Which rifle caliber do you use for HD?

7.62x39 is my choice

.223
20 rds of 50 gr hp in my 16" NRA Mini 14

If rifle is required, I'll pick up the M1 Garand. I don't have another choice...well, the .30 Carbine...but I'll go for the M1 and let wifey have the carbine.

Mark

I suppose I'll either be laughed at or called a liar, but it's a .416 Rigby. Really.

Normally 5.56 but recently I switched to 5.7.

.416 Rigby! That's shoulder fired portable artillery! Just kidding.

I would certainly hope circustances would not force me to ever use deadly physical force in self defense, more so a rifle in the home, but if I met that vanishing small chance, it would be the vz-58 in 7.62x39mm.

Ar-15 ====> 223!

The poll didnt have enough options. I have a 30-30 handy, but it wouldnt be my first choice. That would probably be a 30-06, 35 Whelen, or 348. The 375 is fairly handy also.

I'm more concerned about critters. What would work for critters should work for whatever else. "Critters" come in a couple large, sharp edged varieties here.

Last thing I shot did happen to be with a 30-30 tho. I discovered a bull mouse making off with the bird seed. I dealt with him with a 30-30 round ball load at about 6 or 8 feet. Was touch and go for a second or two, I thought he was going to charge.

I keep the FS2000 by my bedside, in case I feel my CZ-82 would be a bit lacking.

Once I get the bugs out of my Marlin 1895,(feeding issues) I'll be using that.. 45-70 oughta do em.. Otherwise, if I need a rifle it would be my AR..

I have 2 carbines, a Marlin 1894, .44 mag, a Marlin 1894c .357 and a Mossberg 12 ga simi-auto sitting side by side for home defense. I would grab the one that fit the particular circumstances at the time. I also have a 30-06and a .243 again depending on circumstances. Beside my bed I keep a .45 ACP Colt 1911 for fast response. However the question was what rifle would I use and I voted for the .357 carbine because it is light weight, handles well and would deal with most HD situations I might be confronted with.

For the sake of this poll ... .30 caliber and .223 caliber ...

... but in truth, .45 caliber ... either .45 ACP in a pistol (SIG P220) or .45 Colt in a revolver (Redhawk).

None of the listed options. 40S&W.

None of the Above: 7x57mm Mauser.

William

00 buck in a 12 gauge Mossburg 835. Its a rifled barrel. So it counts RIGHT??

.30Carbine

My M1 Carbine is my go-to "home defense" rifle.
I live in the suburbs and I like my neighbors.
So the 5.56x45mm, 7.62x39mm, 7.62x51mm .303Brit rifles stay in the safe.

Have you ever fired a 5.56x45mm AR type rifle indoors without hearing protection?
It's not very pleasant.

.458 SOCOM, I'll probably blow my ear drums out if I have to fire it indoors.

.223 in my AR-15.

.223 in my AR-15.

depends on scenario, i live where theres bad guys bears and cougars. depending on the scenario i usually have my holster with my colt python on my hip, and either use my 30/06 remington 740 or my winchester model 94 30/30 but never am i out without my colt python.
Sometimes though my mossberg 12 guage gets pulled out for shooting at bears with rubber slugs and buckshot.

60 rds of 5.56 currently in the rifle.

Overpenetration yadayada blahblah. Heres how it penetrates in gel.

It would be .30 carbine or 9mm+P from a carbine here, perhaps MrsBFD would choose 5.56 but I notice she doesn't keep mags loaded for her mini14.

Mini 30

The quickest one to get to is my .308 Remington 700.