Why do some people think an AR is necessary for home defense?

I’m new to both home defense and gun owner communities, and I keep seeing posts about people getting ARs, sometimes with flashbangs or smoke grenades. It feels like overkill for home defense. Wouldn’t a good alarm system and a secure handgun be enough? Plus, having insurance if you need to shoot someone sounds like a good idea. What do you think?

Because there are situations with multiple armed intruders during home invasions. It’s not so much a question of need but of the mindset of, ‘I’d rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.’ That’s the kind of reasoning behind it.

@Whitney
Exactly. Anything that can give you an advantage in that situation is important.

I shoot my AR much better than a handgun. It’s fast, accurate, and powerful.

ARs don’t over-penetrate much either, and the rounds fragment well. Obviously, if you miss, the round can go through walls, but so do other calibers.

Shotguns are good too, but I prefer the AR for rapid follow-up shots and higher capacity.

@Hayes
I live in FL, so the only walls an AR will go through are the inside ones. The exterior walls are concrete block with reinforcement, so it would take dozens of shots to even start making a dent. I just avoid putting windows behind the target.

@Whitney
I’m good with my 12 gauges.

Ellis said:
@Whitney
I’m good with my 12 gauges.

Shotguns are a good option, but the truth is most people who swear by shotguns for home defense haven’t trained with them. Running a pump shotgun fast is not easy, especially with the adrenaline from a break-in.

And to be honest, most gun owners don’t train enough to handle any weapon well.

@Mika
Yeah, my family and I have taken plenty of classes, and we shoot 3-4 times a month. We’re pretty comfortable with shotguns.

@Mika
Who do you think you’re defending against? Most intruders aren’t risking their lives for $300. A single shot will usually scare them off.

Ellis said:
@Whitney
I’m good with my 12 gauges.

Me too! I’ve got some great defense rounds, including HP slugs and some with 00 buckshot. Most pattern under torso size at 20 feet, perfect for clearing inside the house.

@Whitney
Same here! My wife and I each have one, and the kids know the plan if they hear gunshots or the alarm from downstairs.

Isn’t it funny how people exaggerate things? OP threw ARs in with flashbangs and smoke grenades to make them sound extreme.

An AR is actually more accurate and easier to target with than a 9mm handgun. It’s also less likely to over-penetrate compared to some other handguns. Just something to think about.

@Arun
Yep, sounds like OP is being purposely misleading.

@Arun
I noticed that too. Funny how if I pulled out a Winchester .30-06 for home defense, OP probably wouldn’t even blink.

And just so OP knows: the reason you own a handgun is to give you time to grab your AR.

@Caelan
If you use a .30-06 for home defense, I’d think that’s a crazy choice.

Ash said:
@Caelan
If you use a .30-06 for home defense, I’d think that’s a crazy choice.

Some people have big homes…

Keir said:

Ash said:
@Caelan
If you use a .30-06 for home defense, I’d think that’s a crazy choice.

Some people have big homes…

ROFL! Yeah, my 500-yard long house is hard to cover with just a pistol.

@Caelan
Maybe you’re expecting Nazis or something. Lol

Keir said:
@Caelan
Maybe you’re expecting Nazis or something. Lol

Or deer!

@Caelan
If I could ever afford a 500-yard hallway, you know what I’d buy for home defense? Private security guards.

Hutton said:
@Caelan
If I could ever afford a 500-yard hallway, you know what I’d buy for home defense? Private security guards.

Ain’t that the truth.