I’ve always been comfortable with guns and safety growing up shooting on farms and ranges in Southern IL, but I never really got into owning one. Now that I’ve bought a house, I feel it’s time to have one or two for home defense. I’m in the NW suburbs and looking for advice on what would work well for that, especially now that AR15s are banned (hopefully temporarily). I prefer a rifle, but I’m open to suggestions.
You could go for something like a Glock 19 or a similar modern pistol or a pump shotgun like a Remington 870 or Mossberg 500. There are also still some semi-automatic rifles and PCCs that should be legal for purchase, like the Mini 14 Ranch or some Ruger PC Carbine models. The laws can be a bit broad, though, so you should check with local authorities. Any weapon you choose should definitely have a light, a sling if it’s a long gun, or a holster if it’s a pistol. A red dot sight can be really useful too.
There’s a Ruger pistol caliber carbine that doesn’t accept a flash hider/muzzle brake/silencer.
Pat said:
There’s a Ruger pistol caliber carbine that doesn’t accept a flash hider/muzzle brake/silencer.
Threaded barrels are legal, but you can’t install a flash hider on them.
Pat said:
There’s a Ruger pistol caliber carbine that doesn’t accept a flash hider/muzzle brake/silencer.
Threaded barrels are legal, but you can’t install a flash hider on them.
Threaded barrels are only legal if you registered them and owned them before the law changed. Otherwise, they are considered assault weapons.
@Ben
That’s not true, threaded barrels are legal on rifles, they just can’t have flash hiders. You can check out this guide from the Illinois State Police to confirm: https://isp.illinois.gov/StaticFiles/docs/Home/AssaultWeapons/PICA%20Identification%20Guide.pdf
Pat said:
There’s a Ruger pistol caliber carbine that doesn’t accept a flash hider/muzzle brake/silencer.
How would I go about finding something like that? Apologies for not knowing more about this.
@Landry
You can go to Ruger’s website and look for the specific model you need. There are different models of the same gun, so it’s important to find the right one. After that, you can look for a local gun shop that has it in stock. There are a lot of opinions about what’s legal, so make sure the shop is familiar with the rules.
@Landry
I’ve seen some of those in stock at GAT Guns in East Dundee. I’ve been going there for years, and they’re outside of Cook County, so no extra tax on firearms.
Skyler said:
@Landry
I’ve seen some of those in stock at GAT Guns in East Dundee. I’ve been going there for years, and they’re outside of Cook County, so no extra tax on firearms.
I agree, GAT Guns is a great option if you’re in the NW suburbs. They’ve got a good range for practice, too. I live just 20 minutes away. You could also check out Fox Valley Shooting Range.
@Landry
Look for the Ruger PC Carbine 19101 model.
Here’s a funny old joke: I own a musket for home defense, just like the Founding Fathers would have wanted. Imagine four guys break into my house in the middle of the night. First thing I say is, ‘What’s going on here?’ as I grab my powdered wig and Kentucky rifle. Then, I take aim and blow a golf ball-sized hole through the first guy. I pull out my flintlock pistol to shoot the second guy, but I miss because it’s a smooth bore, and instead, I hit the neighbor’s dog. Now I grab my cannon at the top of the stairs, loaded with grape shot, and yell, ‘Tally ho!’ The blast tears apart two of the guys, and the noise sets off my neighbor’s car alarm. Finally, I charge at the last guy with my bayonet. He bleeds out waiting for the police because you can’t stitch up bayonet wounds. That’s how you defend your home, just like the Founding Fathers intended.
@Tal
Well, I have to admit, I think I could take down a couple of untrained guys a bit quicker than a musket could. Actually, I know I could. 
Landry said:
@Tal
Well, I have to admit, I think I could take down a couple of untrained guys a bit quicker than a musket could. Actually, I know I could.
It took me 83 seconds to shoot a loaded muzzleloader and reload it twice for three shots. You must be some kind of expert!
@Ori
I’m definitely no expert, but I like to think I’d be quick. I’m just a high school/college wrestler who’s tried a few other things along the way.
I’d go with a rifle like a .357 lever action paired with a matching .357 revolver for home defense. Or a good old home defense shotgun. If I had the money, I’d own all of these and even an AR.
Addison said:
I’d go with a rifle like a .357 lever action paired with a matching .357 revolver for home defense. Or a good old home defense shotgun. If I had the money, I’d own all of these and even an AR.
It’s kind of silly, though, because an AR is easier to manage than a lever-action rifle, and it holds more ammo. It’s especially useful for people who might not have a lot of strength.
@Zephyr
Did you even read the OP? You can own more than one gun if you want.
Addison said:
@Zephyr
Did you even read the OP? You can own more than one gun if you want.
I get it, but what I’m talking about is the AR being banned, and people need alternatives for self-defense. It’s not about owning more than one gun; it’s about the ban on a weapon that’s easy to handle.
A Mossberg 500 12-gauge shotgun is a great choice for home defense at close range, especially if you’re sure to aim carefully. A full-size pistol like a Glock 19 would also work well.