Which of these guns should be next to my bed?

Status
Not open for further replies.
J

joey93turbo

Member
Joined
Aug 12, 2003
Messages
370
Location
Portland, OR
I've got a few choices for a home defense gun, currently they're all in the safe. I'm really worried though cause it takes me a long time to get into the safe and retrieve a gun, should I need one. Here's the list:

- SIG P226R .40 (10 round)
- S&W 4501 .45 (8 round)
- Colt Anaconda 8" .44 mag (6 round)
- S&W 8" .357 mag (6 round)
- SAR-1 AK (40 round) :p

I don't really shoot any of these guns better or worse than the others. What do you guys think?
 
I suggest either the Sig 226 or the Smith 4501. The Smith .357 is a little large for HD use, and the Anaconda and AK are a little too much gun (unless you use speicals in the Anaconda). Personally, I'd use the Sig with some new post-ban high cap magazines, backed up by the AK (just in case the zombies come for you).
 
Do you live in a house or apartments and do you have roommates?

Do you have a light on the AK?
 
Do you have nite sites on any of those?

I think that I would rule out the AK, it's just not as manueverable as the others.
 
I don't have a light on the AK or night sites on the pistols. I live in a house with my parents and my brother while I go to school. My brother's 16, and has his .357 smith next to his bed. Gun safety regarding him is not an issue.
 
- Colt Anaconda 8" .44 mag (6 round)
- S&W 8" .357 mag (6 round)
- SAR-1 AK (40 round) :p
Click to expand...

I've read that those rounds may go through walls resulting in hitting what you don't want to hit. I don't have personal experience with that but someone here probably does.
 
Assuming that you're equally accurate with all of them, and they're all equally reliable, I'd go with the Sig. The others don't give you the capacity, and an increased chance of over-penetration. The S&W 4501 wouldn't be a bad choice either.
 
House, or apartment in an urban area:
Sig with a normal-capacity magazine
Country setting with several acres in any direction:
Sig in the house, AK outside
 
Always SAR Rifle

Always Rifle, pistols are hard to hit someone with unless you train with them a lot or are just a naturally good shot. Police hit their targets around 10% time and they train maybe once a month. Now if you live in an apartment complex use a pistol with some type of frangible bullet so it doesnt pass thru walls and hit the wrong target.

The SAR has a 16 inch barrel which is plenty short for house work, ask any SWAT or SEAL and I guarantee they would take an AK over any pistol, it just stops things much faster, and you have a better chance of lining up your target with a longer gun in a high stress environment. Use Hollowpoints with the SAR to reduce over penetration, I have shot deer with 7.62 x 39 HP and it does impressive damage.

Now I will say the pistol can be more convienent. That's basically the only advantage over the SAR, that's why armies don't issue them to front line troops for a primary weapon.

My personal choice is a shotgun/rifle and then pistol. I have rifles but I like shotgun better due to the pump sound and awesome power of 9 .30 caliber bullets of 00 Buck, plus I feel real comfy with one from all the bird hunting I do.

Flamesuit on!
 
Last edited:
I would keep the Sig and the AK close. Sig for real quick & potentially close encounters and the AK for a barricade yourself in the room kind of situation.
 
Hmm... what you need is a Remington 870 HD 12 ga. shotgun!

Of those listed, I'd go for the Sig P226R. Oh yeah, get yourself a Surefire taclight for the gun since you already have the rail.

Oh oh... and when you do get the 870 shotgun, get yourself a Surefire forearm for it too!

:D :D :D



I also want to add, if you do use the Sig as a HD gun, keep the gun unchambered. If you need that split second, then most of the time its just plain too late. I just read a thread on Glocktalk where a guy tried to hit the snooze button on his alarm and blew a hole into his hand by accidentally hitting the trigger.

... or, hide the gun in a drawer or something. Also unchambered. Finding a gun in the dark can be dangerous...


Personally, I use a Colt Government as my HD gun. And mine is always unchambered next to my bed. If an attackers in my room, its already too late to get my gun anyways.
 
Is storage near the bed an issue due to kids etc?

It seems the long-gun vs pistol has come up once again. While there really shouldn't be any debate over the effectiveness of the two, I can't help but think that the real issue is deployment.

For myself, in my home, I believe that having a potential free hand is a big selling point for the pistol: imagine carrying a baby from a crib while simultaneously using an 870. I dunno, maybe I just haven't trained enough.

In addition to this, while we've probably all seen the pictures comparing a pistol stance (with full arm extension :rolleyes: ) with a carbine (in most compact possible configuration and position) to show how the AR etc is OBVIOUSLY not a handicap, I've spent too much time with contact weapons and stand-ins while grappling to be deceived by this.

I also want to add, if you do use the Sig as a HD gun, keep the gun unchambered. If you need that split second, then most of the time its just plain too late. I just read a thread on Glocktalk where a guy tried to hit the snooze button on his alarm and blew a hole into his hand by accidentally hitting the trigger.

... or, hide the gun in a drawer or something. Also unchambered. Finding a gun in the dark can be dangerous...


Personally, I use a Colt Government as my HD gun. And mine is always unchambered next to my bed. If an attackers in my room, its already too late to get my gun anyways.
Click to expand...


I heartily agree, but I differ on the solution. Although I don't think a ND on the Sig would be as simple as with the Glock, it is something with which to be concerned. I would suggest a quick-open lockbox if security is an issue. Otherwise, use a holster affixed to whatever furniture is convenient. It will give you a consistant location for in-the-dark draws as well as protection from negligent discharges. Although chambering a round should be 99.9+% foolproof, it is just another (slim) chance for things to go wrong, and it can easily be a non-issue with either the holster or the enclosed storage.
 
Joey93turbo

Which ever one that you have trained with the most. If you have not trained with any of them, leave them in the safe.
It is normally not the weapon that is the most important; it is the user!
 
My vote would be the AK with the lightest hollowpoints available. Less manuvourable but more controlable and easier to retain. Less likely for a wild shot going in a bad direction.

I'm more for active safety (control) over passive safety (won't penetrate walls).
 
I keep a Mossberg loaded with 3" mag 00 Buck under the bed. On top of the alarm clock is my CCW pistol (Kahr MK40 .40 cal or Para Ord 12.45 LDA .45ACP) in a holster that covers the trigger. The reason for the shotgun is mainly that I live in a house in the mountains and had a bear try to break in a window about 2 months ago. I was out of town at the time, but apparently one of my dogs scared the bear off. Had a heck of a time fixing the drier vent the bear clawed off and the window (glass, frame and screen that was bashed in. I would also pick the SG first if a goblin tried to break in at night.

In your case I agree that the AK with a light HP of reputable manufacture would be best. Use a pistol to fight your way to the rifle.
 
Probably the .45.

Not knowing your layout, how well you can manuever or what's next door, I think my first choice would be that .45. Big hole, slower bullet, not as likely to go through the walls and tag someone on the other side.:)
 
I would go with the 40. cal as my primary w/ the SAR readily available for anything the 40. cant handle. Like a barricaded baddy or multiples. It seems todays criminals have expressed an interest in body armour. In this kind of situation rifle capabilities would be a plus.

My current home-defense battery is a G20 10mm as primary/ MDL 1300 12.ga as secondary/ with my 20 in. AR loaded up with a 20 rd. mag in the event of airbourne/ground invasion.:D

I always keep Col. Coops wisdom in mind: My short gun is used to fight my way back to my long gun.
 
Rifles are for fighting. Load some HP's in that SAR-1 and keep it ready to go. The one thing you didn't mention was a flashlight of any type. With the AK, you'd need to attach it, but that wouldn't be hard to do.

There is a reason gun rhymes with fun. ;) Leave the pistols for the range and carry duty.
 
I suggest the sig just because the extra two rounds and the others will take more time to position coming out of a sleep laying down with the rifle how far away to insure comfort. Actualy I sleep on an SKS every now and then when im outdoors. I woudn't get rounds that supposedly don't go through a wall because first- I don't know what kind of walls you have but I'll throw a butter knife through my walls and secondly If it wont go through a wall it aint going through a ballistic vest. Just be aware of where you are shooting. If you got a freindly behind the enemy shoot down into the torso or up through the neck so the bullet won't just go straight through to your freind. And if you get the light for your gun it will also blind the enemy in the dark.
 
i would highly suggest spending a few hundred bucks on a 870 12 ga that is the number one ultimate, Im very very good with a handgun/rifle but a shotgun is the best for HD, if my life depends on it a few hundred bucks is worth it..
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

B
  • Locked
intresting self defense ammo
Replies
21
Views
2K
CaptMac
C
C
  • Locked
Help me choose my next handgun
Replies
8
Views
474
searcher451
S
aaaaa
  • Locked
My Next Gun
2
Replies
28
Views
1K
Tallball
Tallball
J
  • Locked
Tom Bullins Long-gun 1/Tactical Long-gun Class
Replies
2
Views
518
Joe Leland
J
T
  • Locked
  • Poll
Six Handguns: Pick one for CCW, Part Deux...
2 3
Replies
74
Views
4K
cool45auto
C
Back
Top