Home Defense: AR or Tactical Shot Gun? Let's Take a Look at The Ar -15 Platform First
By Gregory Kielma
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I get asked this a lot …If someone who already owns a 9mm handgun, is it worth getting a budget AR-style rifle for home defense, or should they consider a 12 Guage shot gun?
Gregg Kielma
Let’s Take a LOOK.
If you have the money and patience, the best home defense setup from a functional standpoint is going to be a carbine with a red dot, flashlight, and suppressor firing subsonic ammunition.
The reasons for this is because:
• Carbines, with three points of contact, is more accurate and easier to handle than pistols with 1 point of contact.
• Lights are required to be able to correctly identify what you are shooting at.
• Red dots are the fastest form of sighting system for short range shooting.
Suppressors and subsonic ammunition help reduce noise levels, which can prevent hearing damage during firearm use.
However, is having a kitted-out AR, in either 9mm or 5.55/.223, going to look worse to a jury if you end up in front of one. It is important to be familiar with both the policies of your local District Attorney and the office culture, as you may encounter varying approaches from different prosecutors.
If you use a weapon for self-defense, the police may confiscate it as evidence, possibly for weeks or even permanently, depending on local policies.
Pump action shotguns typically have a smaller magazine capacity and require additional training to operate effectively. New shooters often short stroke the pump by not fully pushing it forward, which can prevent the trigger from resetting or cause out-of-battery detonation.
If you don't have the money and patience for a suppressor, either a rifle or pistol round carbine isn't really going to matter. My choice for home defense a good tactical 12g shot gun. Make sure it cycles a full magazine reliably, your magazines work properly, and it has a red dot and flashlight.