I don't quite understand using a rifle for home defense

[ShooterMcGavin]

Maybe this is a dumb question....

Handguns for HD? Sure, they are easy to keep close by. Shotgun for HD? Yes. Low penetration, big spread, and great intimidation (although that last one is not really the point). The rifle? It's a spectacular offensive weapon, but I can't see this as a home defense weapon. It will do what a handgun does when you are up close, and maybe not quite as well (maneurerability). However, when the "attacker" is 50+ feet away, where the rifle really starts outperforming the others, that's not really self defense any more.

Maybe all you guys/gals have much bigger homes than I do I keep hearing people state that long guns are (always?) better. Maybe I'm not thinking straight. So, can you please enlighten me as to why the rifle is a great option for home defense??

 

[JamesM]

The rifle? It's a spectacular offensive weapon, but I can't see this as a home defense weapon.

........ I don’t know about that sentence.

I think I remember reading a quote "a handgun is for fighting your way to a rifle" (or something along those lines)

 

[coyote_jr]

you said it yourself, best defense is a great offense

 

[Bartkowski]

What about carbines? Do you consider those long guns? If you do then I can see why someone would argue that they can be better in some situations, but I would stick with a hangun.

 

[Geronimo45]

Powerwise, rifles beat pistols by a big margin. Rifles of the AR/AK variety are often shorter than shotguns - and have nice mag sizes.

I still believe that a handgun is a tad superior, with its small size, in tight quarters. If you can operate a shotgun in your house, you should be able to do the same with a 16" barrel AR-15.

 

[larry_minn]

A pistol is underpowered compared to most long arms. For example there are thousands of people who have taken a 9 or .45 and not only not gone down but were (able) to continue the attack.
If you talk shotgun hits at close range or rifle calibers the percentage is lower. (assuming solid/similar hits by all)
Police and some here are not only ones that wear body armor. It does not take much to stop most pistol rds. That a rifle will go thru. There is a accuracy advantage with long arm.
Who here if they had to run 50yds/up flight of stairs and then shoot a 5" target at 50'..... So what would you choose. Your carry gun or a rifle you know? (the running/stairs is to START to address the physical reactions of home defense)

 

[Ohio Rifleman]

I use a rifle for HD because I don't own a handgun or a shotgun. Software over hardware.

 

[coyote_jr]

I still believe that a handgun is a tad superior, with its small size, in tight quarters

Superior in manuverability is about it. If my window crashes at 3am and I have my .45, AR, and mossberg all ready to go, I am grabbing my Kimber last.

 

[ShooterMcGavin]

you said it yourself, best defense is a great offense

I'm not sure about that, though. After the fact, there will be a lot of questioning about WHY you shot someone who was 100 feet away from you (running away or not yet inside your home).

A pistol is underpowered compared to most long arms. For example there are thousands of people who have taken a 9 or .45 and not only not gone down but were (able) to continue the attack.

Yeah, that is true.

...had to run 50yds/up flight of stairs and then shoot a 5" target at 50'...

Running 150 feet and then the target is still 50 feet away from you??? Yep, you guys have MUCH bigger houses than I do

I still believe that a handgun is a tad superior, with its small size, in tight quarters.

I think there is a place and time when the handgun is your best weapon. If someone is so close that they already have their hands on me, I think the attacker would have a much easier time avoiding the muzzle of a rifle than a handgun.

Ok, you guys brought up some good points.

 

[coyote_jr]

I'm not sure about that, though. After the fact, there will be a lot of questioning about WHY you shot someone who was 100 feet away from you (running away or not yet inside your home).

whoa hold on, no one is talking about shooting at someone running away from you, I most certainly am not. That is a whole different ballgame as in 5 on 5 in the prison yard.

 

[Evil Monkey]

Why not a rifle? They can be small in comparison to a shotgun and can carry far more ammo AND can be suppressed. They are easier to aim with than a pistol and they can be SBR'd. If a rifle round out of a short barrel is too much then you can get an MP5 or Uzi clone or something like that. A Mac-10 with a suppressor would be nice.

Many organizations across the world have no problem conducting CQB ops with assault rifles so I don't see why a civilian would have a problem besides the ballistic properties of the round fired.

I have a romanian AK that is 34.5 inches long. I can EASILY maneuver this weapon in my home. The weight bothers me more than the length.

 

[antsi]

I remember reading a study from a law enforcement source on penetration of .223 in residential environments. The conclusion of this article was that .223 was less likely to penetrate thorough walls to harm folks on the other side than some handgun calibers.

I can see your point about shooting at someone 100 yards away - and certainly if they are running away. For legitimate self defense, I personally would not shoot unless I felt I or my family was under some kind of imminent threat. If the perp is running away, that is a no shoot situation for me no matter what weapon we are talking about.

I suppose it is always possible an assailant could be shooting at me from 100 yards with a rifle, in which case I'd sure rather have a rifle in hand than a pistol. THis does not seem to be a very likely scenario though.

In the end, for me, it is less about the weapon (pistol, rifle, shotgun) than it is about the situation. Is there an imminent threat to me or my family? If yes, then I want the most effective weapon for that situation and I would certainly consider using a rifle. If no, then I'm not shooting anything, pistol rifle or shotgun.

 

[illinoisdeerhunter]

The 'best for home defense', IMO is a relative term.
I recall, years ago, I was going to be out of town and my then wife wanted to have a gun handy for home defense. After trying out several of my solutions; semiauto handgun, rifle, pump shotgun, the conclusion she came to was my old double barrel shotgun. This makes sense. It's easy to use. It has the best 'point and shoot'/safety ratio than any of the other options IMO. Most importantly, she was used to using it. She'd used it quite alot while trap shooting and was accustom to it.

 

[velojym]

Hypersonic rifle rounds, especially the more fragile ones like the .223, will self destruct with their own energy while a slow, heavy .45 pistol round may truck on through.
There'll always be rules and exceptions, like rifle bullets designed specifically for penetration and frangible pistol rounds.

I guess my point is that you can't judge a gun's penetration by barrel length.

 

[ShooterMcGavin]

...a 16" barrel AR-15...

Maybe that's one of the best points.... the fact that I was stuck on the impression that a rifle had to be a typical LONG gun. I don't have any long guns - I just shoot my friends long guns when we go out sometimes. I think his shotgun is shorter than his rifles. I do agree that the ballistics of a rifle are superior to that of a handgun.

whoa hold on, no one is talking about shooting at someone running away from you, I most certainly am not. That is a whole different ballgame as in 5 on 5 in the prison yard.

I didn't mean to imply that ANY of us would shoot someone who is running away. I was just pointing out that if someone is 100 feet away from me, we both cannot be standing inside my house... so they are either coming at me (with little threat at that point) or going away.

 

[wjustinen]

A gentleman I worked with

was forced to shoot three men with his hunting rifle. They were outside, shooting at his home.

 

[Geronimo45]

I think his shotgun is shorter than his rifles.

Probably is. Most hunting-type rifles have a barrel around 20" or longer. I think it's 24" for .30-06. The ARs and AKs are shorter.

 

[PTK]

I keep a 16" AR-15 for HD. Haven't needed it, but if I need something I don't want to have a pistol, I want the best I have.

 

[hamourkiller]

Individual power per round is the reason why. Center of mass with an expanding rifle round will end the conflict much more quickly than a handgun round will.

 

[iiibdsiil]

I would think a hand gun would be easier to aim in close quarters like a house. Of course, I'm in a 800 sq ft condo... I just couldn't imagine shouldering a rifle when the guy is 1 second away from me.

 

[Geno]

Select and use the tool that fits the task. Don't drive a screw with a hammer. We all live in our own homes, and know what we need. Some may need a pistol, some a shotgun and some a rifle. Select and use your tool propoerly and professionally.

 

[bdjansen]

I also live in a small house. You are not going to be more then 15 feet away from somebody in any room. So I have a 357 for home defense. I am not at all worried about being underpowered. I wouldn't be with a 9mm either.

A shotgun makes a lot of sense. You can't miss. Lots of power. More then an AR15.

I agree with the OP. Shotguns/handguns for HD. Rifles for SHTF. Or really, really big houses. Like the guy with the 50 yard staircase. lol

 

[JimmerJammerMrK]

A shotgun makes a lot of sense. You can't miss. Lots of power. More then an AR15.

It may be easier to hit your target with a shotgun than with a pistol, but you certainly can miss.

For example there are thousands of people who have taken a 9 or .45 and not only not gone down but were (able) to continue the attack.
If you talk shotgun hits at close range or rifle calibers the percentage is lower. (assuming solid/similar hits by all)

Where are you getting your statistics?

 

[normal]

Another reason that I feel is very important is familiarity. Many of us were in the military and have more training/experience with a rifle than a handgun or shotgun. When stress kicks in, you will react faster with what you are most familiar with.

 

[CNYCacher]

I also live in a small house. You are not going to be more then 15 feet away from somebody in any room. . . A shotgun makes a lot of sense. You can't miss.

What is the pattern size on your shotgun at 15 feet?