Safest way to store loaded revolver in nightstand?

[jawman]

I have a SAO revolver that I like to keep loaded and stored in the nightstand for home defense purposes. I am wondering what is the safest way to store it like that.

Currently, it is loaded with 5 rounds with the hammer at full rest, resting on the firing pin of the empty chamber. Is this the best way to store it?

Or should I have the hammer pulled back at the first click position, (called the safety position according to the manual), with the hammer away from the firing pin? I feel that if I store it like that, it will weaken the spring with it constantly being held in that position. That's why I decided to load 5 rounds in with the hammer fully rested on the empty chamber.

Or, if it is okay to leave the hammer at the first click safety position, and it will not weaken the spring being stored like that for a long period of time, to have all 6 rounds in the chamber?

What do you guys recommend? Thanks guys.

 

[Loosedhorse]

Depends on the make. Most Colt SAA repros are not drop-safe, and I would only load them hammer-down on empty chamber. Some, like Rugers, are drop-safe, and can be loaded all-six, hammer down.

I assume you have a strong preference for SA revolvers; so be it, although they are not my SD handgun choice.

 

[jawman]

It's just a Colt Frontier Scout .22 revolver, SA only. I know it's not the best choice for a SD gun, but it's all I have until I save up enough to buy a bigger gun. It was my grandfather's gun, and my dad gave it to me after my grandfather died. It is not drop safe, thus the safety position that is a click before half cock position. However I just have 5 rounds loaded with the hammer resting on the empty chamber. So you think that is safe and okay to store? I can't imagine why that wouldn't be safe, but I'm a newbie, that's why I wanted to check with THR.

 

[Tomcat47]

I think that is safe way to keep it and you are safety minded! +10

I have a very old .38 like that, I load 5 and rest on empty! It stays in safe now. I have newer revolvers which have transfer bar firing pin mechanism. These are what is considered to be fully loaded "drop safe"

If you have any other people around or smaller children, you might consider a night stand/wall safe that uses finger tip combination etc.

 

[jawman]

Thanks for responding Tomcat. Glad to know I did the right thing/safe thing. Can you tell me more about the nightstand/wall safe with finger tip combination you mentioned?

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Currently, it is loaded with 5 rounds with the hammer at full rest, resting on the firing pin of the empty chamber. Is this the best way to store it?

Yep -- that's the safe way to store or carry a traditional (Colt Style) Single Action.

Or should I have the hammer pulled back at the first click position, (called the safety position according to the manual),

Absolutely not -- if this is a conventional Colt style Single Action. Dropping the gun, or having something inadvertantly strike it can break the "safety" or half-cock notch.

Back in the old days, many a cowboy learned that the hard way -- typically when saddling a horse. While tightening the girth, with the stirrup on the seat of the saddle, the stirrup could slip off, hit the cowboy's hip, and drive the hammer forward -- BANG!

A friend of mine in Viet Nam carried an M1911A1 on half-cock like that, and had it go off when he slung his M16 and the butt hit the hammer. He blamed a trooper to whom he had lent the gun to examine a tunnel, and complained the trooper didn't put it back on half-cock when he returned it.

He turned pale when I explained to him what really happened.

 

[tpelle]

Yep -- that's the safe way to store or carry a traditional (Colt Style) Single Action.


Absolutely not -- if this is a conventional Colt style Single Action. Dropping the gun, or having something inadvertantly strike it can break the "safety" or half-cock notch.

Back in the old days, many a cowboy learned that the hard way -- typically when saddling a horse. While tightening the girth, with the stirrup on the seat of the saddle, the stirrup could slip off, hit the cowboy's hip, and drive the hammer forward -- BANG!

A friend of mine in Viet Nam carried an M1911A1 on half-cock like that, and had it go off when he slung his M16 and the butt hit the hammer. He blamed a trooper to whom he had lent the gun to examine a tunnel, and complained the trooper didn't put it back on half-cock when he returned it.

He turned pale when I explained to him what really happened.

Hence the Colt Series 80 passive firing pin block.

Since we're talking 1911's, for a while I carried mine cocked and locked (hammer cocked, safety on, and a round in the chamber) in a Galco SOB (small of back) holster. One day, while walking down the street, I felt the gun slip out of the holster and start to slide down the back of my right leg. Reflexively I whirled around to try to catch it, and only managed to kick it with my left foot. I then watched it tumble end over end across a two-lane road! It hit hard enough that it broke a chip out of the mainspring housing. Didn't come off safe or fire, though!

I stopped doing two things that day: Worrying about cocked and locked carry, and using a Galco SOB holster.

 

[Tomcat47]

Jawman...Here is a link: http://www.homaksecurity.com/PistolBoxes.html

There are others , but I like this new unit from Homak About $38 bucks at Amazon....(link) http://www.amazon.com/HOMAK-HS10036683-Electronic-Access-Pistol/dp/B000MNN8DG

 

[ArchAngelCD]

It's just a Colt Frontier Scout .22 revolver, SA only. I know it's not the best choice for a SD gun, but it's all I have until I save up enough to buy a bigger gun.

Might I suggest buying a used shotgun for HD instead of waiting to save enough money for a larger caliber handgun?

A good used shotgun can cost you as little as $100 and is probably the best HD weapon available. If you look for an old break open single shot shotgun you might be able to buy it for as little as $50 or $60. Load is up with #4 Buckshot and you are good to go. If you live somewhere that over-penetration is a real threat you can even use #6 Birdshot.

Just a few things to think of...

 

[SeekHer]

It is always better to have the trigger spring under no tension or pressure...Whether you have it resting on an empty or full chambre depends on the make and model of the gun...Older Rugers didn't have the hammer block.

If strictly for a P/HD gun then I concur with ArchAngel and get yourself a shotgun...Double barrel coach gun with exposed hammers if you want to keep the nostalgia thing going or a good semi auto for quick recovery due to lessened recoil.

 

[gamestalker]

I can see no benefit to keeping it at 1/2 cock. If it's a rather new firearm (transfer bar) no worries with regard to drop fire. Back in old days revolvers were very prone to drop fire to which I had the opportunity to experience on one occasion. But since the inventon of the transfer bar, I load all chambers and carry with the hammer down.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I can see no benefit to keeping it at 1/2 cock. If it's a rather new firearm (transfer bar) no worries with regard to drop fire. Back in old days revolvers were very prone to drop fire to which I had the opportunity to experience on one occasion. But since the inventon of the transfer bar, I load all chambers and carry with the hammer down.

With the transfer bar, that's the way to go.

With the more conventional lockwork (the Colt SAA and the Ruger Old Model Blackhawk), hammer down on an empty chamber is the only way to go.

With an SAA of conventional design, half cock should never be used.

 

[jawman]

Thanks to everyone who responded. I will keep it loaded with 5 rounds and the hammer at full rest on the 6th and empty chamber.

 

[Owen Sparks]

Ever thought about getting a more modern weapon?

 

[jawman]

Haha, yes, I am in the process of doing that. This pistol was an heirloom from my grandfather who recently passed, and in the meantime is the only SD firearm I have, besides the rifle. It will have to do for now.

 

[Busyhands94]

i keep my handgun in a small holster on half cock, it is under the bookshelf but the grip is sticking out. my mattress is on the floor, so if someone breaks down my bedroom door i can pull my pistol, and then shoot all five rounds. but, when i go out i keep it in my gun cabinet locked up.

 

[shooting4life]

I keep mine like this