Best Home Defense Rifle?

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Smitty79

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I've googled this a couple times. Most of the time I get stuff no more detailed than comparing a Ruger mini14 to an AK to an AR of some sort.

If you weren't worried too much about cost or NFA silliness, what would you pick as an optimum home defense rifle set up?

I'm thinking a 10in barrel AR from a combat oriented manufacturer, like BCM or Daniel Defense. Add a can. Not to make hearing safe. Just enough to keep from blowing you ears out.

For ammo, I don't know. I'm leaning towards a 5.56/.223. As I'm not looking for stealth level suppression, I don't need sub-sonic.

1 point sling

This would give me a handy, won't permanently deafen you low recoil home invasion stopper.

I am no expert on this kind of thing. I'm mainly a USPSA shooter. What say you THR brain trust?
 
An sbr would certainly be nice if you're willing to go through the legal hoops and live in a state where legal. 10-12" bbl length should be just fine for up close and probably even further out than you might imagine.

A can on an sbr should make it around the same length as a 16" AR, so that's nice too.

As for brand... Everybody has their reasons for getting what they get. Like you, I really like bcm, Colt, Daniel Defense, etc. and that's what I feel good about sticking with.

For me, I keep a 16" bcm with a light and quick adjust 2 pt. vcas. Will probably add an aimpoint in the future but think the irons are adequate for my general purposes.
 
Ammo... You mentioned ammo.

Someone more knowledgeable than me will be along shortly. What I use are 69 grain SMK's. Are they best? I have no idea, but I think they'd do alright. I hear 75 gr TAP mentioned a lot too.

Good luck, btw
 
I know three people well and all three have different ones. There will never be a clear cut answer. Pick something you like that is dead nuts reliable and practice a lot with it after going to Gunsite training with it n
 
Smitty, I can see your points in the OP but one point slings suck. The weapon, when hanging, just flops around. No way to keep the weapon secured.
 
AR, no question, nothing even close in my opinion. 16", no sling. 1 cell Elzetta light in BCM key mod light on KMR handguard. A1 or tele stock.
 
If NFA isn't an issue here just give me a few bandoleers of claymores. Set up a perimeter and not have to worry about a rifle.....LOL. Seriously though any handy, reliable, centerfire with sights suitable for low light should do the trick.
 
My appreciation for the AR-15 came from my comparing one to handguns for defense in and around the home. (Self defense is my primary reason for owning firearms.)

Ballistically, it has more energy than most handguns (but not too much), in the vicinity of a hot .41 or .44 Mag. And NATO 5.56 ammo has momentum close to that of a .45 ACP.

Easier to shoot and aim accurately than a handgun, especially at distances of the main area around the house.

Has higher ammo capacity than most handguns.

I know it's a rifle, but when it comes to defense of the homestead, the AR-15 is like the "perfect handgun". :)
 
Gun has been covered. AR or SBR. Ammo? 40-55gr Hornady V-Max. Without question. They are show stoppers. Absolutely devistating on soft tissue and bone.
 
Different tools for different jobs. It depends on where the home is,and what home is. Are you living in an apartment ,in town? Are you in a farm house in the middle of 500 acres? It makes a difference. Is the biggest threat a fox eating your chickens? Or a crackhead gang banger ? In some cases the right home defence weapon could be an AR ,or maybe a good semi auto pistol would be more practical,or posibly something in a 12 gauge would fill the bill ? I think there is no one right answer to this question,it depends on the circumstances
 
A lot of good input on this thread, but have to agree with C.R., your location and conditions dictate the home defense weapon. No such thing as the "best" or "perfect" home defense weapon. Whatever your choice, make certain that you train-train-train in proper usage and for when things go bad.
 
Steyr AUG is my HD gun. Short as a 10.5" AR pistol. Full 16" barrel. 42rd mag of 55gr.
 
Most any semi-auto rifle that's relatively short-barreled and handy should be plenty good. Reliability is far more important than group size, considering that self-defense is pretty short-range shooting.

SKS, AR, Mini, GI Carbine. Sure, an AK could do, but with a full mag it's not quite as light and handy.

If you need a bunch of shots to solve the problem, odds are that what you really need is more people on your side of the argument.
 
Use what you're most comfortable with and have the most trigger time with. Knowing and trusting your rifle is more important than what's best in theory.

My ready use rifle is a 16" AUG with a light and an Aimpoint on it. It's very compact and maneuverable and I've shot it a lot.

BSW
 
Smitty79 said:
If you weren't worried too much about cost or NFA silliness, what would you pick as an optimum home defense rifle set up?

I'm thinking a 10in barrel AR from a combat oriented manufacturer, like BCM or Daniel Defense. Add a can. Not to make hearing safe. Just enough to keep from blowing you ears out.

For ammo, I don't know. I'm leaning towards a 5.56/.223. As I'm not looking for stealth level suppression, I don't need sub-sonic.
Click to expand...

I'd pretty much do the exact same thing, only I'd strongly consider 300BLK if you're OK with a fringe round, as you could go subsonic or hypersonic depending on your needs. A suppressed 5.56 in a hallway is still hearing-damage loud.

So yeah... 10.5 or 11.5", 5.56 or 300blk, a good red dot (aimpoint micro would be my choice), a descent suppressor (preferably one that wraps back over the barrel to minimize length & improve handline), a rail-mounted weapon light, and (my preference) a strong fixed stock (ace, etc).
 
I'm thinking a 10in barrel AR from a combat oriented manufacturer, like BCM or Daniel Defense. Add a can. Not to make hearing safe. Just enough to keep from blowing you ears out.

For ammo, I don't know. I'm leaning towards a 5.56/.223. As I'm not looking for stealth level suppression, I don't need sub-sonic.
Click to expand...

I had the same thoughts when I ordered a DD M4S300S a few months ago. I currently have a Remington 870 Express Tactical A-TACS shotgun and a SIG P220 Carry by the bed but will switch out the Remington for the rifle shown below once it shows up sometime around the end of August. It's in the Form 3 stage at present. I have a Dead Air Armament SANDMAN-S suppressor, Aimppoint M4s or Vortex Spitfire optic and an LED light ready to go. I'll probably add some sort of laser sight too. I plan on using subsonic ammunition though, no doubt about it.

ddm4300s.jpg
 
Two options I've not seen mentioned are the Tavor or a PS90. The Tavor is obviously more powerful, the PS90 is lighter and holds 50 in the magazine with zero effect to ergonomics. Both are battle tested reliable designs. The PS90 might be a little easier for the wife/GF to handle if that's an issue.

I plan to buy a Tavor x95 as my battle rifle/HD rifle/coyote in the backyard rifle.
 
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