What rifle do you prefer for PD?

[CZweseal]

Really that's why I love the Hi-Point Carbine, Same ammo as my CZ. .40 in both.

Not that I wouldn't use my 30-06 or my 7.62x54 in a SD/HD situation, they are just not that kind of weapon. same with my .22s or my wifes .22 pistol.

I have really considered A VZ-58 but cant find a place to put my hands on one before I buy.

 

[Jericho_223]

I've got a Remington 870 with ghost ring sights, loaded so that three #7 bird shot shells go first, followed by two 00 buckshot shells. I guess my thinking is that the bird shot can take a bad guy out of the fight without killing him, though I've been rethinking that idea recently. Either way, the Remy sits loaded right next to the bed.

Under the bed in an unlatched case is my Saiga .223, loaded with one mag of 55gr JHPs with another mag of 55gr FMJ ready to go.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

loaded so that three #7 bird shot shells go first

Birdshot flat out sucks for personal defense. There are many stories out there (with actual facts and news reports) that show that even a full load of birdshot to the face at point blank range won't kill you. One man shot his wife in the face and then tried to commit suicide with a shotgun loaded with birdshot and both of them survived. One man was shot in the chest from 6 feet away and walked to the ambulance under his own power. Only one or two shot got in between his ribs but they didn't go farther. Don't use birdshot, it just plain sucks for self defense.

 

[TwoEyedJack]

Marlin 1894 in .41 mag, loaded with 9 rounds of 210 JHP. Also, S&W M66. I seriously hope never to shoot one of these indoors. My ears hurt just thinking about it. Maybe I should sleep with earplugs lol.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

My ears hurt just thinking about it. Maybe I should sleep with earplugs lol.

Do that and you may never wake up again...

 

[Jericho_223]

Birdshot flat out sucks for personal defense. There are many stories out there (with actual facts and news reports) that show that even a full load of birdshot to the face at point blank range won't kill you. One man shot his wife in the face and then tried to commit suicide with a shotgun loaded with birdshot and both of them survived. One man was shot in the chest from 6 feet away and walked to the ambulance under his own power. Only one or two shot got in between his ribs but they didn't go farther. Don't use birdshot, it just plain sucks for self defense.

Yikes! That's the sort of thing I think I've been needing to hear! I really didn't realize that birdshot was so underpowered.

 

[giggitygiggity]

AR-15. Good ergonomics. Easy to operate. Accurate. Easy follow-up shots. Reliable.

 

[1911Tuner]

Winchester M92 Trapper in .45 Colt rides in my trunk or behind the seat of the PU. Nine rounds in the tube and another 10 on a butt-cuff should be enough to see me home in the worst of civil...situations...should they arise while I'm headed to and from from the local Piggly Wiggly.

There's a Winchester 94 in .30-30 standing in a corner of my bedroom, along with a Liberty 12 gauge coach gun in the other corner. Livin' in this bucolic paradise has its advantages...but things can go sideways in a hurry, too. Average county response time out here is about 30 minutes. Better to have and not need, etc.

 

[Averageman]

Birdshot flat out sucks for personal defense. There are many stories out there (with actual facts and news reports) that show that even a full load of birdshot to the face at point blank range won't kill you.
My Tank Commander in Germany had what looked like bad acne scars, birdshot in the face from 25 yards. He said some of it penetraited his cheeks and he spit out the shot.
I have an AK103 with a EO Tech riding on it that I wouldn't hesitait to use in home defence.
Here in Texas the legal ranges are a bit longer.

 

[Elkins45]

It's not actually called a castle doctrine in Kentucky but it sure has the same elements of castle doctrines in other states. I used the term in a general sense like calling an SUV a truck. Is it really a truck or does it just share a lot of similar elements?

I respectfully disagree. Kentucky has no duty to retreat and allows the use of deadly physical force to protect property under certain circumstances. I'm aware of all that, and none of that has changed since I took the CCW course. But that's not a "castle doctrine" unless my understanding of the term is wrong.

I always believed that term to mean a very specific type of law that says you have carte blanche to use deadly physical force against someone who is in your home without permission and be held harmless. We don't have that in Kentucky. You can shoot a burglar and almost certainly be held harmless, but if you hose your daughter's boyfriend who snuck in without permission then you had better pray for a lenient jury because nothing in KRS 503.080 gives you permission to do that.

 

[ACP]

"personal defense" is a broad topic; I interpret it to include everything from an in-home event to an around-the-home event.

So, AR-15 and shotgun.

 

[OpelBlitz]

At the moment, I'm utilizing an M1 Carbine with an Ultimak handguard rail sporting a Vortex SPARC red dot sight. Would rather have an AR, but I feel satisfied enough with the M1 for now until I can afford one.

 

[wrs840]

If I was ever in the position of having to explain/defend a SD shooting, I would not want that explanation to have to include a "tacticool" gun or upfitting. My fear is that it would add a "taint" of "intent" to be some sort of Rambo. Is my concern about that foolish?

 

[Jericho_223]

I recently had a co-worker give me hell for keeping a loaded shotgun near the bed for defense. His logic was "nothing's going to happen". I couldn't believe it! Nevermind the fact that he's about as capable of defending himself as my four year old nephew, I just couldn't believe how naive he sounded! Sure, nothing might ever happen, but I'd rather have it and not need it than the other way around. If I'm wrong, then the only downside is that I have something to blast milk jugs with. If he's wrong, either himself or his daughter could be hurt or worse! I just can't understand that mindset. Nothing will happen? In the last four years, there have been about a half dozen break-ins on my fairly remote road. There's even been evidence of a person or persons sneaking around various neighbors' houses, stealing things from their yards and such. Not to mention the fact that police response would take somewhere in the neighborhood of fifteen to twenty minutes!

Sure, my house has never been broken into, but I definitely sleep better knowing that I've got a weapon close by.

 

[rondog]

This one.

 

[ugaarguy]

Is my concern about that foolish?

It depends upon your state & local laws. My understanding is that here in GA as long as you can legally carry or posses the weapon it doesn't matter what the weapon is as long as deadly force is justified:

http://law.onecle.com/georgia/16/16-3-24.2.html
A person who uses threats or force in accordance with Code Section 16-3-23 or 16-3-24 shall be immune from criminal prosecution therefor unless any deadly force used by such person utilizes a weapon the carrying or possession of which is unlawful by such person under Part 2 or 3 of Article 4 of Chapter 11 of this title.

I'd google "(your state) Castle Doctrine Law" to find the appropriate sections of your state's official code. Read them, and see what they say. If you're unsure about anything write the office of your state attorney general, and request clarification.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

I recently had a co-worker give me hell for keeping a loaded shotgun near the bed for defense. His logic was "nothing's going to happen". I couldn't believe it! Nevermind the fact that he's about as capable of defending himself as my four year old nephew, I just couldn't believe how naive he sounded! Sure, nothing might ever happen, but I'd rather have it and not need it than the other way around. If I'm wrong, then the only downside is that I have something to blast milk jugs with. If he's wrong, either himself or his daughter could be hurt or worse! I just can't understand that mindset. Nothing will happen? In the last four years, there have been about a half dozen break-ins on my fairly remote road. There's even been evidence of a person or persons sneaking around various neighbors' houses, stealing things from their yards and such. Not to mention the fact that police response would take somewhere in the neighborhood of fifteen to twenty minutes!

Sure, my house has never been broken into, but I definitely sleep better knowing that I've got a weapon close by.

Ask him if he has fire extinguishers and smoke detectors. If he does, ask him if he's had a fire before.

 

[Jericho_223]

Ask him if he has fire extinguishers and smoke detectors. If he does, ask him if he's had a fire before.

Wow that's a brilliant point! I just can't comprehend the mindset that nothing bad will happen. It just seems so naive. Having known this guy for a couple years, I know that he's kind of a pretentious pacifist who seems to have his head stuck in the sand, or somewhere else. Not knocking pacifists or saying they're all pretentious or anything like that, but it just seems like setting oneself up for potentially disastrous consequences by refusing to acknowledge that bad things can happen, and choosing not to prepare for them because of that.

I guess what was most appalling and shocking to me was the fact that he has a daughter. Of course it's a difference of opinion, but I know that I'd want to be doubly safe if I had a child to protect. Maybe that's just me though. When I asked him how he planned to protect his daughter if someone broke in, his only response was an angry " that will never happen". Way to plan, guy...

 

[420Stainless]

I'm adding pieces to my 6.8SPC Mini 14 for this purpose now. I've finally fired enough rounds through it to show reliability with the aftermarket Pro Mags I bought for it. Now adding a 4X scope and about to order a holo sight to mount to the scope. Don't know squat about HD with a rifle, but I think this setup will work well if needed.

 

[wrs840]

I guess what was most appalling and shocking to me was the fact that he has a daughter. Of course it's a difference of opinion, but I know that I'd want to be doubly safe if I had a child to protect. Maybe that's just me though. When I asked him how he planned to protect his daughter if someone broke in, his only response was an angry " that will never happen". Way to plan, guy...

I vote against your friend owning a firearm until he has the mindset to put in the effort to become safe and proficient with one, so he should probably just stick with what he's got for now.

 

[Jericho_223]

I vote against your friend owning a firearm until he has the mindset to put in the effort to become safe and proficient with one, so he should probably just stick with what he's got for now.

That's a great point. Too many children have been accidentally killed or injured because somebody left a loaded firearm where a kid who hasn't been educated about gun safety could get to it. I guess I just worry for him, you know? Also I guess I don't appreciate being called an idiot for deciding to prepare for a not-out-of-this-world scenario....

 

[wrs840]

I think almost everyone should learn to shoot and continue to pursue it. It's "fun" right off the bat for many, and as one gets better, of course, it can be a stress-reliever, confidence-builder, and a handy skill. You can't force anyone to like it though. Have you tried coaxing your friend into going shooting with you?

 

[Mac's Precision]

AR 15 with Xm193 55 gr bullets.....and or Rem 870 with 00 buck.......and or Glock 20/29/19 (depending on weather).

Depends on which I am closest to and how much time I have to respond as to which gets fired first. Suffice to say if the excrement hits the fan and I have time I'll surely take the AR or the scatter gun to deal with it before I use my pistol. If it is immediate then since the pistol IS on my hip you can bet I'll be using that to get to the other two options.

Using a long gun for defense is ALWAYS a superior option given the chance to use it.

 

[Jericho_223]

You can't force anyone to like it though. Have you tried coaxing your friend into going shooting with you?

Yeah I've tried a couple times, and he couldn't be less interested... Oh well, I tried...

 

[kfgk14]

pistols or shotgun 000

No reason for a rifle inside home..

Is this your philosophy for your living situation, or your opinion of others using rifles for self defense? Because out my way, I have to worry about getting shot at by someone who is further away than my front porch. Theoretically I can make a kill at 100 yards with a shotgun, if the target is fully exposed and not moving (if you're shooting at someone, aren't you gonna take cover in case they shoot back?). Not to mention, I'd be stressed if I was shot at. I want something that can shoot 300 yards (maximum line of sight on my property) and can do so quickly. I don't have time to be pumping my shotgun and trying to compensate for bullet drop at 300 yards, unmagnified, while I'm being shot at. No I'm not paranoid, I'm realistic. I'm not rambo, so I can't do shots like that with a bow or a pistol or a shotgun. I want every advantage I can get.

To those concerned about defending your firearm choice in court: as long as you shooting the guy is justifiable, why does it matter what you shot him with? From an airsoft gun to a 40mm grenade launcher, as long as it was a good shoot, the gun shouldn't be the issue.