How many of you have used your AR for self defense?

[cabinetguy]

my goto is a mossberg 12 guage. in the hypothetical home invasion, I would have no issues with using what I have, but it is easier to lose my mini for evidence than my AR. I have thankfully never used a firearm in self defense, but I have met someone at the front gate with a shotgun. they left, no shots fired, but Im glad I have what I have

[coyotebait]

ya i dont know about the truth-o-box guy. he wrote this....

Birdshot as a Defense Load:
I have had a lot of questions, summed up as follows: How effective is birdshot (#4, #6, #8, etc.) as a defense load?

We have done tests with various birdshot loads. Birdshot penetrated through two pieces of drywall (representing one wall) and was stopped in the paper on the front of the second wall. The problem with birdshot is that it does not penetrate enough to be effective as a defense round. Birdshot is designed to bring down little birds.

A policeman told of seeing a guy shot at close range with a load of 12 gauge birdshot, and was not even knocked down. He was still walking around when the EMTs got there. It was an ugly, shallow wound, but did not STOP the guy. And that is what we want... to STOP the bad guy from whatever he is doing. To do this, you must have a load that will reach the vitals of the bad guy. Birdshot will not do this.

In fact, tests have shown that even #4 Buckshot lacks the necessary penetration to reach the vital organs. Only 0 Buck, 00 Buck, and 000 Buck penetrate enough to reach the vital organs.

Unless you expect to be attacked by little birds, do not use birdshot. Use 00 Buck. It will do the job."



I would SERIOUSLY doubt someone would just we walking around or not even get knocked down after taking birdshot to the chest.

Actually, my brother, my cousin and a couple of my friends are all cops, and they've all seen people shot from about 3 to 12 feet with bird shot, all victims were up, walking around and pissed off. One dude was shot in the face, 12 gauge, bird shot out of a sawed off at approx. 5 feet. They found him several blocks away still pissed and cussing.

AND you don't have to worry about 30-rnd mags or bullet buttons cause the cops will be all standing outside of the riot area.

Ding ding ding...don't forget that the National Guard will be there too (without ammo...shhh)

[chead]

I hope to never ever have to fire a gun at someone in self-defense, but if it came down to it I wouldn't hesitate to shoot someone with my AK. Depending on where I was and what state of awake I was I might pick it over a handgun.

[rojocorsa]

Saber-You're clarifying my observation.You needed that stuff on your rifle, and I'm glad and proud you came home.But I think civillians decking out their guns is potentially a waste.I think Im going to build a KISS carbine now lol.

OP, with all due respect, that's their problem. Not yours or mine.

Yeah, I think some of the **** people do is silly (like having all these rails and only using a small part, etc), but in reality, I don't really give that much of a ****. It's not worth being concerned over, especially because they didn't make you buy it.

Live and let live.

[ahren111]

ive used mine to protect my family whal camping. pissed off watermelons were all over & after us

[ERdept]

I absolutely wish in my heart that I never have to. But, it is my right to defend myself if my life is threatened and if the AR is the first available as I grab something nearby, it will have to do.

Because to go and grab it first has intent to use that gun in particular.

I have it near so that may be the only thing to grab by default.

[HiveDR.]

There is a old saying "Better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it."

[evidens83]

I can bet 99% of the members here haven't used their AR for SD....

(excluding military of course )

[chead]

I can bet 99% of the members here haven't used their AR for SD....

(excluding military of course )

I'd be pretty concerned if they had..

[Joe788]

I'd say a riot is a legit need lol.My point is all the fanfare behind buying all the upgraded overpriced borderline irrelevant stuff.Is it really needed?

You basically voided your first post, in your first post. Statistically speaking, in the US, a gun itself is overpriced borderline irrelevant stuff.

[peter95]

shot multiple times by an AR and still managed to go to a hospital huh...

lol... good one....

I still love AR'S though....

[peter95]

and btw.... yes, its for Home Defense, but dont you forget that its also a Hobby.

People dont buy guns in hopes to use it on someone, its just in case stuff, and this turns into a hobby.

[ARfiend]

I see nothing impractical whatsoever about using an AR in home defense.

In fact if you live with others, I think an AR makes much more sense than most service caliber handguns; contrary to popular misconception, 5.56 and 5.45 are much more easily stopped by interior walls than 9mm, .40, and .45 (and the like).

Honestly it sounds like you're trying to get the rest of us to justify you owning an AK and not owning an AR.

When it comes down to it, AK's and AR's are both proven to be very capable man-stoppers. AR's are much more accurate and pleasant to shoot; AK's are cheaper, the ammo is cheaper, and they're marginally more rugged.

One last thing: you seem to think people only spend a lot of money on AR parts and accessories--you need to look around man, people spend TONS of money on AK accessories (and conversions).

This is true, I used to say that if someone came in my house I would grab my sig 226 .40 but after reading some studies it would be absolutely safer for anyone in my house and my neighbors if I used hollow point .223. Changed my whole outlook which makes my rail and flashlight attachment a lot more relevant than most seem to think. Stay safe and if you like it, buy it. Who cares about practicality. It's just fun

[calilivin]

I keep in mind that my setup could be used in a self defense scenario but in fact I believe what many of us do, it simply is to have the coolest looking setup with the most top end gear. Who wants stock anything? Everything is better with upgraded options. Oh yeah and BRD is definitely a serious condition which I am currently battling.

[imarangemaster]

self defense

During my 5 years military, I carried M16A1 for the 3 years active Army MP and a GAU-5A/A or GAU-5P for the 2 years Air Force reserve SP. For my 20+ years as an LEO, I carried either a USGI M1 Carbine or some form of AR platform for a trunk rifle. For several years I even had a dept. issue XM177E2. Mine trunk weapons were always plain jane, with no tacticool stuff. Just grab it chamber a round and prepare to fire.

While I have 2 ARs now, my main house PDW is now actually my Kel-Tec SU-16 CA model, replacing my M1 Carbine. It is featureless, so I keep either a 20 or 30 pre-ban in the weapon and a 30 loaded in the storage compartment of the stock. It is as handy as an M1 Carbine, and is more accurate than either of my ARs, which both shoot about 1.5 to 2 MOA with iron sights.