A great place for the bedside firearm....

[(BH)]

I just thought I'd share this in case anyone else might be interested.

I was never much for the in drawer/on the table methods of bedside storage. I did some experimenting with ways to store my firearm out of view but with easy access. The pics below are of the method I that I settled on. It perfectly fits the criteria.

I have practiced drawing from various positions, and you'd be surprised at what little effort it actually takes.

I've never heard anyone else mention this method so I figured I'd share.

Hidden:

http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/7853/dsc01332k.jpg

In view:

http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/4803/dsc01334ec.jpg

Close up:

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/4893/dsc01335b.jpg

Any thoughts? Experience?

And I don't want to hear any wise cracks about the tangerine bed skirt! :D ;)

[jjyergler]

but have a couple of questions. First, how easy is it to get your hand around the grip? Is the gun wedged in, or is there more room than it appears?

[curt.45]

nice floors, no frame on my bed. just tuck it under my pillow. :eek:












kidding, just kidding!

[longtooth50]

Good spot as long as it works for you. Nice Baretta too.

[ejfalvo]

I mounted a holster to the back of the nightstand on my side of the bed - I can grab it in seconds if necessary.

[BobbyT]

"no frame on my bed. just tuck it under my pillow"

Chuck Norris sleeps with a pillow under his gun.

[Skydiver3346]

Simple, My Glock 21 is lying on my nightstand, next to head of my bed. Easy to retrieve and use quickly. No kids to worry about so leave it where I can get it immediately.

[headbangerJD]

hilarious:D
A holster attached to the side of the nightstand, now thats a good idea.

[Scubasimmons]

"Chuck Norris sleeps with a pillow under his gun. "

That's a fallacy as Chuck Norris doesn't need a gun. Just a roundhouse kick.

[comn-cents]

Sorry Chuck dosen't sleep.

[mikejonestkd]

Chuck Norris doesn't need a gun...

He puts the bullets in his enemies by HAND....LOL

Nice idea for storing your handgun and light.

[AZAK]

Nice set up!

I would consider it; however, as Chuck does not sleep, he resides under my bed at night making the need for a bedside firearm obsolete!

[mustang_steve]

There's a magnetic gun holder I've been looking at. I may just do the same job for less by attatching a bar magnet on the other side of the rear panel of my nightstand.

Some hooks will be under the pistol to assure there's no droppage.

[berettaprofessor]

Once upon a time, somewhere on this or another board, I read about using a magnet attached to the bed frame to hold it. I tried it and loved it. I remove it every morning, but on those odd cases I've forgotten in the early morning, my wife has made the bed and never noticed it. In bed, I just slide down my hand and there it is.

The trick is this; you find an older computer hard drive and remove the magnets and use them (which are very very strong and have holes for screw mounting in each end). One magnet holds about 5 lbs and will never drop a steel gun.

Commercially there's this: http://www.quickdrawgunmagnets.com/

And, no, it won't magnetize your gun or bullets, although Glocks have been known to kaboom after being attached in this manner.:D

[(BH)]

jj: There's a bit more wiggle room than might appear, but it certainly takes a bit more time to access as opposed to just grabbing it off the nightstand unholstered. I think it really depends on your bed setup.

berettaprofessor: That's good to know. I might have to do some junk computer fishin' for a new DIY living room setup.

[dondavis3]

My Kimber with Crimson Trace laser grips is on my night stand and my wifes Glock 26 with CT grips is on her night stand.

Kids are all gone, we didn't keep them in the open when they were home.

[Doyle]

That would be great as long as there are no kids in the house.

[(BH)]

Yeah, we have an 11 month old daughter. However, our bedroom stays locked and she would have to traverse a baby gate, open a closed door to the hall, and then get a ladder, learn to climb it, and then figure out how to de-babyproof the door to even get into the room. Unless she pulls a Baby MacGuyver on me, it's not something I have to change tomorrow. (Besides, she's not able to get out of my wife's or my sight for long enough to develop MacGuyver skills, and if she was, I would have a whole other world of issues to address.... like how to get her to stop bombing me with bottles from a trebuchet she made out of a binky, some formula, and stroller components. :D)

Soon I will have to move on from this method. I'll probably just buy a small bedside safe. I'm not excited about the whole safe notion, but (as many of you know) when it comes to kids... You gotta do what you gotta do. I would never compromise my child's safety, so I have to start brainstorming on the "safe storage/quick access" paradox. Child safety is first priority around these parts.

If I can find a good way to mount it around the headboard region I will go with that.

Either way, for people without kids who don't want their guns laying out all naked on the table, the "stuff in the side-board" method is a decent one.

[sakeneko]

BH: *Never* underestimate the ability of a baby to learn to Macgyver, especially if she had intelligent and creative parents. ;) That looks well thought out for now, but I wouldn't count on a non-secure lock and baby gate for too long past about 20 months of age.

[jjyergler]

(BH), I like it. If there's some wiggle room there, and it won't work it's way down farther, I think you have a bang up idea there.

[jjyergler]

BTW, it's not so much the color of the fabric, it's that you know it so precisely. As the hypermasculine man that I am :rolleyes: I'd call it orange. As my late grandpa asked once about a friend of mine, "is he one of those hormones?" :confused:

[(BH)]

but I wouldn't count on a non-secure lock and baby gate for too long past about 20 months of age.

Yeah, I plan on a re-vamp in the next month or so. She already has a good bit of Baby MacGuyver in her, but still a mere grasshopper.

BTW, it's not so much the color of the fabric, it's that you know it so precisely. As the hypermasculine man that I am I'd call it orange. As my late grandpa asked once about a friend of mine, "is he one of those hormones?"

Oh, believe you me, with my wife, I always get to hear way more than I care to about about clothing styles, bed-spread colors, and shoe types. But she's still a better shot than most of my buddies :eek: :D. (And, not to mention, I figured if giving her the design rights to the bedroom meant I didn't have a tangerine living room, it was fair enough deal. :D)

[Jon1911]

That's creative, I like it, mine is not nearly that subtle though...

[taz1]

does that translate to --by not tring to give any worthless (you are a man) advice on bedroom decor you still get to sleep in it?:o

thought so. good call:D

nice idea but my little ones would find it in a heartbeat.

i just wouldn't go around telling people that if you have a bugler----well i just reach under my tangerine skirt and grab my gun.:p:p:p:p

[(BH)]

HaHa that's good taz. Perhaps good camo.... No burglar would want to check under man's tangerine skirt.

[vandyatc]

This post is both informative and hilarious. I'm guessing nobody would have given you crap had you not pointed out the color.

About the magnetic thing... Does anyone have real experience with that one? I'm wondering how well that thing will actually hold a handgun in a car. Will it do well in a Jeep in an off road environment? I see it used in the Humvees, and I assume they see some rough riding, but I'm looking for some actual experience.

Thanks in advance!

[onthejon55]

I sleep on a queen sized bed by myself so i leave is holstered sitting on the corner of my bed pointing away from my face.

[(BH)]

This post is both informative and hilarious. I'm guessing nobody would have given you crap had you not pointed out the color.


Yeah, I just thought I'd add some humor and set myself up for some jokes. :D

About the magnetic thing... Does anyone have real experience with that one?

I have a bit of experience with something similar. I had project involving a magnet that I took from an old speaker. In short, get the magnet out of a subwoofer (mine was 6" I think), drill through the center, cover any of the sharper edges and bulges with silicone, wrap it in electrical tape, make a cloth shroud around it that will not slip off, mount it to the surface of your choice before covering it with shroud, fasten shroud, mount gun, Viola, DIY magnet mount.

Perhaps sometime soon I will post that whole process in detail w/ pics.

[FireForged]

why hide a bed side firearm? Mine sits in the nightstand during the day and on top of the nightstand at night.

[(BH)]

I guess it's just my nature to keep my firearms out of view. That's just my personal preference, but not the main reason.

The main reason I don't keep it on my nightstand is because I keep a glass of water there, and there have been some clumsy instances in the past where the contents of said glass have met the inner workings of a cell phone. I would hate for that to have been one of my guns.

I generally need water at night because (you guessed it...) I get thirsty. I take a medication that makes me rather dehydrated throughout the night.

If I didn't have an alarm system, I would plan differently. However, since I do have a good alarm, I can rest knowing that I'll have a good few seconds heads up in the event of a late night visit from a giant zombie rodent, ferocious gelatinous entity, 8ft praying mantis with chainsaw pinchers and a flamethrower mouth, or of course the rare drugged out burglar.

[Mr. Davis]

I'd like to correct some serious misinformation in this thread.

Chuck Norris does not sleep...he waits. :D

[38super]

It doesn’t really matter where you keep pdw if they are already in your bedroom, it doesn’t matter. What could be an idea is to install a heat sensor light aiming at the bedroom door or the passage way, as it will wake you up and “blind” them, thus giving you the edge.

You would need to set the sensor to only go off at human body temperature. If they come through a window or sliding door, it will not help you. You simply cannot be 100% secure.

[(BH)]

The way I see it, if someone with bad intentions is already standing over me when I wake up I will cooperate at least until I get my wits about me. Unless they were to give me a good window to go on the offensive.

[N.H. Yankee]

38SUPER, no need for a heat sensor light to blind them, thats why I use a powder with a bright muzzle flash:D I basically have a 3 shelf, mini bookshelf that is at my head between my side of the bed and the wall. The middle shelf is level with the bed so the gun is right there and directly across from my shoulder.

The holster is attached to the shelf with heavy duty velcro so the gun is always in the same place with the grips facing me. I have 2 flashlights also on the same shelf as well as my cell phone The big dog sleeps right next to the shelf, so no worry about anyone getting the gun before me.

[Way Tall Whitey]

.44 special on my side of the headboard, 38 spec with +P loads on her side

"*Never* underestimate the ability of a baby to learn to Macgyver, especially if she had intelligent and creative parents"

Well, we're out...

[jborushko]

i've always wanted to entertain the Hollywood way, from Training Day, when Denzel has a shotgun on a swivel under the bed.

I have always been to perinoid to leave a gun on the night stand, or just chillen in it. Between muscle memory, bad sleep, too deep sleep. Im afraid that in my sleep i will grab the gun and sleep walk shooting stuff or whatever, its happened (minus the shooting) but waking up in the living room holding a weapon in condition 0 is not something i like to repeat.

also too deep sleep- lets say some dude breaks into the house -past the security system, and finds me sleeping in bed grabs my gun from off the nightstand, makes that security go away fast as hell.

that being said. if somebody is in my house i want to be awake enough to handle the situation. i have my gun in condition 4 (not loaded not charged) behind the head board in a paddle holster i attached to the back of it. then the mag under the mattress at my feet.

so i have to:
1) WAKE up
2) grab the weapon
3) grab the mag
4) Wake up the girlfriend, get her into the bathroom/or out of the room
5) load the weapon, bringing myself to fully awake/alert and condition 0
6) turn on the mounted flashlight and crimson trace grips
7) handle the business

all of this can be done in seconds, we practice this drill with the help of my roommate (with the mag loaded with blanks)

EDIT: all that being said, the inside the bed frame drawer is good for the fact that that type of bed frame is not as common, and the drawers are out of the way, and they are covered by the bed skirt (love the color LMAO). bottom line if it works for you, GREAT!

[output]

I keep my 9mm in a case right on top of my bedside nightstand. When I get up in the morning to leave I close the case and when I get home from work I open it back up. I have thought about placing other firearms in other areas of the home but I have never gotten around to it. I don’t have any metal furniture so I would have to place them in drawer or under furniture…I also have a two story home.

Out of curiosity what other places or ‘areas’ in a home do most considered to be ideal? I have thought about other common areas but I’m afraid that a guest my stumble across one on accident or something.

My front door opens to a staircase (leading upstairs), my living room on the right of the doorway, and flex room on the left of the doorway both of which lead to the kitchen.

[Diesel4Play]

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/images/attach/jpg.gif
This is in a hotel room but home is the same. Sometimes in the drawer. No kids and no bad guys. The dogs job is to let me know when I need it. She has several times but fortunately I did not have to use it.

[jimmythejug]

I was happy to find this thread. I've been knocking around the idea of creating a thread to discuss the bedside firearm idea.

For the past couple of weeks, I've been contemplating the effectiveness of my pistol as a self defense weapon, given the fact that it's stored in the plastic case under my bed, unloaded, with a loaded mag hidden elsewhere in the room.

Just two nights ago, the cat and I were starting to fall asleep (no kids, wife's away) and we heard a loud 'BANG'. The cat was startled and darted into the hallway. I wasn't sure where it came from but I was pretty sure something just fell somewhere, as things sometimes do. In any case, I paused for about a second and decided (a) I needed to have a loaded gun in my hands in case there was a real threat in the house and (b) this was a good time (with the wife away) for a little 'drill', so I could see what it would take to get the gun together and in hand. Here's how it went:

I had to turn on the nightstand light, slide the case out from under the bed, unsnap the case, remove the gun from its oily rag, head over to the drawer where the mag was stored, find the mag in the drawer (!), try to shake the lightly oiled mag from the plastic bag that it was in, realize I was shaking it towards the closed end of the bag, flip it around, get the mag out, slide it into the gun (I chose not to chamber a round) and head down the hallway with the gun at my side....feeling like an idiot because I'd be dead if this were real.....you might be surprised at how much longer stuff seems to take when you're a little nervous.

I didn't really want to keep the gun 'out', let alone loaded but I've come to realize that I doubt I'd have much time if I really needed it and my little scenario proved my point. To me, the weapon pretty much needs to be in/on/around the bedside to be useful.

Your thoughts? Suggestions?

[shooter mcgavin]

i am trying to find a good secure way to access my handgun very quickly. i was thinking of mounting a holster to the backside of my bed headboard. theres just enough room to fit. it would be out of sight from the kids and would be locked up during the day. anyone done something similar?

[Diesel4Play]

I am thinking about mounting a good holster on the back of the night stand too, just haven't found the right method. From the picture in my previous post I like it loaded and at hand but I do think out on the night stand is risky. If the dog did not do here duty, for what ever reason, and someone was able to sneak in to my room past my wife and I to the night stand, well lets say the shoe would be on the other foot.
Anyone with a good idea for mounting a holster on the back of a night stand or head board please pipe in. I will use a good holster as I do not want to fight with a cheap-o while someone is in the house. It would be best if I could mount my regular holster without damage and use it for both applications.
If I come up with something I will share too.