.223 Or 7.62x39: Which Would You Pick For HD?

S

Single Six

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The title says it all. I'd like to hear from anyone who uses a rifle in either of these calibers for HD as to why you chose it for that purpose. I personally do not keep one for that job, not wishing to gamble on over-penetration [yes, I know that can happen with just about any firearm, but anyway..]. To anyone who does not keep a rifle for HD but would at least consider it, which of these two calibers would you go with? Thanks for any and all responses.
 
Do a google search for ballistics, drywall penetration, etc so you can see for yourself, but I'm pretty sure 7.62 Russian will penetrate a lot more drywall than 5.56/.223 will. I'd go with the 5.56, personally.

Actually, if you do a search in this forum for "HD Rifle," you should find a thread that posted comparative 5.56mm wall penetration graphics.

Edit: Had time on my hands, so found the thread for you. http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=463912
 
I would not use either of them. Don't like a rifle as home defense. I'd rather have a shotgun with small buckshot, or a handgun. The rifle I keep handy is a lever .357 magnum.

I live in a populated area, and I am far too concerned about where a stray rifle round will go, or a stray load of OO buck. That stuff can penetrate walls and inflict lethal injuries; pistol rounds are far less dangerous to neighbors. Maybe the other guy doesn't care about accidentally killing his neighbor, and uses a garand, but not me. I'm going to take a bit of risk on myself, and try to keep the neighbors safe. In my testing, the best penetration round on building materials was a standard SWC in .357, and a plain wad cutter in .38. They both penetrated suirprisinly large numbers of boards.
 
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.223 Or 7.62x39: Which Would You Pick For HD?

A shotgun loaded with number 4 buck and I don't like shotguns.
Hand loaded 223 with very light jacketed bullets would reduce penetration and hopefully fragment on/in sheet rock, but not much. The 7.62 would have more penetration.
Did you ever think of a pistol?

So to answer the posed question.... .223

OSOK
 
Based off your question, hands down .223/5.56 gets my vote because of the reasons listed above. Over penetration in a HD situation with a high capacity rifle just sounds like a nightmare. Ideally, I'd suggest a 12 gauge with buck shot in a short barrel configuration. Stay safe.
 
Which Would You Pick For HD?

I'd go with the 5.56 because it would be less likely to overpenetrate.
 
Of those two choices I'd go with .223, I have some 50 grain varmint rounds that would probably disintegrate well. Personally I don't have any neighbors but would want the .223 just for the reduced recoil and faster follow up shot.
 
I have a pistol, 44mag, and a mini-14. I reload so I think that a 55gr VMAX, or the Barnes varmint grenade would not over penetrate, in case of a miss.

Check out the slomo videos on Barnes website and see the VG hitting a grape.

I don't know if these bullets would be available in 7.62x39, but if so would serve as well.

A 20guage with#4 shot would be serviceable, for your wife and not over penetrate as well.

Like I said though a pistol is going to be the handiest and quickest to bring into use in an emergency.
 
i have both calibers in the ar platform. I first bought the 7.62x39 Bushmaster about a year ago and then just recently bought a .223/5.56 upper. I bought the 7.62 cause i wanted something with alittle more stopping power than a 223 gives you with good results up to 300 yards. I bought the 223 for long range shooting and a more accurate round. Also the how common the 223 is, there are many choices for ammo and fairly cheap. Even though i just bought the 223, i still seem to always take the 7.62 to the range with me over the 223 cause i just love it.

Its alot more of a joy to shoot to me personally. If i want to go out and do precision shooting, then i take out the .223. So it basically depends on what your plans for using it are. I personally choice my 7.62x39 Bushmaster as my favorite rifle i own
 
At inside the house distances for self defense I think you would be better served with a 12 gauge and 00 buckshot, #3 or #4 buckshot. Either rifle is going to over penetrate and you can't guarantee the bad guy is going to be in a place where you needn't worry about where the exiting bullet is going to go. I mean there was an accident that happened where a carpenter was using a nail gun to put up paneling in a building that had a beauty salon next to it and the nail hit of to the side of a stud and went through the wall and into the beauty salon killing one of the workers in there. Just something to think about. Though if you live in a place like I do and live alone over penetration is not a problem and I will use what ever I get my hands on first to dispatch the bad guy and fix the holes later.
 
223 with softpoint ammo will penetrate no more than buckshot and often less than pistol ammo. This has been proven many times over.
 
If you are specifically seeking a long gun for HD, I would look at the SD shotguns with an extended mag...which is what I have for HD. With the shotgun, you get plenty of power with limited potential for over penetration with the light buckshot loads and with the 7 or 8rds that the extended mag offers, you will have enough ammo on tap that you can actually lay down a couple of rounds of suppressive fire if the situation warrants.

If you are looking for a multi use rifle, then the .223 with the Barnes VG would be my personal choice. Of course, all of this is JMO.
 
Sticking with the subject of the thread, I figure that between the .223 and the AK round for home defense, it's six of one and a half-dozen of the other.

In-house tactics are likely far more important than the particular choice of weapon of whatever sort...
 
I have a couple mags of 5.56mm BTHP. But my FNP-40 with Hornady Critical Defense is my home defense gun. I'm actually considering loading it with frangible rounds since I live in an appartment.

7.62 penetrates alot. ALOT LOT. Especially up close, it's probably going through the attacker. It will also go through alot of drywall if you miss. That being said, 5.56mm will also penetrate alot of drywall if you miss.... it's path will just be less predictable. Either way you risk shooting someone in an adjacent room or appartment.

If I had to choose between the two, I'd pick 5.56mm BTHP (if legal in your state), or the polymer tipped 5.56mm rounds (also.... if legal in your state). If you can't go with either of those, I'd go with 55gr .223. Recommend staying away from the 62gr "green meanie" green-tipped rounds, since they have a steel penetrator inside, which penetrates the most.

again... I'd reconsider and choose a shotgun, or pistol for homedef.
 
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both cartridges are pretty much overkill in HD ranges. whats the longest sight line in your house? 50 feet?

So I'd say whichever platform youre more comfortable with.

You'd be better served getting whichever you want as your range toy and getting a shotgun or nightstand pistol for HD. you can get a pump shotgun around $200, then get the AR or AK of your choice.

In a pinch either one is gonna unload the dump-truck of pain on an intruder. Base your purchase off other factors than penetration through walls. thats a concern with most pistol cartridges, let alone rifle cartridges.

edit- insomni, guess what i have in my nightstand? FNP-40 with critical defense.
 
SHNOMIDO: "The dump truck of pain"?! Thank you, I REALLY needed that laugh! Thanks to you and everyone else for all replies. Based on the responses thus far, I think I may just stick with my Ruger .45s for HD, augmented by my Remington 870 Marine Magnum. Still, to me at least, I thought this to be a worthwhile topic for discussion.
 
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