Second guessing the AR for SD

It's personal; keep what you shoot the most and like.

Key for an HD weapon in my mind is that you know it very, very well and can run it under stress in the dark. For me, the AR is good, not for everyone though.

The AR is almost perfect for situations where things go bump in the night. However, different strokes for different folks (or maybe short strokes for the shotgunners ). Use what your comfortable with. I'm comfortable with every gun, knife or axe in my house....

seems like you went from selling it, to keeping it, to selling it...all in about three hours. i'd say hang onto it until you sure of your decision.

Outdoors against multiple aggressors from 50 yards or more I'd want the M1A

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I'd want the minigun with a long belt.

For HD inside it would be hard to be the AR with varmint rounds (huge soft tissue damage).

Hammer059 said:

Call me crazy, but here it goes. I know it's a matter of personal opinion but I'm curious to hear what you all think before I sell my M4/6920.

I can't think of a scenario where I'd choose my AR as my weapon for SD.

Indoors I'd want a handgun or shotgun.

Outdoors against one aggressor from 50 yards or less I'd want a shotgun.

Outdoors against multiple aggressors from 50 yards or more I'd want the M1A

I guess there's a part of me that doesn't want me to sell my Colt. But practicality appeals to me, and ugly black plastic rifles don't have a place in my heart like my shotgun and M1A.

Is there something I'm missing here? :banghead:

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I understand exactly what you mean.

My nightstand gun is a S&W Model 64 .38 special revolver. It serves to get me to my Winchester Model 12 riot gun.

At ranges over about 50 yards, my PTR-91 (H&K G3 clone) comes into play. Can't argue with .308 Win, or 12 gauge, or even .38 special +P 158 grain LSWCHP FBI loads for that matter.

It works for me, those who like the AR platform and it's intermediate small-caliber round are fully entitled to keep what they want for defense, but me, I'll step it up to a G3 if I REALLY need a rifle, which isn't that likely anyway but you never know.

I wouldn't sell any AR right now unless I was forced to. The market is flooded and Colts are going for as low as $800 new, shipped to your FFL for free. If you can sit on it, wait until the market readjusts.

The thing that makes ARs very popular for SD is that they are both effective and very cheap to train with. Lots of guys love their .308 battle rifles, but don't get nearly the trigger time on them compared to a dedicated AR shooter.

I agree with post #2 as whatever floats your boat or trips your trigger.

There is no "best" home defense or self defense gun. The best gun is the gun which works best for any given individual under a given set of circumstances.

Ron

I will always agree that you should use the tool you are most proficient with.

Keep in mind however varmint rounds such as 5.56 and .223 shot out of rifles have just as much devastating effects on humans as they do on varmints. They are are quite capable of filling the role of self defense.

Hammer059 said:

Oh god. Why are people hung up on the penetration issue as if I'm one of the fools who thinks 5.56 overpenetrates. I never said that, and I never even cited penetration as a concern.

This was really meant to be about outdoors anyway. Some of you have made very valid points regarding using an AR indoors. But please, lay off the penetration aspect. I already know that and it's not a factor for me.

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You didn't mention over penetration, but at least one other poster did, and so it was properly addressed.

Also, I'd take an AR-15 over an M1A or a shotgun for pretty much any self defense scenario I can imagine. Just curious, have you had much formal training with any of these weapon platforms?

This was really meant to be about outdoors anyway.

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If its outdoors, its very unlikely to be a home defense situation... If its self defense, you're extremely unlikely to have a long gun on you in the first place. This leaves handgun as the only option...

Hammer059 said:

ugly black plastic rifles don't have a place in my heart like my shotgun and M1A.

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Absolutely nothing else in your original post or in anyone else's posts matters more than the above statement.

If you don't care about AR's and feel you have better HD and SD options, then that's all you need to know.

I ditched both my AR's a few years ago. I don't regret it a bit. Don't let other people convince you to keep something you're done with.

If you think there is even the slightest chance you may feel the itch again some day, then keep it.

My carbine class instructor (12 years SWAT) loved the AR platform for HD/SD. Earier to control than a handgun, hard hitting, 30 rounds, able to engage threats from 1 to 400 meters, light and easy to customize, parts and ammo everywhere.
the only time he would transit to a handgun would be when he entered a very tight space such as a crawlspace or attic.
IMHO a stripped carbine with a tactical light would be perfect for your needs.

It is whatever you are comfy with. I "think", I hope, I would be comfortable with pistol, rifle or shotgun for HD, but I am the most comfortable with my SBR. It is short enough for indoor movement, accurate enough for outdoors and the ammo is good for 0 to 150 yards (T2 TAP). AR is my preference, because that is what I shoot the most. For HD, go with what you've trained the most with.

SHTF is a different scenario and not something THR wants to deal with.

I am not a pro, so I will stay off that topic.

Outdoors against multiple aggressors from 50 yards or more I'd want the M1A

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How realistic is that?

I make enemies for a living. If there are dudes outside with guns, then I'm staying in. I've cleared countless houses, and in my experience the hiding/static party has a distinct advantage.

I don't like long guns for clearing. If I'm static, a shotgun would be ideal. When moving I'm more concerned with retention, so I prefer having a handgun. Usually that's what I have anyway. Inside the home is 0-20 feet, and pobably 10' or less. Often times I've found suspects inside a closet. I don't want them to get inside my muzzle or to get a hand on it. Plus, I may need to operate doors or move furniture. Hence my preference for a pistol over a handgun when clearing. Clearing is not my first option "off the clock". I'll back in my room, behind cover, wait for the intruder to break the plane of the door frame and blast 'im.

Ditto briansmithwins post. Now is a poor time to sell as the market is flooded with AR's. Consider waiting a year. The market can change a lot with the elections next year.

As for a different gun(s) there is no one perfect choice. Go with what you like.

I'm going through this from a slightly different perspective. I may need to do some contract work out of state limiting what firearms I bring along. I was initially planning to bring just a pistols and pump shotgun (with several different barrels). My brother talked me into bringing along my mini-14 just in case something really bad happens and I might want the option of lots of rounds on tap. I wouldn't sell your AR. Having a rifle, shotgun, or pistol as your go to home defense weapon is a personal choice. It is good to have all three available though because you never know what might be going on. I can think of a few times where the mini-14 was kept near me just in case and I can think of scenarios where the pump shotgun was kept close by.

Lots of folks are happy with just a bat. What if you just put a lead weight in the stock and swing it by the muzzle?

Outdoors against multiple aggressors from 50 yards or more I'd want the M1A

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I'd want a good lawyer.

From my experience killing deer with both, I would prefer the AR with soft point bullets over a shotgun for stopping power. But it is your call. An AR covers all the bases at any likely range. The first two have limited range and power.

I've never found anything an AR in 5.56 would do, that something else wouldn't do better, so I sold it.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution to the question of what gun you should use for defending your home and property.

I'm comfortable with an AR-15 in any of the roles you mentioned. I'm also comfortable with a shotgun in any of those roles, and can use my Glock inside of outside of the home, and out to 100 yards in a pinch (I do practice that task about once per month).

Use what you're most comfortable with. Your mindset and skill set are far more important than the chosen toolset.

I've never found anything an AR in 5.56 would do, that something else wouldn't do better, so I sold it.

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A statement like that is more the reflection of your metrics than for the AR15's capabilities. It is pretty much a jack of all trades rifle. There are a bunch of various tools which will beat it in specialized areas, but few tools which excel across the board like an intermediate carbine.

I think a 20 inch barrel AR would make a great varmint gun.

I think a 20 inch barrel AR would make a great varmint gun.

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While true, I'm not sure how this is applicable here in a thread regarding home defense.