What are the benefits of a rifle for HD?

[RockyMtnTactical]

The biggest downside to a shotgun in my opinion is multiple attackers.

A semi-rifle with 20-30 rounds should be capable of handling several attackers.

 

[george29]

I keep a 10/22 as well as a 590 for things that go BU-BUMP, next to my preety leetle Taurus. I consider "Big Boy" SBH .44 to be the next best thing to a rifle.

 

[Correia]

After the last 10 page mega-thread on this topic, I wrote an essay to sum up my opinion. http://larrycorreia.wordpress.com/2007/09/20/carbine-vs-shotgun-vs-pistol-for-home-defense/

 

[TexasRifleman]

After the last 10 page mega-thread on this topic, I wrote an essay to sum up my opinion.

Eh, that makes too much sense and is presented in a practical and clear manner. It can't be that simple can it?

 

[Correia]

Well, yeah... Crazy, I know.

 

[The Annoyed Man]

+1 to Correia.

 

[xjchief]

I've always heard it said that a shotgun is the most lethal of the 3 choices. I also think that if you're going to pull the trigger then you'd better be shooting to kill. I go for the 12ga when something goes bump in the night. There are always 5 shells in the mag and 5 more on the stock if I really need them- which I doubt I ever would.

I'm not expecting an army of zombies or crack dealers to come crashing through my door so I leave the AK and the AR in the safe.

I keep my 1911 ready as well but the 12ga just makes the most sense to me.

 

[Cosmoline]

I've always heard it said that a shotgun is the most lethal of the 3 choices.

What are you loading with? A slug has good stopping power. A lighter load of shot with limited penetration may prove nearly 100% lethal due to massive infection afterwards, but it won't always stop.

There's no doubt that a full powered rifle loaded with a SP or HP bullet at over 2,300 fps is the most lethal of small arms AND an excellent stopper. At close range an expanding bullet can be made to detonate inside a torso like a grenade, leaving a massive exit wound and creating a temporary cavity big enough to create hundreds of smaller tears and internal wounds. The reason this isn't well known or well appreciated is because hunting rounds from rifles are rarely used by cops or criminals, and when they are used the victims rarely end up at a hospital. In the few instances where full powered rifles come into play in a gunfight, even trained police units frequently suffer serious losses and have to beat a hasty retreat. I think we're all pretty familiar with at least some of these infamous cases.

The rifle is king of the shoulder arms. As a general matter, it will give the shooter a serious advantage over someone with a mere handgun.

 

[stogiegila]

Good info,

Thanks Correia

 

[george29]

I think Cosmo, that in the confines of a house, and the short distances associated with it, the shotgun has the distinct advantage of putting a number of rifle sized bullets within a 6" diameter area of the torso and cause the more instant damage also associated with a rifles hyper velocity which causes massive temporary wound path, but with the advantage of more missles hitting per shot. That's why many (not all) special ops units in MOUT situations still prefer the shotgun for clearing a house than an assault rifle. BTW, I forget who, I think Remington, has just come out with a new shotgun kit made specifically for the soldier in a MOUT situation. Obviously they must be responding to a much needed niche.

In ranges beyond the inside of a house, I won't argue that a rifle is usually going to be more suitable including in a MOUT situation in street fighting, as opposed to the house clearing of the shotgun.

The famous L.A shootout proves you right for that scenerio, for inside my house, give me a shotgun (even though my 10/22 will do a nice job too).