Hello all,
Once in a while, I like to revisit the "easy" but never settled topics. The one that comes in mind is the "Shotgun vs AR for home defense" debate. Everything I mention is from my own observations, so your mileage may vary.
When reading forum views (here and elsewhere) on the above topic, roughly 15 years ago, it seemed like the overwhelming majority of people would prefer the shotgun. "One shot stop", "shot won't go through walls", "pump is more reliable than semi-auto carbine", "you don't have to aim" and "the sound will make someone lose their bowels".
Then, over the years, using an AR (or similar carbine) for home defense gained prominence.
These days, the sentiment has changed (again, from my observation). Many many more, if not most, prefer an AR for home defense. "More accurate/better shot placement", "more rounds", "can't short stroke an AR like a pump shotty", and "light & fast bullets will fragment when going through walls".
I can think of several factors that may have brought on this change:
- An increasing number of servicemen and servicewomen in conflicts having success with AR's (and the like) for CQB, and voicing their opinions.
- More testing done and therefore more data points that are favorable to the AR.
- Advances in ammunition (although I'm not sure that's the case, since the M193 is probably found in many home defense AR's and I'm not sure I would consider it an "advanced" round).
- Perhaps something less evidence based: the rise and fall of "tactical" trends brought on by video games, gun mags, and/or movies.
What do you guys and gals think? Have you noticed this trend, and, what do you think is the reason for it?
Once in a while, I like to revisit the "easy" but never settled topics. The one that comes in mind is the "Shotgun vs AR for home defense" debate. Everything I mention is from my own observations, so your mileage may vary.
When reading forum views (here and elsewhere) on the above topic, roughly 15 years ago, it seemed like the overwhelming majority of people would prefer the shotgun. "One shot stop", "shot won't go through walls", "pump is more reliable than semi-auto carbine", "you don't have to aim" and "the sound will make someone lose their bowels".
Then, over the years, using an AR (or similar carbine) for home defense gained prominence.
These days, the sentiment has changed (again, from my observation). Many many more, if not most, prefer an AR for home defense. "More accurate/better shot placement", "more rounds", "can't short stroke an AR like a pump shotty", and "light & fast bullets will fragment when going through walls".
I can think of several factors that may have brought on this change:
- An increasing number of servicemen and servicewomen in conflicts having success with AR's (and the like) for CQB, and voicing their opinions.
- More testing done and therefore more data points that are favorable to the AR.
- Advances in ammunition (although I'm not sure that's the case, since the M193 is probably found in many home defense AR's and I'm not sure I would consider it an "advanced" round).
- Perhaps something less evidence based: the rise and fall of "tactical" trends brought on by video games, gun mags, and/or movies.
What do you guys and gals think? Have you noticed this trend, and, what do you think is the reason for it?