I’m fairly new to the home defense and gun owner communities, and I’ve noticed quite a few posts about people getting ARs and even mentioning flash or smoke grenades. It seems like overkill if the goal is home defense. Wouldn’t a reliable alarm system, a secured handgun, and some kind of insurance in case you have to use your weapon be sufficient as a minimum?
Because multiple armed intruder home invasions are a thing. “Need” is not something that enters into the decision to get one though….It’s the “I’d rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.” which often makes the decision.
Exactly. Anything that will help even the odds.
Also, I just shoot my AR so much better than handguns. It’s fast, accurate and powerful.
ARs also don’t overpenetrate too bad, the rounds fragment well. Obviously if you miss the target it will go through walls, but so will other calibers.
Shotguns are a decent choice too, but I prefer the option for rapid followup shots, and higher capacity.
There’s nothing wrong with using handguns either, it’s just not ideal.
It’s interesting how human psychology operates. The original poster grouped an AR rifle with items like smoke and flash grenades (which most people wouldn’t even suggest), to make them seem more extreme. However, an AR rifle is generally more accurate, easier to aim, and often has less penetration than a 9mm handgun. Try quickly switching between targets with a handgun. Just some thoughts.
Yeah, noticed that too.Funny how if I pulled out a Winchester .30-06 for home defense, the Original Poster probably wouldn’t bat an eye.
Oh, and just so Original Poster is clear: the reason you own a handgun is to give you time to get to your AR.
I have never heard of anybody who had to use their firearm for defensive use say:
“I really wish I did not have my AR and instead I wish I had my handgun”
any way. I strongly believe on: I rather have it and not need it, then need it and not have it.
One of my favorite quotes.
Rifles are for doing work. Handguns are to get rifles.
If you’re ever in a situation where your last resort is a handgun, you fucked up about 5 or 6 decisions ago.
Advantages of AR: Long guns with a stock are easier to shoot accurately than handguns. ARs have low recoil, high capacity, and quick reloads. .233/5.56 is lethal yet penetrates fewer layers of drywall than self-defense handgun calibers (though overpenetration is still a concern).
Advantages of Handgun: they fit in a smaller lockbox/safe, can be operated one-handed (though you sacrifice accuracy and recoil control), and can double as a concealed carry weapon.
An AR-15 is easier to use and more effective than a pistol, especially for someone that doesn’t train a lot.
It is to be the presence of a armed and determined individual when when your preestablished security measures fail or are bypassed (security cameras, alarms, locks…etc).
Handguns require more shots on target (ballistically not as effective as 223/556, and 30+ rounds to boot), require more involvement to control the gun for accurate follow up shots, and just don’t have the wide range of application that a rifle is capable of doing outside of “home defense” such as for hunting (yes, an AR is fine for hunting schmedium-medium game) or recreational shooting and overall exercise your rights and be a citizen capable of responding to a foreign invasion or a violent domestic group.
Home invasion covers more than just a simple burglar but a violent drugged person, or a killer on the loose especially one that’s equally or more armed. Handguns, while fine personal defense weapons, often require many rounds if not the whole magazine to stop a determined or unfazable threat, assuming you hit anything. Rifles usually end the game quicker.
Flash and smoke in your own home are a bad idea IMO. Fire hazard. You said a good alarm and a pistol is a good minimum and you’re correct. Why settle for minimum? I’ve been military/LEO/contract security for the last 17 years. My go to home defense weapon is an AR pistol. Easier to handle. Accurate. More capacity.
I don’t see the appeal of flash and smoke grenades, nor do I have the training. My defense strategy does not involve me doing any clearing, so even if flash grenades are safe inside my house I don’t see a use case there. Deploying them is just going to expose me.
Advantages of the AR platform. More ammo capacity than shotgun or pistol. Very easy to shoot even for small stature, aged or injured people. Three points of contact versus the 2 for a handgun. Standardized if you can shoot one you can shoot them all. Pretty low cost to buy. Decent ARs are available for not much more than semi-auto hand guns. Useful for more than just home defense. Can use them to bug out also. Wide selection of ammo types available including low penetration stuff.