Home defense/SHTF rifle

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otis24

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I've been thinking about a home defense rifle. The Ruger PC9 carbine or a lever action .357 to match one of my .357 sidearms. The problem is, money is tight and buying another firearm is out of the question right now, unless I trade/sell one of my current firearms.

Is the bolt action Winchester Model 70 .223 that I already own sufficient for a home defense rifle or would you opt for something different? If so, why?

All opinions welcome. Thanks in advance!
 
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Well, the Winchester is a nice rifle. It does have limited ammo capacity, and slow rate of fire.

If it were me, I'd just use one of the 357 Mags pistols you mentioned for home defense.

I'm not worried about SHTF, if by that you mean large gangs of bad guys randomly killing home owners.

Realistically, that's a fantasy that isn't going to happen -- probably similar probability to being invaded by space aliens.

Frankly, I like the idea of having a PC9 Ruger. But more as a range gun. Just can't justify it, myself.
 
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The M1 Carbine has worked well for me over the past 45 years or so. Handy at home, comforting to have in the car on a road trip. 30-round magazine in the carbine, 2-15 round mags in a stock pouch. Capable of "minute of pie plate" accuracy at 100 yards or more.

Made by Inland Division (General Motors) in 1943. Not showing any signs of wearing out yet! And it has a very special feature for home defense: it accepts the US M4 bayonet!
 
Lots of variables there. Are you defending the fort against invaders comin across the hills or are you talking about inside you i.e. 2000sq ft one level house? Do you see them coming or are they surprising you in the middle of a snoring festival? Totally different animals.

Personally I want a handgun in the house, maybe a SBR AR/pistol. Lots to worry about there. Working a bolt action rifle, hard enough on a good day looking at a 10 pt buck. Now for Attila the Hun coming across the field, then an AR platform in your choice of caliber.

Good luck and remember everybody has an opinion and you have to get what works for your situation
 
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We are just regular citizens without a tactical background, so a grain of salt is due. I've chosen my .357 lever rifle for HD, while my husband picked a 12ga, not because they are better than another choice, but it's what we are most comfortable with.

My 1892 .357 rifle really quiets a .357 158gr. JSP round, and bumps up the energy level, compared to the same round from my revolvers. Besides that, if you run out of ammo, the steel-edged crescent butt plate on the stock looks like it could do major damage if you smacked someone with it. ;)
 
I don't know if you carry a concealed weapon, but my primary home defense weapon is my CCW carried in my pocket while home. In my case, a 357 LCR revolver.

I figure if some invaders smash down the door, there won't me time to go get an AR.

What you have on you is likely the best defense.

It's possible if I lived in a rural area on a large property where I could see trouble coming in advance, I might think differently.
 
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SHTF

I too would just use the .357, if anything it is overkill. Though I love the Ruger carbine, I would not trust my life with it. The few I saw at the range jammed constantly. I have a Marlin Camp 9, its upgraded buffer and spring, though dirty as hell, it has been reliable and is a blast to shoot. It also chucks spent shells 12 to 20 feet away. Very accurate out to 100 yards. Shotguns are good too avoiding over penetration, depending on load. Though awkward in a house setting because of its size, its versatility is being able to use many various and different loads from low power loads to goose loads, birdshot to 00 buck and slugs. However in your case nothing beats the "shoot what you got" defense weapon vs nothing at all....
 
I really don't think a bolt gun in .223 is a great idea. I've seen some exceptional SD cases with bolts, but very few, and almost exclusively with "brush" calibers--big, heavy bullets.

Personally, I'd stick with whatever handgun you're currently most comfortable with. Maybe throw on some hearing protection if you really plan on shooting .357 indoors. I use my carry gun, a G26, simply because I'm probably already wearing it and I don't suck with it. This is despite having a whole mess of "better" handguns that I probably wouldn't carry.

Unless you're someplace remote, I just don't see the percentage in a long gun. If you are, an AR, especially if chambered in one of the short .30s (.300 Blackout, for instance) would get my vote. One mag and two spares is 90 rounds of Get Out Of My House. Alternatively, a Ruger PC9 or a 9mm AR carbine is also pretty formidable. All of these selections, of course, are dependent on you finding them interesting-enough to practice with.
 
I would anything that had ammunition available in an emergency situation
that would probably be a 9mm or 223.
 
otis24 said:
I've been thinking about a home defense rifle. The Ruger PC9 carbine or a lever action .357 to match one of my .357 sidearms. The problem is, money is tight and buying another firearm is out of the question right now, unless I trade/sell one of my current firearms.

Is the bolt action Winchester Model 70 .223 that I already own sufficient for a home defense rifle or would you opt for something different? If so, why?

All opinions welcome. Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...



I have a Lever action 308. But the length doesn’t make it great unless you’re hunkered down in a room. Sometimes you can inadvertently short stroke it or it can lock up on you. The length limits movement and maneuvering. The trigger is usually not as smooth as modern guns.

I don’t plan to clear a house like SWAT, either.

A suitable caliber that you’re willing to practice and get proficient with is the best option.

That can be a handgun or shotgun. The report from a rifle is just so loud. But if it’s all I had then that’s what I’d use.

Honestly a semiautomatic pistol is most logical.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
A a pistol caliber lever action is about as Politically Correct a piece of american culture as you can own..... can be fired quickly and topped off if necessary, as you go. In .357 the 16" Winchester Trapper holds 9 rounds in the tube. I'd add a Skinner barrel mounted ghost ring sight for quicker engagements if you ever need the sights

A long gun is a great option....... Ruger mini-14 or AR in 5.56 with hunting hollow or soft points and a red dot..... hard to beat!!!!

Lobo's M-1 carbine would be hard to beat with soft point ammo.... but they are getting pricey and ammo can't be found in every store.

A little 20 gauge shotgun...... we have a Mossberg 510 youth model 18" barrel standard, 12" LOP, 3+1 + 5 more on the stock ( 3 shot and 2 slugs)
with the ability to top off. Get a full stock

Pistol caliber semi auto carbines are also nice ...... if you are matching with a handgun. Ruger PC carbine with a Ruger 9mm or now Glock; my favorite the Beretta CX-4 Storm and a Beretta 92 ....... Factory and Mec-gar 15,17,18,20 and even 30 round magazines are readily available.

Bolt guns are nice but more to engage beyond 50yds IMO ....... so unless it's SHTF going on TEOTWAWKI..... not much practical use for home defense. Thou Ruger now offers a RAR that takes 10rd AR mags..... for that "mad minute" drill.

Dollar wise I'm guessing that a "used" 20 gauge shotgun would be your lowest cost option......a new 510 Mossberg may still be around $320 .
 
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I am not a big .223 fan but at home defense distances -50 feet, tops (?), a .223 with hunting ammunition should suffice to neutralize a threat. Needs lots to manipulate the bolt under stress, in dim lit, awkward positions, cramped spaces.
 
Mixed Needs

The bolt action rifle is my dead-last choice for home defense unless it's the only thing available. Likewise, time will be of the essence so you want something that's quick to load and doesn't require fine-motor skills. This rules out the lever action.

I rely on handguns for home defense but I live in a suburb. I don't need the reach afforded by a deer-caliber rifle. My choices for a rifle would be the M-1 carbine or any of the current crop of pistol-caliber carbines such as the Ruger. My rifle choice would be fed from a detachable magazine. You also don't need massive power unless you're expecting Bigfoot. Firepower and cartridge power are two different things. Firepower refers to a rifle capable of expelling a large amount of lead in a short period of time. Cartridge power refers to the strength of the individual cartridge to do the job you're expecting of it.
 
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I CCW a S&W Shield 9mm. I also have a S&W 686 4 inch and a Ruger Vaquero .357. I like the idea of a DA revolver for home defense, but I am thinking I might be more proficient with the Ruger Single Action, just based on how it fits my hands. The 686 is a little large for me. I haven't shot the Vaquero yet to confirm my suspicions that I would be more proficient with the it. While societal upheaval may not happen anytime soon, it would be nice to know that one is prepared should it occur. One of the revolvers is an "extra" ( I know you can't have too many guns!) and could be liquidated to provide a rifle. I like the idea of a companion long gun chambered in a pistol caliber. It just seems to make sense. But there is no hurry to obtain one at this current junction. I got the Vaquero because that is something my 15 year old son is in to. I am also thinking that in 15 years, he won't be able to find a pre-lock S&W revolver for much under $1500, if at all. I am pre-disposed to throw it in the safe and keep it for him. S&W revolvers of the pre-lock vintage are certainly what I would consider "heirloom pieces". I am hopeful that over the next 12-24 months my financial picture will be much better and I can work on building a collection rather than on reducing mine. For years, getting a new gun meant selling one, and I was only able to own one handgun at a time. Currently, there are five handguns in the house and two long guns.
 
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What about penetrating the walls and hitting people outside? The neighbors?

What shotgun shells should he use? #4 Buck? #00 Buck?

What if he fires a round and it goes down the hall, opens the front door, and flies out into the street?
 
DING DONG

4506517 said:
What about penetrating the walls and hitting people outside? The neighbors?

What shotgun shells should he use? #4 Buck? #00 Buck?

What if he fires a round and it goes down the hall, opens the front door, and flies out into the street?
Click to expand...

DING DONG, SHOTGUN CALLING. :D
 
Personally I think you answered your own question quite nicely - get yourself a companion caliber lever action rifle with a shortish barrel to match with your .357 revolver. Should be MORE than adequate for anything, that you aren’t realistically even likely to ever face. I’d sleep quite well. Plus levers are cool. Plus it’s neat to have a companion caliber of short and long gun. I kind of want a .44 mag lever to pair with my 629. Not a terrible choice for hunting either, in specific scenarios.
 
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