AR-15 or Shotgun...

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SigSour

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OK, this is not one of those "which is better" posts, I just wanted to check the temperature of the room to see what someone else thought about this.

So, my wife works for the CDC and just before that with the Red Cross, one of the Sr. people in the emergency disaster group. I've gotten free passes to many "Emergency Preparedness" classes and courses with some really impressive instructors (people who've been there done that)

I noticed one common thing quite a few of them said and it got me thinking, the phrase was something like "There are a few people who are dear to me who do not have an emergency disaster plan... so I am their emergency disaster plan"

One of the guys gave a perfect example. He has a wife and two kids, so does his sister and brother in-law whom he is very close with. He says when he stores provisions, he stores enough for at least 8 people, to include his sister, brother in-law and two kids. Good guy.

So as I get my prepping house in order, I've noticed a few people (my brother, my wifes mom/step father) know they "should" prepare but it's low on the priority list so I am taking it upon myself get a few security weapons to supply them with should the SHTF. Currently the AR prices are ridiculously low, Deltons for $399, PSA's for $459 and with black friday around the corner, I was considering getting a couple of extras of something that was easy to learn and effective, cheap but reliable and my choices have come down to long guns, primarily an AR or Shotgun. (ie: my mother in law is an emergency room nurse of 7 years and an RN for the past 12 so we are DEFINITELY going to try and keep her safe should things go south.) the mother in-law is also a good 115 lbs soaking wet and she is not a huge fan of guns in general but is smart enough to know she'd need one should some goon come climbing in through her window.

With that in mind, which would you choose if you were getting a couple of extra firearms for loved ones should the worst happen?

Just curious. Thanks
 
I'd say AR, but if they're not interested in training, learning to use it (and willing), it will be more a liability than useful tool.

There are also far, far more important aspects of emergency preparedness. A WROL situation is highly unlikely, and if it does get that bad, again, there are much more pressing priorities. Weapons are a fun aspect of it, but a very small part.
 
To answer the question you posed directly: get AR's.
The versatility of a modern semi-auto rifle is too great to ignore.
 
Well it depends... Are you primarily talking for home defense or are you talking of moving from location to location with possibly multiple assailants? If you are talking in and around the house I would tell you to go for the shotgun. For one with a shotgun they are about the most easy thing to teach someone to shoot...all you have to do is point and pull the trigger and at ranges you would be talking for around a house it is going to be more effective than a .223 AR-15. If you are talking shoot and scoot over a larger area I would tell you to go with the AR-15 as they can provide suppression fire and are more accurate at long distances than a shotgun. You will hear people tell you an AR-15 for any place but if you are in a home setting than you risk over penetration and might hit one of your other family members. Shotguns pack more of a punch at closer ranges than an AR-15 does. Thats just my two cents.
 
SigScout wrote:
...which would you choose if you were getting a couple of extra firearms for loved ones...
Click to expand...

I would let the loved ones make their own choice. The advice I would give them in making that choice would be based on 1) their level of proficiency with any weapon, 2) how often they are likely to train with the weapon, and 3) the type of self-defense scenario that they would most likely encounter.

For example, in the case of my older son, he knows how to shoot, but doesn't like to shoot, doesn't really like guns, but given the neighborhood he lives in views them as "necessary", is unlikely to train more than once or twice a year and in a home defense situation might have to go into action without his glasses. For him, I would unquestioningly recommend a shotgun since its the only way he's going to hit anything if he can't get his glasses on.
 
I’ll suggest a different approach.

What do you have for you and your immediate family? For the extended family, how capable are they with firearms?

Do you have a pistol, shotgun, and AR for each person? And what spares? How much ammo do you have?

How much do you want to spend?

I see each gun type serving a different purpose.

If I were in your position once I had my immediate family covered. I’d then work on getting spare ARs, and shotguns. I’d probably get two extra shotguns. Then I’d get a few basic ARs. I’d then get a few specialized ARs such as AR10s, and calibers such as the 300 Blackout and Grendel.

I wouldn’t get these all at once but I’d work on developing a plan then getting them as I could.
 
MachIVshooter said:
I'd say AR, but if they're not interested in training, learning to use it (and willing), it will be more a liability than useful tool.

There are also far, far more important aspects of emergency preparedness. A WROL situation is highly unlikely, and if it does get that bad, again, there are much more pressing priorities. Weapons are a fun aspect of it, but a very small part.
Click to expand...

Oh of course, like I was saying my wife worked emergency preparedness for the American Red Cross so we both understand there are plenty other aspects. But this this forum is geared toward firearms so I wanted to pose the firearm-related question here. Didn't want to get yelled at for getting into a bunch of other stuff. :)

As for the other part, I'm not 100% sure how to proceed with that. One the one hand it's hard when people are not motivated to train in this capacity because you realize what's at stake but on the other hand it's tough if not impossible to tell people you love "well, you didn't learn how to use this gun when I told you to so tough **** on you." - it's one of those situations where you *have* to help whether you like it or not.

And for WROL, I have no idea how likely or unlikely it is, oh how I wish I had a crystal ball! But I do understand that as a general sentiment we are three meals away from anarchy. Unless you're trained in combat, the only thing to stop a brute coming after you with a baseball bat is a weapon of your own, not sure how much fun that would be. .
 
I would say an AR because they are easier to handle,way less recoil,lighter ammo, a shotgun still needs to be aimed and can be a bit intimidating ,
but no matter what you choose they MUST practice and get to know the weapon , just handing someone a gun that has no firearm experience like , loading,how it functions, how to aim, and how to clear a malfunction and so on is a recipe for disaster,
 
I bought several milsurps, Mosins mostly, and one Turk Mauser. They can take it or not. Manual of arms is simple. If they did not have the foresight to arm themselves beforehand, they certainly can't be choosy.
 
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if your talking about the what if as in daily life of some random attack then I would suggest a handgun something that is concealable, even in a disaster like a bad earthquake or something of that sort I would still go with a handgun, the long guns like you mention are good for home defense but really walking down the street or any type of movement outdoors in a city will draw lots of unwanted attention with a shotgun or AR in your hand , it is very easy to move around with a handgun unnoticed, and if things get so bad as a long gun is needed for survival there will be AR's lying around everywhere , but practice will be needed no matter what, or they could have a bad accident not knowing how to use a firearm. If you live on the country side and have a bunker thats when long guns would be a big advantage , IMHO
 
Of the two, I'd definitely get an AR variant first. Simple, cheap and easy. Low recoil, light weight, lots of ammo capacity.

Looking at it from my shoes, though.... I steered my wife towards proficiency with a good sidearm first. I feel it's a lot less intimidating to people who aren't "gun savvy", and in my view, would be more practical in a strictly personal defense role.
 
JO JO said:
I would say an AR because they are easier to handle,way less recoil,lighter ammo, a shotgun still needs to be aimed and can be a bit intimidating ,
but no matter what you choose they MUST practice and get to know the weapon , just handing someone a gun that has no firearm experience like , loading,how it functions, how to aim, and how to clear a malfunction and so on is a recipe for disaster,
Click to expand...

My brother knows how t shoot (I've gone with him to the range) my wife's stepfather grew up hunting, They just don't think enough about a disaster to get themselves some protection.. My wife and I have plans for OUR family and she's tried to include her mom/stepdad but some people think the skies will always be blue and nothing will ever happen... you can only do so much.

To make what I'm saying a little more clear, the intention is not to buy these firearms to say "Hey! Catch!" and chuck it at them through the window but should the situation ever arise (and I hope if never does) and I am asked for my help in this area, I'd like to have something on hand. I shoot/train both and I have both so I'm good with either.
 
Ironicaintit said:
Looking at it from my shoes, though.... I steered my wife towards proficiency with a good sidearm first. I feel it's a lot less intimidating to people who aren't "gun savvy", and in my view, would be more practical in a strictly personal defense role.
Click to expand...
exactly the risk of a random attack is by far greater than total social breakdown ,
 
SigSour

I would probably go the AR route though a 20 gauge pump action shotgun could be a decent choice for some people as well. The real problem though is trying to get them to make the effort to avail themselves of some sort of firearms training. You could start them out with .22s (rifles or handguns), move them up to a 9mm. semi-auto pistol or .38 Special revolver, then see if they would like to learn how to use the long guns. If they're interested then see what particular guns they feel they are the most comfortable and the most capable with.
 
I really like 22LR, for a couple of reasons. If things really hit the fan, it's way more realistic and affordable to have tens of thousands of rounds of 22 than anything else, it'll still kill people/animals/dinner out of a rifle, rifles for it are cheap, nonobtrusive, accurate and can be shot by anyone, and pretty much anyone can pick up a 22 and go to town easily. You'll have ammo for training and practice, and that's important.
 
If you decide on a shotgun, a high-stress situation might cause most people to forget to pump the handle after the first shot? They forget to chamber bolt-action rifles when there is No stress....

If that scenario is likely, then I would seriously consider a Saiga shotgun in .410, 20 or 12 gauge.
They are semi-auto, and Russian semi-autos are reliable. A pump shotgun would be a very new habit pattern for a Huge number of people.
 
A lot of this depends on what you're preparing for exactly, and beggars can't be choosers. That aside, I'd probably go for the AR15 on this one: versatile, lightweight, low recoil, easy to learn, longer effective range, and more ammo capacity.

The idea we normally see around the forums that suggests shotguns for the untrained ("because you don't have to aim") isn't really rooted in reality. The shotgun is a truly formidable weapon, but it's longer, heavier, has stouter recoil, carries less ammunition, and takes more effort to learn to shoot.
 
I’m not sure I would buy anything. There should be a spare something or another laying around here.

Are you just looking for a plausible excuse for the wife for a trip to the gun show?
 
SigSour said:
OK, this is not one of those "which is better" posts, I just wanted to check the temperature of the room to see what someone else thought about this.

So, my wife works for the CDC and just before that with the Red Cross, one of the Sr. people in the emergency disaster group. I've gotten free passes to many "Emergency Preparedness" classes and courses with some really impressive instructors (people who've been there done that)

I noticed one common thing quite a few of them said and it got me thinking, the phrase was something like "There are a few people who are dear to me who do not have an emergency disaster plan... so I am their emergency disaster plan"

One of the guys gave a perfect example. He has a wife and two kids, so does his sister and brother in-law whom he is very close with. He says when he stores provisions, he stores enough for at least 8 people, to include his sister, brother in-law and two kids. Good guy.

So as I get my prepping house in order, I've noticed a few people (my brother, my wifes mom/step father) know they "should" prepare but it's low on the priority list so I am taking it upon myself get a few security weapons to supply them with should the SHTF. Currently the AR prices are ridiculously low, Deltons for $399, PSA's for $459 and with black friday around the corner, I was considering getting a couple of extras of something that was easy to learn and effective, cheap but reliable and my choices have come down to long guns, primarily an AR or Shotgun. (ie: my mother in law is an emergency room nurse of 7 years and an RN for the past 12 so we are DEFINITELY going to try and keep her safe should things go south.) the mother in-law is also a good 115 lbs soaking wet and she is not a huge fan of guns in general but is smart enough to know she'd need one should some goon come climbing in through her window.

With that in mind, which would you choose if you were getting a couple of extra firearms for loved ones should the worst happen?

Just curious. Thanks
Click to expand...
Pound for pound, shotguns are cheaper. What I mean by that is you can get a battle ready shotgun for around 500-600 bucks, whereas the same level of AR is going to run around 800 or more. The shotgun is arguably easier to operate, assuming it's pump action, but the recoil is too much for many new shooters. Even 20ga isn't exactly light. The AR also has a higher capacity, and the ammunition is lighter. Overall, I would say the AR is friendlier to new shooters. The shotgun is also going to run you more in ammo. Basic 00 buckshot is about a dollar a round, whereas you can get 55 grain .223 for about 35 cents a round.
 
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