AR9 for Home Defense … Yay or Nay?

Pros:

  • Easy to use and get accurate shots.
  • Simple to learn, especially if you’re familiar with AR15s.
  • 9mm ammo is cheap.
  • Quieter than 5.56 without a suppressor.
  • 9mm hollow points are a good option for reducing over-penetration.

Cons:

  • Can be finnicky and might need some tuning to work perfectly.
  • Hard to find one that’s ready-to-go out of the box without spending more.
  • Gets dirty quickly.

This makes it less ideal for beginners or people without friends who know guns. What do you all think?

I don’t care if it’s the best or not. I’m just not shooting 5.56 indoors and wrecking my hearing in a self-defense situation.

Sawyer said:
I don’t care if it’s the best or not. I’m just not shooting 5.56 indoors and wrecking my hearing in a self-defense situation.

Exactly! I’d rather deal with a robbery than go deaf. There’s no fixing tinnitus, but you can get insurance to replace stuff.

@Vale
Insurance won’t help if you’re dead! But yeah, shooting 5.56 indoors sounds like torture for your ears.

Sawyer said:
I don’t care if it’s the best or not. I’m just not shooting 5.56 indoors and wrecking my hearing in a self-defense situation.

Suppressed 300 Blackout is the way to go.

Harlan said:

Sawyer said:
I don’t care if it’s the best or not. I’m just not shooting 5.56 indoors and wrecking my hearing in a self-defense situation.

Suppressed 300 Blackout is the way to go.

I’d love one, but I live in a state with ridiculous laws, so it’s not an option for me.

Sawyer said:
I don’t care if it’s the best or not. I’m just not shooting 5.56 indoors and wrecking my hearing in a self-defense situation.

This is the most logical reason to avoid 5.56 indoors.

Taking non-shooters to the range? Bring a high-quality 9mm PCC, especially one with a suppressor. It’s fun for everyone. And yeah, it’s probably the best option for home defense too.

But YouTube ‘operators’ said this platform is pointless.

Eli said:
But YouTube ‘operators’ said this platform is pointless.

Funny enough, some actual operators, like Shawn Ryan and Pat McNamara, recommend the AR9 as one of the best options for defense. It’s not just for gun enthusiasts either.

Eli said:
But YouTube ‘operators’ said this platform is pointless.

Shawn Ryan’s video on the AR9 for home defense is what convinced me to get one.

Mine works perfectly. It’s also really quiet since I use a can from an MP5SD. The roller delay system keeps it clean and makes it quieter. This is definitely what I’m grabbing if something happens.

Del said:
Mine works perfectly. It’s also really quiet since I use a can from an MP5SD. The roller delay system keeps it clean and makes it quieter. This is definitely what I’m grabbing if something happens.

Same here. The low recoil is a huge plus too. Shotguns are just too much in comparison.

Del said:
Mine works perfectly. It’s also really quiet since I use a can from an MP5SD. The roller delay system keeps it clean and makes it quieter. This is definitely what I’m grabbing if something happens.

What setup are you running?

I love my Angstadt UDP-9 for home defense. It’s super accurate and really easy to shoot. I’ve got a Glock 33-round mag loaded with Federal HST, and it’s probably my favorite gun that’s not a .22.

Wylie said:
I love my Angstadt UDP-9 for home defense. It’s super accurate and really easy to shoot. I’ve got a Glock 33-round mag loaded with Federal HST, and it’s probably my favorite gun that’s not a .22.

Have you had any issues with hollow points feeding in the 33-round mags? I’m working through similar issues with mine and swapped to a Macon Armory barrel for better feeding, but it’s still hit-or-miss with larger mags.

I love my ARs, but I’d still grab my shotgun for home defense. Over-penetration is a serious concern, and I don’t want to risk hitting a neighbor.

Pace said:
I love my ARs, but I’d still grab my shotgun for home defense. Over-penetration is a serious concern, and I don’t want to risk hitting a neighbor.

Wouldn’t a shotgun be worse for over-penetration? You have to account for every pellet, and accuracy is harder too. I feel like 9mm hollow points in an AR platform balance penetration and ballistics perfectly.