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Was looking at the 3 options listed in his OP, and no others. Also assumed it was his first and only gun, because he didn't say otherwise.
In the strictest since of the word, concealability makes the handgun more practical, but that's not really what I meant.
A bullet button equiped or featureless AR-15 is fun and a must own, but not practical. The term "practical" is code for very ideal in self defense. Hence schools offering "Practical Rifle" courses, and every gun on the range being an AR and the course dealing primarily with CQB type shooting.
Don't get me wrong. I am a HUGE fan of the AR platform. Even California equipped ones. But I'm also realistic about it's limitations. I run courses with the AR, and my Glock on my hip. Here in California I run them with the bullet button, because featureless is just too goofy for me. As much as I love those courses, they highlight and expose the limitations of a California equipped AR-15. To me that magazine release button makes all the difference in the world, when it comes to actually using it in a gun fight. Those who think 10 rounds is all they will ever need just haven't got enough training or experience to know better. And for me, a pistol grip is essential to mastering the manual of arms on that particular rifle. Featureless or bulletbutton, it's gonna be too goofy to be the gun you reach for when things go bump in the night.
So while in any other state I would adopt the "my handgun gets me to my rifle" approach, in California my handgun is my primary self defense weapon. Why? Because I am considerably more proficient with it than I am with my shotgun and like I said above I don't trust the california equipped AR to be the right tool for the job. I have about 1000 times the trigger time on a handgun. I used to have more time on the AR, having served in the military, but thanks to a boat load of courses my handgun proficiency now exceeds my skillset with an AR. I'm not nearly as profiecient with the shotgun. If something goes wrong I won't be able to clear it as fast, and I don't really know all of my holds. It's never excited me as much as the handgun or AR, so I haven't put in the time and training to truly master the shotgun.
Now take that bullet button off my M4, and do so legally (as in outside CA) and my attitude completely changes. As good as I am with a handgun, I would want both it and a carbine if possible. The two compliment each other well if you know how to use them right. But with the bullet button on it, the AR is more a toy with the potential to be one hell of a "practical" rifle.
Kinda like a governor on a 1969 SS Camero. It limits the cars performance to keep little Johnny's demons from getting the better of him until he has some years behind the wheel and can be trusted not to get into trouble without it. Even with the governor on it, it is one hell of a car...but you wouldn't want to take it to Sears Point and race it until you removed it.
So if I had to own just one gun...it would be a handgun and a Glock at that. If I could only own two, it would be a handgun and an AR15, even a nuetered one. If I could own three, suddenly a 1911 starts looking pretty sexy or maybe a baby Glock to go with my CCW. For me, I always gravitate towards the handgun first then start looking at other possibilities.
In the strictest since of the word, concealability makes the handgun more practical, but that's not really what I meant.
A bullet button equiped or featureless AR-15 is fun and a must own, but not practical. The term "practical" is code for very ideal in self defense. Hence schools offering "Practical Rifle" courses, and every gun on the range being an AR and the course dealing primarily with CQB type shooting.
Don't get me wrong. I am a HUGE fan of the AR platform. Even California equipped ones. But I'm also realistic about it's limitations. I run courses with the AR, and my Glock on my hip. Here in California I run them with the bullet button, because featureless is just too goofy for me. As much as I love those courses, they highlight and expose the limitations of a California equipped AR-15. To me that magazine release button makes all the difference in the world, when it comes to actually using it in a gun fight. Those who think 10 rounds is all they will ever need just haven't got enough training or experience to know better. And for me, a pistol grip is essential to mastering the manual of arms on that particular rifle. Featureless or bulletbutton, it's gonna be too goofy to be the gun you reach for when things go bump in the night.
So while in any other state I would adopt the "my handgun gets me to my rifle" approach, in California my handgun is my primary self defense weapon. Why? Because I am considerably more proficient with it than I am with my shotgun and like I said above I don't trust the california equipped AR to be the right tool for the job. I have about 1000 times the trigger time on a handgun. I used to have more time on the AR, having served in the military, but thanks to a boat load of courses my handgun proficiency now exceeds my skillset with an AR. I'm not nearly as profiecient with the shotgun. If something goes wrong I won't be able to clear it as fast, and I don't really know all of my holds. It's never excited me as much as the handgun or AR, so I haven't put in the time and training to truly master the shotgun.
Now take that bullet button off my M4, and do so legally (as in outside CA) and my attitude completely changes. As good as I am with a handgun, I would want both it and a carbine if possible. The two compliment each other well if you know how to use them right. But with the bullet button on it, the AR is more a toy with the potential to be one hell of a "practical" rifle.
Kinda like a governor on a 1969 SS Camero. It limits the cars performance to keep little Johnny's demons from getting the better of him until he has some years behind the wheel and can be trusted not to get into trouble without it. Even with the governor on it, it is one hell of a car...but you wouldn't want to take it to Sears Point and race it until you removed it.
So if I had to own just one gun...it would be a handgun and a Glock at that. If I could only own two, it would be a handgun and an AR15, even a nuetered one. If I could own three, suddenly a 1911 starts looking pretty sexy or maybe a baby Glock to go with my CCW. For me, I always gravitate towards the handgun first then start looking at other possibilities.
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