Rifle as Home Defense?

[P95loser]

From reading several threads, it seems like several people here use rifles for home defense. I cannot understand why one would want to grab an AR to navigate through your house at night rather than a glock.

If your first instinct is to grab for that long gun, chime in as to why!

 

[jlbraun]

Higher capacity. More powerful. More accurate. Easier to shoot faster.

 

[P95loser]

Right, but you also have over-penetration with 223 compared to 357... and you have longer guns to try and get around that corner with.

I myself use a revolver, but that is just because my wife is more familiar with point and click.

 

[Cosmoline]

I prefer the rifle because it's the biggest baddest weapon I have. If I had an RPG I might use that instead. I also know how hard it is to hit things in real life at night with a short gun. There are many very extensive threads debating this issue. Suffice it to say the convenional wisdom re. overpenetration doesn't really jibe with reality. The long gun offers you more control over what happens to your projectile on impact.

 

[ArmedBear]

Some people can't hit anything with a pistol. That's a good reason.

Others think that someone hit at point blank range with a couple of 9mm pre-cut hollowpoints won't even feel it. Can't say. Never been shot.

Some people just like carbines better. Good enough.

However, in my place, a pistol allows me to take cover a LOT better and maneuver around a lot of sharp corners and a couple of narrow stairways. And I can hit something with it. I'm fine with using a pistol as my first option.

That doesn't mean I don't have loaded magazines for a carbine.

 

[rcmodel]

Cause the chances of hitting & stopping an intruder with one shot is about 10 times better then with a handgun & pistol caliber.

It is much harder for someone to disarm you with a rifle/carbine then it is with a handgun.

It makes a much better impact weapon then a Glock if the BG turns out to be the neighbors drunk 17 year old sneaking in the wrong house at 2:00 AM.

And you decide not to shoot him.

And he wants to argue about who in in the wrong house, you or him.


rcmodel

 

[ArmedBear]

Cause the chances of hitting & stopping an intruder with one shot is about 10 times better then with a handgun & pistol caliber.

Empirical evidence for this number?

 

[TexasRifleman]

Right, but you also have over-penetration with 223 compared to 357

Well no. No you don't......

 

[michael_aos]

you also have over-penetration with 223 compared to 357

Studies have shown that is not the case.

Mike

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

From reading several threads, it seems like several people here use rifles for home defense. I cannot understand why one would want to grab an AR to navigate through your house at night rather than a glock.

Well, I don't know what to say. We have these threads all the time and have had dozens since 2005. You say you've read several of them and you still don't understand why. In fact, you still seem to think that .223 will outpenetrate .357 despite reading these threads. Have you read the threads in the Rifle Forum Reading Library?

It isn't that I don't want to tell you why. It is just that if all of those previous threads haven't helped you with understanding, I simply have no idea how anything I would say would change that.

I cannot understand why one would want to grab an AR to navigate through your house at night

If you are going to try something extremely dangerous, like clearing your own house at night, you had better bring the most powerful, high-capacity weapon you own because you are going to need every single advantage you can get and then some.

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

Does an AK pistol chambered in .223 count as a handgun or rifle for this thread? (I know what the alphabet gang thinks it is, but they're crazy)

It's compact, shooting .223 and has a thirty round magazine. Besides, if it doesn't cause temporary deafness, blindness and pants soiling with it's muzzle blast, I don't know what will.

 

[TexasRifleman]

Well, I don't know what to say.

I think there comes a time when we just have to say, "sure, do whatever" and move on.

This rifle vs shotgun vs handgun in the home thing has been absolutely beaten to death and I have not seen one post in thousands that gave a legitimate reason NOT to choose the rifle every time.

There are lots of "soft" reasons; personal comfort level, finances, etc but never anything compelling.

When there are things said like

I cannot understand why one would want to grab an AR to navigate through your house at night

Wow, what can you say. If someone really believes that then I'll simply say a prayer for them, check the batteries in my AR light, and move on.

Does an AK pistol chambered in .223 count as a handgun or rifle for this thread?

In my opinion (worth all you paid for it) it's the same as a handgun.

Take a carbine class with that pistol and see what happens. There are SO many more things involved here than the type of ammo used. The inherent stability of that shoulder stock is worth it's weight in gold just by itself.

 

[Titan6]

I prefer the shotgun but have no quibble with the rifle, provided it is in the right enviornment with the right bullets. IOTW shooting a .308 inside an apartment likely would not be my first choice.

Handguns? They are what they are, and they are not shotguns or rifles.

 

[General Geoff]

I'd just as quickly ask the question, "Why use a pistol when a long gun is available?"

Long guns (both rifles and shotguns) have far more firepower and are arguably better at stopping an aggressor quickly. The only reason pistols exist is for portability and concealability. I don't know about you, but I'm more accurate, more familiar, and most importantly more comfortable with a rifle or shotgun than I am with any pistol I've ever used.


As far as close quarters maneuverability, I do not feel that my movement is inhibited at all with a 20" barrel in my own house. I don't know about yours.

 

[P95loser]

Well, I don't know what to say. We have these threads all the time and have had dozens since 2005. You say you've read several of them and you still don't understand why. In fact, you still seem to think that .223 will outpenetrate .357 despite reading these threads. Have you read the threads in the Rifle Forum Reading Library?

I didn't look at the library, I was referring to people mentioning it as a side point in conversation about another topic. I assume this is an ever-changing forum with new and different opinions every day (I change my opinion on things regularly) and I was merely trying to guage the consensus and have a current set of opinions and reasons. I am not trying to be confrontational, but merely pointing out this is a forum, the reason it is here is for people to post on and that is all I am doing.

 

[CoRoMo]

I guess it depends on which hand your talking about. One hand goes for a .357 while the other is grasping for my 9mm. Then again, the wife is hastily feeding the 12ga full, so it just depends on whose hands are quickest.

 

[LaEscopeta]

Some people can't hit anything with a pistol.

I'm not one of those people; I hit the back stop with every shot.

I have the oft recommended shotgun for HD because (as many will tell you):

1. Shotguns generally have greater stopping power than handguns and many rifles at close range.
2. Buckshot generally has lower potential than handgun/rifle rounds to go through a BG and still have enough velocity to cause damage on the other side.
3. Buckshot can go through exterior walls, but will slow down much quicker than handgun/rifles, and will pose a hazard for a much shorter distance from my house.
4. I shoot my shotgun the most; it’s what I'm most familiar and accurate with.

I agree with all those who say the last point is the most important.

(And yes I know about the studies showing .223 rounds usually do not exit BGs. And they tumble after going through walls so they slow down quicker than other rifle rounds.)

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

Take a carbine class with that pistol and see what happens.

Heck no. I already know I'm losing 400fps at the muzzle because of the barrel, and can't kit jack sqaut past fifty yards. Carbine class is for carbines.. not little terror weapons.

Trade-offs. Reduced muzzle velocity and accuracy at range severly hamper the weapons reach, but are traded for a super compact package. But then again, if my living room is ever fifty yards long... I'm already paying a good sized squad of armed guys to protect the other acres of living space

 

[ArmedBear]

I cannot understand why one would want to grab an AR to navigate through your house at night rather than a glock.

Depends on the AR.

I'm not sure that my 20" HBAR would be quite as handy as a lightened 16" carbine. I'm kinda partial to my Mini-14, actually. It's light and points well for me, and has never failed to feed or fire.

Quick pointing is important to me. If you don't know why, try shooting low-gun skeet.

...but I'm still waiting for the source of the "10 times better" claim...

...crickets...

 

[rcmodel]

I feel the poll left out one option that should have been there.
So I didn't vote.

I might well reach for a handgun, but only to fight my way to a rifle or shotgun.


rcmodel

 

[TexasRifleman]

I'm not one of those people; I hit the back stop with every shot.

I need that in a bumper sticker

 

[AtticusThraxx]

I'm surprised the shotgun is running distant second place to the semi-auto pistol in the poll. Would've thought it'd be the other way around. Interesting to see if ratios stay roughly the same as more people vote.

 

[USMC Tanker]

I have my Springer 1911 and Surefire G2 on my nightstand when I sleep at night. Not necessarily because I find it the most effective weapon for home defense, but because it's something I can snatch up in a hurry, present, and fire.

A shotgun is the ideal HD weapon IMO, but trying to swing my 870 up from the floor by my bed wouldn't be ideal, especially if an intruder was already upon me.

Like rcmodel said, I'll use my 1911 to immediately defend myself and allow me to quickly and safely make it to my 870 loaded with 00 buck in my closet.

 

[AZ_Rebel]

I cannot understand why one would want to grab an AR to navigate through your house at night rather than a glock.

Higher capacity. More powerful. More accurate. Easier to shoot faster.

I prefer the shotgun but have no quibble with the rifle, provided it is in the right enviornment with the right bullets.

+1 Exactly Right! The OP obviously does not appreciate how much better a Shotgun or Rifle is as a Defensive Weapon as opposed to any handgun. You should never "Go Get" your pistol if you can "Go Get" your Rifle or Shotgun.

 

[doc2rn]

Moss 500a full of shot for me with a G32 for back up.