One in the chamber for your shotgun?

[Marss]

One in the chamber on all my defense guns. I used to leave the shotgun loaded but not chambered, but back in college my wife and I were both woken up by what sounded like someone in the house. I grabbed the shotgun I had at the time and had all sorts of problems getting the thing to feed. This was a gun that I had since I was 12 (I was probably 25 at the time) and had been hunting with and shot many times without an issue. That taught me to be completely prepared and not leave our safetly to chance. My advise is to leave the theatrics of pumping it for the "fear factor" in the movies because you never know if your motor skills are going to go to crap with the adrenaline or if that will be the first time you ever have a feeding issue.
If you want to give warning, have a round in the chamber and the gun pointed and order them to freeze. Respond to their actions accordingly.

[CJ]

I keep one in the chamber of my XDm on the nightstand. I figure pointing the red dot down the hallway should be enough to get their mind straight.

but you're again letting them know you're awake, aware and armed... and also your general location. I prefer crimson trace lasers because you can block the beam with your index finger when coming around corners.

If someone comes into my house, the only moment I want them to consider their options is when I have a gun pointed at them and they are caught off guard. I don't care to get into a shooting match in my house, so I don't want them to know where I'm at. And furthermore, I don't want to deter them before I encounter them because I'd like to be able to identify them for my own safety.

[94mstng94]

I keep one in the chamber of my XDm on the nightstand. I figure pointing the red dot down the hallway should be enough to get their mind straight.

[Chas_svo]

me personally, i would rather use the sound as a deterrent than have to kill someone. if i shoot from my bedroom, i am taking the chance of spraying in my kids room. my goal is to protect my family, not getting the personal satisfaction of killing the bastard. i do keep one in the chamber on my night stand just in case, but take it out every morning. my kids safety > than any thing you want to fill in here
and as said above, my kids know that sound and know to announce themselves

No offense meant, but you need to unload the pistol, hand it to him, and let him really check it out. Show it to him, explain what it does, and as soon as possible, let him shoot it. Would you ranter he finds it one day and just uses it to see what happens? or would you prefer that he knows exactly what it does and knows not to touch it unless Daddy is around?
Gun safety is learned by showing your children, not by hiding it from them.

Amen to both.

[momo]

No offense meant, but you need to unload the pistol, hand it to him, and let him really check it out. Show it to him, explain what it does, and as soon as possible, let him shoot it. Would you ranter he finds it one day and just uses it to see what happens? or would you prefer that he knows exactly what it does and knows not to touch it unless Daddy is around?

Gun safety is learned by showing your children, not by hiding it from them.

i dont know shit about kids but he's only 2. i dont think a 2 year olds understand anything that they can't slobber on.

it's a good idea when he is 5.

[Venix]

Guys like my with a 2 year old boy are in a predicament. While I would love to be able to keep a chambered gun by the bed like I used to I just can not anymore. I still keep a loaded gun by the bed but just out of his sight. It is not chambered. At this point my boy could not get a firearm ready to fire but that will not last much longer. Since he was barely 1 he will pick up random objects and point them like guns at us or the dogs and go "BOOM BOOM BOOM". He knows what guns are although he has no clue as to the repercussions that one could cause. At this point he does not seem to interested in going after mine. The wife really hates it when I get them out in front of him just because we do not want to spark his curiosity any more at this point.

No offense meant, but you need to unload the pistol, hand it to him, and let him really check it out. Show it to him, explain what it does, and as soon as possible, let him shoot it. Would you ranter he finds it one day and just uses it to see what happens? or would you prefer that he knows exactly what it does and knows not to touch it unless Daddy is around?

Gun safety is learned by showing your children, not by hiding it from them.

[Venix]

I keep one in the chamber. I do not think that Mr. Badguy is paying enough attention to hear you rack the slide on anything. I'm sure his mind is going a million miles an hour and way to busy to care about a sound that he himself may have made.

Surprise > scare tactics any day.

[CJ]

yea you are going to have to lock them. a 2 year old can't rack a slide but you never want to find out what age they can.

agreed, might want to look into a wall mount that locks the slide back.

[momo]

Guys like my with a 2 year old boy are in a predicament. While I would love to be able to keep a chambered gun by the bed like I used to I just can not anymore. I still keep a loaded gun by the bed but just out of his sight. It is not chambered. At this point my boy could not get a firearm ready to fire but that will not last much longer. Since he was barely 1 he will pick up random objects and point them like guns at us or the dogs and go "BOOM BOOM BOOM". He knows what guns are although he has no clue as to the repercussions that one could cause. At this point he does not seem to interested in going after mine. The wife really hates it when I get them out in front of him just because we do not want to spark his curiosity any more at this point.

yea you are going to have to lock them. a 2 year old can't rack a slide but you never want to find out what age they can.

[inline 6]

Guys like my with a 2 year old boy are in a predicament. While I would love to be able to keep a chambered gun by the bed like I used to I just can not anymore. I still keep a loaded gun by the bed but just out of his sight. It is not chambered. At this point my boy could not get a firearm ready to fire but that will not last much longer. Since he was barely 1 he will pick up random objects and point them like guns at us or the dogs and go "BOOM BOOM BOOM". He knows what guns are although he has no clue as to the repercussions that one could cause. At this point he does not seem to interested in going after mine. The wife really hates it when I get them out in front of him just because we do not want to spark his curiosity any more at this point.

[momo]

only my carry weapon is chambered and holstered which is next to the shotgun, both are by the bed.

i've never worried about someone breaking in to my house at night while i've been home but i understand it could happen and i am prepared for it.

[forbes]

me personally, i would rather use the sound as a deterrent than have to kill someone. if i shoot from my bedroom, i am taking the chance of spraying in my kids room. my goal is to protect my family, not getting the personal satisfaction of killing the bastard. i do keep one in the chamber on my night stand just in case, but take it out every morning. my kids safety > than any thing you want to fill in here
and as said above, my kids know that sound and know to announce themselves

[Chas_svo]

I had a Defender, 8+1 with the pump down, and safety off...

I have 2 young kids, so it's now in the safe.

Both of the elements have benefit, and I don't think either is better without knowing what is gonna happen, which u don't. The only other thought is if anyone, parent, gf, etc would venture in unannounced, racking the slide will alert most instantly to their poor choice, and keep u from killing a foolish innocent.

My 2 cents.

[BlackGT]

Always keep one in the chamber on my Mossberg 500 (in the closet), Glock 20 (on the nightstand) and Glock 32 (CCW). Everything else is unloaded but usually with loaded mags at the ready...

Edit: This being my 1000th post!!!
I know it's not nearly as much as others have, but it's a lot for me considering I usually only post 2-3 times per day...

[flybye70ss]

I do not keep one in the chamber of my 870 under my bed because i want you to hear the slide rack back. I do keep a Glock 19 chambered on the nightstand with a mag light.