Assault rifle for small apartment/self defense?

[Jack614]

would something like an ak 47 or ar 15 be to much in terms of over penetration? is there anything like hollow points for pistols i could get if im worried about over penetration for an assault rifle

 

[Madcap_Magician]

would something like an ak 47 or ar 15 be to much in terms of over penetration? is there anything like hollow points for pistols i could get if im worried about over penetration for an assault rifle

Any caliber that will penetrate people will also penetrate residential walls.

 

[Robert]

Not an assault rifle unless it is select fire. So, just a rifle.

An AR with appropriate ammo would be fine. The fine folks over at Box o Truth have done several tests of ARs using different ammo and drywall. Some did very well. I'm not sure I'd us an AK though as the 30 cal has more energy and much more penetration.

A lot of people still say to use a shotgun or pistol, but an AR with proper ammo is just as good.

 

[Jack614]

but an AR with proper ammo is just as good.

so what kind of ammo would i get then

 

[Gridley]

Any caliber that will penetrate people will also penetrate residential walls.

Very true.

Some types of ammo, however, will penetrate more than others. I'd stay away from green tip (M855), for example.

There are various soft point and HP bullets for .223/5.56 (some examples here: https://www.luckygunner.com/rifle/5.56x45-ammo?manufacturer=133 )

As with any time you are shooting, know your target and what's behind it.

One thing to bear in mind in a small apartment is whether you really have room to maneuver a long arm.

 

[Sistema1927]

Robert beat me to it, but you probably don't need full auto to defend your apartment.

 

[Robert]

I'd take a look at what they tested and see what worked best. Honestly I've not bought a box of factory for my AR...ever. I load all my own.
https://www.theboxotruth.com

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

I'll go along with any gun is better than none, but I think you would be wiser to begin thinking about home defense plans and scenarios and then consider what kind of arm best fits your situation.

 

[FL-NC]

I'm not sure what an assault rifle is. For a long gun in an apartment, I think something like a Ruger PC9 carbine or an AR style in 9mm would be a better choice than something in 223 or 7.62 x 39. Those little guns can do just fine out to 100 yards. What is the longest shot you could get inside of your apartment? 15 yards or less?

 

[George P]

The flash and noise inside a small place will be horrendous and just may disorient you as much (or more) than your attacker. Just something to consider.

 

[adcoch1]

The flash and noise inside a small place will be horrendous and just may disorient you as much (or more) than your attacker. Just something to consider.

This. If you want a long arm for inside you may want to look at ar pistols for the shorter length. A 9mm or even a 300blackout is going to have a lot less flash than a ak or a 223/5.56 arm of any kind. Frangible ammo is your friend in the apartment building, at a minimum it'll stop in the first wall or so, best chance for a rifle bullet to get the job done and not overly endanger your neighborhood. In a pistol cal long arm just use defensive ammo for a handgun.

 

[mustanger98]

Robert beat me to it, but you probably don't need full auto to defend your apartment.

Not only that, but "AR" stands for "Armalite Rifle"... not "assault rifle" as the antis would have everybody believe. Like Robert said, it's a just a rifle.

BTW, keep it lightweight and simple. Between that, knowing how to run it, and good ammo, you should be fine.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

You mean a semi auto rifle?

Personally I feel it's a little overkill for home defense if chambered for a centerfire rifle cartridge. I'd be

 

[Jessesky]

First, as others have stated, NOT an assault rifle. It’s just a rifle. I know I’m being a stickler but today in the media you have to be.

Second I think for an apartment it’s overkill. And by overkill I think will negatively affect you. If you’ve ever shot a centerfire rifle indoors with a 16” barrel. Is incredibly disorienting. I like my shotguns.

 

[Varminterror]

Small apartment + need for defensive firearm + logic = scattergun.

 

[Jack614]

"If you want a long arm for inside you may want to look at ar pistols for the shorter length"

ive always heard that ak 47 and ar 15 pistols wernt worth it and its better to get the assault rifle versions of ar 15's and ak 47's

 

[Varminterror]

ive always heard that ak 47 and ar 15 pistols wernt worth it and its better to get the assault rifle versions of ar 15's and ak 47's

Whomever you heard from wasn’t very well experienced or educated in these things.

 

[Jessesky]

Whoever you heard from wasn’t very well experienced or educated in these things.

Whoever said this seems relatively uneducated on these things yes. But I will agree I strongly dislike ak or ar pistols unless they have a massive can on them. Even then they are grossly inefficient for the cartridge and would be better suited with say a p90, 10mm carbine or better yet a bull pup. I’m just probably sensitive to massive fireballs 20” from my face is all.

 

[MikeInOr]

I prefer a hand gun with a flash light on it for home defense. I use an XD mod 2 .45acp with ARX ammo. It is a LOT easier for me to move through my house with a hand gun than a long gun or even a carbine. The ARX ammo greatly lowers the chance of a bullet going through the wall and hitting a family member. And I can easily slip the XD into a robe or jacket pocket quickly to check around outside without scaring the neighbors or giving a cop an extra reason to shoot me on my own properly.

For me an AK or AR is the bottom of my list for a first response home defense gun. But to each their own.

 

[Jack614]

https://www.sportsmansguide.com/pro...barrel-for-glock-17-19-mags-331-rds?a=2184782

i guess they have 9mm ak pistols to.although,i like the look of the 9mm ar 15 ones better but maybe it just looks wierd because the picture has the glock magazine in it

 

[LiveLife]

for small apartment/self defense?

Welcome to THR.

As others posted, "Assault rifle" capable of full-auto fire is illegal for most people. We use semi-auto firearms which are legal.

For home defense, many prefer to use pistol caliber carbines (PCC) chambered for 9mm/40S&W/45ACP over rifle caliber carbines chambered for .223/5.56 or 7.62x39.

We use 9mm carbines for home defense and cheaper 9mm ammunition affords more practice than .223/7.62x39 rounds which cost more.

anything like hollow points

You can use hollow point ammunition in PCC.

 

[Jack614]

Welcome to THR.

As others posted, "Assault rifle" capable of full-auto fire is illegal for most people. We use semi-auto firearms which are legal.
.

ya,maybe i just confused people.i meant the ones that were semi auto,i know fully auto assault rifles are illegal

 

[George P]

No, they aren't illegal.

 

[Varminterror]

Highly regulated, not illegal.

 

[bk42261]

To me, this looks like a "troll' looking for blood in the water, but, if not, and the OP doesn't have any experience with firearms, as seems to be the case, I suggest finding a local GS, Shooting Range, etc. that will offer training in the various types of SD weapons and their uses.