A very “special” nightstand gun

[vanfunk]

Like many of you, I’ve been around the world and back again with my choice of nightstand duty gun to protect myself and my family. Just about every handgun in my collection, past and present, has served in this capacity. At 52 years old, I feel it’s time to “settle down” with a consistent handgun and caliber/load that is going to be intuitive and effective. My choice? A Smith and Wesson 67-1 .38 special loaded with Underwood 125 grain +p hollow points at a bona fide 1250 fps. This particular Smith has already served our extended family for 30 years; my Dad bought it from a police supply store (likely a former duty revolver) to keep in the cabin he had built in Maine. It was concealed behind a sneaky sliding wooden panel by the master bed that was completely invisible to any unknowing individual. He sold the cabin shortly before he died and gave me the the .38. Since then I’ve really bonded with the revolver; it’s so accurate, well proportioned and easy to shoot well that it’s just a natural for night duty. The loadings available today from Underwood and other makers really transform the lowly .38 special into something of a beast, slinging lead at low-level .357 mag velocities without feeling like a flash-bang grenade went off in your hand. With hand-filling target stocks on, even my wife finds it controllable and accurate. I sleep well at night with this faithful companion in a biometric safe, standing ready with a full cylinder and an HKS speedloader. What do you have on duty right now?

 

[Armored farmer]

That sounds like a great choice.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Excellent!

 

[armoredman]

Beautiful revolver sir, with a rich history.

 

[Riomouse911]

Very nice!

Yes, the Models 15/67 are great guns for just about any purpose, especially for simple and reliable home defense duties. Your ammo choice is also first rate should you be forced to utilize it to protect you and yours.

That one looks like it is in great shape for a long-time hideaway piece. I bet it saw some wicked temperature swings tucked away in a Maine vacation cabin, and it came to you with nary a mark. (It hit a brisk -45 F at my FIL’s place in New Hampshire earlier this year!)


My 15-2 has a finish that is a tad use-worn, but the 67 no dash is in as nice a shape as yours is. I don’t use them as nightstand guns, that is a CZ-75 SP-01. But they are regular range visitors and get used a bit for fun.



CZ on duty carrying 18 147 gr Federal HST on board, with some nighttime reading material.



Congratulations on receiving a bit of family history and keeping it ready to do what it does best.

Stay safe.

 

[Y-T71]

A man/woman could do a lot worse than a, 4" .38/.357 K-frame revolver in good working order.

IMO they are a strong contender for the epitome of simple reliability when circumstances call for it.

 

[eddiememphis]

What do you have on duty right now?

Remington 870 Express 20 gauge full of #3 buckshot.

 

[vanfunk]

Thanks everyone! The thing is such a natural pointer that, even without night sights, it just excels as a point shooter. That bullet is going to go wherever my arm is pointed. I’m not ashamed to admit that I like to have my double scotch at night (triple?) so I need a firearm that is almost magically intuitive. Riomouse, if I find a 67-no dash like yours I am going to buy it, AND I am on the lookout for a model 15 or a pre-15 Combat masterpiece. I could probably find a 66 or a 19 pretty easily but I prefer the svelte look and balance of the.38. Plus, I no longer have a need for a .357 (I say that, then again I have my eye on a new Python because, well, Python). Eddie Memphis, no arguing with your choice, lol. I kept a Remington 870 Express 12 gauge loaded with #4 buck leaned up against the corner of the bedroom for a LONG time.

 

[Coyote3855]

Mossberg 590 20 gauge and Glock 19.

 

[Rexster]

A wonderful story, about a father’s home defense sixgun. A 4” medium-frame .38 revolver certainly does serve well for near-the-bed duty. At the moment, a ~3” SP101 is stashed nearest within reach, for that role, and when my waist pouch is removed, for the night, it will be on the floor, ready to grab-and-go, with a 2” S&W Model 64 revolver inside it. Of course, if there is time to get up and take two steps, there is a Benelli M2 12 gauge shotgun, my most-recent duty shotgun, in the twilight of my police patrol career, now still serving in my retirement, as the go-to long gun.

I would, normally, use a 4” GP100 as the big go-to sixgun, but, I need a range session, to dial-in a replacement rear sight.

 

[Tallball]

Good choice. I've used a 4" 38/357 as a nightstand gun for most of my life.

 

[desmobob]

I have a 4" Model 66-2 on nightstand duty. After shooting some 125gr. JHPs powered by H110 on the last range trip. I wondered if I'd actually want to touch one of those off indoors, for any reason. .38 Special +P loads make more sense to me now.

 

[hotshot357]

Like alot of people, I have two in the bedroom. On the nightstand is a S&W 640 pro series and under the bed is a Mossberg 12 gauge loaded with 00 buck.

 

[desmobob]

Like alot of people, I have two in the bedroom. On the nightstand is a S&W 640 pro series and under the bed is a Mossberg 12 gauge loaded with 00 buck.

I have a 590 on duty in the bedroom, too. S&W and Mossberg make a good security team!

 

[stonebuster]

Great choice of a nightstand gun with a family history of serving to help keep your family protected. Firearms handed down from family are very special, like having a part of them with you. I often have an old worn Model 10 4" with no family history on the nightstand.

 

[Speedo66]

You’re always well served with a .38/.357 K frame, one with some family history makes it even better.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

For a time my nightstand gun was a 5" 629 with tritium sights, loaded with cowboy-level HBWC handloads. The gun was heavy enough and the recoil light enough that my 4' 11" wife could shoot this combination comfortably.

Once I got my CCW permit, I eventually got lazy and put my carry piece on the nightstand. Saved me from moving stuff back and forth from the safe twice a day.

 

[Hookeye]

Smith 67 is a neat rig.
Womenfolk here found the 4" no dash too big (????).
Away it went.
Their loss.

 

[LAH]

Good choice for sure. I use a S&W MP Compact in 9MM.

 

[plainsdrifter]

Well the nightstand has this and under my pillow is my SP101 with 38's and two speed loaders with .357's close by

 

[LoonWulf]

right now g3c with an optic and a light on the side. Ill eventually get a weapon light for it as well. I do swap them out tho as i like to play with my guns and i prefer not to open the beside safe. If another guns gonna be in there its probably my gp100 44 speciall and a speed loader or 2.

 

[Ks5shooter]

For a time my nightstand gun was a 5" 629 with tritium sights, loaded with cowboy-level HBWC handloads. The gun was heavy enough and the recoil light enough that my 4' 11" wife could shoot this combination comfortably.

Once I got my CCW permit, I eventually got lazy and put my carry piece on the nightstand. Saved me from moving stuff back and forth from the safe twice a day.

My carry goes on nightstand as well.My wife does the same.There are other go to defensive guns secured in the room as well in case SHTF becomes an issue.

 

[StrawHat]

The K frame 36 caliber revolver is still the easiest revolver for most people to handle. I carried one flavor or another of it when wearing a badge. Now that I am badgeless, I still prefer revolvers but I have solidly gravitated to the 45 ACP cartridge so, this Model 22-4 is my 24-7 piece.



Kevin

 

[jstert]

taurus 856 snubbie loaded with 6-38sp wadcutters. it replaced a rossi 5-shot 38sp revolver just because…

 

[Rodfac]

a consistent handgun and caliber/load that is going to be intuitive and effective. My choice? A Smith and Wesson 67-1 .38 special loaded with Underwood 125 grain +p hollow points

Pretty good choice...simple, reliable and with a good choice of loads - controllable. Here's mine, Rod

​