I just bought a Colt 6920 - 5.56/223 and do not know what would be the best home defense ammo. FMJ?? - 62 grain?? - I can buy 55 grain FMJ - American Eagle shells at Walmart - 20 rounds for $7.00 - I think this is good for the range but what should I keep in my home magazine?

I don't think a rifle is the best "home defense" firearm. Big for moving down hallways or close quarter maneuvering and it invites a grab attempt should an intruder jump out at you in the dark. Any 223 ammo will shoot through several walls in a modern home making it dangerous.

But if you insist, why ask which ammo to use? It's a rifle. Any bullet configuration shot out of it will be deadly.

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No life story has happy end.

I thank you and agree with your thoughts. I have a M&P 45 for inside. I live on a large, large lot and was thinking if TSHTF rounds to protect yard/home.

You have 30 round magazines. Just the sound of 30 rounds of any ammo fired in a bad guy's direction should suffice. You will have then defended your home.

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Recycled Bricklayer

I'd do some flavor of soft point.

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it just needs more voltage

In the nearby municipality of Scottsdale, AZ, their PD pioneered the use of M16/5.56mm platforms for "entry" weapons, rather than the formerly popular H&K MP5 subguns and etc., concluding that the rifle rounds were more effective than pistol-caliber subgun chamberings, and with suitable projectiles, had no greater liability of over-penetration through building materials or targets than the pistol calibers. I don't know what particular projectiles are favored for CQB by LE agencies, but a little nosing around, or comment by our LEO members, ought to reveal this. Certainly, any recent news coverage of any incident that brings out SWAT or "tactical" teams shows a preponderance of M4/AR/5.56mm weapons in primary use, vs. subguns or their low-powered alternatives. There are plenty of highly frangible bullets on offer that may not be ideal for anti-personnel use, but which assumabely won't penetrate through hard or soft barriers.

I like Rangers.

Look at some of the lighter soft point ammunition. It is extremely effective and won't overpenetrate too much. I have some 55 grain ballistic tips in my .223, and 130 grainers in my .308.

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Even older, even crankier....

First of all, 5.56 will not penetrate multiple walls. It is designed to fragment, greatly reducing I.terior penetration. That is why most LE agencies have switched from the HK MP5 which fired a 9 mm bullet to an AR based platform firing 5.56. Google "ammo oracle" and it should take you to a wonderful resource about the 5.56 round. I would suggest using any variation of the M193. That is 55 grain, but do your research because not all 55 grain ammo is up to M193 specifications. Stay away from the steel cased stuff for home defense. Good for plinking, but very dirty stuff. You can also look for ammo that meets Mk 262 Mod 0 and Mk262 Mod 1 specifications but it is pricey. An even newer standard is Mk 318 but it is designed to be barrier blind and you wouldn't want that inside.

The LE6920 is a heck of a rifle. Great purchase and in my mind one of the best quality rifles you can buy. I always buy ammunition on gun broker. You can find some folks who ship for free. Have fun with the rifle, I'm sure you will enjoy it.

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Un-Reconstructed Southerner

Oh, outside... on open property. I foolishly thought "home defense" meant inside the home.

Again, it's a 223 rifle so pretty much any type of bullet will do.

450..... FMJ 5.56 bullets fragment and vaporize on drywall? Wow.

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No life story has happy end.

Hmmm...


5.56 Wood Penetration TEST - YouTube


Hmmm...


http://www.state.nj.us/lps/dcj/njpdr...board_test.pdf


Hmmm...


5.56mm Bullet Penetration Tests

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No life story has happy end.

So, if you'll excuse the expression, it's a **** shoot. I've had some experience with .40 and .45 hollow point as well as 55 grain 5.56. None went out of the "house", but I definitely wouldn't want my grandkids standing in the line of fire!

PS, don't use a .44 mag. It breaks things, and you won't find the bullet...

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Even older, even crankier....

Saxon,

Sorry to ruffle your feathers, which apparently I did, but if you do more research than a YouTube video and a couple internet sites, you'll find out that 55 grain fragments pretty reliably indoors. Again, that's why most tactical teams moved away from 9 mm. I base that not only on research, tons and tons of articles and papers written on the subject, but personal experience and talking with guys that have employed it in real applications.

Now, I do agree with you that a rifle probably isn't the best home defense tool for.most people. You did bring up a good point I didn't consider about an intruder grabbing the barrel. I think that's highly likely when you are awakened and have to try to employ the rifle in a groggy state of mind. Personally, my home defense choice is a 686-2 with a 2.5 inch barrel. I keep it loaded with Hornady Critical Defense. 357s.

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Un-Reconstructed Southerner

At the ranges you describe it doesn't matter what your shoot out of that Colt.

55 gr FMJ Remington is 3300 fps with 1300 ft lbs of muzzle energy.

Find what works with 0 malfunctions and use it.

Those .223/5.56 rounds hit very hard for their size. Don't let it fool you.

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Take your time..quickly.

Right now I'm using the Speer Gold Dot 64 grn. GDSP, same ammo LEO agencies use.
And it actually has less over penetration than most handgun or buckshot shotgun rounds.

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Hold my beer and watch this!

FMJ is made for military use where international law forbids ammunition designed to expand. If I were going to use my AR for defense I would have some .223 hunting ammunition on hand. Recently I was plinking with mine using the steel cased 55 grain ammo. I was shooting at 6 inch pieces of 2X4 standing on end. If the pieces were dry they would fall when hit, but one piece was soaked with water and due to the extra weight the bullets passed through without knocking it over. BTW, all of the holes were the same size on each side of the boards. I would only use the AR inside the home as a last resort.

I have an AR for a SHTF weapon. I would advise having several loaded mags on hand. I like Magpul Pmags because they have the caps that protect the lips of the mag. If you leave the magazine loaded for a long time the spring pressure is hard on the lips at the top.

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Luke 22:36

Couple ways to go depending on your budget.....

Some people like 45 grain or so JHP varmint loads. Penetration might leave a bit to be desired.

Some people like M855 green tip 62 gr gi ammo.

If you can afford it there are a bunch of dollar a round heavy JHP. if you run a 0.5 " gun might be the way to go.

But.... I like the M193 type ball ammo. Cheap...works well in most guns.

I keep an M7 bayonet with extra tetanus value too. Just in case I was wrong.

Hornady Manufacturing Company :: Ammunition :: Rifle :: Choose by Caliber :: 223 Rem :: 223 Rem 75 gr TAP® FPD™

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Still Running Against the Wind

Find out what the gun likes.

Mine mangles soft points and loves green tips.

any hunting round or self defense round should be good too.

Anything out of that gun is going to put a major hurting on a home intruder. way more than any "reasonable" pistol with the fanciest supper-shredder hollow points would.

What ever brand & bullet weight works 100% of the time in your rifle.
You'll need it to kill someone at ranges up to 20 feet,,maybe.
The Military uses it to kill people at many hundreds of yards.

You're right, I am not a ballistics scientist. But I know what I see. That video you dismissed clearly showed a 55 grain bullet from an AR penetrate a telephone pole and puncture a plastic jug of water. Are you telling me drywall is tougher on a bullet than is 12" of solid wood? I think if a slug can get through a foot of wood it can get through a couple layers of sheet rock.

PS: About 40 years ago I had an AD in my home with a 22 Long Rifle pistol. That 40 grain bullet from a 4" handgun barrel went through two walls and was buried in a third. That was a 22 pistol. You still telling me a 223 rifle can't put a bullet through a couple walls?

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No life story has happy end.

And ruin your hearing for good!

Go to m4carbine.net and search for Gary Roberts' (DocGKR) ammo recommendations.

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NHI, 10-8.