Rifle Tactic for Home Defense

[Uteridge]

Take corners as wide as possible and make sure that you pie the corners just as you would with a pistol.

If someone grabs your muzzle all you have to do is make a quick circle with your muzzle and you will break their grasp on the weapon.

 

[David E]

Not all corners allow you to take them wide enough to avoid leading with your muzzle.

John Farnam teaches you to hold the rifle (AR's work well) almost sideways, pulled back under your arm, the pistol grip being about centered on the side of your body, maybe a bit beyond that. Support arm comes across your chest to hold the handguard. You can even get the rifle further back for really tight spaces.

He also has you shooting targets with your muzzle touching, to get used to the blast, etc.

Obviously, this technique wouldn't work as well with a heavy recoiling shotgun, but it works well with short AR's.

 

[Mudinyeri]

Take corners as wide as possible and make sure that you pie the corners just as you would with a pistol.

If someone grabs your muzzle all you have to do is make a quick circle with your muzzle and you will break their grasp on the weapon.

If you stick your muzzle around a corner and I grab it ... I'm not doing it to hold onto your muzzle. Breaking my grip is the least of your worries at that point. Of course, the average B&E crackhead might not be looking to accomplish the same thing that I would be.

Some of the training I've been through utilized a modified Position Sul that sounds much like what David E described in the Farnam training.

 

[Ithaca37]

The video explains it pretty well. Start from 3:03
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsxbn3-2ohg

That video shows an incorrect long gun technique. You do not lead with your weapon through corners. You also do not press yourself up against walls like that.

Also, if someone grabs the business end of a rifle it is not going to end well for them.

 

[mcdonl]

That looks like more of a training issue to me.

Mr Roberts.... I do believe that could be said of 99% of the S&T forum.

 

[Panzercat]

A handgun preferable? Feh, my mossy says otherwise.

General tactics revolve flash and fire involving a trigger mounted flashlight. Pulse the light just enough to aquire the target when probing a given area (ie do not sweep the flashlight to continuously update your position to everybody), blind him and dispatch.

The gun I pick up Saturday also disagrees with the pistols teh superior comment.

 

[TheAzn]

Thank you for your helpful answers, guys. Yes, I have always known that clearing the house alone is a bad idea. I just would like to be prepared for the worst case scenario, and that was why I started the thread in the first place. Also thank you for dispelling the myth that handguns are better than rifles for clearing houses.

 

[mcdonl]

Panzer, I am going to go out on a limb here and assume you are not the average, first time gun owner who only owns a gun for home defense. I think those are the folks the videos are geared to.

Just guessing.

 

[USAF_Vet]

not to threadjack here, but Panzer, how do you like the Kel-Tec SU-16?

 

[macadore]

General tactics revolve flash and fire involving a trigger mounted flashlight. Pulse the light just enough to aquire the target when probing a given area (ie do not sweep the flashlight to continuously update your position to everybody), blind him and dispatch.

Why won't that blind you too?

 

[smince]

First of all, clearing a building or house sucks no matter what you use!!!!!

My current 'go-to' HD gun is a Glock-compatible Sub2K. Short, light, reliable and very accurate. It is zeroed at 7 yds, the longest distance in my house that I may have to shoot. Next to it is a G19 w/33-round mag.

That said, I'll go against the grain and say that there are absolutely times I will use a handgun to clear my house.

I've done dry runs clearing my place with long guns. I hate it. Even the S2K is a bit much on some corners. Maneuvering is difficult at best. Add in having to manipulate doors or kids and its even more so. Those kinda confines are the domain of the pistol.

There is no doubt the rifle offers a much more effective round and almost any long gun will offer a more stable firing platform. There are some corners and spaces in my house that give the handgun an agility advantage and the pistol will be a lot more pleasant on your ears should you have to fire.

A side note: be very careful about assuming whatever gear you pick will work out perfectly for the gunfight script you've written in your head.