chaim
Member
I've been doing a lot of thinking about this lately and I'm curious about where other THR members may be on this issue.
Initially, I was in the shotgun group. Long guns are very forgiving for sleepy eyes or under stress for accuracy. The 12ga is very powerful, especially when loaded with buckshot. When loaded down with birdshot it is still pretty effective and it proves to have less overpenatration issues than most handguns. Also, you can get a quality, brand new, pump-gun for used revolver type prices. However, there are still some overpentration issues with the buck, with bird you lose a lot of stopping power (and needed penatration), and either way there is a lot of recoil and blast.
Now, I'm not totally there but I'm leaning towards a .223 carbine as a perfect home defense gun. It is a rifle caliber so it has a lot of knockdown power. The .223 is a very well designed round for urban fighting so they actually have proven in testing to have less overpenatration than many handgun rounds. They too are long-guns which are very forgiving when tired or under stress for accuracy at home defense ranges. So far, birdshot shotguns and .223s sound pretty comprable, but the .223 has a major advantage in capacity (though it isn't likely you'll need a 20rnd AR mag for home defense, but at home where I'm not likely to be able to retreat I like the ability to overcome most possibilities) and its recoil is far less than any shotgun loading (faster follow-up shots if needed). It also will likely be easier to find someplace to practice with your defense loads with a rifle/carbine, and practice ammo is cheaper, both leading to more skill with your home defense weapon.
I'm leaning towards the .223 but I'm not totally decided. Where do you stand?
I'll probably be buying a 12ga or a carbine for home defense duties in a few months and I could use some help in deciding (both might not be an option before I get to graduate school).
Initially, I was in the shotgun group. Long guns are very forgiving for sleepy eyes or under stress for accuracy. The 12ga is very powerful, especially when loaded with buckshot. When loaded down with birdshot it is still pretty effective and it proves to have less overpenatration issues than most handguns. Also, you can get a quality, brand new, pump-gun for used revolver type prices. However, there are still some overpentration issues with the buck, with bird you lose a lot of stopping power (and needed penatration), and either way there is a lot of recoil and blast.
Now, I'm not totally there but I'm leaning towards a .223 carbine as a perfect home defense gun. It is a rifle caliber so it has a lot of knockdown power. The .223 is a very well designed round for urban fighting so they actually have proven in testing to have less overpenatration than many handgun rounds. They too are long-guns which are very forgiving when tired or under stress for accuracy at home defense ranges. So far, birdshot shotguns and .223s sound pretty comprable, but the .223 has a major advantage in capacity (though it isn't likely you'll need a 20rnd AR mag for home defense, but at home where I'm not likely to be able to retreat I like the ability to overcome most possibilities) and its recoil is far less than any shotgun loading (faster follow-up shots if needed). It also will likely be easier to find someplace to practice with your defense loads with a rifle/carbine, and practice ammo is cheaper, both leading to more skill with your home defense weapon.
I'm leaning towards the .223 but I'm not totally decided. Where do you stand?
I'll probably be buying a 12ga or a carbine for home defense duties in a few months and I could use some help in deciding (both might not be an option before I get to graduate school).