As those of us familiar with firearms know, an AR15 carbine is at least as suitable for virtually every home defense situation as a shotgun; this is especially true when considering the proliferation of AR15s in common handgun calibers. For your home-defense AR carbine, what cartridge would/did you choose, and why?
Presently, I only have a carbine in standard 5.56x45 At some point, I"ll do the research and the math and get one in 10mm or 45ACP, probably 10mm. No reason to not go with the more powerful handgun rounds in a carbine.
Unless you are in a rural setting with a lot of land I do not think the 2.23/5.56 is suitable for home defense due to its high penetration of walls (and neighbor's walls) ability. Do they even make an AR in 45acp? If so, that would certainly be suitable, as would a .40, 9mm and 10mm. For a home defense long gun I suggest a legal-length shortened semi-auto shotgun and for a handgun a .38sp/9mm and any higher caliber with a Crimson Trace laser grip.
5.56x45 is less desirable then other calibers, but that's why other calibers are available (and part of the discussion) https://maconarmory.com/ In most every case, an AR carbine is better - smaller, lighter, easier to handle, less recoil, larger magazine. If you have a bat in your house, the shotgun might be better
Another thread for those that overcompensate for having small hands.... Those that sleep with a light on.
disagree-ten G is heavy recoiling, expensive ammo. a 20G or a Gas operated 12G is far more easy to shoot rapidly
I own an AR in .556/.223, but I've got it fitted with a rifle scope, and I don't really think of it as a primary home defense weapon. I rely on handguns and a shotgun for that. But if I did want to use an AR as a primary home defense weapon, I'd probably go with a handgun caliber, probably a 9 mm or a .45 after I investigated my options.
I am not worried about recoil, or cost, just the desired results.......why those neat little flame throwing shotgun shells, Dragon's Breath, are so killer.
Here is what I have for home defense-My bedroom is downstairs and I would be the first involved. My son sleeps upstairs-and so does my wife on some nights due to her asthma. I have a CZ SP-01 with a flashlight in a holster on my Level III vest hanging on the bed post. Right near it is a SW MP AR 15 rile with a EOTECH sight and a flip up ANS Gen III+ NV scope. in the closet is a FnH SP-1 semi auto shotgun loaded with #4 tactical buck Upstairs in my office is a SIG semi auto rifle with a flashlight and a Beretta 92 in a instant access safe. My son has a Mossberg 20G semi auto shotgun in a safe in his room and my wife has a SIG 238 on her nightstand. My son also has his daniels defense AR 15 in that safe but the shotgun is the one that is loaded.
I doubt you have shot speed events with a shotgun. I was an all-american skeet shooter and a pro level 3G shooter and there is no way I'd choose a 10G for home defense.
Its BS. no one who is knowledgeable on this subject would recommend such a weapon for home defense. Its like claiming you recommend a SW 500 revolver for home defense
True, but it also scares the hell out of those in front of the barrel...I'd prefer to have an old M-60, but alas, I don't have that kind of disposable income right now to blow..
No. Buy a .22, of a pellet gun — something you are more likely to be capable of handling safely. Most people seem not to have the skill or disposition or intelligence to handle anything more powerful than a pea-shooter. Would you trust the clown in my avatar with a gun? Really...? An A-bomb is probably the ultimate home defense weapon for the truly paranoid. 'Course it might make a mess of the neighborhood...
Most likely due to the fact that we don't have any guns in our homes and the thread was about those who either have or want guns.
Can we have a 'None because we don't need it option'? I've never thought about having a home-defense weapon because I've never needed one. I've lived mostly in England and France with a spell in NYC and it's never been an issue.
lol I took mine back.... Neighbors kept complaing. For home defense, I prefer the 9x19 - small, lightweight and it packs a nice punch. I love firing the AR though.
Separate issue: of those who have posted here, how many have actually had to use a firearm for home defense?