Is 5.56mm AR ideal weapons for home defense?

[zollen]

It seems that 5.56mm AR goods for long range penetration. The problem with 5.56mm is that it could potentially go through walls and hit innocent bystanders. But it does not have enough stopping power to knock down strong home intruders in close distance.

Do you think my analysis is correct? If 5.56mm AR are not an ideal weapons, what other weapons would be ideal for home defense?

 

[Grey_Mana]

Nonviolent persuasion is the ideal weapon - nobody gets hurt. I think you are looking for the least bad option. If you are impatient, searching old threads will find you a trove of opinions.

 

[Fred_G]

No gun is 'ideal' for everybody. Homes are different sizes, some people live in remote areas, some in a small apartment. The 5.56 from what I have seen is not a highly penetrating round. And of course, shot placement will greatly effect over penetration.

I guess the 'best' HD weapon is something you can afford, you shoot with a lot, and you are accurate with it. And add in some stopping power as well. I think an AR in 5.56 or possibly higher caliber would be acceptable for HD. Others will have other thoughts, I am sure.

Best HD is layers. Dog to alert you, strong locks, things that might give you a few extra seconds or a few mins to get ready.

 

[mljdeckard]

Yes. IF: You are using appropriate ammo. (Not military AP ammo.)

Modern defensive loads for ARs, like Hornady TAP, have devastating wound results and are less likely to hit an unintended target behind the bad guy than most defensive handgun loads. (I know it sounds counter-intuitive, but that's just how it happens.)

Having said that, I don't use one. My primary is a shotgun loaded with #4 buck, my backup (and my wife's primary) is a .30 M-1 carbine.#4 buck makes many wound channels, and the .30 carbine, while perhaps not great past 100 yards, has more muzzle energy than a .357 magnum, and my wife can handle it very quickly and effectively.

 

[Good&Fruity]

The AR with the right twist, and bullet weight will cause massive wounds at HD distances. Keep in mind you also have 30 rds before you have to reload...and reloading is much faster with magazines...

 

[zollen]

I get a feeling that firearms in general are not ideal weapons for home defense. Am I hearing it right? I am a little shock to hear that in a firearm forum.

Many here and firearms manufacturers advocate the use of firearms as home defense weapons.

 

[cyanide66]

As others have said, an ideal gun for HD is something personal, however, i would say that the 5.56 isn't that great of an HD weapon. I would rather use a 12 gauge with buckshot, but thats just my personal preference.

 

[owlhoot]

Good&Fruity, at HD ranges an AR's "twist" has zero bearing on anything.

 

[JohnBiltz]

It seems that 5.56mm AR goods for long range penetration. The problem with 5.56mm is that it could potentially go through walls and hit innocent bystanders. But it does not have enough stopping power to knock down strong home intruders in close distance.

Nothing is ideal but its pretty good. There are reasons SWAT teams are switching from shotguns to ARs. The AR with the right ammo can both be devastating at close range and not over penetrate wall board walls.

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

Zollen, No I dont think so..... Just an ongoing disagreement on which one/s.

Different varriables including; locations, situations, and ability of the home owner equal different solutions.... We all just want everyone to agree and validate our choices. Or in the conversation further our theories, because IF you ever have to put them into action, you may only get 1 chance to get it right.

 

[Kleanbore]

As mljdeckard points out in Post 4, the right 5.56 round is less apt to penetrate walls than many other weapons. That is a distinct advantage.

There are two disadvantages to the AR that come to mind:

1. because one cannot have it (or any other long arm, for that matter) on one's person, it is necesssary to get to it when needed; whether that will be possible will depend upon where it is kept, upon where the intruder enters the house, and upon where the defender happens to be when the gun is needed; and
2. in the event that the evidence supporting the justification of a home defense shooting is not entirely clear cut (for example, if there is a prior relationship between the defender and the intruder that may indicate possible motive), a defender's having used an AR may prove disadvantageous because of jurors' impressions of the weapon.

 

[Nushif]

I guess the 'best' HD weapon is something you can afford, you shoot with a lot, and you are accurate with it.

^^^

This. there is no wonder platform, caliber, bullet construction or anything. People have been killed with .22 shorts, 9mm, 10mm, 40mm, 105mm, 6inch and many other weapons.

Ultimately what killed these people though is the skill of the person behind whatever lobbed the projectile.

 

[zollen]

I get a feeling people are trying to avoid my question. Please I need to know.

Are firearms in general ideal for home defense?

 

[mljdeckard]

Are you really putting that much weight on internet advice?

 

[Averageman]

Are firearms in general ideal for home defense?
Perhaps they are trying to lead you to the conclusion that a good alarm, fence, dog, safe, and a plan will do you much more good than the firearm.

If you can keep what is bad outside your home, the firearm is secondary.

Proactive are defencive measure to avert ever having the need to fire a shot.
Reactive is ignoring all of the above and spending the same amount of money on a Attorney while you sit in jail wishing you had an alarm, a safe, a fence, a dog and a plan.
You can defend your home and Family without owning a AR.

 

[kis2]

Averageman's last sentence there is spot on!

"I get a feeling people are trying to avoid my question. Please I need to know."

I think everyone has done a great job answering your question. 'Ideal' depends on you, and all your variables (location, structure, etc.), so nobody but YOU (armed with a wealth of knowledge) can answer what is ideal for YOU.

For me, an AR in .223 is a great fit to my home defense needs (with the right ammo). But there are several other options I'd feel comfortable with.

"It seems that 5.56mm AR goods for long range penetration. The problem with 5.56mm is that it could potentially go through walls and hit innocent bystanders. But it does not have enough stopping power to knock down strong home intruders in close distance."

In this statement you believe AR's to be good for long range penetration, but somehow doubt their ability to stop an intruder. As everyone already helpfully stated, with the right bullet/velocity, an AR can penetrate much less than you think through construction, with plenty of power for an intruder.

Again, what this comes down to (in addition to the valuable advice already given) is you, your situation, and your personal preferences. To learn more, why not take an NRA Personal Protection in the Home class?

 

[benEzra]

It seems that 5.56mm AR goods for long range penetration. The problem with 5.56mm is that it could potentially go through walls and hit innocent bystanders. But it does not have enough stopping power to knock down strong home intruders in close distance.

With good civilian defensive loads, .223 Remington/5.56x45mm typically penetrates less in building materials than pistol rounds or 00 buckshot. The AR has a very good safety mechanism, good ergonomics, light recoil, and good capacity, so if you own one and are competent with it then it is a good choice.

As with any long gun, a mounted light is a very good idea.

 

[Fred_G]

Zollen, define ideal.

"I get a feeling people are trying to avoid my question. Please I need to know.

Are firearms in general ideal for home defense?"

Preparedness is the ideal home defense. How you prepare, and how you use your tools might define the ideal.

 

[Fred Fuller]

"Ideal" is a pretty strong word. Sort of like "perfect," or "best." Those are categories that might be difficult for us ordinary mortals to manage easily. IMHO we don't need ideal, or perfect, or even best. All we need is good enough, as far as our tools are concerned. Our mindset and skillset are FAR more important than our hardware.

Obviously I don't care for an overemphasis on tools, or hardware. Those things factor pretty far down in the equation in most cases - so long as the person who needs a particular item of hardware actually has some semblance of that tool along with them when it's needed, most any tool will do. It's far more important that the person in question have the necessary mindset and skillset to handle the problem they're facing. It's said pretty often here - there are no hardware solutions to a software problem. Home defense, or personal defense anywhere, is more often a software problem than a hardware problem. And if a person's software is squared away then they'll likely have whatever hardware they need at hand.

Another fairly common saying at THR - most any gun will do, if the shooter will do. In short, IMHO a far better focus is on achieving home security through hardening the home and making it an unattractive target to criminals in the first place, far more than choosing the perfect weapon for home defense. And providing layers of security is a far better approach than focusing all efforts on just the final layer. Even with that said, the absolute best AR (or any other firearm) in the entire universe is no help in defending a home if it's in the hands of someone who doesn't know how to run it safely and reliably under extreme pressure.

hth,

lpl

 

[Loosedhorse]

I get a feeling people are trying to avoid my question. Please I need to know.

Are firearms in general ideal for home defense?

Two old friends meet, having not seen each other for some time. Eventually, one asks the other, "So, how's your wife?"

"Compared to whom?"



Why don't you tell me your idea of ideal, and I'll tell you if I agree or not, and why.

 

[Guns and more]

Are firearms in general ideal for home defense?

Yes, shotguns.

Nonviolent persuasion is the ideal weapon

Are you kidding?
There's a term for people who use nonviolent persuasion............victims.

nobody gets hurt.

Except you.
Give me an example of what you would say to stop a drug crazed nut job who is running at you with a gun in hand and he's babbling, ".....the voices..make them stop.".
What's your opening line?

 

[Al Thompson]

I get a feeling that firearms in general are not ideal weapons for home defense.

Your feeling is incorrect. Firearms are the only thing that puts a elderly 110 pound lady on an equal footing with a strapping young male. Period.

Read "Why the Gun is Civilization", by Marko Kloos.

http://jpfo.org/articles-assd02/marko.htm

 

[hso]

I get a feeling that firearms in general are not ideal weapons for home defense. Am I hearing it right?

No

I am a little shock to hear that in a firearm forum.

We're not your average firearm forum. The best solution is to keep the BGs out of your house so you don't have to use the last resort of a firearm after they're in. Security is far more than just "which gun".

The best HD firearm is one you train with. It might be a 5.56 carbine or a 20 gauge shotgun.

Explain what your concerns are, what your structure is like and whether you have kids living with you. What is "best" depends on those factors.

Brick, block or concrete outer walls with no one else living with you? No worries about over penetration.

Kids living with you and drywall interior walls changes things a bit.

 

[MachIVshooter]

I prefer to use an AR-15 because it is both more effective and less likely to have bullets leaving my house than a handgun, and because it is easier to weild and more controllable than a shotgun

There are two disadvantages to the AR that come to mind:

because one cannot have it (or any other long arm, for that matter) on one's person, it is necesssary to get to it when needed; whether that will be possible will depend upon where it is kept, upon where the intruder enters the house, and upon where the defender happens to be when the gun is needed; and
in the event that the evidence supporting the justification of a home defense shooting is not entirely clear cut (for example, if there is a prior relationship between the defender and the intruder that may indicate possible motive), a defender's having used an AR may prove disadvantageous because of jurors' impressions of the weapon.

That is where the laws in your state may play a major role in the decision of what to use. Here in CO, what weapon is used and how many rounds are fired is irrelevant in a home invasion. That is due to the wording of the laws regarding "right to expect absolute safety within one's dwelling", or the "make my day" law. If a person believes that an intruder intends to commit any crime in addition to the unlawful entry, or believes the intruder may harm any occupant, he/she may use any degree of force, including deadly force.

But there is another disadvantage to the AR vs. a handgun or shotgun, and that is noise. Fire a rifle indoors without ear protection, there will be serious hearing damage.

 

[possum]

Is 5.56mm AR ideal weapons for home defense?

It is for me, for you that may be another story.

Ar's in .223/5.56 do not penetrate interior walls as much as people think compared to handgun bullets and some shotgun loads.