.223/5.56mm Home Defense Ammo

[EssOne]

What factory 55 grain loads do you guys use for home defense in the AR 15 5.56mm rifle?

[KKing]

Hornady Z max. Stupid marketing gimmick, but good ammo. I don't have to worry about over penetration.


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[Ted S.]

I'd hate to get hit by any of it.

[JeffL]

60gr Hornady TAP.

[felinesNfreedom]

Hornady Z max. Stupid marketing gimmick, but good ammo. I don't have to worry about over penetration.


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I have that loaded in both the AR pistol and the AK 

[Grunt81]

If you're worried about over penetration, you'll be better served with factory jacketed hollow points out of a center fire pistol, no smaller than 9mm, or a 20 or 12-gauge loaded with bird shot and an open cylinder/no choke (immediate spreading). Any 55 grain .223 ammo should go right through a human being without armor on, unless it's designed to hit the brakes in tissue by fragmenting on impact. Bad guys seldom wear armor. If all you have for home defense is an AR-15, I'd reload it and develop a light load. If reloading isn't an option for you, then go with a bullet that is designed to expand at least a little (polymer tipped bullet like Z-max or A-max, Nosler Varmageddon will expand some. But more than ever, knowing your target and considering it's background applies to you.

 

Jm2c

[mikegideon]

Hornady Z max. Stupid marketing gimmick, but good ammo. I don't have to worry about over penetration.


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They're actually just VMax bullets with green plastic. I have a bunch, but haven't loaded any. At home defense distances, damn near anything is gonna frag when you shoot somebody. So, I don't worry about it. If you kick my door down, you are as likely to get shot with Wolf as anything else. More likely than not, all the rifles will be locked up, and it will be a good ole 45. There's always one or two of them close.

[Hammer285]

I just swapped out the old mossberg 500 for my recently built PSA 5.56 pistol w/ Sig brace for home defense and had the same question. Ended up using the Winchester PDX1 split core 223 ammo. Edited June 8, 2015 by Hammer285

[krunchnik]

60gr Hornady TAP.

I'll second this one

[KKing]

I'll second this one

That's great, except he asked for 55gr suggestions


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[dcloudy777]

OP, why are you limiting yourself only to 55gr loads?

 

I'm a big fan of Hornady's 75gr OTM.

[EssOne]

OP, why are you limiting yourself only to 55gr loads?

 

I'm a big fan of Hornady's 75gr OTM.

Because I still think the 55 grain loads offer the best combination of stopability without overpenetration in a good defensive load. I have been using Hornady TAP 55 grain loads for a number of years and was just wondering what everyone else is doing, i.e. is there something better than TAP now. etc.

[peejman]

Because I still think the 55 grain loads offer the best combination of stopability without overpenetration in a good defensive load. I have been using Hornady TAP 55 grain loads for a number of years and was just wondering what everyone else is doing, i.e. is there something better than TAP now. etc.

Define over penetration? A rifle bullet moving 3000ft/s is gonna penetrate a lot before anything inside a normal house will stop it.

[mikegideon]

Define over penetration? A rifle bullet moving 3000ft/s is gonna penetrate a lot before anything inside a normal house will stop it.

 

If it stays in one piece

[EssOne]

True, but a fairly frangible bullet like the TAP in a 55 grain load will do less penetrating than a ball bullet of the same weight, especially if it's a barrier penetrating load. A lighter bullet will give up its velocity and energy faster than a heavier bullet, etc. etc. etc. Anyway, the 55 grain TAP load has been recommended to me by our SWAT guys as being an effective defensive load that is less likely to cause undue penetration indoors than other defensive loads like the 55 Gold Dot, etc. Like I said, I just wanted to know what other guys are doing. 

[EssOne]

If it stays in one piece

Yes. Thus the TAP bullet.

Edited June 9, 2015 by EssOne

[mikegideon]

Yes. Thus the TAP bullet.

 

At 3 yards, I'm betting CRAP (Wolf) fragments as well at TAP :). 

[Ted S.]

My choice in home defense round if I have to use my AR is 62 gr LAP (green tip), because it all paints the walls the same color. I don't run lighter than 62 gr in general, but that's preference.

Edited June 9, 2015 by Ted S.

[Dolomite_supafly]

I run 62 grain in a 12 twist gun with a 20" barrel.

[EssOne]

Thanks, gents. I appreciate the information. 

[chances R]

At 3 yards, I'm betting CRAP (Wolf) fragments as well at TAP :). 

You're just too cheap to shoot someone with a 'respectable' bullet...... :rofl:

[Troutburger]

You're just too cheap to shoot someone with a 'respectable' bullet...... :rofl:

Exactly, If you have to shoot someone at least give them their money's worth!!!

And I really don't want to get shot by a pink gun lol 

[mikegideon]

You're just too cheap to shoot someone with a 'respectable' bullet...... :rofl:

 

Maybe so...

 

[mikegideon]

Exactly, If you have to shoot someone at least give them their money's worth!!!

And I really don't want to get shot by a pink gun lol 

 

Shoot them with something expensive? Will this work? :)

 

[peejman]

Regarding typical .223 penetration...

 

http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/topic/88119-alabama-elk/#entry1276075