Home protection & fun rifle for NJ Resident

[Motega]

I'm guessing you are looking at prices on DSA's web site; I don't know why they post those ridiculous prices as everyone gets "dealer pricing' from what I understand which is about 40% off list. I guess because if you do all the fancy trigger work and gunsmithing you end up only about 15-20% under what is listed.

I think I paid $1700-1800 for mine and that includes $200 worth of trigger work, extra mags, the Robar coating internally, and some other stuff.
If I were to do it again I would look for a Used Steyr STG-58 and it would probably end up around $1200 for the same gun milsurplus. They can be had for under $800 if you are patient and willing to buy something perhaps cosmetically flawed.

 

[rscalzo]

Rifle for home defense in an urban area is not the best. As far as an AR, the loss of a bayonet lug, that in most cases is unusable anyway, and a pinned stock which is rarely if ever collapsed shouldn't defer you from getting one. My RRA CMP is more accurate than the same model with a A2 FH installed.

But as a home defense, the length makes movement through a structure difficult at best not to mention the fact the normal 55 to 62 grain loads will penetrate several layers of sheet rock normal in today's modern construction.

You may want to separate the needs and stick to just a decent rifle for range use and leave the HD to a more suitable firearm.

I'm not familiar with NJ laws

NJ laws do not restrict ammo for home defense for the most part.

STG556

They were originally a NJ company located in our town. A very nice collection in their gun safe. We still have a SSG given to the department years ago. Unfortunately we don't have a suitable range nearby to use it's capabilities.

 

[Horny Toad]

.....is there any configuration of AR or AK74 you can legally own there?

I don't know anything about AK's, but order an AR with a fixed stock, no flash hider or bayonet lug, a 10 round mag and you're good to go. We have a 15 round mag limit here, so I use 15 round permanently modified Pmags. They're great.

 

[PPS43]

a) accuracy past 100 yards
[...]
1) Berretta Cx4 Storm (in 45ACP because I already have the ammo for my 1911)

CX4, especially in .45ACP, is not going to be very useful past 100 yards. Too much bullet drop. It is good for home protection, though.

Maybe Mini 30? At shorter distances (say, within 200 yards) I prefer 7.62x39 to .223.

 

[PPS43]

Rifle for home defense in an urban area is not the best.

Really? My groups with a rifle are tighter than with a handgun at the same distance. Follow-up shots with a semi-auto rifle are faster than with a shotgun. I don't need two hands to operate a semi-auto rifle at home defense distances.

But as a home defense, the length makes movement through a structure difficult at best

Muzzle of CX4 is at approximately the same distance in front of me as the muzzle of a handgun at full extension.

not to mention the fact the normal 55 to 62 grain loads will penetrate several layers of sheet rock normal in today's modern construction.

Any effective defensive round will penetrate several layers of sheet rock. Soft-point (not FMJ) .223 will actually penetrate fewer layers than most pistol-caliber bullets, or self-defense shotgun loads. Counterintuitive, but true. There is a reason law enforcement agencies are replacing MP5s with AR-15s.

 

[Paladin7]

Keith,

I think you are asking for a few different things that may not get you to what you really want. Based on your original post you asked for the following:

1. a gun that is NJ legal
2. Good for home protection
3. Fun
4. Not bank breaking to shoot

Then you asked about two semi auto's in regards to

a. accuracy past 100 yards
b. long term reliability
c. any other considerations

To satisfy requirements 1-4 and b, I would have to say that what you want is a lever action carbine in 357 magnum, like a Marlin 1894c, 1894css (stainless), Rossi 92, or Winchester or Mossberg 94.

I don't think accuracy past 100 yards fits with your other requirements. How far past 100 yards are you talking about and what kind of accuracy are you looking for? Let's just take this requirement off the table for now.

Here's why a 357 lever action makes the most sense in my opinion.

1. You live in the People's Republic of NJ. If you ever have to defend yourself with your rifle, its an All American Lever Action, not some Evil Assault Weapon.

2. A 357 or even a 38 out of an 18" carbine barrel is a whole different thing. The 357 is in 30 30 territory = very effective against man sized targets

3. The lever action can be topped off without having to remove a magazine

4. The lever action is very accurate out to 100 or 150 yards. Not bolt gun accurate, but accurate enough for man sized targets.

5. The lever action in 357 is very cheap to feed...38's can be purchased or reloaded for very little money.

6. Few guns are more fun to shoot than a good lever action carbine - ask the guys around here who own one

7. The Marlins, Winchesters/Mossbergs, Rossi's are all very reliable

What's not to like?

All the best with your choice.

 

[rscalzo]

no flash hider

Compensator's are legal. Actually more effective except somewhat louder.

 

[Horny Toad]

Compensator's are legal. Actually more effective except somewhat louder.

Correct. Flash hiders are not legal.

 

[KeithCo88]

yeah the AR rules are pretty much no flash suppressor (b/c they all have pistol grips) no mags over 10 rounds and no collapsible stocks. Also no bayonette lug, but i haven't seen many with that.

I found a mini-14 tactical for $755 from my local dealer so may get that...just need to wait for them to get the 5rd version in. For some reason they have the 20rd even tho they can't sell it to anybody in state

I'm not a good enough shooter to get the value of the extra accuracy from an AR, plus I've seen some decent footage of a mini-14 being reasonably accurate (nuttnfancy on youtube) and since it's much cheaper I'll probably go with that as my learning gun for the .223. Down the road I'll probably try out some ARs or maybe look at a .308; but right now price is an issue for me and I need to keep the whole purchase (extra mags, safe, cleaning supplies) under $1000

 

[KeithCo88]

@Paladin7

Thanks, I appreciate your logical separation of my requirements. I've actually never shot a lever action but my initial fear would be: how hard is it to get rapid follow-up shots? I'd imagine by the sheer nature of introducing the extra movement of the lever action you're going to lose a) time and b) target acquisition

Again I'm not a hunter and have no experience so I may get torn apart for that comment, but interested to hear from experienced folks.

Thanks!

 

[Horny Toad]

Keith,

Rapid follow-up shots? For what? You say "home defense" and then you mention shooting at 100 yards. Is the 100 yards the "fun rifle" element? If you're shooting a bad guy 300 feet away, it no longer falls under "home defense". Unless of course you live in a house the size of an aircraft hangar.

Do you live alone? Are you in a house or apartment? If a house, how close are your neighbors? Just things to consider because in a defensive shooting scenario, there's a very good chance you will miss your target. Likely more than once. You are responsible for where your bullets are flying. Yes, protecting yourself and your loved ones is priority #1, and you'll be in a legal poopstorm whether the shoot was "legal" or not, but you sure don't want to add dead or injured neighbors to the mix. That's why a few people have said (here and in the past), that a handgun or a shotgun (with the proper load) is probably your best bet for a true "home defense" weapon. Fun gun? Anything goes.

Just my two cents.

 

[Paladin7]

Keith to answer your question...surprisingly fast. Check out some of the youtube videos of guys rapid firing lever actions...

You also will not loose target acquisition since the lever can be manipulated while the gun is mounted in the firing position.

You should check out some videos then try one for yourself.

 

[KeithCo88]

cool, i think HornyToad is right and i've confused my purposes. I'll stick w/my 1911 for home defense and concentrate on a fun gun that doesn't break the bank.

I will give a lever action a try since they're on the inexpensive side.

Thanks guys!

 

[Paladin7]

You will really like a lever action. I'd suggest you check out a Marlin 1894css (stainless, if you can find one) or an 1894c (blue).