The AR for home defense

[SSgt M]

Just wanted to share an article I read in Feb. Guns and ammo I believed is the mag I was reading.
As it goes into detail on the 223\5.56 round being better suited for the home, along with the AR, Stating that the light weight high speed ammo will normally come apart when shot through a house, vs. round ball pistol ammo, shotgun slugs and buck shot will penetrate multiple interior surfaces along with hollow point ammo will fill with drywall and exit the home as a solid projectile. I'm not completely sold that if I'm forced to fire in my house that my rounds will not travel past the exterior walls, but they did say say alot about a new high velocity frangible type round that is ment for home defense and will not penetrate a wall of sheet rock, however leave all it's energy on the surface to a depth of 3 inch If I recall.
Also went on to talk about the AR platform being easier to manipulate in the home and more prone to be on point with a follow up shot than a pistol or shotgun when going room to room. I will be sure to post exact magazine name and article when I get it back.

 

[SSgt M]

Oh look, I found it....

Is .223 the Best Home Defense Caliber? - Guns & Ammo

 

[oneyeopn]

I dont keep my sport in a location where it would be as easy to get to in an intruder situation. My 9mm and 45acp pistols I do though, and the way our tiny house is built (it was a 3 car garage that we turned into a house) I feel IMHO for me the pistols will work just fine. But it I had a bigger or a two story house, heck yeah my sport would be on one of those bed side racks!!

 

[SSgt M]

Ya, my home is 2 story with only bedrooms up stairs, and the hallway up there looks over the entry way and the living room, tactically I have the advantage over an intruder. My AR is close enough to smell the CLP it's soaked in.
Too many illegals comming into to Tucson from Mexico.

Trust No One, your a terrorist until proven otherwise......
Shoot first, tell him to vacate later !

A law has been put fourth instituting that illegals crossing in to the US will be deemed as terrorist I've read.

and here is how were arlttempting to take care of business.....
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2012/02/06/20120206arizona-militia-bill.html

 

[Splittiebus66]

Hmm its debatable for sure but I like the AR platform for HD. My wife can handle it proficiently as well so its a good family gun. She is very small and had some issues with the 870


I've heard that for the most common ( as in I'm a gonna buy a crapload of it LOL) 223/5.56 loads the plain jane 55gr FMJ (XM193) is a better choice against than the 62 gr greentip stuff (XM855) for HD/PD as it reaches terminal velocity faster.....

I roll w/ the 55gr Zmax for now but I'd like to try out that PDX load as well as the 77gr Mk262 esque loads. $$$$$$$$$$$!

 

[JaPes]

SSGt M,

You may find this video interesting.

5.56mm NATO XM193: Drywall & Ballistic Gel Test - YouTube

I like tnoutdoors9's channel. He performs amateur ballistics tests that are very entertaining.

 

[TangoFoxtrot]

I use a pistol with Hornady Critical Defense ammo for my house gun. I do keep an AR in my safe room. I feel you really need to be careful where you launch rounds in a home, especially if you have kids in other rooms or have neighbors close by. When you use any weapon in a home you have to keep a tactical mindset and know what angle to shoot and not to shoot and where that bullet is going to end up landing. Spray and pray is not an option. You are accountable for ever round that leaves that muzzle.

 

[crracer_712]

I currently have my 300 whisper sitting beside my bed, a LCP, LC9, SR9c and a M&P 40c loaded to the left of where I sleep. I want to add a tactical shotgun and maybe a crossbow with explosive tipped arrows, buz they look really cool in Rambo.

 

[IcedDog]

and maybe a crossbow with explosive tipped arrows, buz they look really cool in Rambo.

Interesting article, but I'm not sure I'm sold on the supposed lack of overpenetration. Also, what about the decibel factor of firing an AR indoors vs. a pistol? Sure, staying alive is more important, but I'm also very fond of my hearing. Even though I have a light on my AR, I'll be more inclined to go with my XDM 9mm with laser/light attachment for home defense...if I can't get enough stopping power with 19 rounds of hollowpoint ammo, then it just wasn't meant to be

 

[oneyeopn]

Yeah my favorite HD weapon is my 45acp, but I also have a single shot 16 gauge with slugs in the butt-stock bandolier. I really dont have to worry about over penetrating the neighbors houses are far enough away, but having large chunks of lead to throw around keeps me comfortable.

 

[Jayhawkhuntclub]

There are a lot of variables (ammo, home layout, proximity to neighbors...), but an AR is rarely one of the better options for home defense, IMHO.

 

[SSgt M]

In any case,

The pump of a shotgun,
Slamming a bolt into battery in the AR,
Rack the slide on your favorite pistol,,,
Most of the break in storys I've read ended with out a shot fired due to the sound of a weapon coming down the hall. I personally like the AR due to how my house is built. But a short tac. Shotgun would also do well.

 

[Grjfer]

In any case,

The pump of a shotgun,
Slamming a bolt into battery in the AR,
Rack the slide on your favorite pistol,,,
Most of the break in storys I've read ended with out a shot fired due to the sound of a weapon coming down the hall. I personally like the AR due to how my house is built. But a short tac. Shotgun would also do well.

Only thing a bad guy might hear from my HD weapon is the click of me flipping of the safety. If choose to deploy the Glock they won't even hear that.

 

[KJM]

Frangible ammo in it.....

 

[Splittiebus66]

Only thing a bad guy might hear from my HD weapon is the click of me flipping of the safety. If choose to deploy the Glock they won't even hear that.

This. I dont want them to know where I am or even if I/we are in the house, if possible. IMHO the sound of an HD weapon racking is overrated as a deterrence to violent crime, especially someone crazy enough to kill.....

 

[amazingflapjack]

I would not have an AR anything in my house.

 

[oneyeopn]

I would not have an AR anything in my house.

that is your choice, I have a lot of weapons that arent AR's but now I have an AR and it is fun, it may not be the most practical but Its my life and my choice. Have a good day sir!

 

[setxwarrior]

I have my M&P15 with a 10rd mag full of Win PDX123's, Insight M3 next to my bed. Also have an M&P9 with a TLR2s. Both are ready just in case. After reading this and a few other articles online, I really started to think about my AR as a primary HD weapon. I purchased the 10rd mag just for this and have been practicing double taps @ 7yds at the range using the light. I have to adjust my Eothech's POA about 3" high. If something goes bump in the night, I will probably grab the AR first.

 

[turbo38gn]

I to have read articles on the very same topic. I like the idea of 30 rd mags vs 10 or even 17rds. Everytime I see tactical forces in training, they ain't carrying pistols.. Heck, I have everything at my fingertips, including my 590a1..

 

[ocinsomniac]

Being retired, and no kids or grand kids in the house, I keep a loaded gun hidden and easily accessible in every room of the house except the bathrooms, and an alarm system monitors the entire house. This includes a S&W MP9 w/Viridian green laser under my pillow, 12 gauge w/00 buckshot, a .308 bolt, 30-30 carbine, a S&W MP9c, a S&W Bodyguard 380, and my SP-15 which I keep under the bed.

If the zombies attempt a break-in, they better do it while I'm on the throne in the bathroom, otherwise, they're gonna look like Swiss cheese when the meat wagon comes to pick 'em up.