I have a .38 revolver; I'm wondering if it's a good idea to get a lock on this gun... It doesn't fire easily,

Question

but I worry sometimes If I'm carrying it in my purse..or if my daughter is at home.... I think i would feel better with some sort of safety.... or lock rather on the gun.

Also... if I did have a lock on the trigger... how hard would it be to get it off if I needed to?

Yes, I do have a ccp.

thanks to everyone also... lot's of good advice, I appreciate it guys.

Answer 1

Firstly, you should be able to access your weapon & fire it if you needed to no matter what. That said you should take every precaution to keep it secured & away from your daughter (and any other kids).

I used to own a .357 revolver myself for personal protection carried mainly in my purse. It was a very heavy weapon though I loved it. I opted to not ever use a lock just because when the need to use the weapon would arise I would need to quickly access it. My son was also an infant and the probability of him getting ahold of it was virtually nil. I now own a 9mm and it's much easier to carry & secure away when i get home. Kids are always so curious & agile that when at home the gun should be locked away...keep the weapon accessible in the evening until you get up in the morning. Your safety & your ability to protect your family is equally as important as securing your weapon from unauthorized users.

Answer 2

First thing you must do when cleaning any weapon is make sure it is completely unloaded. Back to your question, can a .38 revolver go off accidentally: Sure, any gun can but it is not an everyday occurrence. Guns can go off when dropped. If your's is an older revolver it may have a fixed firing pin (you can see the firing pin when you pull the hammer back. If this is the case it could go off if there is a shell in the chamber and it is dropped on the hammer. Best thing to do is to leave the chamber under the firing pin empty. Some very important gun handling safety rules: 1. Threat every gun as if it were loaded. 2. Never point a gun at anything you are not willing to destroy. 3. Keep your finger outta the trigger guard until you are ready to shoot. 4. Never store a handgun loaded unless it is secured in a holster that covers the trigger. There are more but this are very important ones. If you feel you lack a familiarity with firearms then let suggest you sign up for a gun safety class (or CCW class). H

Answer 3

I am a little concerned that your .38 revolver doesn't fire easily. The trigger pull weight on a revolver can be close to 15 pounds on some guns but even then it shouldn't be that hard to pull. You might take the revolver to a gunsmith and have him pull the side plate off and clean out any gunk in there. While he is doing that, have him do a trigger job. This will lighten and smooth the trigger. Should cost around $50., depending on the kind of revolver you have.

I am not terribly fond of trigger locks. If you need the weapon quickly, fumbling around to get the key into the small lock could simply take too long. I have Grand kids in the house quite a bit. My house gun is in a lock box, next to my bed. Mine is a pricey box that opens when I lay my fingers on it and punch out the combination. Wal Mart sells a Sentry Lock Box with just a key lock for about $30. That will work just as well. The lock is larger, easier to see and use.

Check www.midwayusa.com

I have the: DAC sport safe, #103297, costs about $80. Has the combination lock and a key lock back up (in case you forget the combo.)

Answer 4

How old is your daughter? How well does she take instructions? Can you absolutely forbid her to not mess with your .38? How about just storing the revolver and ammo in separate places and only loading it when you're home?

When you carry in your purse you could carry it in a holster that covers the trigger and has some kind of Velcro or snap. This grants you quicker access in an emergency and you don't have to worry about removing a lock which is time consuming and clumsy. You should carry it in a holster, anyway, or look for a holster purse for practicality & safety's sake.

Congratulations on having the courage to take responsibility for your own, and your daughter's safety. If you haven't done so consider taking the safety course & getting a concealed carry permit (if available in your State).

Best.

H

Answer 5

All they take is a key and they come off. If you're carrying it for protection I wouldn't lock it up. Something tells me a would be thief won't respond with "Oh you need me to pause my mugging for 10 seconds, so you can fumble around in your purse for the key that unlocks the lock on your .38? No problem!" If you're at home and are afraid your children might get to it then it's a good idea. As long as you can get to it and unlock within a few seconds (like if you hear someone breaking into your house) it's a good idea. It kind of defeats the purpose of having a firearm for protection in an emergency situation if you have to fumble around with a key and lock before you can use it. For protection in your home it wouldn't be as big of a deal though.

Answer 6

In the Cabela's catalog, I've seen a lock box for a handgun that has keyless entry. It scans your thumbprint, which seems quicker than fumbling with a key. I don't know how well they work, but someone on here might. And they're a couple hundred bucks.

What I did before I bought a semiauto was keep my revolver unloaded with a couple of speedloaders next to it, on a shelf too high for the kids to reach. Some revolvers are easier to load this way than others, and it does take practice. The only time I put a trigger lock on it was when I was on vacation.

Answer 7

I disagree with all these folks that tell you to put a lock on your revolver while at home.

The obvious solution is to put the revolver in your pocket when at home. That way, you will always be in total control, and if someone comes busting through the door, you won't have to run around looking for it. And you won't have to worry about your daughter or one of her friends taking the gun out of your purse while you are busy with chores.

If you leave the gun at home while your daughter is there unsupervised, then yes, a lock would be a good idea. When you return home, unlock the gun and put it in your pocket.

Doc

Answer 8

If you have a lock on the trigger, you won't be able to get it off in time. You might as well carry an unloaded gun which is pointless in the first place.

As for when you are at home, get yourself some kind of quick open gun safe. It takes about two seconds to open and will keep curious little hands off your gun.

http://www.gunvault.com/
I like the Mini Vault - Deluxe

Answer 9

If you have a lock on your pistol it would take too long to get it if needed in a hurry.
I carry a loaded hot gun(****** and loaded)daily.I too have children and if the gun is not on my person it is put in my safe, always keep firearms away from children even if there educated on firearm safety.You also can get a strong box with a key pad where only you know the combo and you can get to your gun a lot faster as oppose being locked in a safe.

Answer 10

Anytime you lock the trigger, it is not available for instant action. Some of these trigger lock may take up to 5-10 seconds to remove. In an emergency, that is an eternity.