Glenn E. Meyer
New member
Folks do keep muffs by the home defense gun for that hunker down situation.
Shotgun vs AR for home defense (not what you think)
- Thread starter Ices
- Start date
Folks do keep muffs by the home defense gun for that hunker down situation.
Neither. A pistol is the best home defense gun. Preferably something in 9mm, 40, 357, 10mm or 45. Reasons:
1. Generally more accessible;
2. It's easier for me to keep my EDC pistol, or home defense pistol in close proximity;
3. It's easier for me to deploy a handgun;
4. It's easier for me to secure and/or hide a handgun;
5. No distance in my house is greater than 40 feet wall-to-wall and most likely any burglar will be less than 40' away from me - perfect handgun distances.
6. It's easier to take cover and hide while holding a pistol over a shotgun or rifle.
7. What's a .223 bullet going to do at 25 feet that a 10mm can't do better?
We are fortunate to live in the US, where we don't have to use rifles and shotguns for home defense. Unlike many other nations, large capacity handguns in good defensive calibers and good handgun ammunition is readily available.
1. Generally more accessible;
2. It's easier for me to keep my EDC pistol, or home defense pistol in close proximity;
3. It's easier for me to deploy a handgun;
4. It's easier for me to secure and/or hide a handgun;
5. No distance in my house is greater than 40 feet wall-to-wall and most likely any burglar will be less than 40' away from me - perfect handgun distances.
6. It's easier to take cover and hide while holding a pistol over a shotgun or rifle.
7. What's a .223 bullet going to do at 25 feet that a 10mm can't do better?
We are fortunate to live in the US, where we don't have to use rifles and shotguns for home defense. Unlike many other nations, large capacity handguns in good defensive calibers and good handgun ammunition is readily available.
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dakota.potts
New member
cw308, your question assumes logical foresight by the criminal. Logically, I would not want to take a full shotgun blast or a single .223 hit -- let alone a good double or triple tap which a highly expanding round like the PDX or VMAX. Both would do pretty devastating damage. Neither is a guaranteed stopper with one or multiple shots. I prefer multiple shot follow up capability. I also like that the .223 has minimal (not zero) collateral damage through barriers but still has the capability for good wound channel and light body armor penetration. Shotguns have served people well for many years and likely will do so for anybody who chooses one and trains with it. I think you'd be remiss to ignore the benefits of a semi automatic rifle platform though
I have used the M16 in the Army 9 Inf.division. There is a difference in a combat situation, then a home invasion . 48 years ago at 19 years of age serving in Vietnam is different then in a home setting seeing a bad guy kick down your door with seconds to react, You may freeze you may fight or go for a firearm. Dropping someone with with one shot needs a lot of training,dealing with stress. I now still would go for a 12 with 00 buck.
The ammo versatility of the 12ga is a great point. I have a security model shotgun as also that I can use well. But there is a legal limitation to how small a shotgun can be. My ARs are much smaller than my smallest shotgun with buttstocks.
A handgun is always on my person anyway, so none of this matters much.
Where the decision lies is in the secondary use of this firearm...
If it is solely an HD firearm, then a shotgun would be a great choice. An AR could have many recreational uses as well.
A handgun is always on my person anyway, so none of this matters much.
Where the decision lies is in the secondary use of this firearm...
If it is solely an HD firearm, then a shotgun would be a great choice. An AR could have many recreational uses as well.
johnwilliamson062
Moderator
I was at a public range today.
Deer season starts in a month here.
There were more ARs at the 50 and 100 yard line than all other long guns combined.
Carbines, rifles, bipods, foregrips, black, FDE, grey, it just goes on.
You can't hunt deer with an AR here(at least any commonly available one).
It blew my mind.
I don't think they were as common 20 years ago and it may just be that simple.
And if you are shooting an AR the most it is probably better than a shotgun you handle a few times a year irrespective of all the other stats. I never enjoyed practicing with buckshot in my shotgun. Paying for it was even less enjoyable.
Deer season starts in a month here.
There were more ARs at the 50 and 100 yard line than all other long guns combined.
Carbines, rifles, bipods, foregrips, black, FDE, grey, it just goes on.
You can't hunt deer with an AR here(at least any commonly available one).
It blew my mind.
I don't think they were as common 20 years ago and it may just be that simple.
And if you are shooting an AR the most it is probably better than a shotgun you handle a few times a year irrespective of all the other stats. I never enjoyed practicing with buckshot in my shotgun. Paying for it was even less enjoyable.
Justice06RR
New member
FITASC said:
And folks who think they won't have a need to clear/go to other parts of their house to retrieve family
Remember folks, that some people may have loved ones in other parts of your home. Do not think you will just hunker down in your room til help arrives; you may have to go to other parts of your home to get your kids or other family/friends living with you. If you live alone, then good for you.
Firing any gun inside a home can be loud, but it does not necessarily make you deaf instantly. It may give you temporary ringing in your ears. It depends on many factors (# of shots fired, type of firearm, etc). You can also prevent hearing damage if you keep ear protection closeby with your HD weapon.
Skans said:
The best HD weapon is the one that you have available to you--whether its a shotgun, rifle, or pistol. A pistol is not the superior weapon necessarily. (See my reasoning in read)
Amen. I didn't like or trust the 16 then, and I still don't like or trust any "AR" platform gun now.
To be honest, I really get sick of going to guns shops and seeing nothing but "black guns," and I really can't get enthused about them like everyone else seems to be.
That said, I much prefer a shotgun for HD, but I also keep a 1911 in my headboard.
As always, YMMV.
Stevie-Ray
New member
I keep both AR and shotgun handy, in the safe, but loaded. My go to HD weapon is generally my daily carry. Don't really have an opinion of what is better for HD of the two, also my choice of shotgun is an autoloader. Both long guns are more for expected trouble or uprisings, which have, of course, greatly diminished since I've moved to a rural area.
And, so, what's the real difference at 25 feet? I believe that at 25 feet, there's a good chance the .223 will exit the body and not deliver all of that energy to the body. But, for argument's sake, even if it didn't punch right through the torso, is it really going to have more stopping power than 10mm at 25 feet?
Rifleman1952
New member
I would never try to convince an AR guy that he should use a shotgun for home defense, nor would I try to convince a shotgun guy that he should switch to an AR. Use what you are most comfortable with. I own one of each, but my daily CCW pistol is what sits on my night stand. Now, if there is some reason to suspect rioting or multiple looters are coming my way, I'll get the AR and the shotgun ready. One upstairs, and one down.
A full house 10mm load is a pretty good handgun round. But, its still a handgun round. Handguns are harder to shoot well under stress. The heavy hitting 10mm loads recoil heavily (to go along with their power, tanstaafl).
Contrast that with a light and short 223 carbine with minimal recoil and FAST follow up shots.
Even if the 2 (10mm & 223) had identical "stopping power" the 223 platform is SO much easier to use, that its the clear winner in a SD/HD situation.
Add in the fact that with the proper loading the 223 is absolutely devastating and its hands down the winner
That is EXACTLY why just about every entry team in the country uses some form of 223 carbine when conducting CQB (inside buuldings) operations. Handguns were given up decades ago and replaced with Subguns. In the last 10-15 years the Subguns have all but disappeared and been replaced with M4 type rifles with good anti personal loadings.
Light, fast handeling shoulder weapons rule the day for engagement such as described.
That being said i use my EDC Glock 19 as a "bedside gun", but there is a 9" barreled AR rifle just past it in the corner. If i have the extra (litterally) 1/2 second, im going to grab the AR.
I have hunted with .223 and various handguns.
There is really no comparison between the standard home defense pistol calibers and .223.
.223 can be incredibly damaging to tissue at short range.
Shotgun will make a large wound as well.
That being said, you cannot easily keep a rifle or shotgun on your person 100% of the time like a handgun.
There is really no comparison between the standard home defense pistol calibers and .223.
.223 can be incredibly damaging to tissue at short range.
Shotgun will make a large wound as well.
That being said, you cannot easily keep a rifle or shotgun on your person 100% of the time like a handgun.
Having shot lots of game from Elk down to gophers, with pistols, shotguns and ARs, the AR is the most effective and the pistol well behind. Sure, with high velocity slugs and buckshot, the shotgun is equal to or superior to the AR in terms of energy on target, but a scant few use those premium type high velocity rounds of SD.
The component that always strikes me when I am at the range with students who are smaller, weaker, disabled, etc. is that I have yet to find a person from 6 to 90, missing fingers, hands, legs, vision issues etc that can not, with relatively little effort, be taught to shoot the AR platform quickly and accurately. The same can not be said for the handgun or shotgun.
The component that always strikes me when I am at the range with students who are smaller, weaker, disabled, etc. is that I have yet to find a person from 6 to 90, missing fingers, hands, legs, vision issues etc that can not, with relatively little effort, be taught to shoot the AR platform quickly and accurately. The same can not be said for the handgun or shotgun.
shotgun or AR? yes please. I like both.
Right now I only have a shotgun, because of cost. Even though I'm more likely to get to a handgun first in a defensive situation, I feel better knowing that I have a bigger stick if I need it. I wouldn't want be without one or the other.
Right now I only have a shotgun, because of cost. Even though I'm more likely to get to a handgun first in a defensive situation, I feel better knowing that I have a bigger stick if I need it. I wouldn't want be without one or the other.