming on in during the wee hours of the night, but they got stopped by the steel swing over catch and my strong words. They didn't say a peep as they skedaddled away.

I can't remember what gun I had with me as I used to take my Taurus 85UL (with a laser grip) sometimes as well.

MosinT53Hunter said:

Shot shells in pistol calibers is something to consider.
Like what CCI puts out.

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Are you expecting snakes?
Good grief, a handgun intended for self protection better be loaded with rounds that can stop an attack......and snake shot doesn't.

This reminds me of a time in my life.

I once stayed in a Super 8 in a most sketchy part of Atlanta for a night. It had door that opened to the outside.

I’m pretty sure the room next door was being used as a drug exchange location. Knocks on the door followed by door opening. A few words exchanged. Door closes. Less than 20 seconds each time. It happened probably 30-40 times through the night.

Back then I carried either a J frame or my HK P7 and I happened to have the P7 and was glad as it is the one gun I shoot best in this world and had at least a few more rounds than the J.

I kept having a wild imagination while trying to sleep that night. What if someone gets the wrong room? Like my room one door over. What if they knock and of course I don’t answer and they get belligerent because they need their fix? What if a “customer” wants the drugs and the money? Will I be caught in the crossfire? Fun stuff.

That made me a believer in carrying a full size whenever I stay in a hotel/motel so that is what I do.

And I research the lodgings better when I need to utilize one. I may be younger than a few but this was during a time when the internet existed but being able to quickly and conveniently locate a hotel on an internet map was still in its infancy.

I keep it simple and just bring the one on my hip

For me it depends on if I fly or if I drive to where I am staying. Flying - no gun, I take knives in my checked bag. If I drive I usually take my Glock 45 loaded with either Hornady American Eagle 115 grain or Hornady Critical Defense 115 grain. I usually also have a revolver, usually a J frame, my 442. The Glock is kept near my side of the bed. I used to keep the 442 on me or in my jacket, but one day someone pounded on my hotel room door when I was in the bathroom. Turns out it was some guy messing with his buddy but had the wrong room. Since that day back in 2012 I have kept my 442 in my toiletries bag in the bathroom when staying at hotels.

I want the same gun with me all the time.

I just use the gun I’m carrying to take to the hotel room.

Until a couple years ago, that was primarily a 380 ACP pistol.

Recently, I’ve changed to an HK P30SK in 9x19. I might want to reconsider my hotel options based on the discssion here.

The same handgun that I carry every day, spends the night on the bed side stand, just like at home. And just like at home, I have a good flashlight right next to it.

I have an old police trade-in Glock 17 that I picked up for $175. It came completely rebuilt from Glock and is 100% reliable. I don't change my ammo, but I do bring a gun that I won't cry over losing.

Great Scot said:

Kind of odd question, but does anyone change their gun or load if you are staying in a hotel? Obviously, over penetration could be an issue. Appreciate any insight folks offer.

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No. You are going to leave the hotel, so you should be carrying your usual gun and ammunition. I use quality JHP ammunition such as Federal HST or Speer Gold Dot. The incorrect response is to believe that "buying something" can fix the problem. The correct answer is training and thinking. For you, that means changing angles as much as possible in ways that make sense. You cannot hesitate to shoot just because you don't know if there is someone in another room. Remember, it is a GUN FIGHT, so gun safety goes out the window. Your gun's muzzle is going to point every which way in the chaos of the moment. All you can do is control yourself and do what you can.

Same as my EDC ....

Whatever I was issued or after retirement, whatever I was normally carrying. All my years traveling to many places in this world, and only one time did I ever have to place my gun in my hand at 2:20AM, and that was outside of Detroit in and around Utica.

MosinT53Hunter said:

Shot shells in pistol calibers is something to consider.
Like what CCI puts out.

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This.

CCI has a heavy #4 shot load in their "Big 4" product line available in .357 and other caliners. It will ruin ANY bad guys day and send them running. It also won't penetrate hotel walls and kill multiple guests in other rooms.

Usually my EDC, a Kel-Tec PF9, and its backup, a P32. When I travel, though, a .22 of at least some flavor comes along in case I get an opportunity for some trigger time.

I've had two DGU incidents in the same motel room, during the same stay, both years before acquiring either Kel-Tec:

Occasion one: Display only. Late-night knock on motel room door while out of town. Cracked door with Taurus .357 revolver in hand (loaded with .38 ammo, so I guess technically a .38 revolver that night.) Very attractive woman outside said she had been "called to come and visit this room." Saw larger figure in parking lot behind her, somewhat shielded from view, and turned to make sure said shadow saw the handgun. Told her she was clearly at the wrong room, and both she and the silhouette swiftly slipped away into the shadows. Learned later about such a tactic being used to conduct motel-room invasions; get the door opened for the woman, then accomplice(s) burst in.

Occasion two: Announcement only. Same motel room, same stay, different night. Received call on room phone (no one I knew knew I was there) from unknown caller threatening to attack me after seeing me ogling his wife. Caller was merely trying to mess with a friend in another room, but rang mine by mistake. Later that night, someone body-slammed the door, then did so again. Could have been same oaf as before (I believed I knew which one of the drunken, out-of-town-roofing-crew buffoons I'd seen in the parking lot had called me.) I loudly announced that, if the door were breached "You will be shot!" Whoever it was disappeared.

Im kind of confused here. Why wouldnt you just carry what you normally carry and loaded with proper ammo?

Unless of course there are a lot of snakes and large spiders in your room.

trackskippy said:

Im kind of confused here. Why wouldnt you just carry what you normally carry and loaded with proper ammo?

Unless of course there are a lot of snakes and large spiders in your room.

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Almost shot this joker in my house. I was home alone at the time. If I would have had snake shot and a pair of shooting glasses I would have shot it. Snakes get a pass spiders get dealt with.

If someone is desperate enough, or high enough on drugs, to break into a hotel room snake shot won't slow them down a bit. At the ranges you'll be shooting inside a hotel, (3'-5') stray shots hitting walls shouldn't be much of a concern.

I don't do anything any different in a hotel room than at home. It will be either a 9mm, 45, or possibly a 10mm pistol depending on where and why I'm traveling and my mood. And when the sun goes down a light is mounted on the pistol. Same as when I'm home or camping.

My "hotel gun" is my travel gun, which is a Glock 19 with whatever HP ammo happens to be in it.

The same .45 that I carry everyday with the same ammo I use everyday. If I need to use it why would I want to tick a bad guy off hitting him with rat shot. Over penetration would be the last thing on my mind...

TarDevil said:

I want the same gun with me all the time.

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Following that logic, the same gun you carry and train with is most likely the best gun in a motel room... where accuracy and seconds count. Someone trying to enter your hotel room at 2AM is likely not in his right mind (chemically enhanced) and you will need max firepower, or is straight and has, uh, mischief on their minds.... and you will need max firepower to stop the threat.