Which bedside gun would you grab?

[NRATodd]

I have 2 handguns-
Smith & Wesson 686 .357 with 6" ported barrel
HK P2K .40 with 12 round mag (this is my carry gun)
I keep both in a gunvault next to my bed. In case of a bg which you grab? The .357 has more stopping power but it has 1/2 the rounds....

Thanks.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[boricua]

My bedside companion is a 686 plus. I think 7 rounds of 357 magnum should take care of business...

[retsupt99]

Did you mean which one would you use FIRST, and then followed by...???

I'd grab the 12 rounds of .40 first...

[United93]

Which do you shoot better? Shot placement is a lot more important than the minimal differences in so-called 'stopping power'. If you shoot both equally well, either should do.
ETA - Capacity, while not important in most likely scenarios, should also be a consideration.

[David in FL]

The one with more "bangs" before a "click"......

[QKShooter]

My choice for a Bedside Bad Guy "first gun to grab" gun? Hummmm....?

With a high quality semi like the HK I would opt for 12 rounds of .40 as a first choice though I sure would not feel defenseless with a high quality revolver stoked with 6 hot .357.

Could the bag guy be possibly wearing a BPV where two initial .357 revolver rounds are going to be wasted/expended plowing into multiple layers of Kevlar COM in a scenario where two more armed bag guy accomplices are right outside the bedroom doorway ready to react?

[bmcgilvray]

I'd still use the revolver, being of the "six-fer-sure" line of reasoning. I have 1911s, a Hi-Power, and a few other self loaders but trust the revolver.

I'd be a little leery of that ported barrel though. If required to choose between those two handguns I'd pick the .40 as I'm not fond of porting.

[matiki]

12 rounds of forty and an extra mag.

[Chevyguy85]

Whichever one you shoot better. Either should work. If they are in the same place who knows your instincts just might decide for you. Don't see how you could go wrong with either one though. Don't know what the muzzle flash on a .40 cal is but I'm assuming its no where close to the flame that comes out of the .357 so that might be a consideration if you're not using a load that is supposed to have a low flash for the .357.

[archer51]

In your case, since the HK is your EDC gun that would be the first one grabbed. Go with what your most comfortable with.

[Rexster]

I have neither weapon, so I can only speculate, but I if given the choice, I can examine an S&W revolver for functioning, and use a penny to test whether the firing pin is hitting hard enough. I can examine an autoloader, and except for broken parts, not learn anything.

That being said, I can reach for one of my .40 P229s, or one of my Ruger .357 revolvers, and feel quite well-armed either way. Both weapon systems are reliable for me. Guys working for the PD where I work have nailed plenty of felons with both the .357 and .40. I have seen the .357 mag work against a human from the best possible seat in the stadium, first row, behind home plate.

If planning to acquire either weapon, specified in the poll, well, S&W has a long-established reputation for taking care of customers well, and quickly. HK has the opposite reputation.

I voted for the sixgun, but that is what I would choose. The originator of this topic and poll should should choose what he shoots best.

Regarding capacity, well, you can't miss fast enough to catch up. OTOH, if the bump in the night is a team of home invaders, six shots may not be enough.

Some will point out that a 6" gun will give a bad guy more leverage to use against you. Well, it also gives you more leverage against him. Leverage works both ways, so only a snubby revolver gives the defender a clear advantage.

If lying in wait for the bad guy(s), which is generally the wisest choice, BOTH handguns will be there, so it really doesn't matter which one is in the hands. Pick the one you shoot best.


FWIW, I hunt for bad guys in the dark as part of my big-city night shift police patrol job. Anywhere I go, a P229 and a .357 snubby go. If there is time, I like to have a second P229 along, or a long weapon. None of this "pick one" stuff; take two, and try to bring three.

[jdivence]

you forgot one option...Grab both. Remember 2 is 1 and 1 is none.

[wmhawth]

I often sleep next to, and am comfortable with, a 686+. Mine has a 2-1/2" barrel and does not have ports.

[Rexster]

Regarding grabbing two, consider keeping a carry system handily available. A stiff nylon duty-type belt, with a holster and spare ammo, that fastens with something like a Fastex buckle, can be kept under the bed, if there is no room inside the safe. This will hold one weapon while one's hands hold the other weapon and your FLASHLIGHT.

[United93]

Good idea Rexter. Grabbing one gun in each hand sounds like a really bad idea, especially since a powerful illumination tool (okay, okay, 'flashlight') is a MUST for HD.