Is an AR rifle really ideal for home defense?

I don't have much to add here, but I just want to say that I can appreciate the choices we have. I personally may have a 9mm pistol and 12ga sitting close to my person at night, and am comfortable with each. I do not however own an AR15 yet though. That is coming very soon though.
 
I don't own an Ar-15, but I wouldn't hesitate to use one for self defense, my home is plaster and brick so I wouldn't worry about over penetration. But out of all my guns I prefer the 12 gauges, the full choke means even a round of birdshot would do heavy damage at close range. But also because of the sound, nothing says "get out of my house" like cocking a pump 12ga.
 
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I have no neighbors so apon intrusion i can start spraying, splintering 2X4's and turning drywall into powder.
THEN seek out my bewildered guest .....once the dust has settled.
 
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@Chris From all the research i have done, there are tons of options. Base it off of you and your wife. What are you both comfortable with? Pick a gun and if i cant find a round that wont over penetrate id be astonished(within reason. a 50 bmg doesnt count) Figure out your budget. i would start with the "pistol" version of a rifle and get a sig brace or the equivalent to shorten it up a bit. Also i would look a good deal into firearms built for close quarters such as smgs. There are tons of really good platforms there and many semi auto "clones" that work amazing. If you want to talk a little more you can always dm. I love fire arms and ill have a degree in firearms science and technology soon. Im no expert but i know a good bit. Plus guns are just fun to talk about.
 
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In all seriousness " regarding my post above " and having been around guns my entire life, i would not classify any rifle as an optimal weapon of choice for home security unless that's all you have.

Shot many AR 15's and 10's and while they're cool looking and have gained significant popularity among gun enthusiasts, I'm simply not one of them.

Weapons that gain accuracy by volume have never been my cup of tea.
However the .223 and .308 are extremely accurate rounds but from personal experience and having a gun range behind my house, semi's simply can't tack drive with bolts, levers or single actions.

When i shoot , i wanna tack drive but i guess in home defense, accuracy by volume is more than adequate but I'd still prefer a revolver in 9mm or 38sp.

That said, any intruder would be terrified to see the homeowner waiting to greet them with an AR....only hope is it Jams :)
 
Glock 23 for my preferred go to weapon with 165gr HP. Then a shot gun loaded alternately with 00, then deer slug, then 00 etc (5 extra rounds on a butt stock pouch). The shot gun is loaded such that if an intruder hides behind a wall, the deer slug will find them with enough force. Then there is the mini-14 with a Nikon BDC scope for perimeter shots (various ammo including something that will go through 3/8 plateif need be).

My choice is a handgun you are comfortable with. In close quarters long barrels and weight is not a good first choice IMO. This is given you are on the move within the structure. For a hold and defend situation, shotgun.
 
Dave K. said:
Also like Lovemachine said what your comfortable with is also important. And if you’re not comfortable with something make sure to get yourself very comfortable with it and practice to hit what you aim at.
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Agree. Pick the one you have the greatest comfort, familiarity and skill with. No time to be trying to remember unfamiliar features when you are going down the stairs in the dark. GP100 meets my needs. Simple and goes bang
 
Wow - Lotta stuff here - throw in my .02, I guess. I live in the country, and don’t worry about neighbors, but my kids’ bedrooms and ours are at opposite ends of the house, so we do worry about penetration for that reason. My preferred hd Weapon is 12 ga. Loaded with simple number 4 shot. It will kill the hell out of anybody from one end of my house to the other(40 ft), but is the lowest wall penetrator I have. My son at the other end of the house is armed the same. That said, every situation is different, so best to be more prepared than that. We keep the AR, a couple pistols (9mm for me, .380 for the wife) and a scoped rifle within reach as well. My 12 ga. Has a very bright light with a pressure switch (why not - I can use it or not use it depending on the situation). If I know where the intruder is and he already knows where I am, that light would be blinding to him, and illuminating for me, so I feel like it would be an advantage. I’ve had a light like that shined in my eyes, and I think it would be very difficult to shoot the person shining it when u can’t see.
 
I conceal carry a Glock 40 only because i can’t hide a shotgun. In a home defense situation I feel stopping forward progress is the objective, not waiting for the guy trying to kill you or someone who depends on you to bleed out.


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Im jumping in late and not reading every post, this is a topic EVERY responsible firearm owner should consider, from multiple perspectives


my ¢2, I keep a 9mm pistol handy and a rifle (sgl31 5.45x39 sst) ready, single family house wood frame in suburbs. You are accountable for EVERY projectile.
 
Also, for those who prefer a handgun for this scenario, that’s fine, it’s just that with a slung rifle or shotgun an intruder can’t take it away from you or knock it away if you were walking around your home and they were hiding and it came to CQB
 
For what's it's worth I heard someone say this before about home defense weapons:

Pistols are designed to put holes in someone, Rifles and designed to put holes through someone and Shotguns are designed to blow parts off of someone.
 
For the AR or rifle and shotgun crowd, where do keep your loaded long gun while say, watching tv or whatever it is you do? Most of the scenarios seem to involve plenty of time or the bedroom as a starting point. That's fine and a valid scenario, but your just as likely to get a knock at the door or the door kicked in. Then what? Do you answer the door with a shotgun? Run for the safe and hope the locks hold? Keep a loaded shotgun by the backdoor? kids?
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I don't even have to put my footrest down and I'm good to go.
 
ohiopatriot said:
For the AR or rifle and shotgun crowd, where do keep your loaded long gun while say, watching tv or whatever it is you do? Most of the scenarios seem to involve plenty of time or the bedroom as a starting point. That's fine and a valid scenario, but your just as likely to get a knock at the door or the door kicked in. Then what? Do you answer the door with a shotgun? Run for the safe and hope the locks hold? Keep a loaded shotgun by the backdoor? kids?View attachment 28408

I don't even have to put my footrest down and I'm good to go.
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It’s true, an advantage of handguns is portability and concealability. I live in the country, so my set up is geared for my situation. Most vulnerable at night, shotgun at bedside. Safe place is a closet with gun safe in it. I need to place some guns in other parts of the house. Handgun wherever I go in public, and sitting on desk at work.
 
Nothing gets the G.T.F.O. of my home point across or tells an intruder that they may have screwed up, better than a 230 pound, 6' 1" naked dude running at them screaming with a long knife in the left hand and a tomahawk in the right.

Don't believe me? Try it on one of your buddies some time. Bonus points if you have two American Huskies running with you. Snarling and barking.

You don't need an AR.
 
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