This is a home defense question. I know, I'd use a handgun
or shotgun also.
Remember, this is for 5.56 or .223 and if you'd like you can
add bullet gr. or other type bullet altogether.


1)Ballistic Tip

2)Soft Point

3)Pointed Soft Point

4)Frangible


Me, a 55gr Ballistic Tip or a 55gr Pointed Soft Point.
Frangible is a little to expensive for me.

Keep a 30 round mag full. Alternating 15 different reloads and 15 different factory rounds.

Should keep the ballistics guys busy if you have to hose a tweaker one night.

On those occasions when I have had reason to rely upon an AR-15 for HD, I just loaded it with plain 55 gr. FMJ. At the distances involved in HD, there is not going to be much need for anything fancy. JMHO.

__________________
<><

Mine is currently loaded with Federal 55g FMJ simply becasue I haven't had a chance to experiment with other loads yet.

The general concensus is that heavier rounds are prefered for SD. I'm currently considering, 62g. Hornady TAP, 75g Hornady TAP and a couple different match loads from Black Hills. (69g or 77g Sierra Match King)

Honestly though, my AR will probably always remain a secondary HD weapon. In the confines of my home and without the assistance of backup, I think a handgun makes more sense. I still want to keep a mag of SD ammo on hand jsut in case though.

Frangible would be best, ballistic tip next, but never FMJ. FMJ would most likely go through your walls and maybe another two or three of your neighbor's houses, depending on what the bullet hits as it travels. If it hits a brick fireplace all is good, but if it hits something relatively soft (sheetrock, wood, flesh, etc.) it will most likely continue on, risking injury or death to an uninvolved party. If your loading the gun for self defense, it would be a wise investment to get 50 rounds of frangible ammo. Much cheaper than a lawsuit or much worse. FMJ is for range use.

No way would I use frangible for self defense, it is not designed for nor will it work well for this purpose. I would use a 62-64 grain sp as my first choice, 55 grain Triple Shock would also be good. A M193 style FMJ would work pretty good also and does not pentrate that much. In ballastic gel as long as the velocity is up say within 150 yards for a 16" or 200 for a 20" barrel the M193 bullet will tumble within 8 or so inches and break in two at the cannalure.

I use a 69 Grain Match King BTHP.

Biker

The 55 gr FMJ will give you the best performance out to 100 yds or so. It will not over penetrate like a 308 or 30-06 will. A couple pieces of drywall, and it won't go through the outside siding of a house.

Plus, this loading works well in any twist AR you are likely to own, from 1 in 7 to 1 in 12.

My mid-power .223 loads used 55 grn Sierra boattail spire points. The effect on rockchunks (groundhogs, if you will) was spectacularly explosive. I popped a coyote in the back of the head at @30 yards running away and, needless to say, it dropped like a rock. The bullet must have exploded inside the skull as there was no exit.

I determined at that point that for bigger game or defense, a heavier, more solidly constructed bullet was needed. In my mind, the .223 is best a varmit round, a defense round only if loaded hot with a heavy or FMJ bullet.

As for any liabilities, survivors can worry about them later; the dead need not be concerned at all. When it comes to protecting my life, IMO any liability concerns can take a low priority.