My first "bump in the night" - yikes

[shockwave]

For whatever reason, last night I wasn't sleeping very deeply and I heard the doorbell ring. Or did I? It must have been an auditory hallucination, but I couldn't be sure.

I looked at the clock: 3:05 am.

I listened intently while sliding out of bed, grabbed the nightstand flashlight (S&W Powertech Galaxy 6 LED - white/blue combo) and reached under the bed for the 686 in its box. [I discovered that this is not optimal. Took too long to unlatch and withdraw the gun. I need to mount a holster to the bedframe.]

Finger out of trigger guard, gun held alongside my right leg, flashlight in my left hand (off), I left the bedroom and paused at the threshold of the kitchen. A nightlight in there gave some illumination, but I just peeked around the doorframe, looking for a vehicle in the drive or in front of the house. Seeing nothing, I moved past the doorway to the dining room window to catch a better angle.

The thin Venetian blinds were 90 percent closed, and the room was dark, so I had a reasonable amount of cover. Couldn't see any vehicle outside. At this point, I'm thinking that I must have dreamed the doorbell. After a while, I finally went to the front door and checked the narrow curtained window beside the door: nobody out there.

Checked the back entrance, did a circuit of all windows and doors to ensure they were secure, and went back to bed. My analysis is that it took way too long to get to the .357. Maybe 6 seconds. I've got a spare holster with a belt clip, so I'm going to rig something to the bedframe at the head of the bed by the wall and frame. Not visible to anyone but I'll know it's there.

The flashlight was ready but I never needed to turn it on. Second major failure was that I didn't have the cellphone handy. This was a good test of my HD setup. Some weak points discovered and I've got some work to do to improve my response times and postures. Thanks for reading and I apologize for the lack of fireworks.

 

[Gouranga]

Another idea...http://reviews.homedepot.com/1999/1...-shelf-white-finish-8-x-8-reviews/reviews.htm

For handguns, I have one of these on my side of the bed about 6 ft up (wood finish not white). Nice and out of the reach of the little ones. When I go to bed my M&P 40 FS sits up there waiting for me, has plenty of room up there. The one time I have need it to date, I got to it very rapidly. Is actually part of my night time ritual, I will wipe it down with a silicon cloth before I put it up there.

When I stand up it is right to my left (being left handed, that is handy). Very quick access.

On the dream, I have been there. had a couple dreams wake me up and leave me wondering IF I heard that or not...lol.

 

[yeti]

Darkness and thin Venetian blinds are concealment NOT cover; the difference is only important if you are receiving incoming fire, but if you have incoming it is a REALLY big difference.

 

[Purgatory]

Yep. It's never a waste of time or anything to feel silly about to check it out once in a while when you even THINK you hear something. If for no other reason than to practice and further in-grain your defense plan into your subconscious so it'll be smoother when the real thing happens.

Work out the most fluid plan from all conceivable angles, then stick to the exact same actions. Then in a terrifying moment of stress and confustion it will almost take care of itself. Before you know it, you'll be armed with weapon and flashlight at a strategic point in your bedroom or in your home somewhere assessing your next move.

As you discovered, the need for quick access to a firearm is preferable.

If you haven't heard of some of the terrible stories of people attacked and brutally killed all sorts of ways IN THEIR BEDS, look around. They're out there.

Of course that's worst case scenario, but having instant access to a firearm, a knife and a flashlight at arm's length from where your body slumbers is comforting, if not necessary.

They make a shotgun holder rack that slides between your mattress and boxspring that looks pretty handy and not hard to make.

I actually have a pistol holster rigged to side of my bed in the perfect place for my reach.

Have loud dogs that always sleep in living room and challenge any sound outside the house -so, unless they come through my bedroom window, I have some time to react.

And even then, I try to be as prepared as possible to wake up to a violent physical attack.

 

[shockwave]

I actually have a pistol holster rigged to side of my bed in the perfect place for my reach.

Exactly. I'd been considering this, but last night's adventure made the necessity of it crystal clear. Thanks for your thoughts, guys. Appreciated.

 

[BP Hunter]

My setup includes a Remington 870 12 gauge shotgun with an extended tube holding 7+1 of 00 with tacical light on the extension tube. I also have my 1911 in a Blackhawk holster with spare mag on a belt lying next to my shotgun that I put on. Included is my cell phone with blue tooth so my hands are free. Lastly I have electronic ear muffs...just in case I have to save my ears from the gunblast.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

Glad to hear it was nothing. A couple of thoughts. Motion detector lights on the outside of the home are nice just for this kind of stuff. Also, u may consider getting a proper gun belt w holster (fitted for you in the appropiate state of undress). On the belt, I would also include spare speed loaders, your flash light. Spare keys to the home with a light stick attached (so u can toss out to window to LEOs should u hunker down). That way if bump happens again, u have your go to stuff all there. Of course, its easy to b a monday morning quarterbac. U did very well as is.

 

[WALKERs210]

Lets hope that it is at least another 40 yrs or so before any more bumps in the night. Good thing that comes from something like this is you can evaluate the what you did and did not do. When adrenaline is pumping all the practice can go to the wind. One of my best alarm systems is two miniature Dachie's loud and will darn near bark at a leaf dropping, which for me is great given that my hearing is not what it was 30 yrs ago.

 

[bikerdoc]

Good drill, some lessons learned and now you are better prepared.

 

[Dnaltrop]

The drill is more fun with a pack of small children, and relatives under your roof.

Don't know how available to you, but I picked up a pair of 950kv stun pen/flashlights that I carry with the gun.

Partially for if I have to act and gunfire is not an option.

Mostly to scare off the more aggressive raccoons/large dogs. The noise is very attention grabbing.

Like just about everyone else here (I hope) I have the standard ultra bright LED light. However I still find myself grabbing the big sunburn inducing 2m candlepower Halogen rechargeable spotlight often.

 

[loadedround]

I have a security alarm named Lucy, a mixed breed 5 yo watch dog. Nothing can come within 25 feet of my house w/o my security alarm going off...day or night. We sleep well!

 

[SSN Vet]

now if everything was exactly the same, but you had actually seen somebody outside, many here would have replied that you should have never left your bedroom, but rathrer immediately called the police, hunkered down with you revolver and for cryin' out loud, never clear your own house.

 

[Robert]

now if everything was exactly the same, but you had actually seen somebody outside, many here would have replied that you should have never left your bedroom, but rathrer immediately called the police, hunkered down with you revolver and for cryin' out loud, never clear your own house.

Way to troll an otherwise positive thread.

Shockwave,
Good going. You learned some weak points in your system and now you know how to adjust for the future. I have a similar idea of attaching a left handed holster to the center console of my truck since the seat and 5 point harness keep me from getting to my carry pistol.

One point, if you are going to have the pistol and flash light might as well have it at the high ready. I am sure you are aware of locking your flash light wrist under your firearm wrist so the one points in the same direction as the other. If you had encountered someone in your home you would have been able to blind with the light and then use the pistol if needed.

 

[MikeNice]

Glad to hear it was nothing. A couple of thoughts. Motion detector lights on the outside of the home are nice just for this kind of stuff.

My motion detectors keep geting set off by bats and ground bound animals. You have to be careful about placement and sensitivity. Otherwise you end up ignoring them.

 

[Mr.Davis]

I need to mount a holster to the bedframe.

If you don't want to damage your bedframe, check out the Bedside Backup from Crossbreed Holsters - it slides between the box springs and mattress.

 

[Dr_2_B]

Took too long to unlatch and withdraw the gun.

At the risk of sounding like a know-it-all, I think one of our biggest mis-estimates is just how quickly these things go down. And I don't think a person can truly see that until they experience it like you did.