Your UNCONVENTIONAL door answerer gun

Conventional wisdom says don't answer the door at night

Are you really just looking for folks to post the type of gun they use -- and if that's a Glock, 1911, revolver, or 12 ga shotgun they shouldn't answer?

Or are you looking to discuss the hypotheses you put forth in the second half of your post?

If the former, you're probably not going to get many replies.

If the latter, the proper answer is, "whatever you've trained and practiced with the most, and have proven that you are most effective with." Shot timers and scored targets don't lie. What gets you effective hits as fast as possible, under real-world conditions?

Unless you're looking for something scary-looking to shake in a bad-guy's face, planning to defend your self and your family with an odd duck like a range-toy Draco or PLR-16 ... or anything with a bayonet ... is putting yourself at too much practical skillset disadvantage in favor of "defensive theater."

If you're meeting someone at your front door, you really don't need to worry about your practical, useful, effective 9mm service style handgun not having the penetration advantage of a relatively much more unwieldy pistol-rifle.

When asking this kind of question it is always best to observe what other people -- trained people, skilled people, who know what they're doing and have a serious need to do things effectively -- use. And then work to become trained and skilled yourself.

As you become more skilled, you'll find yourself looking less to "way-out-of-the-box" hardware to try to make up for skillset shortfalls.

^^ good response. If I don't know who it is, I'm not answering the door, ESPECIALLY at night. If someone knocks on my door after a certain hour, depending on the circumstances, I might call the police, from behind my locked door.

If someone is pounding at the door at 3am, I'm checking it our with my nightstand gun. Dogs would be awake and barking their heads off anyway, flip on the outside lights if they are not already on, check through the window who is outside. I'll decide then and there if I answer the door or call the cops.

I would know before he got to the door, any of them. If I don't know the person he doesn't get in only off my property. I would call the local LEOs and do nothing unless he attempted a break in. This I would handle accordingly.

Conventional wisdom says don't answer the door at night

Click to expand...

This.

If someone is pounding at the door at 3am,

Click to expand...

People shouldn't visit me after 9 without calling, that is just how it is. My friends and family know this. Someone knocking or pounding on my door after 9 gives me time to hand off my carry pistol and cell phone to my girlfriend (nightstand duty at night) and grab a rifle or shotgun on my way to the front door. I can slowly approach it and see someone without someone seeing me. If I don't know who it is I'll call the police, then announce that and ask the person to leave. They can plead their case from the porch while I keep my sights on them. Long ago out in the country, you could knock on a door and ask for help late at night. These days, you just never know...you can't look at someone and determine if they are a threat.

A friend of a friend recently almost let a door to door salesman in at around 8:30. His wife stopped him and locked the deadbolt. The guy was military, too. He had the skill set, but not the mindset. Mindset...then skill set. Afterwards, he was disturbed by his own actions...as he should be.

How about an intercom?

"State your name and business!"

I'm a little surprised at some of the responses. Not answering the door? Calling the police if someone knocks on your door at night?

In the 10 years I've been in my house I've had a few people unexpectedly knock on my door at night. I answered the door every time after first turning on the outside flood lights giving me a clear view, night stand gun in my right hand behind the swing of the door. In recent years my 110lb German Shepard meets them first.... Every single time it was someone in need of help... car accident, ran out of gas, snowmobile broken down in the woods. Every single time I was happy to help out because if I was in a similar situation I'd hope someone wouldn't leave me standing out in the cold/rain...etc waiting for the police 30 mins away to respond.

As to the original topic... Nothing exciting. G17 with a set of night sights and factory 17rd mag.

elcaminoariba ...Conventional wisdom says that a glock with a 33 rd mag is the best...

Click to expand...

Where in the universe is this considered "conventional wisdom"?

Sad commentary that the US has declined to the point where one must consider "who's knocking." It is the Libitard's forced coddling of criminals, preverts, druggies, and other general scum bags that requires me to greet unexpected visitors with a Saiga-12 with a 20 round drum of 00-buck shot ready to rock and roll - and a 1911 in the holster...

I'm a little surprised at some of the responses. Not answering the door? Calling the police if someone knocks on your door at night?

Click to expand...

I live in the sticks and rarely have visitors, especially unanounced visitors in the middle of the night. Being so outside the norm, I am put on edge. If I can't identify the person at my door, I assume they have no reason to be there in the middle of the night. At 3 in the afternoon, that might be a completely different story, since people conduct legitimate business during the daytime. Not so much so at night.

Stranger knocking on the door in the middle of the night, my mind jumps to possible emergency (i.e. car wreck down the street) or something slightly more nefarious. Either way, I'm not taking chances.

Nautilus said:

I'm a little surprised at some of the responses. Not answering the door? Calling the police if someone knocks on your door at night?

In the 10 years I've been in my house I've had a few people unexpectedly knock on my door at night.

Click to expand...

That's why I peek. I've helped a teenager in an accident and a woman who was in a single car accident. But the door does not get opened until they step waaaaay away from it. They don't ride with me. Sorry, but I stopped trusting people once I had experience with the non-"high road" part of society. Even in the sticks...there are gangs and meth (or whatever drug of the week is popular) addicts. People may occasionally need help, but I haven't seen that in years and years. Everyone and their brother has a a cell phone and/or on-star. Even 15 years ago, if I was stranded and needed help...I wouldn't knock on a stranger's door in the country for fear of getting shot on the porch.

USAF Vet said:

Stranger knocking on the door in the middle of the night, my mind jumps to possible emergency (i.e. car wreck down the street) or something slightly more nefarious. Either way, I'm not taking chances.

Click to expand...

That about sums it up for me. I assume nefarious until I the person proves otherwise. My family's safety is more important than whoever is knocking on the door. If I can help and they need help, so be it....but not at even the slightest risk to my family's safety.

This Bad Boy

USAF_Vet said:

I live in the sticks and rarely have visitors, especially unanounced visitors in the middle of the night. Being so outside the norm, I am put on edge. If I can't identify the person at my door, I assume they have no reason to be there in the middle of the night. At 3 in the afternoon, that might be a completely different story, since people conduct legitimate business during the daytime. Not so much so at night.

Stranger knocking on the door in the middle of the night, my mind jumps to possible emergency (i.e. car wreck down the street) or something slightly more nefarious. Either way, I'm not taking chances.

Click to expand...

I understand, I live in a similar area... very rural, very quiet and at night hours can pass without a car driving by. I can understand taking basic precautions, and your response above pretty much mirrors the way I answer my door.

In the 10 years I've lived in this house I've probably had 25 late night knocks. I blame this on the fact that there are not many houses in the area and mine is always one of the better lit. I have a bright light on top of my garage that lights up the whole front lawn and I always have a light or two on in the house at night so it's probably a little more inviting to someone looking for help. Out of the 25+ late night knocks, I'd say 5-10 were friends/family and rest were people who honestly needed help.

Doesn't matter, whatever I pick up will do the job, but you can pretty much take it to the bank that it will be equipped with a laser..... I like Lasers, green ones, red one's.. I find that it tends to pretty much do a lot of talking for you... They tend to explain your position on things in clear and understandable terms, void of language barriers.. it eliminates a lot of small talk..
after all the object is NOT to shoot someone unless THEY want me too...

Even 15 years ago, if I was stranded and needed help...I wouldn't knock on a stranger's door in the country for fear of getting shot on the porch.

Click to expand...

I have done it once or twice over the years... rather uncomfortable. I knocked and then got down off the porch, I wanted as much distance between me and the door as possible.

Up here there is little or no cell phone service. So if you end up in a jam late at night on the side of the road, you are knocking or walking.... in February when it's -10* walking may not be the best option.

There are definitely parts of the U.S. that if you are stranded and don't ask for help, you may die. Exercise caution - don't lose your life but in the pursuit of that, don't lose your humanity.

Anecdotal: A friend who grew up in Minnesota / Dakotas described that when he began some long distance commuting, in weather that can kill a man from exposure in many minutes, that his parents gave him some advice. "You know those government compound, missile silos? If there are no other houses around and you're stuck, just go rattle the fence of one of those. Someone will be along to help you shortly..."

Nautilus said:

Up here there is little or no cell phone service. So if you end up in a jam late at night on the side of the road, you are knocking or walking.... in February when it's -10* walking may not be the best option.

Click to expand...

Ahhh! That makes a huge difference. I live in the sticks, but the weather here won't kill you and you could hump it 1 1/2 more miles to a pay phone at a convenience store (911 is free and it takes credit/debit cards)...which I would gladly walk that distance if I had the choice between that and knocking on a stranger's door. I guess in my mind I'm rationalizing why someone would bother knocking on my door. You better be bleeding, have small children with you or your car should be upside down in my yard; otherwise I have a hard time believing anything you say. Like I said though, not many knocks.

Well, with lots of outdoor lighting, I look through the VERY wide-angled peep-hole and see who it is.

If I DO NOT RECOGNIZE THEM - I don't open the door and ask them what they need. Will I let them in? No - but I'll call someone for them if they need it and they are welcome to wait outside on my lighted porch until assistance arrives.

If I recognize them, I open the INNER door and ask them... "S'up Man, kinda' late for a caller eh?"
(and yes indeed, even if I know them, I'm well armed with the weapon in my hands/out of sight and I'm exercising EVERY caution there is)

Being retired, I'm relied upon by the people in my neighborhood for anything from "jump-starting" their car, emergency "fixes" (flooding, home stuff) - and help with their kids when needed. They know I'm home and they're my neighbors - they know what, when, and how they can rely upon me.

They also know I'll respond as a "sheep-dog" as I call the local authorities when needed and offer that "warm-fuzzy" security that's sometimes needed.

And my neighbors all do the same thing I would do. I'm lucky here and I know it - they feel the same way.

It's tough to be a good neighbor and exercising caution is of the utmost importance, but I WILL be a "good neighbor" - and "they" know it.

Woe to those that aren't a part of "our" neighborhood and try to take advantage.

I live in a rural area and my cell phone doesn't usually work from my home. Even if it did there is no 911 service... not that it would help anyway. I have VOIP but my ISP service is only so-so.

If I recognize the person at the door I answer it with my pistol tucked behind my back. If somone I don't know ever knocks day or night (hasn't happened yet) then I'll step out of direct line-of-fire from the door and ask what they want without opening the door. I really need to install an intercom.

Oh, and the "unconventional" Nerf gun I posted earlier is just a backup.

I've answered with the Model 10B once or twice, (technically not 'answered', more of a 'go and check out the noise' kind of thing.)


Currently, I seem to reach for the PS-90 when people start coming down the driveway.

It doesn't matter what you have in hand, there is NO SAFE WAY of opening a standard door. You can very easily be shot or knocked down. There's no reason you can't get information through an intercom or just by yelling from a distance. If you must physically respond, go around from another direction, see who's really there and approach from the flank. But that's also dicey.

Glock with a 33 round magazine? A short barreled 20 gauge semi auto with 10 shot drum and bayonet? Man, where do you live?

If things are that bad outside, don't answer the door at all!

I don't only worry about answering the door at night, though. Who says thieves are only out at night? Any unexpected knock on the door puts me on alert. Anyone could be casing your house, or planning something horrible.

We have a little window where we can peek out at the door. If it's someone I don't know, I don't bother answering OR I open the door enough to talk to them. I don't open the door wide to let them see inside. Fortunately our house layout has a coat closet right at the front door, blocking most everything.

At the point of door opening though, you're compromised. A swift kick on the door would easily set you spinning, and they've gained entrance and can shut the door behind them. Now nobody knows what's going on.

My strategy sometimes with random "Lawn care" or "pest control" people that look "off" is to bring the conversation outside. I step out of the house, close the door behind me (door handle locked, so door locks behind me) and proceed to talk. This puts people off somewhat, and I like keeping people guessing when they've intruded on my life and their intentions are unknown. Once the conversation is over, I fiddle with something or other on the front porch until they're gone, then enter my code on the garage door keypad and go back inside.

If it's a little kid selling candy/popcorn as a fundraiser, I open the door and put in an order for at least $15 and then tell them good luck with the team/cub scouts/whatever. Then I wave to the parent that is always standing nearby and tell 'em God bless. Things aren't bad enough that I can't help out some kids here and there...at least where I live it's not that bad!

If I heard a knock late at night, I'm thinking home invasion with folks comming in from the front and back. I'd take the mini-14 I own that has a light and plenty of ammo. I wouldn't open the door or stand in front of it when I ask who's there and what do they want. Dog would be with me as well - hopefully barking a great deal. Of couse, the motion detector lights would be tripped and I have them around the home so hopefully I would have an idea if folks have sneaked about. One of the things I want to do is install a wireless intercom system so I can ask who it is and not be anywhere near the door.