Home Defense AR

[Bourneshooter]

Spec out the general guidelines you have used when deciding on a home defense rifle (AR-15 inveitably).

Please include your threat/risk analysis of your home. Considering local trouble makers, distance from front door to possible threat firing positions, etc.

Why do you have the weapon loaded with the ammo you do? (Bears, issued by your employer, local LE carries this, it was cheap, etc.)

Optic

Light

Sling/No Sling

Ancillary Kit: Plate Carrier, War Belt, Bandolier, Redi-Mag, etc.

 

[LSP972]

My standard home defense dudeshooter is the gauge (modified Beretta Al-390).

However, for special occasions (hurricanes or other natural disasters involving power outages and/or restless natives, The Revolution when/if it hits, etc.) I'll pull a carbine out of the safe.

My carbines are bare bones; completely stock Colts (6520, 6720, 6920, one of each) with Command Arms mounting rails for a TLR-1 screwed into the upper handguard.

Optics are two H-1s and an InSight MRDS.

Good old two-point M-16 slings, set up for slung-around-the-neck carry.

Ammo is XM-193 or Q3131A; the lots I have both shoot to the same 50 yard zero out to 200 yards (and in to CQB ranges), so I keep that specific ammo in ready storage in the house, with all "ready" magazines loaded with it.

Two six mag carriers, one shoulder/messenger bag type, the other a chest mount.

.

 

[Pat Tarrant]

My go-to house gun is my 14.5" AR15. It's a BCM BFH mid length upper receiver on a spikes lower I had laying around, and has Daniel Defense lower parts with a Geissele Super Tricon trigger. It currently wears a Battlecomp 1.5, a Surefire Scout light with the 600 lumen TNVC head, VCAS sling, and a T-1. Ammo is usually 55gr fmj, but I'm looking to go toward a similar weight duty round that does not penetrate very far, especially in building materials.

Reasons for going 14.5" - No tax stamp needed, so it's much easier to train with when going out of state (most local training occurs in WV instead of VA), and it's short enough to be handy in tight spaces.

Reasons for ammo - It's what I currently have the ability to afford with, and shoot enough of to verify function and accuracy. I'm working on an ammo budget to allow duty type loads such as the Gold Dot load, and I'd like to have at least a few magazines worth of ammo, plus several hundred rounds to function and accuracy test with.

I live in a townhouse in a relatively tight suburban area. I have an end unit, but other units are located in all cardinal directions, so stray rounds are bound to find something I'd rather not have them hit. Limiting overpenetration is a huge concern. I also have a family and neighbors who all have families with small children. It's definitely something I consider.

I keep a couple spare mags in my dresser, as well as a couple at my computer in the basement, which are the two places I'm bound to be at home when incidents are likely. During the day, I'm nearly always carrying a handgun, even at home. I also have a few spare pistol and rifle mags in my get-home bag in my car.

I'm considering building a short barrel, suppressed 300 blackout and maybe using that for home defense, but, again, I'm worried about overpenetration, especially with a heavier, slower round. However, the reduced sound signature (more of a consideration of my family than just of myself) inside the house would be quite welcome should I ever be unfortunate enough to need it.

 

[Atlas]

[QUOTE="
Reasons for going 14.5" - No tax stamp needed, so it's much easier to train with when going out of state (most local training occurs in WV instead of VA), and it's short enough to be handy in tight spaces.
.[/QUOTE]
I thought that the tax was needed for any rifle under 16"? do you just have a permanently attached muzzle device?

 

[Pat Tarrant]

Atlas,
Yes, it's pinned and welded straight from BCM with a Battlecomp. I got it before they launched their Gunfighter Comp, or else I probably would have went that way. Not saying that I don't like the Battlecomp (I do), but the BCM one is considerably less expensive.

 

[Bourneshooter]

Pretty much whatever AR is out of the gunsafe will be my home defense gun. Sometimes its my issued Duty rifle, others its a personal rifle.

Issued rifle is a 16" Colt with 64gr Gold dot, Aimpoint T-1, Surefire X300 and BFG Victory Sling.

Personal AR's will have T-1's, Surefire lights of some sort (Fury or Scout) and 2 point sling (Magpul MS1 or BFG VCAS) fed with 75gr Hornady TAP T2. Due to the unlikely chance I will have to kit up, I keep a clamped set of Pmags on my gun. Currently PMAG 30's, but probably going to be PMAG 40's when I load them up.

Why the ammo choices? For issued gun, I have to use issued ammo per agency policy. Personal AR's, I have a bit of this ammo on hand due to buying it when it was considered "THE" ammo to buy 5-8 years ago.

Knowing my home location, distances to true cover vs concealment, etc as well as response time of my co-workers on a good day vs the bad day for someone attacking my house, are all considerations I've taken into account.

 

[WayneF]

I have recently taken to keeping the AR pistol by the bed.

10.5" LMT upper on a Midwest PX lower with a CAA stock saddle attached to the buffer tube. It has an Aimpoint T1, 500 lumen Scout, and DBAL. If a sling is attached, it is ran through a retainer on the handguard. Ammo is 62 grain Fusion.

I don't keep a rig or bag nearby, but there is a M&P and handheld light mounted on a platform that goes between my mattress and box spring, cells go on the nightstand, and there is a med kit in the bedroom as well.

 

[OldSchool45B]

Mine is a 10.5 franken gun that I have had forever. It really cam to being after I started putting together parts in the shop that were laying around. I have put many thousands of rounds through it with no issues from the gun itself. It has an old CASV rail system, a 553 EO Tech, Ops Inc 15th can and Vltor EMOD stock. I have a couple of different lights (like everyone else here) but landed on the M3 pistol light since I can put it on that or my handgun.

For my ammo I am using either MK262 or the Am. Eagle 55gr. The MK262 has run just fine with and without the can, and gives pretty good performance even out of the shorter barrel.The sling is a BFG two point. I have my kit on an armor tree in the corner, not because I feel I need it readily accessible anymore, but because it is a good way to store it and I hate digging the shit out of my piles of boxes in the shed. Should the Z-Poc break out tomorrow I am ready! LOL

I chose this platform because it is small and compact and with the can makes it bearable indoors. I have enough hearing loss from down range that I don't need anymore. I know the weapon inside out and it feels good for me.

My threat level is not overly high, but we are an SOT and it is not exactly a huge secret that there are some pretty serious systems in the vault. If they make it past the two tiered mobile alarm systems (little yappy dogs to set off the pit and the two GSD) then I figure I need to step in.

 

[SonOfLiberty]

I live right in the heart of the city, surrounded by riff-raff. My place is tiny and it's maybe 10 yards from the front door to my bed. It's a straight shot. I keep a 16" AR with ScoutU and a T1 next to the bed, but that's more if I have time to hunker down. The rosco sits on the nightstand with an Inforce APL/CT laser grips and Surefire E2D. It's my plan A. If I have time, raifu is plan B. I've got pistols in every room of the house, with the 18" 870 in the kitchen.

I'm planning on an 11.5" AR with suppressor for indoors. Still don't know if it will be the plan A, but it will be easier to handle than the 16".

 

[AT Armor]

BCM 14.5 middy with A2X flash hider permed. Loaded with BH 50gr TSX.

Rationale. 14.5 permed is good (short) enough for inside. Permed FH vs a brake...I want to minimize the after effects on the fam and my hearing. Will still suck, but not as bad as a braked gun fired in close proximity to them. SBR with a can would be the best option, but current setup fits the bill until the Form 4s clear.

TSX 50gr rationale. Not to be too specific, but odds are if this gun is employed I will have accountability of all friendlies and they will be well out of the SDZ if over penetration occurs inside the hizzy. Barrier penetration is desired, thus the TSX.

 

[Bourneshooter]

I want the ability to penetrate intermediate barriers as it will also equal better on target performance from what I've seen than a frangible type round.

Next rounds I would buy for that role are TSX loads


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[SonOfLiberty]

Ah, forgot to mention - I use Speer GD 64 gr or Federal Fusion 62 gr bonded bullets. They're cheap, effective, low flash, and accurate.

 

[borebrush]

I use 70gr TSX. My HD rifle is a 16" M6-IC 1811. I have enough light for two apartments.

As far as specifics to my domicile... This is all you are getting. You are rightly fncked if you try my place.

Bring a SMAW-NE.

 

[KMo1205]

How do you secure your rifle if you have little ones at home? I'd rather have my rifle bedside, but I'm worried about having it ready to go with little kids who still like to climb into bed first thing in the morning. Its a lot easier to have my pistol in a nightstand safe. Any advice?

 

[AT Armor]

How do you secure your rifle if you have little ones at home? I'd rather have my rifle bedside, but I'm worried about having it ready to go with little kids who still like to climb into bed first thing in the morning. Its a lot easier to have my pistol in a nightstand safe. Any advice?

If you arent using a quick access safe that can accommodate an M4 the Shotlok AR "safe" is a good alternative. Fairly fast to get into, just realize the carbine you mount in it is essentially a sacrificial one if you are not in the building and there is a break in. But it will keep it reasonably secure from kiddos or ready / easyy access by unauthorized users.

 

[KMo1205]

If you arent using a quick access safe that can accommodate an M4 the Shotlok AR "safe" is a good alternative. Fairly fast to get into, just realize the carbine you mount in it is essentially a sacrificial one if you are not in the building and there is a break in. But it will keep it reasonably secure from kiddos or ready / easyy access by unauthorized users.

That's a good point. I'm also thinking about these at my next house: www.tacticalwalls.com.

 

[Pat Tarrant]

I have a small lockable compartment in my bedroom closet that holds a long gun. Not as easy as the pistol in the nightstand (locked away anytime I'm not in bed). It keeps my toddler out of it.

Any good sources for ammo or is something like the online ammo search engines the way to go?