Choice
Interesting which gun you choose when you need one. The other night, the family was asleep and I was downstairs. The screen door on the back door came open and slammed shut. I had the Glock 30, the ParaUSA, AR-15, and a Kel-Tec handy. Guess what I went with?
I will note that, hindsight being what it is, I made a tactical error. You see, I went to investigate when the best choice would have been to go upstairs, get the family into a single room, and call the police. But that would have awakened everyone. But, from a safety standpoint, it would have been the best option.
Oh and no worries as to the thing that went bump in the night. Seems the dog has figured out how to open the screen door.
July 2nd, 2009 at 9:01 am
It must come in threes. A week ago same thing. Downstairs, wife and kids asleep, bump in the night. Para, kimber, and g30 right beside me. Didn’t even think. G30 and surefire and off to investigate. I love my 1911’s but my glocks are my goto’s
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:10 am
I can only say what my choice would be, and that would be the Glock 30, as it is every day.
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:19 am
Sorry, I don’t own as many guns to choose from. Depending on where in the house I am, there would be my gun choice.
Upstairs, my Hi-Point .45 in my bedside table.
Downstairs, my S&W SW40C (usually in my haul-to-work backpack.
Basement, my Manurahin P-1 9mm (or, if I have time, an SKS).
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:23 am
“Call the police and let them check it out” is the hindsight when something goes wrong. I think it’s unrealistic to think people are going to call the police every time you hear a bump in the night. It would be like going to the emergency room every time you coughed.
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:27 am
True. When the police said well, it’s your dog, I would have felt silly.
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:44 am
You mean the police would say, “here’s your dog’s carcass.”
Dude, grab the AR!
July 2nd, 2009 at 12:49 pm
The dog opening the door, or some such, is also the most likely cause. Your normal house gun is the logical backup.
Besides, if the dog isn’t going nuts, the noise is also most probably caused by the dog.
July 2nd, 2009 at 12:56 pm
Obviously, I’m different. I grab the FAL which I keep in a very handy location.
I’ve found that a strong audio-visual aid makes a very good first impression. I like making my key thesis point up front.
I *don’t* have problems at my house, though. Must be the visual aspect of the dog, as previously mentioned.
Regards,
Rabbit.
July 2nd, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Given that particular choice, I’d probably reach for the 1911.
At home, my carry gun (Bersa .380) is usually on my night table as well… I’d be comfortable with that, although the 1911 (in the safe) would be a much more reassuring presence.
Interesting, the balance we strike between “ready” and “don’t scare the sheep”. Common sense would suggest that 30 rounds of JHP .223 > 8 rounds of JHP .45… but even a 16″ M4gery is both unwieldy for the house and difficult to conceal if the noise in question is a drunk neighbor at the wrong door.
July 2nd, 2009 at 6:39 pm
There’s a better tactical choice than advancing into the danger zone to investigate, and way better than calling the cops.
If your entire family is asleep, and the noise of intrusion came from AWAY from their sleeping rooms, you go to the choke point leading to them and hold ready for a time. If you hear further noises, you have time to evaluate where and what, but in the meanwhile, you are protecting the family.
Goblins can do flanking maneuvers as well as you. Never forget that.
My choice would be shotgun and serious flashlight. I have a light that sits on a little stand and puts out 110 WATTS (2XH4 lamps)! When I light it off, I guarantee the goblin coming down the hall will NOT be able to use his sights. I do NOT have to be aligned with the beam from that light like someone with their tactical rifle or pistol with attached tactical light would.
July 3rd, 2009 at 8:18 pm
I have plenty of thought in my “security protocol” but the guns were never the problem… until recently, the cellphones were never near the bedroom, and I don’t have a landline. It’d suck to have to clear my own house and go hunting the cellphone BEFORE being able to make the call, should something be legitimately afoot.
Now the phone(s) come out of the briefcase and into the bedroom where BOTH chargers are, regardless of their state of charge.
and if I’m having “an issue” where the bedside gun isn’t enough… well, I’m probably screwed. I should reconsider that part, as I used to keep my Nork SKS-M in the closet next to a couple of loaded mags. It’s been locked up with the other guns for quite a while… and opening my “vault” in a hurry isn’t happening.