Why choose an AR for Self Defense?

[PackinMama]

All you AR people out there......here's a question for you. Why would an AR be a good choice for self defense and/or for the proverbial shtf situation? I've been hearing so much on here and elsewhere about how everyone should have an AR or two and a bunch of ammo, especially before the next election. I understand that if Obama gets elected, there's a good chance AR's and high cap mags and such could start getting banned.......so I see your reasoning with buying before the election. I'm just wondering what is the advantage of having an AR for SELF DEFENSE in comparison to say a couple 12 gauges and several handguns with plenty ammo. I know an AR has long range capability that a shotgun or a handgun could never equal......but in a self defense shtf scenario, wouldn't most of the shooting that you would need to do be in fairly close quarters?

So please guys, tell me why I need an AR........I really want to buy PriceG's AR but I just need some good reasoning behind making an AR purchase! Keep in mind that I'm not talking about having an AR for target shooting or competition.....purely self defense if/when the shtf. That's why I chose to post this under the self defense section (Mods, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong on that one).

Looking forward to everyone's input!

[TGO David]

Random observations...

-- Carbines are always preferred over handguns for their higher muzzle velocities and imparted kinetic energy.

-- The .223 / 5.56 round is a good indoor round as it loses quite a bit of velocity when it hits intermediate barriers like drywall, insulation, wood, and other common construction materials. This means collateral damage is somewhat mitigated.

-- It's effectiveness in the 50-200yd range out of doors is fairly well substantiated.

[Guest Verbal Kint]

-- Carbines are always preferred over handguns for their higher muzzle velocities and imparted kinetic energy.

Huge +1

Since you're looking at an AR for a purely defensive / SHTF scenario, you might as well equate that to combat. Would you want to face an attacking force with a handgun... or would you prefer a weapon with larger magazine capacity, further reach, and better ballistics?

There's a reason why police started carrying carbines in their cars. They were outgunned. Look at any of the several videos on the net showing these situations. The most popular being the bank robbers wearing full body armor and taking direct hits from the officers' handguns without flinching. Only after the police snatched AR15 rifles from local gun stores in a hurry, and deployed them against the criminal, did they effectively and swiftly neutralize the danger.

A wise man once said that a handgun should only be used long enough to get to a rifle.

I say start with both.

[PackinMama]

So will a .223 go through body armor?

[Guest c_o_jones]

If you are serious about using an AR-type Carbine as a defensive weapon,

take a good 'Defensive Carbine' course with a reputable instructor.

[molonlabetn]

AR rifles can do just about anything in close quarters that a shotgun can, except perhaps breach a door. Plus, you can suppress an AR for indoor use... Also, the ammunition is far more compact, often cheaper, and the gun itself is lighter and easier to control than a shotgun. That said, I am very comfortable with my shotgun as a HD weapon... the advantage there is simply versatility by being able to fire many different types of ammunition (bird-shot, buck-shot, slugs, etc...). Still, if you can get one, there is no downside to having an AR on hand. It's simply another tool in the toolbox. I'd say get one sooner rather than later. I plan to have another one within 6 months or so.

[Guest utarch00]

More capacity

Higher Ballistics

An AR at the ready position is only a couple of inches longer than a pistol at the ready position. Get a SBR and they are about equal.

Less recoil than a Shotty, incase the wife or a child needs to use it.

Edited September 15, 2008 by utarch00

[TGO David]

So will a .223 go through body armor?

At the risk of sounding like Bill Clinton, it depends on the definition of the word and the type of .223 round that we're talking about. But typically, no.

[Guest Grout]

No one has said it so far and I think this is the most important reason.The AR easier to shoot and more accurate than a handgun or shotgun.The low recoil makes it ideal for smaller persons and allows quicker follow up shots if needed.

[G27]

Much greater capacity and quicker/easier to load than a shotgun. If you have to move around, easier to carry far more ammo. Just a good all-around weapon.

[Guest Grout]

So will a .223 go through body armor?

Yes it will go through Level II and Level IIIA.Level IIIA will stop up to a .44 magnum.They make trauma plates that insert into the armor to stop rifle rds.

[Punisher84]

Yes it will go through Level II and Level IIIA.Level IIIA will stop up to a .44 magnum.They make trauma plates that insert into the armor to stop rifle rds.

This should also be noted that, like a range backstop, it is the energy behind the round that makes this happen and it will not ALWAYS penetrate.

That being said, if you want to look at what works in a SHTF situation, look at what the military and police forces use. The primary issue weapon is an M-16 or M-4. Civilian variant? AR-15.

[Guest Revelator]

How much better is a .223 round than a 12-guage shell (buck or slug) for defense? I think it's undisputed here that both are better than a pistol round, but which comes out on top? True, an AR is more mobile, easier to handle and has higher capacity than a shotgun, but is there a danger that the round is not powerful enough? Not that it would be a picnic to be shot with one, but this is something I've heard about the .223. And I don't know if this is true. I'm neither an expert nor a .223 hater, but I'd like to see some folks who know more about this weigh in. If it is true I guess that's the drawback to the AR's minimal recoil and such, and the opposite would be true of a shotgun: lots of power, but you sacrifice ease of use.

[Guest sling]

Though i really like the AR... i love the simplistic AK in 7.62 x 39. Just a touch more recoil but bit more punch. Granted, the sucker will go through drywall and frame so its not ideal for say... an apartment.

Its simple, effective, ammo is cheaper to practice with, and hits harder, larger controls, large sights, etc. This is just my opinion however.

[Guest Todd@CIS]

Benefits of an AR vs. a shotgun in no order.

1. Greater effective, accurate, range.

2. Capacity.

3. Lower recoil/easier to shoot.

4. Faster to reload.

I have to carry both at work...I really can't see me grabbing a shotgun over an AR if I have the choice.

That said, a shotgun will serve you well, too. Will you ever need to take a 50M + shot? Will I? I don't know...some of our school hallways far exceed that.

[Guest Todd@CIS]

If you are serious about using an AR-type Carbine as a defensive weapon, take a good 'Defensive Carbine' course with a reputable instructor.

Good luck finding one of those around here...

[Guest bkelm18]

For indoors I say the shotgun trumps, for outdoors, a rifle. You just can't deny the utter devastation a load of 00 Buck to the chest will cause. The BG will go down and he/she probably wont get back up. But in a SHTF scenario where you might be on the move, an AR or AK or any other reliable semi-auto rifle can't be beat.

[cknight8]

Much greater capacity and quicker/easier to load than a shotgun. If you have to move around, easier to carry far more ammo. Just a good all-around weapon.

i'm going to play the devil's advocate here...

which is faster to reload, a pump/semi-auto shotgun or an AR?

if you have loaded magazines, then hands down that AR is. but after you run those initial magazines empty, which is faster to reload? IMHO, i feel its about as easy to carry loose 12g rounds than it is to carry 20 or so AR mags. also with empty AR mags verses empty shotgun magazine tube...i can cram 6 rounds into the tube and be shooting again before you can get one magazine loaded. run out of loaded mags with an AR and the games over. with the scattergun its not likely to be game over until you run out of shells. also with the scattergun you can tac-reload when you are at cover. only takes a second to keep cramming shells up that mag tube and you can do it while your hiding.

here is my take, indoors grab a scattergun. going outside grab a rifle.

now about the rifle, i love the AR platform. however, due to the cost of mags, its hard to keep 1000 or more rounds loaded and ready to rock. not so with an SKS. its very easy to keep 1000 rounds loaded into 10 round stripper clips, and very cheap to do so. 100 stripper clips will set you back about $35-40, or the cost of 2 or 3 AR mags. my SKS rides with the stock 10 round mag, not any detachable. it is 100% reliable with stripper clips. i know that i've only got 10 rounds on tap verses the 30 round mag of an AR, but the ability to have 1000 rounds on hand loaded and ready to go in the gun is hard to give up. plus the 7.62x39 has more punch than the .223. that hurts indoors if you dont want overpenatration...but as i said above, the shotgun is for indoors. the rifle is for outdoors...

JMHO...

[G27]

i'm going to play the devil's advocate here...

Fair enough, but if you ever need more than 10 loaded mags (300 rounds total), I'll humbly suggest it's not really going to matter what you're shooting - you're screwed...

[Guest utarch00]

IMHO, i feel its about as easy to carry loose 12g rounds than it is to carry 20 or so AR mags.

Just my opinion, but if I need 600 rounds during an altercation, than I am going to run the other way. I do not want to be involved in any situation that calls for that many rounds at one time. Also, carrying an loading that many rounds into a shotty, one at a time, does not sound practical either.

[cknight8]

i guess i've watched a few to many zombie movies! :-)

[molonlabetn]

i guess i've watched a few to many zombie movies! :-)

Documentaries, man... they are documentaries. Don't let anybody tell you it's not real!

[Guest GUTTERbOY]

Just my opinion, but if I need 600 rounds during an altercation, than I am going to run the other way. I do not want to be involved in any situation that calls for that many rounds at one time. Also, carrying an loading that many rounds into a shotty, one at a time, does not sound practical either.

Yeah, imagine humping around 600 rounds of 12ga.

[molonlabetn]

Yeah, imagine humping around 600 rounds of 12ga.

That's what the Tactical Wheel-Barrow is for.

[cknight8]

That's what the Tactical Wheel-Barrow is for.

or just stay at home and shoot out of your supply stash... who says you have to go anywhere?