.308 For Home Defense?

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Look at the Hornady 110gr TAP loads in .308 - less penetration in ballistics gel than many pistol bullets.

Of course the flip side of that is you get a marginally bigger permanent cavity in ballistics gel (compared to say, .223 at the same distance) in return for losing onboard ammo, bigger rifle, recoil, flash and noise. You can mitigate the flash and noise with a suppressor (in return for significant additional length) but you'll still be stuck with the bigger rifle, recoil and lost onboard ammo.

 

[mljdeckard]

#4 is as light as I will go. Still devastating at close range, and it's what I keep on hand for coyotes anyway.

 

[DeMilled]

I don't find my FAL, with a 20" barrel too heavy to use inside my home, your mileage may vary. To keep that in perspective; I am 33, weigh in at 170lbs and work out a few times a month and in general live an active lifestyle.

The low round count is a non-issue since I have plenty of 30 round magazines.

The recoil is a non-issue for me, your mileage may vary.

Muzzle flash is not bad at all on my rifles. I have a Vortex Flash Hider and it works very well.

I think a lot of people would benefit from actually shooting a .30cal from the shoulder and do some training with it before talking themselves out of the caliber.

Here is a video put together by DSA where you can see guys shooting a shorty FAL, some of it full auto, and also shooting the M4 of some flavor. It is a nice visual comparison of just how much recoil you actually get out of a .30cal carbine versus 223. It's kind of cheesy since it's their promotional video.

http://youtu.be/CmJhFIPKmcc

 

[DeMilled]

5.56 is what you are looking for.


Please expand on what you know, I'm eager to hear.

Since I mentioned knowing what the two calibers do to people I guess I should say how I know that.


I joined the Army, decided that being a Cavalry Scout was the job for me, picked Ft. Stewart as duty station of choice, went to Iraq with 3/7 Cav. and saw plenty of dead folks. Some people had been shot with 5.56, some with 7.62 NATO.
The people shot with 7.62 had bigger holes in them and died faster. There were plenty of people who took a few 5.56 rounds and ran off to bleed out somewhere else.
No one, that I saw, took a few 7.62 rounds and ran off to bleed out.

Just my personal experience and that's what I based my decision to go with 7.62 NATO upon.

 

[Prosser]

.308 for Home defense?

Depends on your situation, and how big your bad guys are. I hear they get pretty big in Louisiana swamps, like the gators.

If there is any place in the US that in theory should be gun friendly to a home invasion defense , law wise, it's the French law based state of Louisiana. YMMV, depending upon your local DA.

Without more details, can't say if it's a good choice.

Since most of us never have to use our HD guns, I'd give 99% consideration to getting something you can use for other things, and something you would enjoy shooting, and can afford to shoot a lot.

I really don't get all the naysayers about battle proven rifle rounds for home defense. If you know where they are going, like into the wild, or into a berm
or levy, then go for it. Be prepared for blast a bit like a concussion grenade.
I think that makes a GREAT home defense weapon, and, combined with the muzzle flash and burn, a devastating defense weapon.

I would be concerned that the ammo you pick cycles your semi auto. That means testing and shooting with that ammo.

Before I forget, some of the full weight soft points in .308 are pretty devastating, and don't penetrate much. You might not need varmit rounds, depending on where you live, and where your shots go if you miss.

Also keep in mind that your expensive rifle may end up destroyed in a police evidence locker if your local DA thinks you committed murder instead of home defense. They can't exactly oil your gun after a shooting. Destroys evidence.

I've got a Mosin Nagant M44 ready to go. Short, handy, and 7.62 X 54R is pretty much .308, or .30-06, but cheap.

Since most criminals are under the influence of something or other, the extra power the proven rounds provide is certainly a valid concern.

The problem with shotguns is you need a place to practice with them, and for me, that is nowhere around here.

I've always wondered how many times home invasions are foiled by the presence of a rifle vs. a handgun. I know I would be the LAST person that would want someone shooting at me with a .308, and I would be running as fast as I could the other way if someone had one pointed at me.

The above observations in war are from .308 NON-EXPANDING AMMUNITION, or should be. Using expanding ammunition the .308 would be even more effective.

 

[Patocazador]

1. It isn't about killing and killing is not the goal.
2. #6 shot does not penetrate far enough to reliably stop an attacker

Tell that to people who shoot deer dead with a load of # 8's while bird hunting. I killed an 8 pt. with #7 1/2 shot while snipe hunting in a swamp. The wad will penetrate if they're close enough.

 

[Warp]

Tell that to people who shoot deer dead with a load of # 8's while bird hunting. I killed an 8 pt. with #7 1/2 shot while snipe hunting in a swamp. The wad will penetrate if they're close enough.

I will tell it to anybody, because it is true.

I will also tell anybody that .22lr is not a reliable stopper, even though people have been stopped/killed with a single round of it. (similar example)

 

[wrs840]

#4 is as light as I will go. Still devastating at close range, and it's what I keep on hand for coyotes anyway.

You shoot at coyotes with 12ga Hi-brass #4 bird? I'm not doubting or slagging, I've slayed many a rabid skunk with it, but at 40 feet or so.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

I joined the Army, decided that being a Cavalry Scout was the job for me, picked Ft. Stewart as duty station of choice, went to Iraq with 3/7 Cav. and saw plenty of dead folks. Some people had been shot with 5.56, some with 7.62 NATO.
The people shot with 7.62 had bigger holes in them and died faster. There were plenty of people who took a few 5.56 rounds and ran off to bleed out somewhere else.
No one, that I saw, took a few 7.62 rounds and ran off to bleed out.

Just my personal experience and that's what I based my decision to go with 7.62 NATO upon.

Thanks for your service and that is a valid observation. What ranges where those people mostly shot? Were some at close range indoors like HD?