toivo
Member
I keep two magazines on the nightstand next to the pistol in a paddle-style double mag pouch. The pouch has an adjustable tension screw that I loosen way up so that the magazines are easy to withdraw from it one-handed.
Spare Magazine For Nightstand Gun
- Thread starter Trunk Monkey
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He's stated several times that th primary purpose of another mag is to clear a malfunction. Bigger mag doesn't help with that. OP, I'd just get in the habit of wearing basketball shorts with pockets to bed. Keep a spare mag next to the gun and slip it in the pocket when the time comes. Not ideal, of course but neither is wearing boxers to a gunfight.
Armored farmer
Member
I have a 17rd 9mm with 2 10 Rd spares bedside.
I have answered the late night knock on the door more than once in my boxers with pistol in-hand.
I have answered the late night knock on the door more than once in my boxers with pistol in-hand.
OP
OP
Trunk Monkey
member
I want to answer a couple of questions that have come up. In no particular order,
I live in a very small apartment the longest shot I could possibly have to make in my apartment is about 22 feet if I fired a rifle in the building I'm positive the round wouldn't stop until it hit the brick outer wall. Rifles are out.
My home defense plan is to defend the bedroom and wait for the Cavalry. My concern with the magazine is knocking it off the nightstand and damaging it or getting dog hair or dust in it (yes I clean my house but I also have two sheddy dogs and that hair ends up in the weirdest places.)
I live in a very small apartment the longest shot I could possibly have to make in my apartment is about 22 feet if I fired a rifle in the building I'm positive the round wouldn't stop until it hit the brick outer wall. Rifles are out.
My home defense plan is to defend the bedroom and wait for the Cavalry. My concern with the magazine is knocking it off the nightstand and damaging it or getting dog hair or dust in it (yes I clean my house but I also have two sheddy dogs and that hair ends up in the weirdest places.)
The idea that rifles over penetrate walls more than handguns or shotguns is a popular misconception. Plenty of research and documentation out there on this. With the right ammo a 5.56 will penetrate less than 9mm. I'll post some links later if I get a chance. In your case, I think you're still better off with a handgun though, but that's because of maneuverability, not over penetration issues.
One option: My Wilderness Safepacker has a G19 and a spare G17 magazine inside it, as one ready-to-roll package.
Another option: My duty belt has a pistol and two spare magazines in it, in one ready-to-roll package. (Presently 1911, but probably about to revert to Glock, as the high-thumb position, riding the on-safe thumb safety, is starting to induce numbness when holding the weapon one-handed for extended periods of time. Getting old is not fun, but it beats the alternative.)
Another option: My Eagle Industries "Active Shooter" nylon ammo carrier has a shoulder strap, elastic loops for twelve shotgun shells, and two pouches suitable for some pistol magazines, though not, unfortunately, able to hold double-column Glock magazines. Now that I am largely using Glocks, I should find a way to attach Glock mag carriers to it.
Assuming there is time, I am going to exercise two of the above options.
Another option: My duty belt has a pistol and two spare magazines in it, in one ready-to-roll package. (Presently 1911, but probably about to revert to Glock, as the high-thumb position, riding the on-safe thumb safety, is starting to induce numbness when holding the weapon one-handed for extended periods of time. Getting old is not fun, but it beats the alternative.)
Another option: My Eagle Industries "Active Shooter" nylon ammo carrier has a shoulder strap, elastic loops for twelve shotgun shells, and two pouches suitable for some pistol magazines, though not, unfortunately, able to hold double-column Glock magazines. Now that I am largely using Glocks, I should find a way to attach Glock mag carriers to it.
Assuming there is time, I am going to exercise two of the above options.
Most .223/5.56 JSP actually does not penetrate building materials as much as many defensive handgun catridges. The concern with many common .223/5.56 rifles is the line-of-sight being so much higher than the bore axis, a significant factor at very close range, in situations where one may need to shoot past an obstacle or hostage.
Fine Figure of a Man
Member
A spare gun is better than a spare mag. No reason not to have both at home. I prefer an AR with a mounted light and a handgun with night sights or a laser. Spare mags for both.
Good Ol' Boy
Member
I do not own any pistols with mags so flush mounted that they can't be stripped from the gun and re-inserted, so for me, no spare mag is needed. However my point still stands. Anything more than a tap/rack is too long. SOP for a type 3 malfunction wastes too much time regardless of how it's done. If you are that concerned with the possibility of that particular malfunction a better option would be, as others have stated, to have a second pistol/gun at the ready.
To each their own...
JeffG
Member
Pistol or handgun rounds penetrate modern building materials up to 5 times more than 223. Somebody else bought this up, I also know this to be true, and have done practical tests, and this is true.
scaatylobo
Member
Try a shoulder holster with flashlight attached; AND spare magazine [ highest capacity available ].
You can put it on while in your B'day suit and gives you options.
JeffG
Member
Another solution for an extra mag for your pistol ... a kydex mag carrier will have a belt loop. If you make a neck loop out of paracord, the belt loop will allow the mag holder to hang around the neck, leaving both hands free. The magazine can be deployed like a neck knife, a short tug, and the mag holder stays on the cord, and you have a loaded magazine in your hand. Know what I mean?
Chuck R.
Member
Often with the type 3 the top round is displaced and hanging out of the mag when it's stripped, so there's no re-insertion unless you want to spend even more time either re-seating the top round, or stripping it out of the magazine. I take it based on your response you must carry a BUG along with your primary CW??
Chuck
Good Ol' Boy
Member
Actually, more often than not in my experience, the second attempted chambered round pops free of the mag upon stripping, thus falling down the mag well. But I have had it stick in the mag as you describe "on occasion".
And no I do not generally carry a BUG in my EDC routine (although that has nothing to do with the topic). I said if YOU (or anyone else) are worried about that particular issue than perhaps a secondary gun is a more reasonable solution.
Not to sound like a prick but I am very confident in the guns, mags and ammo I run. I've never had any malfunction in my pistols that wasn't purposely manufactured. And although I practice to resolve a host of them a type 3 seems fairly far down the list in terms of actually happening given the track record of my current arms.
Again, to each their own. If you or anyone else considers that is a realistic possibility with your firearms than a more sensible solution would be a secondary gun.
And FWIW, I do have other "good to go" arms in the bedroom I would be hunkered down in should a "invasion" call for it. They're just not as accessible as the one on my bedside initially. But once I'm awake and the game is a foot their pretty easy to get to.
armoredman
Member
Do Type 3 drills every year for qualification.
Alternative idea;
CZ Scorpion EVO S1 pistol with Thordsens cheek rest. AR500 Urban Go package hard armor, with two spare 30 round magazines for the Scorpion.
Now the chance I might actually NEED this combo? Pretty darn rare, I would have to say, might have a greater chance of being struck by lightning squatting next to a bear in the woods at midnight...but...you never know and the price was right.
Realistically, the Scorpion is much shorter than a full size rifle, the round works very well indeed, and with a Manticore magazine, it's 32 rounds on hand.
I'd be happy with two 20 rounders and the CZ mag coupler, too, would do just fine.
Alternative idea;
CZ Scorpion EVO S1 pistol with Thordsens cheek rest. AR500 Urban Go package hard armor, with two spare 30 round magazines for the Scorpion.
Now the chance I might actually NEED this combo? Pretty darn rare, I would have to say, might have a greater chance of being struck by lightning squatting next to a bear in the woods at midnight...but...you never know and the price was right.
Realistically, the Scorpion is much shorter than a full size rifle, the round works very well indeed, and with a Manticore magazine, it's 32 rounds on hand.
I'd be happy with two 20 rounders and the CZ mag coupler, too, would do just fine.
nettlle
Contributing Member
The gun(s) I have on my night stand have been proven reliable. Sometimes it takes me a little time, work, and money to get them that way but what's on my night stand is totally reliable. I could easily have two guns on my night stand loaded and locked. Still I prefer one loaded and locked on the night stand with a loaded magazine beside. Two loaded guns would totally fill my hands. A gun and a loaded magazine not so much.
Rehearse in your mind what you think may happen after the lights are out and pick what is most comfortable.
Rehearse in your mind what you think may happen after the lights are out and pick what is most comfortable.
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Panzerschwein
member
Your handgun is only their to fight your way back to the rifle you should have never put down to begin with. Therefore, I don't really care to have a spare mag for my pistol on hand since it won't be needed after I fetch my PTR-91 GI from the closet and start unloading TAP Urban low penetration ballistics.
ColtPythonElite
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Ya'll must live in some tough neighborhoods...
Ideally, use it as an opportunity to quickly get even more gear on you. You could put together a battle belt with spare mag, light, holster and just snap it on.
I have armor under my bed I can toss on pretty quick with a spare AR mag, pistol mag, light, and pistol holster.
I have armor under my bed I can toss on pretty quick with a spare AR mag, pistol mag, light, and pistol holster.
Fine Figure of a Man
Member
My neighborhood can be very friendly or very tough, it's all up to the visitor.
FAS1
Member
Draw gun from it's holster with strong hand and grab spare magazine with weak hand.
We keep three pistols out of the safe.
One is my usual carry piece, which is a Glock 26 that goes into my bedside drawer if I'm asleep and I keep three mags for that on top lying out. Two G26 mags with 2-rd extensions on them and a G17 mag with a X-Grip extension so that the mag can't wobble at all (which they can do if a G17 is loaded into a G26) are left on the bedside table. The G26 mags are in a leather Galco two mag pouch, the X-grip G17 mag is out on its own.
Second is a Glock 19 on top of the safe in a hollowed out book and next to it is a box of loaded Glock 19 and G17 mags which will work in either the G19 or the G26. That's the one that's out for my wife.
Third is a Walther PPS in a pocket holster with two spare mags (no mag pouch) that's kept on the top shelf in my closet under a Level III vest. If I have to go someplace like my sons speech therapist even though they don't have a 30.06 sign the environment is such where I'm positive they'd have a problem if a pistol under a shirt was momentarily exposed and that might affect my sons care, so while I need to carry I choose to go with a pistol that's way less likely to be seen (because besides being in a pocket holster I also wear a longer shirt untucked).
I have a shotgun on top of the safe and one in the closet kept in cruiser ready condition as well.
At any rate I keep the mags on top of the nightstand simply because if something happens in the middle of the night short of being in my pockets that's the most convenient place to pull them from. The few cases where I've had to go check out a sound those mags immediately go in my pocket. When I wake up in the morning I immediately get dressed and the mags and the pistol both go on right then or I take them with me when I go in the bathroom and lock the door and then take a shower and they go on my belt then at that point. If I'm awake I'm armed. Our son isn't allowed in our room and I've taught him to stay away from guns unless I'm there to supervise, but we still keep everything outside his reach on top of that.
The way I figure with the mags is that the closer and more readily available they are the better. I've been on 24 hour shifts for years now where I have to be near to 100% capable when I wake up, but even taking that into consideration if I'm woken out of a dead sleep by our dog barking and going nuts, glass breaking or by thumping when they try to kick in the door I'm still going to be a little bit sleepy. The easier I make it for myself the less likely I'll be to screw it up and without the pistol the mags and ammo are useless.
The mags in the cardboard box on top of the safe can't even be seen, but they can be reached easily by someone who's over 5 feet tall who knows that they're there. The box is just open topped with no flaps and there are 7 mags in there.
That's just how I keep them.
At some point this will have to be changed as my son will get taller. At that point for the long guns I'll likely switch to AR carbines and keep the mag and the rifles separated and lock up all of ammo and mags in a sheet metal shop cabinet, do the same thing with my carry pistol that I do now and then have the pistol on top of the safe switched out to a biometric safe.
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OP
OP
Trunk Monkey
member
That's quite helpful, thanks
Keep your magazine next to your pistol. If your pistol is in a safe place them presumably your mag will be just as safe. However, if someone is coming at you with a weapon in the tight confines of your apartment and you have a malfunction, it's time to go to Plan B. I don't think you'll have time to assess the problem and then change your mag before it's over one way or the other.
Good plan on barricading though. Smart tactics.
I keep a full size CZ-75B on the bottom shelf of my nightstand, and my carry gun, a 75D PCR (loaded of course) in the top drawer with an additional full size, loaded spare mag which works in both pistols. So, I do both. Spare gun, and spare mag. Kind of a belt and suspenders approach.
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