Your Defensive weapons in the home.

[Browning]

Nah, that's just a couple shotguns and a few CHL carry pistols along with mags/ammo, a means of identifying intruders (or just so that I don't stub my toe if the power goes out), a few vests (it makes sense that if home invaders/armed burglars are coming in that they might not take kindly to your resisting their attempts to loot, rape and pillage), fire extinguishers (which should just be standard household equipment) and a medical kit (which should be standard range equipment and household equipment).

If we were under siege I'd have the rifles and a lot more mags out and I'd trade the G23 and the Walther PPS for a Glock 17 and use the 26 as a BUG.

It's not that we're over prepared, it's just that the standard of being 'well prepared' is to just have a gun, a dog and maybe an alarm system.

 

[BLB68]

I just have my concealed carry pistol on my nightstand. (No young ones or guests to worry about.) Thinking about upgrading to a double stack 9mm.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

We have a kitchen full of cutlery.

In the younger years of our kids, we had tons of Legos scattered everywhere.

Our son has a rather impressive collection of knives, owing to his fascination with them growing up in the Scouts.

Our daughters have a different tact...their room is entirely camouflaged with heaps of clutter, effectively rendering their room and all human occupants completely invisible.

All the kids, and my wife, have bows owing to their participation in Scouting events.

I have a ton of tools.

There's a baseball bat or two hanging around.

And we have a variety of long guns and handguns.

 

[bubba in ca]

I have a .38 midsized revolver and a hunting knife. My wife has a high-pitched scream that can be devastating.

 

[chaim]

I live in an apartment so no alarms, no high end locks or doors, nothing that would permanently modify anything. Also, my brother is my roommate, and if one of us are here, he can't be convinced that locking the deadbolt is a good idea so it wouldn't be hard for someone to get in while were are here (he usually will lock the deadbolt if neither of us are here).

I have a decent knife collection, though only a couple are easy to access if needed in a pinch. I have a small can of pepper spray that I carry that I could use in a pinch, but it is the regular spray so I'd probably get a good dose if used in doors. I also have a larger can of pepper spray gel which I sometimes carry and since it is more concentrated it may be a tad better indoors.

My home defense handguns are:
-A .45 caliber that is often worn, and in a quick access safe by my bed when not worn. Depending upon the mood it is a .45LC S&W 625MG or a .45ACP SIG P250 Compact.
-A smaller gun that I can easily pop in a pocket for an unexpected knock on the door if I am not carrying around the apartment. Depending upon my mood it is either my SIG P290RS or my Taurus 85CH. It used to be usually the 85CH, but the past couple years it has been almost always my P290.

For long guns, I no longer have a shotgun. Currently, my home defense long gun is an AR. However, this is MD where things are quite anti-gun. For possible post-defensive shoot considerations I have been thinking for years about getting something that looks a little more PC that a jury may be more likely to see in a more positive light (even in the most clear cut self defense shooting, if it happened in Central Maryland there is a good chance that the DA will charge you with everything they can). Something with a wood stock, but a semi-auto or pump .223 (Mini-14, a Remington 7600 or 7400) or maybe even a short, removable mag, bolt action scout style .223 rifle. Another strong contender (and a rifle that screams "I'm your grandfather's hunting rifle" and not "I''m looking for a fight" to a Marylander) is a revolver caliber lever rifle. I'm not a huge shotgun fan, but they are hard to beat for HD so I may go with a Mossberg 500 or 590.

I don't have a dog and don't plan to get one until I buy a house.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I keep a Model 37 Ithaca 12-ga in the corner by the bed, and a holstered M1911 on the night stand.

 

[JTHunter]

Being single again with no kids, I have a .357 in its holster hanging on the gun rack next to the bed. Said rack also holds a 12 ga. SxS that can fire both barrels at the same time. Above that is an AK with an under-barrel CREE flashlight. The vertical gun cabinet is also in the bedroom with assorted rifles, handguns, and a 12 ga. pump in it. There are also four other handguns hidden around the house/garage.

"JIC" !

 

[Tcruse]

A Glock 26 with laser (or Ruger 1911 LW ) in a holster on my belt when I am awake, attached to belt and pants at night.
3 - (male 85#, females 65#) Pit Bull dogs that sleep in the bedroom and patrol the yard randomly at will,
Good outside dusk-dawn lighting and monitored alarm system.
Several other handguns and long guns in a safe one room over from bedroom.
Good alert neighbors.
Police/Fire Station near - 1-3 min response
Very low crime area

(The Pits have done an excellent job of running off the 4 footed varmints that were killing my smaller dogs and cats. They are good protectors of the three Chihuahuas and the cat)

 

[Tcruse]

"Two three pound Chihuahua's" - very alert dogs and yes they are loud.
I blame them for my hearing decline more than guns.

 

[Decoy80]

I was just reading your post and the replies so I had to take inventory. On the chest of drawers I found a Ruger 22 and a 38special derringer. On the dresser a draco. Around the corner a 22 magnum rifle. In the pocket under the arm of the recliner a p89 with 2 extra magazines. Behind the front door I see an 870 loaded with buckshot and a Glenfield model 60 22. I didn't retreat to the bathroom or walk in closet off the bedroom. Just from there to the door. My wife thinks I have too many in the house now. If I have the need for more maybe I can get to the safe. By the way we have no small children about the house and my guns are lazy.

 

[tactikel]

Home is 1 block from village police station-primary defense is a cell phone, speed dialed to 911. On the outside chance the battery is dead, I have a XD-45 with 14 rounds of JHP in bedroom safe.
My summer cottage has a response time of 15 minutes for the Sheriff. An AR with 2 mags is always accessible.

 

[JSH1]

Our home security:

1. I live in a nice neighborhood with low crime
2. We have no bushes in the front of the house
3. Motion sensing lights front and back of the house
4. Steel door with a long striker plate that engages the deadbolt and latch anchored to the studs with 9 screws
5. Motion sensing light in the living room / dining room (This is one I don't see many people talk about but when you open any of my external doors a light will turn on. It gives the impression someone is in the house and responding even if no one is there and it is handy when I come home in the dark)
6. Worse comes to worse, a pair of Ruger SP101s on the wardrobe and a cell phone and flashlight on the nightstand

 

[Panzerschwein]

I keep a Makarov PM with spare magazine and flashlight on my nightstand. I swap back and forth between it and one of my S&W K-frame .38s.

I also keep a Remington 870 Police propped next to the bed. This is a standard four shot riot gun with no bell or whistles, just 6 rounds of spare ammo on a stock mounted carrier.

If that's not enough, I have a loaded PTR-91 ready to go in the closet. It is loaded with Hornady TAP Urban 110 grain loads for reduced collateral damage.

 

[JTHunter]

Like JSH1, my neighborhood is an older neighborhood on a dead-end street and I have MD lights as well.
Next to the bed are a double-barreled 12 ga., an AK, and a .357 hanging on the wall rack,
Across from the foot of the bed is a glass & wood gun cabinet with 6 rifles & 2 handguns.
Four other handguns are secreted around the house.
Being in Illinois, I don't have a CCP as I can't justify the costs or restrictions. If it weren't for an elderly parent that is stuck in their house like a bloated tick, I would have been out of this state several years ago.

 

[Hammer059]

I notice a lot of people don't mention having lights on OR near their firearms. Personally I think it's important to have both.

Also, I'd rather defend myself with a rifle or shotgun but not every situation calls for that. If the scenario calls for me leaving my room to go check the rest of the house, I'm taking a handgun. With a handgun, I have a free hand to open doors, call 911, grab my dog, brace myself against a potential attacker, turn lights on or off, etc. I'm not trying to be taking corners in my house with a long gun that's easier to grab, either.

I'm 24. I live in a suburban house with my dog. I have deadbolts and doorknob locks on every entrance to the house, which is the norm for most folks. Locks on windows, etc.

I love my dog, and no part of my reasoning for getting her was for protection. However, nobody will enter my house any time of day or night without the Foxhound going absolutely nuts. I will know before anyone even gets in. Leaves me time to call the cops and prepare myself (if applicable).

I have a Glock 19 with a TLR-1 and 3-dot night sights as my "nightstand gun". It is within arms reach and would be the "clear the house" gun, but also makes a great general purpose home defense firearm.
If for some reason I'm going to be posted up in my room waiting it out, I keep a 590A1 with a Surefire forend light ready to go. I doubt I would ever reach for it to use in the house, but I also keep a Colt 6920 in the closet.

I live in a pretty good neighborhood. I don't worry much about break-ins. I carry at work because I'm much more likely to encounter a self-defense scenario there (even though still unlikely overall).

I'm a shooting enthusiast first. If that means I have the ability to defend my life, awesome.

 

[Ledhead686]

I have a .38 midsized revolver and a hunting knife. My wife has a high-pitched scream which can be devastating.

If such is the case -- and lemme tell ya, my ol' lady can howl like a cat with a pack of lit firecrackers tied to its tail -- a howitzer and an Arkansas Toothpick would be collecting dust by my bedside; of absolutely no use whatsoever.

 

[Rexster]

1. Outside dogs. Two are Great Dane / Bloodhound mixes; big and loud.

2. Inside dogs. Two are German Shepherds. Both are friendly, outside their territory. At home, both are, shall we say, territorial.

3. NO firearms are anywhere near the doors, especially not in the front room! I believe that in the event of an aggressive entry, the bad guys will own everything in the front room, until the counter-attack hits them. Yes, burglars do, indeed, know to look in the front closet and in drawers near the front door, as those are traditional places to stash a weapon.

4. My duty weapons are in the bedroom, if I am sleeping. If I migrate to the den, my duty shotgun is likely to come with me. That is the case, at this moment. A revolver, that was in my pocket, is also within reach. For much of the day, a duty Glock was on my belt, inside and outside the house, but I am dressed more casually now, late in the evening.

5. There are two more armed adults in the home. They are licensed to carry handguns in public. Their concealed-carry handguns are where they choose to keep them. There are long guns, that they share, for HD duty, stashed in a mutually agreed spot.

6. There is locking storage, in several places. Enough said about that.

7. I can deploy rifles for HD. There is less paperwork, however, if I shoot felons with handguns and shotguns with which I have officially qualified for the record. Living in a densely built-up and vegetated area, in a jurisdiction with one of the best police respinse times in the USA, I am OK with handguns and shotguns for home defense. (I do not work for the PD that patrols my home town.) On family land in a more rural area, in a different county, we will have rifles handy.

 

[jeepnik]

Whatever the previous days CCW was. I've spent time and effort making sure it would be darned difficult and awfully noise to get inside.

 

[harrygunner]

An AR-15 with a 16" barrel, loaded with .223 55gr soft point ammo. And my EDC 1911 in 10mm is always near.

 

[RunninLate]

Hell with the guns, I have my wife in bed next to me. Think you would rather face the AR-9 or Glock 30.

 

[JTHunter]

I notice a lot of people don't mention having lights on OR near their firearms. Personally I think it's important to have both.

Thanks for the reminder.
My AK has a small, inexpensive LED flashlight with a single bright emitter (not sure if it is a CREE type) clamped under the barrel.
An identical flashlight is clamped under the center web of the side-by-side shotty, about an inch behind the muzzles.
I also have an "el cheapo" 9-LED flashlight that is used for general illumination.

 

[Open Carry Jenkins]

I've seen a lot of folks posting about guns stashed by the back door/front door/etc.

I'm curious as to that approach. I'd be really concerned about arming the bad guy in the event of a home invasion. Are those "back door" (ha!) weapons hidden, trigger locked, etc?

 

[Barry the Bear]

I have a .38 midsized revolver and a hunting knife. My wife has a high-pitched scream that can be devastating.

Daughter is the same way.

 

[HOWARD J]

I have a Ruger 45ACP & a Glock 9MM on my work benches.
A 1911 45ACP & an M1 carbine beside my bed
On the street I carry a Glock 9MM
Hang over from when I lived in Detriot many years ago.

 

[dh1633pm]

I just keep the dogs around to lick an intruder to death. My Siamese cat is the better watch dog. He knows when things aren't right and sounds off accordingly. As for weapons, I keep the handy 870 within reach. Nothing else needed.