Slider Safe for Bedside - Able to fit P320 with Optic

If you plan to leave the gun in it all the time, be aware that if you have a break in while you are away, those are relatively easy to get in to, and scream "GUN IN HERE" to even the highest smash and grab meth head. It will be gone or open when you return.

The other downside is that they are noisy to open, most light up, and some even beep when you press the buttons, announcing that you are awake and aware to an intruder. This could work for you or against you. Hearing that someone is awake and aware could trigger flight, it could trigger an expedited approach and fight, and it could trigger a "grab a hostage for safety" response if they happen to be in someone else's room when alerted.

I am not saying they should not be used. I am saying that people should think through possible scenarios based on real world incidents, not TV shows, movies, and buddies at work... before they decide what is best for them with their home layout, family members, skill level and other things.

There are a LOT of security products out there that are COUNTER security that a lot of folks buy based on lack of information and forethought.

Then there is the subject of first aid! I have guns all over the house with all the latest bells and whistles, and I have a first aid kit... somewhere.... "What's in it?" I don't know. "Do you have a CAT tourniquet?" A WHAT? .... and on and on...

I wish you the best of luck in your quest for safety and defense for the family. You are already thinking based on your comment about you daughter. Remember there are a LOT of things to consider in 3 "buckets". 1. Before the incident 2. During the incident 3. After the incident. What do I tell my family about how to react if something happens? Can I escape and avoid engaging? Do I already know when cover is in each area of the house? How can I clear this staircase? Do I really HAVE to clear this staircase? Does my spouse already know what they need to do to help secure the kids without being told? How do you deal with LE when they arrive?, etc.

It is a very serious subject, one of the most serious things you may ever have to consider, and one that many treat like they are buying another skull decal to put in the back window of their truck.

Go slow, educate yourself, and remember that the people who make a lot of this stuff are doing it for one and only one reason.... to make money, and a lot of the folks who buy it are doing it for one reason as well... to be cool.

Sorry... I apologize. These forums get me fired up sometimes when I read them. There are a lot of folks here and elsewhere who post good information but the is also a lot of Dirty Harry meet Inspector Gadget **** here too. Listen to it all and use your own brain to discern what works for you. I am not saying Dirty Harry was always wrong.... Rant off.

I use a Vline hand safe:


It's more than big enough for a full sized handgun with an optic. It uses a simplex lock, so there is no beeping and no worries about dead batteries. In the dark, I can open it in about 3 seconds.




I have mine mounted underneath my nightstand. It’s designed to restrict access…it’s certainly not theft proof. I could chain it to the wall, but I’m resigned to the fact that if I have a break in, the thief can walk out with it. That said, the odds are small (but not zero). We have visitors with younger kids and I’m more worried about them.

First, take your daughter to a range and have her learn how much fun it is. Time with Dad shooting a .22 takes the curiousity off the table. If she can go enough, and when she asks she can handle it, then there's nothing "forbidden" about it to need to sneak a look. Most rural families use this policy, the family's more worried about Dad sticking his arm in a combine.

A bedside firearm needs good security to keep them from the children, much after that goes to how you view your overall security. There is a wide gulf between having people trying to break in your home and waking up to a knife at your throat, take it all with a grain of salt. The most important part is that focusing on a firearm as a home security solution means concentrating on a last ditch solution. Most who B&E aren't higher order math specialists or rocket surgeons - few could actually open an outer door on your domicile without alerting a wife much less the family dog, the neighbors pets, your outer motion activated lights, etc. Much less beat down even a residential grade door, break glass and crawl thru without getting sliced up on shards, fall to the floor, then walk thru the house in dark, avoid Legos, pets, squeaky floor boards, work their way down the hall, then get into your bedroom. And why?

The can show up when you're gone and do all that, like when you go to Little League as a family or on vacation. Less risk. Most breakins are when you are gone.

So, garage door security, a back door, a basement window, the bathroom window - easy out of sight places to break in, then they have time in broad daylight chosing what will sell for quick cash or trade better. Valuables on display shouldn't be, the boxes they came broken down and placed in the trash - at work we all just used the company dumpster, not putting widescreen boxes at the curb. Also goes to leaving the garage door down on Saturday, not a display of the step tread tool box, motorcycle, gun safe, ATV's, jet boat . . .

Your lawn guy/plumber/cable/even the mail man just don't need to know. Or that friend who wants to show off YOUR guns to his "buddy", nope we have plans thanks for coming by call ahead. Buddy is casing the joint never to be seen or heard of again.

Gun safety is an issue, home security is another ball of wax altogether.

There is some wisdom in Tirod's post, but a little too much common sense and statistics IMO. Yes, statistically most are as stated, but I have looked into too many wet eyes and heard "But I never thought anyone would break in while we were home" or "But I never thought anyone would be able to get all the way in my room without waking me up!" and a number of other "But I never thought's".

Certainly not the majority... true, but then the VAST majority of times I have left home in a vehicle I have not had a flat tire.. but I still keep a spare with me.

One thing I would add to this below that has become too common around here

tirod said:

Your lawn guy/plumber/cable/even the mail man just don't need to know. Or that friend who wants to show off YOUR guns to his "buddy", nope we have plans thanks for coming by call ahead. Buddy is casing the joint never to be seen or heard of again.

Click to expand...

A lot of recon is done by wives and girlfriends who clean your house as well as repairmen, bug sprayers, etc. The housecleaning gig has become very popular because the normal turn over in that job is so high they can get in and out of a service quickly and into another. You would be surprised at the number of times there is a connection between the thief and some service level people you let in on an "But I never though" or based on the number of people you know who have done the same without being burgled.

Bloodythumb is right to caution about temps and handypersons - having been a commercial locksmith the industry is rife with contractors who get a key to the house, and IMMEDIATELY go to the nearest key grinder or lobby machine and duplicate it 2-3-4 times for his crew.

Good old Kwikset is extremely common and probably the absolute worst choice on the market. I don't know how many times a restaurant owner would demand the cheapest lock possible on a door that is opened more than the entrace - the bathrooms. A residential bathroom lock in that service will get destroyed in about 6 months. Our local McD's chain was a big fan of those, we finally talked maintenance to upgrade one tiny step and in two years they were able to cut their door lock replacements in half. Let one of the guys go, too. Smart money is on duty rated, not cheap.

Got glass? Windows near doors, patio sliders etc? Look into security film, 3M has a nice video of a perp on an actual house cam throwing a concrete block repeatedly into a full glass walk door - glass breaks, he still cant get in. Its so noisy he leaves.

No doubt a lot of folks in high density metros didn't see it coming when their house is broken into, on the other hand NYC has housing available at the drop of a hat - everyone is moving out. Crime it too high. A homeowner in a neighborhood should keep their eyes open and track how many are getting broken into, and take appropriate steps before, not after. Its the suburbs where it's empty by 8:30 - the ones with all working parents, kids in schools and nobody's gramma living next door or people on evening shifts who disturb that 9-4 quiet time where perps have a free hand.

One more white van parked in a driveway with "Wet Bandit Plumbing" just doesn't get attention. If it said "Free Candy" every meter reader and postman would be dialing 911.