Suggestions for self defense rifle?

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  • Doug

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    If things "go south," it is unlikely you will face experienced, dedicated troops. Rate of fire and reliability will be more important than pinpoint accuracy. Combat accuracy is 4 minutes of angle; 4 inches at 100 yards.
    I recommend a Ruger Mini 14 with a low power scope and 20 or 30 round Ruger (for reliability) magazines.
    Mine uses a scout scope. It has quick detach rings so I can use the iron sights, if necessary.
     
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    1nderbeard

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    Plus poorer armor performance. Plus extreme drop and wind drift. Plus little yaw or fragmentation.

    The notion that x39 is a better defensive round than 5.56 is just silly. There is maybe a mild intermediate barrier performance advantage due to more mass in the bullet, and with the bigger diameter you can fit an actual expanding bullet for hunting, but otherwise there is no defensive shooting advantage over 5.56 at all.

    The next step up from 5.56 is .308, which you only really need for distance performance and much improved destruction effects against intermittent barriers and vehicles and stuff. In that case I think the SFAR is worth looking at, even with the spotty reliability reports, until you start trying to push past 600 yards.
    Wind drift at common SD distances is nothing. At the muzzle, ft pound difference is about 200.

    I'm not saying at past 100-200 yards consistent distance the 556 isn't better. I'm saying at common SD distances (like 25-50 yards) in the civilian/urban combat world I'd pick 762x39 all day. If we were talking about a DMR situation, 762x39 would obviously not be it. I'd go with 6.5 grendel there. But less than 50 yards against any kind of man target, 762x39.
     

    1nderbeard

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    I did find their story a bit fishy. I did not buy from them as I wanted to do more research. I am not in a position to buy multiple rifles in multiple calibers to properly test the theory myself, which is why I wanted some suggestions.
    The only AR15 that wouldn't run for me was in 300bo. I have at least 2-3 in 762x39 and have had no major malfunctions. I have had some primers that didn't go off because of steel ammo (only on the Tulammo stuff). I have one from basically any company that makes them. BCA, Radical, PSA, Etc.
     

    Ark

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    I think for a DEFENSIVE rifle, we are talking 100 yards or less. So wirryong about long term accuracy or power probably isn’t a consideration here.

    I can’t think of a scenario (except shtf , End of the world zombie land stuff) where somebody beyond 100 yards is an immediate threat to you.

    Even downtown during the summer of love “protests” your immediate threats We’re all well inside 100 yards.

    Think about how you would explain to a judge why you took that 200-400 yard shot “in self defense”.
    Your honor I took that shot at 400 yards so I'd have time to run away and not have to explain to a judge at all.
     

    1nderbeard

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    If things "go south," it is unlikely you will face experienced, dedicated troops. Rate of fire and reliability will be more important than pinpoint accuracy. Combat accuracy is 4 minutes of angle; 4 inches at 100 yards.
    I recommend a Ruger Mini 14 with a low power scope and 20 or 30 round Ruger (for reliability) magazines.
    Mine uses a scout scope. It has quick detach rings so I can use the iron sights, if necessary.
    awesome looking stock
     

    bgcatty

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    Forget a rifle for close in home defense. Start shooting with a rifle in a house and chances are the rounds will go right through your house and into your next door neighbor’s house.

    That said a short barrel 12ga shotgun with an open choke with appropriate shot shells like 00Buck or 04Buck would be devastating on an intruder threatening you and your family. Therefore I’d say get a Remington 870 or Mosberg 500/590 short barrel as stated and rest assured you have enough for close quarters self defense of your family and home.
    My :twocents::ar15:!!!
     
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    VERT

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    .223 and .308 will do anything that needs to be done in Indiana.

    If the OP has a .223 and it is a bolt gun, simply buy an AR in 5.56. If the OP already had an AR then buy more ammo, mags, or whatever else you need for that gun. I would not worry about penetration or power, the AR will get it done for you.

    I have made this comment before and will probably mention it again. If a person is worried about the state of the world and possible bad days ahead, I would own an AR in 5.56 and a double stack Glock in 9mm. Why? Because those are the most common magazines and most common cartridges.
     

    Cameramonkey

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    I have made this comment before and will probably mention it again. If a person is worried about the state of the world and possible bad days ahead, I would own an AR in 5.56 and a double stack Glock in 9mm. Why? Because those are the most common magazines and most common cartridges.
    THIS. And make it a Glock 19. or 19x. you can use 17 mags in a 19 but not the other way around. (at least not without a hacksaw)


    If things "go south," it is unlikely you will face experienced, dedicated troops. Rate of fire and reliability will be more important than pinpoint accuracy. Combat accuracy is 4 minutes of angle; 4 inches at 100 yards.
    I recommend a Ruger Mini 14 with a low power scope and 20 or 30 round Ruger (for reliability) magazines.
    Mine uses a scout scope. It has quick detach rings so I can use the iron sights, if necessary.
    OK rifles. But for SHTF you want commonality. You want something you can scavenge parts, magazines, etc from. Not many Mini 14s for that. If something happens and I lose my AR mag, I can likely find another. If I lose my Mini 14 mag? I now have a club. :):
    And if you are in a group acting like Roof Koreans, you arent going to be able to ask somebody "hey, I'm out. Toss me a mag. "
     

    VERT

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    THIS. And make it a Glock 19. or 19x. you can use 17 mags in a 19 but not the other way around. (at least not without a hacksaw)
    Glock 19 is the right choice. I don’t own one myself.

    Glock 26 takes all of the magazines. Yeah they are ugly and feel weird in the hand, but they do shoot straight and take all of the magazines. A Glock 26 travels with me in a portable safe along with a couple Glock 19 magazines. I figure I am likely to find extra magazines or ammo.
     

    Route 45

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    I like 300 Blackout for my "a bit more punch through barriers" round. I also have an AK, but 7.62.x39 and 300 Blackout are roughy the same ballistics, so no real need to have both. I'd pick up my 300 AR before I'd go to the AK for defensive duty.

    Honestly, 5.56 will handle most any reasonable defensive need a person would have. If I had to get rid of my 300 BLK for some reason, I wouldn't feel undergunned with 5.56. One nice thing about 300 Blackout...you can just buy a complete upper instead of a whole rifle, if you are on a budget. Then again, if you are on a budget, maybe just invest in some barrier-specific 5.56 ammo, load them into marked mags, and call it a day, instead of stocking a different caliber.

    If you do decide to go with 300 BLK, you have to be careful if you utilize both 5.56 and 300 BLK...you don't want to cram a 300 round into your 5.56 upper. I have completely separate 300 BLK carbines, and only use 20 round mags or FDC colored mags in them, so that I can differentiate ammo easily to avoid a mixup. My 5.56 mags are black 30 round P-Mags only.

    If you are considering a real step up in power, .308 is the way to go, but that's not going to be a budget option in most platforms. I don't own anything more powerful than 300 Blackout, unless you count an old Mosin that I suppose I could press into service. I just don't feel that I need it. I don't hunt, and don't have any delusions that I'm going to be living off the land in any scenario. If SHTF and it devolves into a situation where I would need 300+ yard engagement capability, I'll be looking to join some kind of defensive unit with that capability. No worries about what a judge thinks if it goes that far to ****.
     

    Route 45

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    If a person is worried about the state of the world and possible bad days ahead, I would own an AR in 5.56 and a double stack Glock in 9mm. Why? Because those are the most common magazines and most common cartridges.
    Meh. If I run out of M&P or P320 mags or parts, there will be plenty of Glock crap laying around if I need it. If all there is left is Glocks, I might even reconsider whether I still want to live in this world.

    :):

    Agree on the AR.
     

    VERT

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    Meh. If I run out of M&P or P320 mags or parts, there will be plenty of Glock crap laying around if I need it. If all there is left is Glocks, I might even reconsider whether I still want to live in this world.

    :):

    Agree on the AR.

    Someday when you find the zombies eating what is left of me there will be an empty 1911 and 870 laying beside my corpse. Regardless of personal preferences I have bought/giving my 19 year son a Glock 17, 14.5” BCM and Mossberg 590. What I would give my only son is a pretty stout endorsement.
     

    profjeremy

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    If you like 7.62x39 but are not a fan of AKs, check out the Galil ACE.
    I second that! That thing just runs…

    Is it just me, or does every SHTF weapon discussion seem to go the direction of ballistics at distance and assuming everyone will be holed up in a bird’s nest, taking people out from 400+ yards out? Lol

    Couldn’t agree more with @Cameramonkey …gotta think that situation would overwhelmingly involve shots well inside 100 yards and possibly needing to engage multiple zombies at once. Also, might want to be able to pick up the zombie ammo and use it in your gun, just like in video games.

    Some sort of reliable semi-auto shotgun makes sense (Tavor TS-12 @ 15+1?), or pretty much any high capacity semi-auto rifle caliber other than .22LR. With that said, you will want something fairly light as well. Definitely nothing wrong with 5.56 and 9mm as backup in that combo of circumstances… and I’m saying that as a guy that just really likes big bore guns. I own both of those calibers simply because they’re ubiquitous and light. Would much rather shoot 10mm and .300 Win Mag, but I view all of my guns and calibers as situational, not a one size fits all.

    But as with everyone else, this is just my humble opinion.
     

    wcd

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    If things "go south," it is unlikely you will face experienced, dedicated troops. Rate of fire and reliability will be more important than pinpoint accuracy. Combat accuracy is 4 minutes of angle; 4 inches at 100 yards.
    I recommend a Ruger Mini 14 with a low power scope and 20 or 30 round Ruger (for reliability) magazines.
    Mine uses a scout scope. It has quick detach rings so I can use the iron sights, if necessary.
    stock? It looks really nice, I am a mini fan as well however both have synthetic stocks. Wouldn’t mind switching to a wood stock.
     

    Notalentbum

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    I’ve built a number of 5.56 ARs as well as a couple 7.62x39 ARs. Last one was a low budget PSA upper on an Anderson lower. After some trigger issues were sorted, it has turned out to be a decent budget shooter. As far as better than a 5.56, maybe in a few specific scenarios. As far as home defense long gun, I stick with a lightweight shorter barrel 12 gauge pump with alternating 00 buck and slugs. If something goes bump in the night, I’m still grabbing my pistol first.

    Matt
     
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