Rethinking the AR/AK for defense only

[cmshoot]

cmshoot you build anything like I am thinking about? Pros? Cons? Reliability of an alternate chambering in this shorty package? This will not be a reload rifle. I will find “the round”and lay it in deep.

Easy enough. I’d go with a quality build or purchase 12.5” AR in 5.56. For optics I’m a big fan of the Aimpoint offerings. A lot of folks don’t care for them, but I like the Trijicon MRO second-best out of what I have used.

Solid light from Modlight, Surefire, etc.

I’m actually describing my personal build go-to AR that goes everywhere with me.

 

[GAgunLAWbooklet]

Q: "recommendations for a repel boarders and invaders only AR or AK variant. "

My A: The AR, and I swear I'm not an AR fanboy. I've owned only 2 AR's in my life, compared to 3 Ruger Mini-14 / Mini-30 / Ranch Rifles, an M1 Garand, M1 Carbine, and Springfield M1A.
AR is the king of light weight, easy mounting optics, and fast magazine changes.
My first choice, if price were no object, would be an SBR in .300 Blackout and wearing a suppressor, so the barrel + the can still only come up to something like 16" or 18".
But I wouldn't mind one in .223 either, in which case I don't know if I'd bother with having a short barrel and a can on the muzzle.
Any red dot optic ought to be fine for home defense / homeland defense within 200 yards.

 

[Edog537]

Easy enough. I’d go with a quality build or purchase 12.5” AR in 5.56. For optics I’m a big fan of the Aimpoint offerings. A lot of folks don’t care for them, but I like the Trijicon MRO second-best out of what I have used.

Solid light from Modlight, Surefire, etc.

I’m actually describing my personal build go-to AR that goes everywhere with me.

One main goal is KISS - some guys go full operator and have so much stuff added to an AR it looks like a space laser gun. Moving around in the dark snag free as possible is a big consideration.

 

[300_whisper]

One main goal is KISS - some guys go full operator and have so much stuff added to an AR it looks like a space laser gun. Moving around in the dark snag free as possible is a big consideration.

Optic, light, sling done

 

[cmshoot]

Optic, light, sling done

This.

 

[wolfmanrogers]

Invaders for your house or do you have land? For me personally, I would much rather have a shotgun vs an AR for inside the house. For outside a 5.56 will handle most anything and you can put together a "relatively" light one. I mean 308 would be awesome it just depends how much is too heavy for you.

This man hates being able to quickly reload.

 

[spencer60]

One thing I would definitely suggest is a suppressor, especially on a less-than-16" AR. The muzzle blast from a 10' or even 14" gun can cause permanent hearing damage, and you would certainly be at least temporarily deaf after the first shot. You would probably also be blinded by the muzzle flash if it was at night. Both would be bad if you have more than one intruder to deal with.

The hearing issue can be mitigated by a pair of muffs stored with the AR but the fireball from a short-barrel AR is pretty amazing after dark. A good suppressor can fix both these issues.

My go-to AR has a 14.5" barrel and a Griffin pin-and-weld can on it to bring it past 16" so it's not a double-stamp gun. I've never had to shoot it in my house, but I take it to an indoor range a fair bit, and while it's not "hearing safe" it's not disorienting either.

Muzzle flash is hard to tell in a well lit range, but I had a friend video me shooting a mag through it and from what I could see there was very little muzzle flash.

As a bonus, I could use it as a branding iron after going through the first mag. That sucker gets HOT!

 

[teearr]

AR - 8.5"barrel - 300BLK - red dot - 3x flip up magnifier - light - 145 grain supers - 220 grain subs - suppressor - good to go.

 

[Cadcom]

BNIB Ruger AR for $500 will work for any realistic home defense scenario unless you live in Juarez or something.

Ruger AR 556 5.56 NATO/.223 Rem 16.1" Barrel 30-Rounds

The Ruger AR-556 chambered in 5.56 NATO / .223 Rem is a rugged, high-performing AR 15 rifle that delivers superior balance, accuracy, and versatility. Featuring a 16.10-inch cold hammer-forged barrel and a 30+1 round magazine capacity, the Ruger AR-556 is engineered for reliability in a...

grabagun.com

 

[ReelWizard]

BNIB Ruger AR for $500 will work for any realistic home defense scenario unless you live in Juarez or something.

Ruger AR 556 5.56 NATO/.223 Rem 16.1" Barrel 30-Rounds

The Ruger AR-556 chambered in 5.56 NATO / .223 Rem is a rugged, high-performing AR 15 rifle that delivers superior balance, accuracy, and versatility. Featuring a 16.10-inch cold hammer-forged barrel and a 30+1 round magazine capacity, the Ruger AR-556 is engineered for reliability in a...

grabagun.com

This.