Best rifle for home defense in MD

[Worsley]

This is horrible advice. Any defensive firearm you plan on using at night should have a light attached to it. With sufficient candela, you can place the hotspot on the threat's face and remove their ability to see anything but a blinding light from somewhere in the center of their vision. You can also use baseboard or umbrella lighting to illuminate rooms without needing to either be in them or flag what may be a family member with your muzzle.

Positive target ID is something that has to happen. You'll need a light for this if it's dark.

Terrible advice indeed. Imagine still having kids at home and they decided to sneak back in after sneaking out... Ooof.

 

[outrider58]

All jokes aside. My HD gun is a 9mm AR with hollow points. I has a 16" barrel and a light if I need it. I run a Sig Romeo 5 because you don't need to worry about turning the red dot on. My backup is a Glock 19 with hollows and a TLR-1S. I think the Glock has night sights but I can't remember, I know they aren't stock. They may be Wilson's. Standard capacity mags are your friend.

Mine has a 4" barrel, but is suppressed.

 

[King Chicken]

that can shoot through a wall/chair/door and still have enough ass to put a threat down.

That's one powerful ass

Positive target ID is something that has to happen

Pretty sure this is a free country my night vision is also excellent(not that it has to be) to be able to tell friend from foe at night. There will be more legal problems if you shoot someone who doesn't have a weapon, of course.

This is horrible advice

Maybe, maybe not...I guess for most people yes. A light on a rifle does act like a beacon however. Even if you blind the perp perfectly, momentarily. They still know exactly where you were standing at activation and you run several risks. The light may startle and cause a firefight, if you don't blind them then you've given up surprise..., if there is more than one perpetrator in the house....etc

legally yes you need to watch your ass here in MD.

I am interested in thoughts on the pros and pitfalls of putting a beacon on your rifle. I always tend to hear just the pros.

 

[ezracer]

I've kind of evolved over the years as I've gotten older. Currently for perimeter HD my go to is my AR. But I think a good overall (inside, outside short range ) would be a lighter weight PCC "similar" to a SIG MPX type of weapon. I believe Kalishnikov USA makes a lighter weight PCC than the SIG.

 

[King Chicken]

Terrible advice indeed. Imagine still having kids at home and they decided to sneak back in after sneaking out... Ooof.

? You would mistake the footsteps, silhouette, habits of your child with a grown man of different proportions breaking in?

I'm not saying people shouldn't have lights. There are big cons though as well as big pros.

 

[trickg]

Hypothetically couldn't someone use an AR loaded with something like Hornady VMax ammo, or some other varmint bullet designed to expend energy rapidly? That would solve any over-penetration issue that the 223 round otherwise presents.

 

[Biggfoot44]

I don't like lasers or lights. I have good night vision and hearing and I feel like the light and laser is a target for my opposition to target.

This is horrible advice. Any defensive firearm you plan on using at night should have a light attached to it. With sufficient candela, you can place the hotspot on the threat's face and remove their ability to see anything but a blinding light from somewhere in the center of their vision.

Well there's two views that are 180 Deg apart .

 

[trickg]

Terrible advice indeed. Imagine still having kids at home and they decided to sneak back in after sneaking out... Ooof.

It has happened.

Va. deputy shoots daughter sneaking back home

She had slipped out earlier in the night and tripped alarm system coming back in.

www.usatoday.com

 

[ezracer]

I would find this interesting at $1000. Kalasnikov made in USA KP-9. I would add or get a folding handle.

 

[Biggfoot44]

Bottom line - You need to see in the dark , sufficient to identify potential threats .

WML is an approach , but not only approach .

 

[Kman]

M249?

The best I ever SAW.

 

[Worsley]

? You would mistake the footsteps, silhouette, habits of your child with a grown man of different proportions breaking in?

I'm not saying people shouldn't have lights. There are big cons though as well as big pros.

There is no con in positively identifying who you are shooting at.

 

[Sirex]

HiPoint 995TS. Battle tested, battle proven.

Hi-Point Carbine Used to Stop Detroit Home Invasion ~ Video

The Hi-Point carbine shown comes with 10 round magazines. It is inappropriately described as an "assault rifle" in the Daily Mail article.

www.ammoland.com

 

[King Chicken]

There is no con in positively identifying who you are shooting at.

No cons...ok

What if two perp have guns and you shine light at only one? Being knocked out/shot and having your wife raped is a pretty big con for me.

I understand why people tend to treat identification by flashlight as ultimate, but I do not. Again, not saying to not have a light.

 

[Worsley]

No cons...ok

What if two perp have guns and you shine light at only one? Being knocked out/shot and having your wife raped is a pretty big con for me.

I understand why people tend to treat identification by flashlight as ultimate, but I do not. Again, not saying to not have a light.

Edit: (unless using a supressor - but bad guys usually shoot back) after a shot is fired in a dark room, you will no longer be able to see at all.

 

[Bountied]

? You would mistake the footsteps, silhouette, habits of your child with a grown man of different proportions breaking in?

I'm not saying people shouldn't have lights. There are big cons though as well as big pros.

Keep a light on it, turn it on when you need it.

 

[Bountied]

No cons...ok

What if two perp have guns and you shine light at only one? Being knocked out/shot and having your wife raped is a pretty big con for me.

I understand why people tend to treat identification by flashlight as ultimate, but I do not. Again, not saying to not have a light.

Ur not gonna win this one...

 

[King Chicken]

Edit: (unless using a supressor - but bad guys usually shoot back) after a shot is fired in a dark room, you will no longer be able to see at all.

Not sure why you put this here. Are you addressing the one con i quickly came up with or? What's the edit in relation to? Ty

 

[Worsley]

Ur not gonna win this one...

Look, I am not going to criticize his choices. But unlike him, most people on here aren’t Super NAVY SEALS who can see in the dark without NODS, hear the sound of footsteps in a gunfight and determine if they are friend or foe, while staying completely calm under fire. Although I want to be more like him, no amount of training will ge me there, for those reasons I will brighten any dark space to positively ID who I am shooting at, as accurately as possible.

 

[Growler215]

Something in 585 Nyati? At home defense distances, the first shot counts. Anything that can stop a charging cape buffalo in its tracks with one shot can stop a violent home invader. And the splatter would make an impression on any accomplices.

Actually, any reliable 9mm semiauto pistol or large frame revolver should be fine, as long as you practice with it. The key is practicing enough with it that you can operate it and accurately shoot purely by muscle memory in what will almost certainly be a very chaotic environment in an actual home defense action.

I prefer the 577 Tyrannosaur for first shot kills.

Or 9mm/45ACP SBR for easier follow up shots (if you're a pansy.)