Why you “need” and AR15 (or want) for self/home defense

[Rucker61]

why not use a bow? Or a muzzleloader?

(please don't confuse my intent)

Effective range.

 

[ChezC3]

LOL, no just remembering when owning a macho car would do the same for some who now need a macho weapon.

I really truly believe the threat of home invasion has been vastly overstated. And it is amusing that some people need to cite this almost none existent threat as a reason to harbor weapons. If you like your weapon, good for you. I have no desire to deprive you. Just stop the bs please about why you need it. Cause that dog don't hunt. LOL

And if ever faced with the home intruders, a scenario less likely than winning the lottery twice in a row, I'd give them the keys to my macho car. (not mentioning they were on camera of course.)

macho weapon? :lol:

Home invasion has been vastly under-reported. It's amusing to see smug people so ill informed.

Let's hope they don't decide to have their way with you while you're rolling over exposing your belly.

 

[Exactice]

LOL.... so many things being thrown out..... But the question has so many variables that it cant be answer with just ONE correct answer.


Some peoples house are Castle. are we talking about a 1acre property or a 400sft Condo? Are we talking SBR/Pistols AR or just standard AR. Are we talking daylight intrusion or night time intrusion.

each weapon fits the scenario. I have to retract even my thought as my 22LR is for night specific (as reality say an intrusion would happen at night), But if I was home sitting on the couch watching TV and I heard a HARD bang at the door..... I think I too would reach for my go bag and my AR thinking about it now.


so Simple answer on this one...... but wrong or right, the right to defend your family in your own HOME, regardless of what type of firearm is the choice of the home resident..... you come into my house uninvited, you better be prepared to catch AirSoft BB's, Baseball bat, AR, Pistol or 50BMG...thats the gamble you take coming in uninvited...

 

[trblmkr]

but they should be...

I have practiced moving from point to point in the house taking aim on the front or rear doors. The steps and motions have become almost muscle memory. I can do it in the dark pretty well. I hardly ever run into things anymore. Cats are an issue. With the perimeter alarms and dogs I'll know you're coming and from where. And 30 or 40 feet from the house the 50 watt LED floods are going to light you up. I think I'm good to go.

 

[ChezC3]

Effective range.

Right, this is what I was alluding to. Don't you feel that takes away from the sport?

 

[ChezC3]

Lever or bolt, I guess. Why?

Well, for obvious reasons I would think you could see how a bolt action is not the tool for the job. A lever action I suppose would be tantamount to the pump action on a shotgun but depending on size of barrel and caliber not very useful either in a close quarter situation. The AR is a perimeter gun and personally unsuitable in my opinion for close quarters and I certainly wouldn't use it to hunt. If others choose to hunt with it I'd probably wince more than smirk if I seen them out in the brush.

If others choose to, well, that's their business I suppose and as long as they're ethical about it. (hunting)

 

[Rucker61]

Right, this is what I was alluding to. Don't you feel that takes away from the sport?

I archery hunt and I rifle hunt for meat animals. As I take no pleasure in the killing, I don't consider it a sport.

 

[ChezC3]

And I have stated I have no problem with your gun ownership. Just a problem with the bs of a likely home invasion as the reason. That is not directed to you particularly, just a few other posters who exaggerate that threat as justification.

I can tell you of 3 neighbors who had their houses entered and robbed in broad daylight, while they were at home. Now, these people were outside in their yard, or upstairs and the intruders came in and out quickly, but they still came in. Still I can name 2 more that were burglarized while they were at work. So that's 5 incidents in oh, let's keep it real, a 9 year period (that I know of) where a home invasion took place on one part of a street that has about oh, I'd say 25-30 homes. Was it on the news? No. Why? Because it happens more than people think and that's all you'd see. (and I live in one of the safest districts in the city.)

 

[blackjack50]

Just the sheer mass of 2oz or so hitting you is enough. I hope not to kill the poor bastard.

I hope to not piss him off. Just end the fight. That’s the goal. And birdshot May not to that.

 

[blackjack50]

Blackjack, interesting choice of post, I am a little late to the party, but this is my response!

AR-15, 50bmg, 9mm, or 22 all serves it purpose for what it was "initially" designed for. People have found ways utilize it to fit their preferences. an AR 15 specific? Well I feel its my right to have one, It is my need to have one as if we do have to fight a tyrannical government, it is a military issued weapon that we may face, so we need to be able to meet with equal force.

This all being said, I personally/opinion do not feel an AR-15 would be the best for a specific HOME defense weapon. here are my thoughts

1) Deployment at 2am in the dark. A weapon as large having to dig around, load and have it prepared to fire, is much slower than a typical pistol in my opinion
2) mobility and tactical advantage in the dark is less with a large firearm like an AR-15. This is with respects to many states with a 16" mandate, sure if you have a pistol ar/sbr with a 7.5-10" barrel it would increase mobility... but again a 5.5" pistol vs 26" OAL AR
3) penetration of caliber. Even lower end 55gr @ 2900fps, against drywall, I want to limit as MUCH as possible any type of collateral damage. 22lr to 9mm @ 50 ft (average maximum length hallway) those rounds are highly effective with limited penetration and collateral
4) obtaining a tactical advantage through accessory manipulation and movement, my home defense pistol, has a weapon light and thats really all I feel I need. no lasers no night sights, no RMR.....just a bright weapon light manipulated by my finger..... I can keep the weapon tight to my body while I moved around my home quietly to keep the maximum amount of tactical advantage on a threat. When I need to draw, I point weapon light comes on illuminating and blinding the potential threat, if its not I can turn the light off quickly and re initiate movement
5) recoil and night blindness, pistols vs AR, a smaller pistol and controlled recoil, muzzle flash if you have an appropriate flash suppressor on your AR vs a pistol has to be all taken into account...
6) hearing.....22lr can easily be shot in a home without that ...WHHHRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE sound after the first round LOL.......


OK so with this........ It all comes down to preference, training, and confidence..... personally again this is what I justified, but some people feel way more comfortable with an AR, with thisn I have had some experience being woken up at 2am in the dead of night and digging around for my AR was a huge pain in the butt rather than my go bag with my MP22 compact......

so again person to person training to training, preference to confidence..... it all depends.

As stated to another poster: I ignored handgun on purpose as it is the first choice only out of convenience. Not because of the round or weapon itself. If you have the ability to grab a long gun...you should. But your first choice should be what is ready. And that is usually a handgun.

 

[blackjack50]

You seem confused about the difference between a bullet and a gun. Perhaps you can tell the posters below that they're "wrong" because of your bullet based "argument":



That's fine, but there's no harm in being honest here, right?

It's effective weapon for humans.



No, i'm just being honest.

By not addressing the topic. But let’s address your comment...designed to kill.

Who gives a ****? Some people need killing. If you decide to break into my home while I’m inside...I’m going to fight back. And if my girlfriend is home you better pray Because someone trying to harm my family will be met with the maximum amount of force I can possibly bring down upon them.

 

[ChezC3]

I archery hunt and I rifle hunt for meat animals. As I take no pleasure in the killing, I don't consider it a sport.

Well, hunting is a sport (the sport of hunting not to be confused as you have, with hunting for sport. It is a sport as in "Sportsman", which is what hunters and anglers are usually referred to as. You've got internet access so you can go to the local market and buy your meat, let's not act like you're surviving off the land here, c'mon...) and the only reason you should be engaged it in my opinion is if you're going to use every part of the animal (possible) whose life you intend to snuff out.

 

[blackjack50]

Well, hunting is a sport (the sport of hunting not to be confused as you have, with hunting for sport. It is a sport as in "Sportsman", which is what hunters and anglers are usually referred to as. You've got internet access so you can go to the local market and buy your meat, let's not act like you're surviving off the land here, c'mon...) and the only reason you should be engaged it in my opinion is if you're going to use every part of the animal (possible) whose life you intend to snuff out.

Dont forget that taking wild game is an important part of the natural cycle. Killing deer especially. Population control.

 

[Absentglare]

If it were designed to kill humans then it was a failure, the .223 round is one of the least lethal rifle rounds available. If your intentions were to ensure lethality you would want an AR-10 which uses 7.62(.308). It is more likely to cause severe enough bodily damage that even if you miss a vital area the wound would still result in death. This is why I said it was better for small to medium size game.

Your argument is that the AR-15 wasn't designed to be effective for human targets, and your argument is based on the stupid goalpost moving about "killing"?

 

[Absentglare]

you are proving how little you know of the subject

The irony of this post cannot be overstated.

 

[Absentglare]

A stick can be an effective weapon for humans. As can be a rock, a hammer, leg of lamb, etc.

Your point?

It's an effective weapon for human targets, true?

Honesty is valuable, right? It's effective for home defense because it is effective for human targets.

 

[Absentglare]

So are about 90% of all firearms, and kitchen knives, and baseball bats.



Obvious point was obvious.

Stating the obvious is necessary to establish common ground.

I can agree that the AR-15 can be effective for home defense on the basis that it was designed for human targets.

 

[Fledermaus]

The irony of this post cannot be overstated.

What is ironic about it?

Please explain.

 

[TurtleDude]

The irony of this post cannot be overstated.

why don't you actually try to prove that given most posters here-even the ones who disagree with me, admit I know gun issues inside and out

 

[Exactice]

As stated to another poster: I ignored handgun on purpose as it is the first choice only out of convenience. Not because of the round or weapon itself. If you have the ability to grab a long gun...you should. But your first choice should be what is ready. And that is usually a handgun.

MMMM, I caution the word "SHOULD" be and here is why

1) Not all states allow handguns in a manner in which I think we are discussing.
1a) My state is annoying, each and every handgun needs a permit..... where as a rifle or long gun just needs a permit to acquire and you can buy as many as you want in a one year period. In addition you DO NOT need a class or safety course to apply for a long gun permit. A Pistol Permit requires a Safety Course or Hunter Education course. Some people just wont go through the motions to have a pistol as its a pain. In addition you have to either pay for a private safety course, or the Hunter education course is Free, but the waiting list is unreal long, In addition the "Anti Gun" people sign up for the class to block to space and do not show up for the class.....which the state will never acknowledge that happens and allows it to happen...

2) Not everyone has a pistol

3) Some people are JUST not comfortable with a pistol, some people are more comfortable with 3 points of of contact (4 if you include the cheekweld) But the point is, not everyone is good at handling a pistol so IT SHOULD NOT be the first choice if you cant shoot it.

4) I know many military people that have fired firearms, M16s and M4s but not pistols. So when they become firearms owner they purchase such. They are limited to pistol usage, so familiarity with a AR is what allows a person to be more effective and that means, shot placement and even just safely handling a weapon.


In closing...... I prefer what I prefer.....because of my experience. But NOT everyone has a rifle and a pistol to choose from. NOR certain states make it easy to obtain one or the other. So again situation dictates and there is NO one correct answer

 

[BretJ]

LOL, no just remembering when owning a macho car would do the same for some who now need a macho weapon.

I really truly believe the threat of home invasion has been vastly overstated. And it is amusing that some people need to cite this almost none existent threat as a reason to harbor weapons. If you like your weapon, good for you. I have no desire to deprive you. Just stop the bs please about why you need it. Cause that dog don't hunt. LOL

And if ever faced with the home intruders, a scenario less likely than winning the lottery twice in a row, I'd give them the keys to my macho car. (not mentioning they were on camera of course.)

Yet the liklyhood of a gun owner or their family being harmed by their firearm is even less likely and drastically overstated but used by some to justify gun control measures.

 

[Rexedgar]

why don't you actually try to prove that given most posters here-even the ones who disagree with me, admit I know gun issues inside and out

Why don’t you call a cabinet meeting or have a celebration at the White House and we will all slobber all over you!?


:allhail

 

[TurtleDude]

Why don’t you call a cabinet meeting or have a celebration at the White House and we will all slobber all over you!?


:allhail

are you upset that you really aren't very knowledgeable about this issue?

 

[Fledermaus]

Why don’t you call a cabinet meeting or have a celebration at the White House and we will all slobber all over you!?

It ain't bragging if you can back it up.

 

[Rexedgar]

are you upset that you really aren't very knowledgeable about this issue?

I have no ‘dog’ in the “gun control” debate. My mission is much like a wildlife researcher. They find special animals, tranquilize them, install a tag in their ear and release them. You have been tagged, carry on....