Please convince me on Just These 4 choices for Home defense

[linkstate]

Sounds like you live out and away from others if you have no neighbors. That would indicate to me the potential for engaging multiple threats outside as well as inside. Also a long police response time.

AR all the way. I love my lever guns but if things ever got bad, bad, I’d rather not be holding a .357 lever gun wishing I had something else with more firepower.

 

[TI-tick]

Yes, all 4; be done with it.

That said, I don't like the safety on the Rossi lever. I have Marlin's and a Winchester 94 in 30-30 and those will work for HD. 38-357 is on my bucket list, or 45 LC per my SAA Colts.

That said, AK or AR would also work with less complication for reload in it's a rooftop Korean scenario.

 

[Afrikeber]

OP specifically excluded Shotguns.

Exactly my point.

 

[Biggfoot44]

I concede up front , that the MDS consensus will be heavily in favor of the AR . And if we're reading the first post correctly , you already have a 16 inch AR . And with the political climate , and our emphasis on AR common usage , and suitability for Home Defense , would almost not want to say anything about AR that could be twisted out of context .

That said , my personal druthers would be the levergun ( albeit in 20 inch format ).

#1 Question to ask yourself -

What is your probable threat level at home ? Are you expecting an entire drug gang , entire OMC chapter , mafia hit squad , or etc , making reasonably coordinated attack , with squad level or larger ?

Or typical criminal dirtbags ?

#2 Question to ask yourself -

It's ok . You can share with us .
Which one do you Want for other/ general purposes , while convincing yourself/ spouse that " Yeah , yeah ! And it's good for Home Defense too ! " .

That's ok ! If you otherwise Want a Commie rifle / Levergun/ something that folds up into briefcase/ small backpack , get one for the actual reason(s) , and it wouldn't suck , if pressed into HD at need .

 

[TI-tick]

The AR-- but...since you opened the door to owning a second one, I'd ditch the 16" and go with a pistol length/SBR w/suppressor.

For me the AR pistol is the cat's meow, as NFA is verboten to CA residents.

 

[RRomig]

The AR-- but...since you opened the door to owning a second one, I'd ditch the 16" and go with a pistol length/SBR w/suppressor.

This is the way.
Ive seen many Rossi’s shyt the bed.
No experience with kel tec.
AKs are great but I think the AR fits you better.
GL

 

[Biggfoot44]

Exactly my point.

Ok then !

Hey OP ! Your initial anti shotgun bias is misguided . There are reasons they were so popular for so long , and however you characterize or identify ( causing shootee to quickly fall down , stop moving , and stop doing Bad Things ) , a tight pattern of buckshot , at indoor distances , will do so more decisively than anything else .

Now Afrikeber and I will be shouted down , because Shotguns have comparitively low capacity and too much recoil .

I'll attempt comeback along the lines of :

OP also has handgun(s) . Store one adjacent to the HD shotgun , to stick in pocket/ belt while grabbing Shotgun . If 5- 9 rounds of buckshot/ Foster Slugs ( even if 20 ga ) hasn't resolved the situation , drop the empty shotgun , and whip out pistol to continue .

Now a majority of MDS is shaking their heads , mumbling about the out of touch old fart .

 

[wilcam47]

ALL...

 

[RFBfromDE]

Ok then !

Hey OP ! Your initial anti shotgun bias is misguided ....

Hard to believe it took most of the first page for the OP premise to be challenged.

An MDS record?

 

[outrider58]

Johnny Tyler weeps

He's such a madcap...

 

[arbud]

shotguns hurt and I would not practice with it. Now I am going back to my mamas breast. I have had 5 or six of them and always sell them like an idiot.

 

[308Scout]

shotguns hurt and I would not practice with it. Now I am going back to my mamas breast. I have had 5 or six of them and always sell them like an idiot.

Have you tried a smaller gauge shotty or the lower charged/recoil rounds in a 12ga? Plenty of options available with a shotty to lower the recoil. No need to go for a 12ga 3" magnum load for home defense.

 

[Docster]

Which one are you most comfortable shooting, reloading and handling? Seems to me that the answer to this question is the answer to your question.

^^THIS. Folks asking questions like this are looking for validation. The same answer applies to "which gun is best for me?", "convince me to buy xxxx gun" etc

 

[outrider58]

^^THIS. Folks asking questions like this are looking for validation. The same answer applies to "which gun is best for me?", "convince me to buy xxxx gun" etc

My answer to that question is always the same; whichever gun you can shoot the best. You have to be able to hit, accurately, what you aim at.

 

[Defense Initiative]

Dont like shotguns. Have a pistol somewhere. So if we can just stay with these 4 choices please. Home defense and maybe 25 yards beyond. No neighbors to worry about or children
357mag lever gun 16" I like lever guns would be around 600 for a rossi plus ammo
Ar15 16" I have one so I have ammo and mags. Find them a little boring but necessary. 425.00 for a Delton
AK wasr10 Like these but have a hard time spending the kind of money they want. At least 625.00 plus ammo and mags
Keltec sub 2000 40 cal. Light and reliable and have ammo already. But what about an apocalypses scenario how would it hold up. The least expensive
Please pick one of these and give me your reasons for just these. Thanks

I get this question a lot. The shotgun is not a good choice as a primary firearm for home defense.

I'm not a big fan of Keltec; however, they have improved their firearms over the years. I am not a fan of the .40 caliber, but it is a good choice in a carbine when the ammunition is available. Use round-nose bullets to eliminate feeding problems.

Lever action in .357 is good but would require more effort than a semi-automatic.

The AR15 [16"] is the best for reliability, speed, accuracy, and magazine capacity. I would add a green or red dot for fast target acquisition and consider adding a light barrel for better freedom of movement.

 

[hogarth]

I get this question a lot. The shotgun is not a good choice as a primary firearm for home defense.

I'm not a big fan of Keltec; however, they have improved their firearms over the years. I am not a fan of the .40 caliber, but it is a good choice in a carbine when the ammunition is available. Use round-nose bullets to eliminate feeding problems.

Lever action in .357 is good but would require more effort than a semi-automatic.

The AR15 [16"] is the best for reliability, speed, accuracy, and magazine capacity. I would add a green or red dot for fast target acquisition and consider adding a light barrel for better freedom of movement.

A light barrel is verboten in MD except on a lower owned Pre 2013.

 

[Defense Initiative]

A light barrel is verboten in MD except on a lower owned Pre 2013.

Good point.

 

[Magnumite]

I would second alucard’s post. Well put. I diidn’t care for the sub2k. Lever too many disadvantages, AK variant…why with an AR 15 available?

My first level defense in reality…handgun. An AR and shotgun are in the readily just in case.

 

[redsandman6]

ar-15 would be my choice. the rifle calibers have better performance. 30rd mags and faster follow up shots with the semi-auto. the ar is easier to learn to operate than an ak imo. i assume the ak is 7.62. so the ar in .223 would be easier to shoot and locate ammo for. plus the huge aftermarket support for parts and accessories.


i watched this video a couple of months back where there was a studied conducted that said juries would more likely convict a person and give them longer sentences for using an ar-15. the title of the video is click baity but its has some interesting points

 

[Parry]

Choose the right tool for the job. So, what specific job in the wide scope of “home defense?"

Of your 4 choices, I vote for the AR. Boring you say? How about some customization, changing the optics, grip, trigger…the amount of variations available can end that boredom. At least that is how I convince myself.

A wise MDS member here once told me that he “likes shotguns” for this role (home defense). I tend to agree with him.

If I were you, I would find that “pistol somewhere.” No matter your choices, I think it is a good idea to have a sidearm if you are out of ammo after using one of the 4 choices.