House gun-cocked or not?

[38snapcaps]

The original owner of my home defense revolver asked me over the weekend to sell it back to him, it had alot of personal history to it so of course I did. But now I don't have a permanent "nightstand" gun.

There is just my wife and I so we can have any firearm and out anywhere we wish. No children to be concerned with.

As my wife and I were discussing its replacement it came out that she really prefers an auto over a revolver. She picked up a .38 snub and wasn't real keen on its grip or trigger. Then I handed her my Bersa and she said "Now I really like this". Same for the PPK/s we have.

Now here is the question: she is not a regular shooter but would pick it up to defend herself if need be. She has trouble pulling the trigger on a DA/SA such as my PPK/s and could just cock it first, but that could take precious time. I think about Glocks, XD's and Kahrs with DAO triggers but they make me nervous due to the fact you rack the slide and its cocked, no decocker, no safety. You may say its the same as a revolver but its not because the trigger pull is lighter. With a Kahr or a Glock you can't even tell for sure if it is cocked, or even if a round is in the chamber. I think she might like an auto like this, but maybe some visible safety features would be better. Or, should I try to find a revolver that she would like? See where I'm coming from?

What do you think about this?

 

[sm]

Always let the user pick the gun they will use, regardless of gender.

A user must feel confident, comfortable with choice or they won't shoot it to be any good/safe/confident with it.

I usually suggest let someone else give initial gun handling/shooting/safety lessons for serious stuff. Difference in parents and kids VS spouses and kinfolk. Alleviates stress and such.

 

[newman32]

When it comes to Kahrs or Glocks, (or any gun) just don't put your finger in the trigger guard until you want to shoot it! There shouldn't be too much of a difference handling one of those autos and handling a fully loaded revolver. Pull the trigger, it goes "bang". Keep your finger off the trigger, and it won't go bang. Don't worry about not having any indicators telling you if a round is chambered or not because you should always assume that a round IS chambered, and treat it as such. Don't place too much confidence in safties either, as they too can fail. The best safety is between your ears! If you are handling a semi-auto in a "less-safe" manner because it has a safety, you are testing fate. Having a safety is no substitute for following generally accepted safety practices.

 

[Al Thompson]

Newman's got it. No finger on trigger until ready to shoot.

 

[foghornl]

Of course, it depends HUGELY on what SHE can use.

That being said, my 'bedside table companion' is the Springfield 1911-A1 Champion Model. Cocked and locked with a Rem 230-Gr Golden Sabre in the pipe and 7 more under it. And an extra mag..total of 15 rounds I can use in a hurry.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Get her a ballon filled with sand (a powerball).

As we get older all of us lose finger strength, and its a good thing to have around the house, esp if you work with your hands a lot.

Then take the time to teach her safe handling & shooting with the Bersa or PPK.

The other option is an SA pistol that you leave cocked and locked.

 

[Baba Louie]

Should you decide on a semi-auto like the Glock family et al, buy a cheap Uncle Mikes holster. Once the firearm is charged, set it in holster and then place in nightstand. If its in the holster, it's loaded (they're ALL loaded all the time tho, right?) and ready for use. Open drawer, pick it up, shed the skin, call 911 from cell phone and there you go.

Anyway, it works for me with the Glock.

I did the same for my ex using a Taurus 82 revolver. (Loaded, inexpensive cloth holster, nightstand)

I also had ex and daughter practice "dry-firing" the revolver with each hand a min of 50 times, over and over. Racking a slide was just too much of a chore even when they learned how, tho' pulling back the bolt on the Ruger MkII (the other gun I left with them) was OK... I just felt it wasn't the best choice for home defense (better than nothing tho').

Should the girls ever really need it, I'm sure the adrenaline dump in their system will help with the trigger pull in DA mode.

Adios

 

[Darrin]

I think about Glocks, XD's and Kahrs with DAO triggers but they make me nervous due to the fact you rack the slide and its cocked, no decocker, no safety. You may say its the same as a revolver but its not because the trigger pull is lighter. With a Kahr or a Glock you can't even tell for sure if it is cocked, or even if a round is in the chamber.

Just a little clarification:

Double action triggers do two (2) things: cock and fire. A <insert DAO pistol name here> is no different with a round in the chamber than any DA/SA pistol with the hammer down. Just think of it as a DA with the trigger pull of a SA. No cocking or decocking. No problems.

Training is the key.

 

[10-Ring]

If you treat any gun (especially as house gun) as if it's loaded, you'll be fine. For this application, something slim w/ a decocker or that is striker fired should do the trick. I'd think the XD & it's grip safety will serve you & your wife well. Try to find one to rent & shoot just to make sure

 

[Cawdor]

Some of these may work for you.

An HK USP Compact V1 will give you a gun that can be cocked and locked; it also has a decocker that puts the gun into DA/SA, and you can still engage the safety in DA/SA. There is also the USP Compact LEM. It is "pre-cocked" to reduce the weight of the DA pull, but it has a longer trigger pull than a Glock (about 1/2" overall, according to Gun Tests. The forthcoming P2000 also uses the LEM trigger.

A Walther P99QA is partially cocked, like the Glock, but has a decocker. The striker is visible when it is partially cocked.

The Springfield XD adds a grip safety to a Glock-like approach.

 

[Snaps]

I really like the decock button on my SW99. I figure it's probably more a mental thing but I like to be able to see it as uncocked, yet still have to nothing but pull the trigger to fire.

 

[9x19]

Just to clarify a bit, the Glocks and Kahrs are NOT cocked with a round in the chamber, so there is no need to have a "cocked" indicator.

With the Glock and Kahr, the trigger moving rearward is the ONLY way to draw the striker fully to the rear (creating enough potetial energy in the striker to discharge a cartridge) and release it, allowing the weapon to fire.

At all other times these pistol are NOT cocked and ready to fire.

The XD is different, and it IS cocked with a round in the chamber, so it has the cocked firing pin protruding from the rear as a reminder.

Good luck with your choice.

 

[Old Fuff]

You can have the Walther modified so that the safety works, but not the decocker. In that case you can have the hammer cocked with the safety on, or lower the cocked hammer safely if the safety is "on." I did this on a PP model because I didn't like the hammer dropping and impacting the safety every time I engaged the safety while the hammer was cocked.

 

[Standing Wolf]

In a situation like yours, I'd have to think about his and hers guns. If her life is going to depend on a gun, it should be a gun she's entirely comfortable with—and likewise for you. Obviously, you'll want to cross-train on each other's guns, but I'd recommend two.

 

[E357]

I would be one the lookout for a revolver with a light trigger pull or a single action semi-auto with a very positive safety.

Elliot

 

[coldshot03/04]

All of my houseguns are double action with a rd in the chamber ready to go if and when needed.

 

[TIMC]

I just picked up a used DAO S&W mod 13 .357 mag from Century intl that came with Hogue grips 1 speed loader and holster for $198. I think they still have a few left. It needed a little touch up blueing but it is in othewise great shape. It has a good feel for a large frame revolver. I'm going to use it for a bedside gun.

 

[TIMC]

Here is a picture of the mod 13.

 

[tlhelmer]

Cocked, locked and ready to rock.

 

[Mannlicher]

Before I worried about what to use, I would darn sure get some training, and the same for the little woman. Without training, and a LOT of practice, you two are more of a danger to each other than you would be to an intruder.

That having been said, I would get your wife a Browning HP in .40 S&W, or 9MM. Keep it in condition One. You can't find a faster pistol to bring into action.

And don't forget the training and practice

 

[bubbygator]

My carry gun is a Glock-26 (& probably a S&W Airweight in the future). My house gun is a Browning HP. Because I have grandkids around, I keep the carry gun locked-up except when carrying. The house gun is in a GunVault with finger-action combination lock sitting where I can reach it from the bed.

 

[Dorrin79]

my house gun is a shotgun, one round 00 buck in the chamber, 5 more in the tube. safety on.

I keep my defensive handguns loaded, some are cocked and some aren't