"Do I actually expect my wife to have the where-with-all during a home invasion to calmly get the handgun from the nightstand safe, work the safety off, clearly identify a target as posing a deadly threat, account for any innocent bystanders and defend herself by shooting accurately in the few fractions of a second that you have to react? What I expect her to do is run!! Run to the bedroom bathroom, close the door, lock it, pick up the phone and dial 911! Now that she's barricaded in the bathroom, she has time to think clearly and she has access to a shotgun in a wallsafe mounted behind a mirror if she feels the necessity. What have I given her? I've given her a safe haven where she has time to think and evaluate the situation before she makes a mistake that makes the situation worse.
"
You really ought to make that room a safe room. A steel bathroom door with a keyed deadbolt framed in a solid wood/sheetmetal sandwich wall would really beef things up. Filled concrete block is good too of course.
You need a VERY sturdy frame to withstand a 200# throwing his weight at it @ running speed.
I'm joining this late but some comments:
* Someone said "I don't carry unless I need to" - I think none of us can predict when the need will arise - food for thought. I'm getting a .40 for CCW purposes and it will be small enough that I'll pretty much carry it as much as I wear underwear.
* Consider knives. An un-trained shooter will easily be stabbed by a trained knife wielder - or even someone that has practiced their attack plan a few times. Anyone that looks unconcerned that you have a gun and they have a knife is a very serious threat. Don't wait - shoot them. This works vice versa of course. If you are every caught with just a knife and it is do or die - I intend to take my chances with the stabbing. I don't expect mercy from a bad man with a gun - you are a witness after all. I *ALWAYS* carry a Benchmade knife that snaps open/closed with the slightest of wrist action.
* Not sure wifey can handle the firearms? Hide a machette in the safe room. Stay on very good terms with your wife!
* Don't go hunting intruders. Let them know you are armed, have called the police, and you don't want to hurt them. Suggest they leave. Sound confident - don't plead.
* Safes are good for more than guns - I bought a Liberty safe (lincoln model) for the rifles and hand-gun AND for irreplaceable photos/documents. It has a 75 minute fire rating that is supposedly very under-rated. You can buy safe doors for mounting as a door to a DIY vault if you have a lot of that sort of thing.
* Don't flee the scene of a shooting - it equals guilt. Don't mess with evidence either or try to fake it - also guilt. You stand a much better chance of claiming self-defense.
* Don't threaten an attacker's life. Threaten his entire family and friends. Words are wonderful weapons, choose the approach on the situation. Lie. Lie well. I was held at knife point by a gang and it worked for me. I let them save face, gave them respect, did NOT back down however and explained how dire their situation would be if I was to come to harm - totally senseless and we will be on our way now. It wasn't the toughest gang on the planet, but I did have a rib-tickler blade about 18-24" from my chest, and a couple others like it were out as well. I may have been nuts or very brave - probably both. Give them a win scenario if they leave but a lose-lose-lose if they don't.
* always carry spare ammo
* hollow points and the sort are better than FMJ - you don't realy need or want bullets ricochetting around your house/going through your house - do you? FMJs are for practice only IMHO
* dont get killed - who will protect your family THEN?
